Simviation Forums

without having done any previous aircraft modeling for FS, but having some 3dmodelling experience in softwares such as 3D max, would it be feasible to modify the FSX Model of the Cessna grand caravan into a caravan without the cargo pod.

I cant seem to find any models whatsoever on FS9 without the cargo pod appart from the amphibian version. I would really much love to fly the model without the cargo pod and therefore without the extra weight and performance reduction. I know i can just change the airfile to match the caravan I without the cargo pod, but it just wouldn't look right :-/.

Is it even legal to modify an FSX model?

thanks a lot for your input.
asnamara

Strictly speaking, it isn't feasible to modify a currently existing model.  You could make one of your own, and 3DS Max is the perfect program for it (depending on which version you have).

As soon as someone figures out how to decode the MDL files for FS, it WILL be legal to modify them, as the copyright only extends to the end users, and that's us.

How do people modify Posky's 747s?

those are repaints...

it

As soon as someone figures out how to decode the MDL files for FS, it WILL be legal to modify them, as the copyright only extends to the end users, and that's us.

Errr.... no, it will still be illegal to decode and modify the MDL files, and re-release the modified MDL file...   I am a realist, and whatever the person does for his own personal and undistributed purpose is his/her/its business.  HOWEVER, if a person decodes an MDL file, modifies it and re-releases it as his own creation, that persond's reputation is likely to be trashed and will probably made to feel unwelcome in the major flightsim sites.

[quote]those are repaints...

it

Well, if they did modify the files, they probably got permission from POSKY and those people gave the source files (from either Gmax or whatever prog it was created in) to the guys who wanted to edit them.  

And why would it be illegal to edit the MDL files?  As long as you make it known that its an MS product and not your own creation, it shouldn't be a problem.  After all, you're modifying MS stuff when you repaint one of the stock aircraft, right?  They don't care if you modify the airfiles, aircraft configs, sound files, etc.  So why would they care if you re-release their files with a few mods as long as you aren't taking credit for the original design?

My position is (from the FS-X EULA.rtf:

5.      SCOPE OF LICENSE.  The software is licensed, not sold. This agreement only gives you some rights to use the software.  Microsoft reserves all other rights.  Unless applicable law gives you more rights despite this limitation, you may use the software only as expressly permitted in this agreement.  In doing so, you must comply with any technical limitations in the software that only allow you to use it in certain ways.  For more information, see www.microsoft.com/licensing/userights.  You may not
work around any technical limitations in the software;
reverse engineer, decompile or disassemble the software, except and only to the extent that applicable law expressly permits, despite this limitation;

The EULA does not make any distinction between the game program itself and the compiled models which, by *my* inference, are part of the "software".

Has it been done?  Probably.  I suspect that many of the CFS2 "updates"  of the stock models have been re-engineered one way or another.  Yes, I've seen releases into FS9 libraries of "the stock CFS2 model for FS9", not merely a repaint, but the complete model file as well.

Also, If I create a model and find that someone has decompiled and modified it *without my permission* I will be highly "displeassed", and would reserve the right to take such action, as legally allowed, to safeguard my intellectual property rights.

Truth be told, all of these "reduced size texture files" that've have been uploaded to various websites are violations of copyright law and the MS/FS EULA.

That MS/ACES has turned a "blind eye" towards those who've modified ACES IP (intellectual property) as well as those who host such modifications doesn't grant the imprimatur of "legality" to such acts.

Yes, they allow the modding of Flightsimulator to a certain extent, mainly because when people mod a game other people will buy it to try the modifications, just look at what Valve did with Half-Life, Counter-Strike, and Day of Defeat.