Standing at the brink

[Boikat]

Okay, got Gmax installed, the SDK glanced through it, have "project 1" picked.  It's going to be relatively simple and slightly "different" from the usual.

(Steps up to the edge of the cliff, looks down, shudders..    )

What's the best 'first step'?  3D model?  I already have 3 view drawings, and have played a bit with GMAX to try to get a "feel" for it.

[Alejandro Rhodes]

Boikat: make a dummy model , don't do as many that start by making a complex Real aircraft that never get exported ,This is the way I did YEEEEARS ago

Try to make a tube with couple box as wing and elevator ,in LODtool set a friendly name ,and then try to export it as mdl model..if you succeed then start adding doors simple doors ,the animate ,animate elevator ,flaps everything All this in this dummy model ITS DOESN'T HAVE TO BE SPECIAL IS YOUR LEARNING MODEL something like this:
     

once you got all the animation working ,in FSX that when you can start making a real aircraft ..

trust me buddy the most difficult is to succeed in the exportation,If you can export a real mdl as see in the FSX you have walk the 70% of the road my friend

[Boikat]

Thanks.  Even the finished "Project 1" is going to be very simple.

[Milton]

Well, you could start here with your 3-views and calibration box.

[Alejandro Rhodes]

[quote]Well, you could start here with your 3-views and calibration box.

[Milton]

{{{ running over to shake Alrot's hand }}}  {blushing}  thank you my friend ... great to see you as well.  :)

[Boikat]

[quote][quote]Well, you could start here with your 3-views and calibration box.

[Alejandro Rhodes]

I don't know if you installed the FSX-SDK is in the DVD1,then install FSX-SDK-SP1 then , install FSX-SDK-Sp2 thru downloading in internet

here:http://www.fsinsider.com/downloads/Pages/default.aspx

after you have instaled these two SDKs you will find a folder

C:\Program files\Microsoft Games\Microsoft Flight Simulator X SDK\SDK\Environment Kit\Modeling SDK\FSX_GmaxGamePack......)( then you will place FSX_GmaxGamePack inside the C:\gmax\gamepacks\FSX_GmaxGamePack...)( then open the game you will be able to see in export Clouds and MDL files.......once you be able to see this export a box a simple Box (remember to name guid a friendly name or will failiure) into your desktop and see IF it didn't gave you problem while exporting...there's a thousand reason COULD give you problems by the time you exporting ..this is not easy my friend
[glow=yellow,2,300]Something important :::YOU will not open gmax from the gmax .exe /Inside the FSX_GmaxGamePack there is FSX_GMax this is the real software you will use:Send a link to the desktop Double click in this icon and create an access to your desktop ,you will not open gmax from the icon in your desktop anymore[/glow]

[Boikat]

I don't know if you installed the FSX-SDK is in the DVD1,then install FSX-SDK-SP1 then , install FSX-SDK-Sp2 thru downloading in internet

Have Gmax and SP1 installed.

[Felix/FFDS]

and, as you look through the "Learning Center"  in the FFDS Forums, you may chance upon a "sticky"  post, the text of which is repeated forthwith:

Milton Shupe consolidated a "How To" thread into an essay on the fine art of model production using a C162,
done with the novice in mind its a comprehensive tutorial done with Uncle Miltons legendary attention to detail and just the right level of complexity to get the message across without sensory overload resulting in reduced brain fps due to confusion.


http://www.flightsimonline.com/C162/


Kudo's to all involved , and most especially to Materfamilias Milton for his guidance and commitment .    


New Tutuorial: 2008-07-20
Here is another tutorial that addresses attaching wings to the fuselage for better smoothing and light effects.

http://www.flightsimonline.com/tutorial ... /index.htm

==================================

The important thing is to familiarize yourself with gmax, export a basic model, and go from there.

I like the suggestion to first export a basic model.  If you get "something"  into FS, that's half the job.  PUshing vertices is "easy" ...

[Boikat]

Much thanks for that info.  Right now my brain is trying to go in two or five directions at once! (Is there a "smiley" for an exploding head?  :) )In the SDK, there's mention of a utility called XtoMDL, that looks like I'll be needing (unless it's in here somwhere, already)

I also suppose I should get that one little thing that I haven't got around to getting yet:  A Vista compatable printer.  :D

Yes, and back to the "Learning Center in the FFDS forum...  :)

[Alejandro Rhodes]

[quote]and, as you look through the "Learning Center"

[Boikat]

Slightly askew..

The XtoMDL tool hs this bit:

To create Flight Simulator X models, aircraft or scenery, a new tool, XToMdl, has been introduced. The previous tool, MakeMDL, is now deprecated as are all models created from the ASM source. Models created with MakeMDL will still continue to function with FSX.  For backwards compatibility, XToMdl will read .x files from previous versions of Flight Simulator and produce a model for Flight Simulator X. Conversion of materials from pre-Flight Simulator X models may result in issues related to specular power and color.  This is usually due to these values being zero in the .x file.

Emphasis on the bold:  If I understand, that would correct the "cannot display visual model" error for some of the ancient add-ons?

If so, I will not have to make a new HL-10.

[Alejandro Rhodes]

You do not need from now Xtomdl thing material to read at this moment(gmax will use it for you) and you will get more complicated,than what you really need ,Install FSX-SDK into Gmax  

[Boikat]

[quote]You do not need from now Xtomdl thing material to read at this moment(gmax will use it for you) and you will get more complicated,than what you really need ,Install FSX-SDK into Gmax