Abacus FSDS learning curve....

[John_Murphy]

I have a series of GA airplanes based on the same general fuselage structure that I'd like to get operational for both FS9 & FSX.  Got it perfect in FS5, but had to abandon it ....
  Can someone help me shorten the learning curve before FS XX comes out?  I'd like to build shareware and would consider a partner (or partners) in endeavor.
   Since FS5 model is nearly ideal, is there any way to transfer data points to FSDS or G-max?
   Also need help w/custom gauges....

   - JohnM

[Felix/FFDS]

John - are these old afx style source files?

[John_Murphy]

John - are these old afx style source files?

Felix, tried to answer sooner but AOL disconnected before I could finish - and was ~ 95% done! -  Yes, they are original Aircraft Factory .afx files from a 3-view of the plane my late Dad and I flew from ~1965-1971.  I got it climbing, service and max ceiling, "glide ratio" and engine power settings right.  Even got a 3-d interior, cowl flaps open/closed "animation", prop and flap "animation" (within limits of FS5) and "see-through" windows in the bird, which everybody said was impossible for FS5!  I don't want to start from scratch if possible.  I do have access to scanner and original 3-view drawings, though....  I'd like to put original Narco and other special gauges into it that Dad and I had in the bird...

[Felix/FFDS]

send the afx to me by email.  I still have VASS-1 that has a neat afx importer.  Output is an fsc.

[John_Murphy]

[quote]send the afx to me by email.

[Felix/FFDS]

Whether you fo share/payware is program independent.

Having said that, *at this time* FSDS2.5.1 does not support full FSX functionality - bump maps, et.  FOr someone starting out, gmax is probably a better choice.  There are still FSDS die hards, but the problem is interfacing with the compiling tools.  Both gmax and fsds are using the FS-X SDK tools, but since they were made for gmax functionality, well....

Considering that I'm one of the FSDS die hards, I would suggest that you look to gmax.

PS... conversion of old afx models to dxf that you can directly import into gmax is also easy.

[John_Murphy]

[quote]Whether you fo share/payware is program independent.

Having said that, *at this time* FSDS2.5.1 does not support full FSX functionality - bump maps, et.

[Felix/FFDS]

What *I* do is  to import the afx into VASS-1 (I still have the first version with the afx importer) and save it as an fsc file, with textures assigned to the polygons.

Then I use the CVA converter to convert it from fsc to dxf mesh.

Of course, in going from fsc to dxf, you lose all texture assginments, partnames, etc., but you get back the basic mesh.

Check out some of the "civilian" aircraft in the FFDS library that I've converted to fsc.

[John_Murphy]

[quote]What *I* do is

[Felix/FFDS]

FFDS = Freeflight Design Shop

We've been around nine years already, offering tutorials, resources, and source files for flightsim modellers...

This is the direct link to the civilian source files library....
FFDS Civilian Source Files

[John_Murphy]

FFDS = Freeflight Design Shop

We've been around nine years already, offering tutorials, resources, and source files for flightsim modellers...

This is the direct link to the civilian source files library....
FFDS Civilian Source Files

Felix, it'll take me a little time to remember how to get old system up and running, but I will.  I'll send you 3 planes, all of my own design, and .afx-maxed out but very rough as far as fs9 goes.  One or more have old .afx "paint" on them but if I try to find textures, it'll be mid-2008!  Can you convert without textures even though they're specified?
  Oh, how's that conversion program coming to convert .afx files?
Thanks.  BTW, would ffds accept a freelanced fs5 file of a scaled-up version of a ficticious RC taildragger I used to experiment with as a gift for your help?  The bird has a partial-3-d cockpit, floats whose bottom half become "invisible" while taxiing at low speed and water rudders extend automatically, and is also a wheeled-taildragger w/skis (I think).... I'd be glad to provide any comments you'd want....
  Best, John

[John_Murphy]

FFDS = Freeflight Design Shop

We've been around nine years already, offering tutorials, resources, and source files for flightsim modellers...

This is the direct link to the civilian source files library....
FFDS Civilian Source Files

Felix, it'll take me a little time to remember how to get old system up and running, but I will.

[Felix/FFDS]

What i have done (and in fact, one of my few releases) was to use the afx "parts"  as the "backdrops"  and rebuild over them.

With FSDS it's a matter of rebuilding a new part.

With gmax, you can take the SAME part and add complexity to it.  For example, applying a "meshsmooth"  modifer adds more points and vertices.  With a basic 8-sided fuselage, one click and you have 16 or 32. (I'm going from memory...)

You will find that you can build up on a part, or just rebuild it.

[John_Murphy]

[quote]What i have done (and in fact, one of my few releases) was to use the afx "parts"