Need some help with editing MDL

[Jutocsa]

I guess this is the right place to post it, not the previous forum. So here I go: I'd like to make a plane model for Forgotten Battles. Unfortunately there are no good or just few references for it, but I got its .mdl from CFS2 and I'd like to use it as cross section reference. My question is...can I get it into MAX ? If not, with what can I edit it ? (to brake it apart making pictires of cross sections) Thanks in advance for any help  

[Travis]

Well, just to give you some idea: it isn't really possible to transfer DIRECTLY to any Max product from MDL, but there (I think) is some program out there that will take it apart.  The model will have no texture mapping, animations or part names, but for what you want to do that doesn't seem like it would be a problem.

[Felix/FFDS]

What aircraft are you trying to build?  Chances are, there's a scale drawing or 3-view somewhere around..

[Jutocsa]

I'd like to build a M

[Travis]

I wouldn't recomend going to all that trouble.  If you are having trouble getting a particular section right, just make it as close to the three-views as possible.

Remember, this is an artistic representation of the aircraft, so feel free to do what you want with it: it's your design!

[X_eidos2]

There is a way to solve your problem without trying to edit an MDL file.

Install the free version of Active Camera if you're in FS2002.

Have the aircraft on the ground.

Using the Active Camera controls you can walk around the aircraft, sort like a virtual pre-flight. "Walk" to the front of the aircraft. Keep moving the camera toward the plane until the clipping plane of the camera slices away the front of the plane. Do a screen capture of the screen and you should have a template for your cross-section.

Here's an example of this process done on a Ryan STA.


If the plane is a tail dragger, you can always take-off and bring the tail up and then hit pause. The Active Camera controls still work when the sim is paused.