ShaneG's adventures in Gmax

[ShaneG_old]

LOL! A lego plane would be cool, but I think I'm still a ways from making a real plane.  Now I need to learn the nuts and bolts of Gmax and how to design planes in it.


Thanks to Alrot, Fr. Bill, and Travis for all the help.

This would NOT be possible without it.

[Felix/FFDS]

Shane.... our dear friend.  KNowing that you are overwhelmed by the activities of this weekend.

Please consider:

DO NOT GO TO OTHER SITES SEEKING TUTORIALS AND HELP UNLESS SPECIFICALLY DIRECTED TO DO SO FROM THE SIMVIATION AIRCRAFT & 3D DESIGN FORUM!

Of course, I say it facetiously - other sites (fsdeveloper.com and freeflightdesign.com) offer excellent advice and tutorials.  However, it is also true that the main "helpers"  make the rounds of the several design sites and teh same question, asked in several forums, will likely get you answers like "As I answered at xxxxx.com..."

One of the first tutorials that you will be directed to read/do is the "Stupid Idiot's Guide"  by Hugh SHoults, which is hosted at Simviation.  That's your basic modelling in gmax for FS2004 tutorial, closely followed by Uncle Milton's (aka Milton Shupe) C-162 tutorial.

Each has it's own "style", but you learn from both.

Now, even before you get to that point, it is highly recommended that you go through all the gmax native tutorials (yes, even the infamous P-38 tutorial, which ends up being modelled backward if you ever get it into FS-2004)

HAppy modelling!

[Felix/FFDS]

[quote]LOL! A lego plane would be cool, but I think I'm still a ways from making a real plane.

[MiltonShupe]

Congratulations!  You are on your way to creativity.  Have fun.  :)

[Mitch.]

Great stuff, now I want to see a fully modelled "True FSX" Beech 17 Staggerwing.

[Travis]

I have yet to make a successful compile from gmax, so you're ahead of me in the game!

Don't worry, Felix!  You'll get the itch some day, and then we won't be able to hold you back . . .

"Visions of Spitfires danced in his head . . ."

[Alejandro Rhodes]

     

[ShaneG_old]

After the install, I have 2 shortcuts for Gmax on my desktop.

One is Gmax that came with FS2004, and the other is FSX_Gmax.

Now, if I create something in the FS9 version, and then open it up in the FSX version and export it...

Is that a 'True FSX' model ?

I imagine that there will be a bit of effort required to convert and add different features from one to the other, as I have already encountered & figured out the GUID problem when trying it.

I think it would be cool to be able to make things for both sims, and was wondering how close the two really are at this level.


My first successful joining of multiple objects:

I haven't discovered downsizing yet.

[Alejandro Rhodes]

Shane why don't you just open just one thread buddy? :-/

Ok I will show you


In both SDKs the are shortcuts ,You will use ONLY for FSX its shortcut, in the FS2004 I doesn't work (maybe is my machine ) but you can accsess also in the normal Gmax shortcut in your sesktop or in C:/Gmax /gmax.exe



Also ,as a True FSX Model It will ask you to Give a friedly name in the LOD Guide Tool, Otherwise It won't export, Have you gaven a name to the model (box or anything?) if you haven't you haven't really export a True FSX model yet



Once you open the FS Tool tab Open the LOD Tool you will find this Click a Friendly name (Usually Like the name of the model MD-83,or A380 ,Cessna 172 etc)



remember Both SDK are different, and have diferent procedures ,Like :If you make a FS9 model by using FS9-SDK This model will be have to pass thru a diferent things to make it work for FSX-SDK ,the way of animations procedure are completely different ,It doesn't use the names ,you have to set the frame times ,tire animation (all animations)
What Im trying to say is that Just because you have an FS9 model ready and all animations Set ,It won't work In FSXX-SDK Mode You have to start over ,by setting FSX tools animation and few other things -.

[ShaneG_old]

Shane why don't you just open just one thread buddy? :-/

I've spliced them all into one handy thread now.

[Alejandro Rhodes]

Cool!

So definaly you have the 70% of the most difficult thing IN FSX-SDK done

[ShaneG_old]

I will definitely go with FSX first, that's where the future is, and more and more people are switching everyday.

[Alejandro Rhodes]

I used the same gmax file to export to both sims.

Yeah, without animations and mapping ,just a simple geometric shape ,there's still a lot to learn ahead of you Shane ,You just did what Many can't "Exporting" , the way of mapping in FS9 is a Standard Gmax Dialogue ,Instead when You Map you need to open the Material "FlightSimX" which is another whole different thing
when you made an animation In FS9 is based on the name and Just by Its name like canopy, gears (some of them Moves alone like Prop0_1 or Flap_01 ,tires, Rudder all of them do not need animation to be made) You need to rename every part to be animated exactly as FS2004 makemdl.doc says

[ShaneG_old]

It's not very pretty, I'm still just using basic objects, but using the Acceleration F-18's Air file, cfg, & VC, she flies quite nice.  :D

[Fr. Bill]

I will definitely go with FSX first, that's where the future is, and more and more people are switching everyday.

[color=#000000]
Hi Shane,

I'm assuming the the "MM_MkMDL.plugnplay.zip" file arrived intact and works as advertised.