What is the best Add on designer

[Pc-Shark]

Just wondering which one is the best to have.............

[Felix/FFDS]

You're mixing apples and oranges, and in the general statement of add-on designers, you're leaving out the scenery design programs.

But, considering this is the aircraft design forum, your choices should be:

gmax
FSDS2

I've arranged them in roughly my order of "best" in terms of FS9 compatibility and overall program user-friendliness.

gmax is the more powerful modelling program - it supports more features than FS can handles.

FSDS2 was developed to the FS2002 SDKs, so the newer FS9-specific features are not yet directly supported.

FS-Edit is Microsoft's editor for compiled models - you adjust flight dynamics and other non-visual model characteristics.  Generally, folks shy away from this program, but that's a matter of preference.

The Microsoft SDKs are the "Law" as far as how to name the parts, set up the aircraft.cfg files  etc.

[Wing Nut]

Felix, the version I bought (2.20) is supposed to be able to support FS9 also.  ;)

[Felix/FFDS]

[quote]Felix, the version I bought (2.20) is supposed to be able to support FS9 also.

[Wing Nut]

But I will still be able to do a vc for my Corsair, right?

[Hagar]

Yes. Don't worry. Unless you need a periscope of course.

[Pc-Shark]

[quote]You're mixing apples and oranges, and in the general statement of add-on designers, you're leaving out the scenery design programs.

But, considering this is the aircraft design forum, your choices should be:

gmax
FSDS2

I've arranged them in roughly my order of "best" in terms of FS9 compatibility and overall program user-friendliness.

gmax is the more powerful modelling program - it supports more features than FS can handles.

FSDS2 was developed to the FS2002 SDKs, so the newer FS9-specific features are not yet directly supported.

FS-Edit is Microsoft's editor for compiled models - you adjust flight dynamics and other non-visual model characteristics.

[Wing Nut]

You have to install the help files and tutorials yourself.  They come included in the download, but be advised, the tutorials aren't very helpful.  You'll do far better by going through some of the links on this site's front page.

[Milton]

I would advise going through the tutorials and using the Help provided with Gmax.  Install it; it's great.

These are essential to learning what Gmax can do.  They "introduce" you to the features and tools within Gmax.  Take your time to learn the tool; the investment pays off many times over just as with any piece of technology.  It will save a lot of frustrations.  The Help is well done.

Then, you might take a look at the "Stupid Idiots Guide" for a "structured approach" to designing aircraft.  There is a lot to learn, but certainly doable if you take it one step at a time.