Tunnel in the Sky

[jiaweide]

Hi,
Can anybody help in giving some pointers on how to program a tunnel made of squares/circles along a desired path? Something similar to the landing hoops in the Landing Lesson I (Student Pilot) of FS2002!
Thanks,
Javed

[Travis]

You might be able to use Gmax.  It seems the perfect medium for this, although it may not let you fly THROUGH the hoops.  I think I'll test the idea and see if it will work.  I'll get back to you on this . . .

[Travis]

Okay, just tested it, with some primitive tubes.  It will work, but I need to know if you have Gmax.  If so, I can suggest some excellent ways to do this.

[WebbPA]

The tunnels/hoops thing is called EFIS and it's built in to FS.  I haven't used it in a long time, it's a learner aid, but you can turn it on any time you have a course laid in.  I'd suggest jiaweide just check the manual on how to turn it on.

[jiaweide]

Hi,
Thanks Baron. I am downloading Gmax1.2 now. Appreciate your help.
Yes, Jim I have been using the landing hoops but I want to create a 3-D Tunnel to fly through, not necessarliy for landing but for a general maneover.
Javed

[Travis]

You're going to need the MakeMDL SDK found on the MSFS site.  The website is in my signature.  Download it, so you can make your Gmax creations into a *.bgl file that FS can read.  I would suggest you check the Scenery Design or Aircraft Design forums for more info.

I seem to recall someone saying at one point that you must have FS2002 Pro to transfer from Gmax to FS, but I can't see how that would be.  The SDK has everything you need to have for MakeMDL to work.  You might also want to get MDL Commander and Middleman, two programs that make it a little easier to use MakeMDL.  You can read all about this in the sticky topics found in the Aircraft Design forum.

Good Luck!

[jiaweide]

Thanks! Will try it out.
Javed

[jiaweide]

Hi,
Well...I made an object in gamx, exported as a .bgl file to FS2002\AddonScenery, but I dont see it. I used the coord using the slew command of meigs..
What am I doing wrong?
Javed

[Travis]

Did you add it to the scenery file?  If not, here's how:

If you have not already put the *.bgl file in its own file folder in the Addon Scenery folder, do so now.  Name the folder anything you want, something like "Hoops" for example.

Open up that folder and make two more new folders.  Call these "scenery" and "texture".  The names are important here, so make them just like that.

Now put the *.bgl file in the "scenery" folder you just created.  Don't worry about the texture folder, that will come in later.

Start FS.

At the main screen, select "Settings"

Select "Scenery Library" under "Scenery" in the lower left-hand corner.

Ignore the list for now and find the button labled "Add area . . ." on the right.

Navigate to the "Hoops" folder you created earlier.  Highlight it and select "OK".

Now click "OK" on the FS tabs.  It should take a moment to load, and then you can go set up a flight and check out your new scenery!

Remember that every time you change something on the Gmax file you need to remake the *.bgl file and stick it in that same folder.  FS will automatically scan and install the new file as long as the entry in the Scenery Library is still active.

[jiaweide]

That worked. Thanks. However ....when the fielis being exported as a simflight.bgk file, the dialog box only asks for the lat/long.....how do I enter the altutude..becuase I want these hoops to be at a ceriain height?
Javed

[Travis]

The altitude of the hoops will correspond to the height of the hoops in Gmax.  For instance, if you have a hoop at +1000ft above the center of the Gmax scene, it will be +1000ft above the ground level in FS when you export.  So just make them as high as you want them in the Gmax scene, and then export.

[Birdie2112]

can gmax be used to make all kinds of scenery addons???

[Travis]

Certainly.  Anything you can make in Gmax can be exported to either a *.mdl file (aircraft) or *.bgl file (scenery).  If you want to make a flying production plant, or a mile long stationary spacecraft, Gmax can do it.

But for things like airports, I would recomend first checking out the programs that are already out there that can do those things.  I use FSSC (Flight Sim Scenery Creator) for my airports, and it works great.

I think you could even combine the two and put in things that FS doesn't have in its file library by using Gmax.

[jiaweide]

Hi,
After considerable struggling with gmax...I finally have the 'entrance' to the tunnel in the sky! Thanks Ender Baron