I have entered...

[Black ZR-1]

..The world of GMAX.

Just got my confirmation code. Let's see how many years it takes me to learn this  :-?

[Brett_Henderson]

Learning it ?  Not long at all...  :)

Mastering it ?  Never happen...  :P

Your first aircraft, start to finish; textured, animated and ready to share ?   300 hours  

[Cobra]

hehe, i've spent hours on it...and still cannot make anything more than a cube (and thats on a good day!!)

[Felix/FFDS]

IT's okay - I"ve been working at gmax since .... 2002 ....

[Brett_Henderson]

I did a C210 and Mojave in FSDS...  I've moved back to GMAX for a C177RG because of FSX. It's quite a re-education.. worth it so far (I think).

[SkyNoz]

Well, it will definitely create a challenge for you, if you have no experience in 3d modeling. Well the motivation will keep you going to create something unique. Expect the skill to come with time and know how to come quick. I started, I believe using Gmax oh around 2004 and or so, about 2 1/2 years and I can create great model with a little patience. I would look up as much tutorials and help, also install the game pack and remember to make backup's of your projects. -Good luck!

[Black ZR-1]

What do you guys use for references? Real pictures of planes or other people's work?

[Brett_Henderson]

Setting up 3-views (top bottom side) is the best way. You can use bitmaps as backgrounds, but you'll find out how troublesome that can be.

Keep studying tutorials and the help files. Learning how to use three boxes as "screens" texured with the views is the best way to do it.

What airplane do you intend to model first ?

[Black ZR-1]

Well I was thinking something like a glider. What do you recommend for beginners?

[Brett_Henderson]

Any plane is fine. You can decide as you go, what level of detail you're willing to strive for. A highly accurate Warrior can be just as difficult to model as an A380. The trick though, is to have a passion for the plane, because by the time you're done with it, you'll feel like you're married to it  :)

The P38 tutorial is good for getting a feel for it.. there are dozens of others. The process is literally so multi-sided, I'd say that actual modeling is less than half. Animating is a handful, and the oh-so-important texturing is a vocation in itself...  THEN you have get the geometry and physics and contact points figured out... Dynamic virtual cockpits are a test, too. Oh.. and don't forget the panel(s)  

(if you have a wedding planned for the near future, you might wanna choose between your new bride and aircraft modeling     )

[Black ZR-1]

My passion is the legendary P-47, but that won't be for a while until I learn the basics.

That sounds like a long list  :-/

[CAFedm]

All of the above is really good advice...it all sounds very familiar! One other thing to consider might be to tackle the learning process in bits, instead of all in one go. Developing your first complete model may take quite awhile longer than anticipated (mine took half a year, followed by several more months of ongoing "tweaking"). For example, if the P-47 is your style, check out an existant model that you can redesign your own textures for. You could also try adding your own effects or modifying a 2-D cockpit (a 3-D one requires having the model's source file at hand). Focusing upon one aspect of modelling at a time will be more manageable; you will then be armed with the knowledge to be able to tackle it without problem, once work on your first big project is underway.

[Black ZR-1]

I build and fly model RC airplanes so I know what it's like to have built something and watch it fly. Same goes for modelling I assume. That satisfaction of creating it, flying it and eagerly waiting to start your next project.







I've been been building my 1/5th P-51D for 2 years now and I'm almost done with her. Everything takes time and you learn by trial and error and that's how I'm going to approach GMAX.

[supersabre79]

nice p51! lovely

[SkyNoz]

Ah great, I as well build and fly RC aircraft. For reference data, I would refer to 3 view schematics, cross selections ' or formers known in RC building'. Just generally any technical drawings. Before I would do anything, first practice with objects. I.e. Meshing and playing with splines. Remember modeling isn't just making something in Gmax, knowing the steps of things is what makes you a designer.