repainting and understanding different files

[bagpuss73]

Please can you help?
i am new to repainting planes and would like to know the best software to use and where i can find any full tutorials out there to help, i have used psp7 and had a go at it before but do not have the tutorial anymore.
I also have problems with downloaded planes on fs2004 there is always a error that appears and when you look at the plane on the runway it either has no wheels or propellors etc, how can i learn to cure this. What is a MDL file ,i know its the model file but does it need editing to make it work.i also have planes that show up in flight simulator but have no textures, they are just blank, i have checked the aircraft.cfg file and every thing seems right. I know i am asking a lot but its all the things that are bothering me, is there a tutorial so i can understand air files, i have air ed and air update but dont know what most of the values ect mean
thanks in advance
James
any good tutorials can be emailed direct
james@thecedars.karoo.co.uk

[Hagar]

Hi Bagpuss. Tom Gibson's tute should be ideal. http://www.calclassic.com/repaint.htm

You will need to download DXTBmp from the link in the tute.

The aircraft problem you mention is common with older designs. These will give you an error message when you select them from the menu. Look for later aircraft created with either FSDS2 or Gmax. These will be posted on the later pages of the FS2002 sections & of course the FS2004 sections. It's a good idea to start from the Newest Files in each section & work backwards.

The texture problem might be caused by your system or your display settings. It would help to know your system specs & which graphics card you're using.

Some animation problems (mainly on the jets) can be fixed by editing a CFG file in Notepad. I'm not sure which one right now & would have to check. It's not possible or necessary to edit the MDL file.

[bagpuss73]

but why do they not work in 2004
is there anyway to edit it so it will work
any help??

[Felix/FFDS]

Until FS2002 came along, MS had not really disclosed enough information with which to build models, so the models that were built for flightsim versions up to FS2000 were made with a basic model format.  The animations were made with third party software working to that "old" format.

With FS2002, Microsoft did release information, and a new model format, for use with gmax.  FSDS was modified to the new format.  The older format was supported in FS2002.

With FS2004, support for the older format is basically gone - in the critical area of animations, so that models made with programs/versions before FSDS2 and gmax do not have the corerct "tags" for FS9 to recognize the animated parts.

Unfortunately, this can only be corrected by reworking the source file - not by any external aircraft.cfg / *.air file editing because it is a visual model issue.

[Dixieed]

I've had excellent luxk painting planes using MS Picture it. Convert your texture file to a targa and then pick it up in Picture It. Picture it creates it's own layers with no need for naming and filing. When done just file it as both picture it (for later mods)and targa. Use your file converter to put itarga back iinto extended bitmp. then save in your planes texture file.

[VF-8 Doc]

Look for Eric J. Joiner's tutorial at www.aluminumcloud.com.  If you have any questions, you can e-mail me.  VF-8_Doc@mchsi.com  Good luck.

Doc