scaling issues

[wish_bear]

Hi

When creating models for scenery or aircrafts, what is the scale in MS FS2002?
currently using Gmax

Thanks
Wish_bear

[Felix/FFDS]

It's more an issue of scaling your model properly in gmax.

In Customize->Preferences->General make sure your "system Unit Scale" is set to 1.0 unit = 1meter.

From there, you can set up your gmax scene in the Customize->Units Setup to feet, meters, etc.

MOST IMPORTANT is that when you start building your model, you have scaled/calibrated your image modelling boxes/planes correctly.  A 100ft building is a lot smaller than a 100meter building..)

[wish_bear]

Yea I get that, I was just wondering if someone knew that the scale was in FS 2002- is there a grid set up in there that you can access?

I have my scale set to meters. I made a 1x1x1 box just to see how big that was- it was really tiny. I had a box that was 65x65x65 and that was monsterous...just looking for the general look & feel to be right.

Is there a better way to import files instead of using makemdl and having to lay in lat/long and heading.
Is there a system that gives you a birds eye view that you can drop your models on?

wish_bear

[Felix/FFDS]

I've moved this thread to the Scenery Design Forum, because I beleive that the answer is yes - there are "drag and drop" programs.

You would use gmax to make an object that can be read by a scenery generation program and then "dropped".. I may be wrong though, but the folks in this forum can help you.

[RollerBall]

Hi wish-bear,

This is all part of the learning process. There's no 'scale' to work to.

Can only talk about scenery design, but the tendency is to make things too big.

Best thing is to start by making something simple eg in EOD and make sure you DON'T use a fixed scale of 1. Use a variable scale (might be 1 for big objects which you will only want to adjust in units of 1, might be 0.25 if you want to work in units of .25 metre. Otherwise you can't adjust the size eg in FSSC or airport to see how things look by varying the final scale of the macro (see below).

So make your thing, pop it into a scenery and then land the Bell beside it. Imagine the pilot getting out and see how your thing would compare to his height.

I find that most 3rd party APIs I use which claim to be on a scale of 1 I have to reduce to something like 0.8 using the above method - and I prefer to believe my eyes!

See how you go. It's a fascinating business is scenery design