Nosewheel steering and suspension

[Gnome]

Can anyone help a GMAX newbie with this one?
I've got the wheels to rotate OK and have finally got the nosewheel to steer but can I get suspension to work?  Can I b*ggery.  

So,  step-by-step instructions on naming, axis-orientation and positioning and general information please....  The 'tutorials' all seemed to be aimed at somebody who already knows how IYKWIM.  

[Milton]

Hi Gnome,

I remember the days of the same frustrations. :-)

Here is a gmax source nosegear animated to refer to.

http://www.freeflightdesign.com/tutoria ... mation.zip

I hope this helps.

[Gnome]

That's a terrific help Milton, thanks.  I prefer the keyframe method too because my aircraft needs a much sharper turning angle than rudder can provide and this way I don't have to mess up my flight dynamics.

I had got the naming wrong...  :-/

Can you do me a note on suspension too please?

[Gnome]

Doh!  Sorry m8, it's all in the GMAX example...

OK, I'm going to attack it again.  I think I'll delete the whole assembly and start again just in case my previous attempts stay keyframed in and cock it all up.

Thanks again.

[Gnome]

OK, it all looks perfect in GMAX and the nosewheel steering is perfect in FS but the wheel still won't go up and down.  :-(

I'm darned if I can see what the problem is.

[Milton]

Are you speaking of gear retraction or suspension?

Make sure all animated objects have a c_gear_xxxx name.

Suspension animation is done in keyframes 100-200.

[Gnome]

Suspension.
Yes, all parts named c-gear_whatever except c_tire_still and c_tire_blurred and these are linked to c_gear_axle which is in turn linked to c_gear_bottom.

Except that when I lookat it in the hierarchy, the tire parts are GROUPED with c_gear_bottom.  I didn't group 'em, I linked 'em.

[Gnome]

Cracked it!  It was c_gear_bottom.  I had grouped the lower cylinder with the fork and named the group c_gear_bottom.

Ungrouping the parts, renaming the cylinder c_gear_botom and linking the fork to it solved the problem.  :-)

Thanks very much for your help.

Now, if I can just find a way of making highly detailed but magically low-poly models....