FlightGear supports 3d models from GMAX

[Guest Hardraade]

A lot of people have the misconception that FlightGear only supports 3D models in ac3d formats. This is not true.FlightGear supports a variety of formats, among them is 3ds. This means that one can uses the popular GMax to design anything from aircrafts to scenery.When you want to export a model for FlightGear, go to File > Export. In the "Save As Type" combo box at the bottom of the dialog box, select "3D STUDIO (*.3DS)".Take note that when you specify a file name, you need to include the extension ".3ds" in lowercase. For example, say you would like to export a model of Cessna to 3ds format, in the "File name" text box, you would type: "Cessna.3ds".That's all. Please spread this post around so more people can be benefited from this knowledge.By the way, before one starts modelling an aircraft or a building, please make sure nobody else is working on the exact samething. There can't be two files with the same name after all, not to mention the fact that flames will arise when people compare one model to another.

[Guest Lionel Goh]

hello,is there a poly limit to the models allowed in FG?

[Guest Hardraade]

No. There is no definite polygon limit in FlightGear as far as I know.In my opinion, "polycount limit" is quite misleading. While it is a good practice to keep the polycount as low as possible, one shouldn't make a religion out of it. What you should aim for instead is a decent framerate, and sometimes having the lowest polycount doesn't necessarily mean you will get a higher performance.If you want to put a lot of details on your aircraft, one thing that you may want to do is specifying different level of details. You can allow more and more details to render as the camera moves closer to the aircraft.A more important thing that you should pay attention to are the textures. Specifically, their file size and their resolution. If your model only have six polygons, but use several 4096 X 4096 textures, you shouldn't expect decent framerates.Do remember that your model is not the only model on the screen. So if you are planning to make a model containing 70,000 polygons, please divide that number by 10. ;)

[Guest jstevenson]

Are you sure?My version of GMAX (obtained from Turbosquid, in conjunction with my installation of FS2002 professional) doesn't seem to have an Export function to 3ds - which I've been desparately trying to find these past few days!!!The only Export options I have are: 1) to FS2002 (MakeMDL, to *.mdl or *.bgl) 2) to something called Plasma (*.p3d)I tried exporting an aircraft model I'm working directly to mdl, then putting this into FlightGear (since another MDL I got for the Aerosonde UAV worked directly) but when I do it, the scaling seems to be all messed up. As a simple test I tried this with a simple 1m cube. The MakeMDL's output shows up in FlightGear as a HUGE cube (maybe 1 km cube?!! ALA the Borg!). I tried messing around with scale factors, even creating a 1mm cube but then MakeMDL complains!!Is there an add-on for GMAX that I'm missing?What about 3d Studio Max? I downloaded a v9 demo, expecting to see GMAX as an option for loading or importing/exporting but alas, there's no mention of GMAX!!! Strange, since 3ds seems like just a suped-up version of GMAX (or the other way around?).Any or all help would be...helpful!-Jon

[Guest Hardraade]

>Are you sure?Not anymore, and it has been that for quite a long time apparently. So, I apologize for the noise.:(I use to mod for a game called "Bridge Commander", and some people who could not "afford" 3D Max create their models in GMAX, then give the models to someone who has 3D Max to convert into a format useable by the game.Hope is not lost though.http://wiki.flightgear.org/flightgear_wiki...in_AC_from_GMAX>What about 3d Studio Max? I downloaded a v9 demo, expecting>to see GMAX as an option for loading or importing/exporting>but alas, there's no mention of GMAX!!! Strange, since 3ds>seems like just a suped-up version of GMAX (or the other way>around?).If you have 3D Max Studio, you won't be needing GMAX anymore. Just export your models into 3ds, which is support by Flightgear.

[Guest subdriver]

Hi Folks ...This is interesting ...I have AutoCAD and can save and export as a 3D Studio Max model. Will this work too ....? I think I should be OK.If so .... anybody wanna Mitsubishi "Zeke 52" modelling?

[Guest Hardraade]

>I have AutoCAD and can save and export as a 3D Studio Max>model. Will this work too ....? I think I should be OK.I have AutoCAD too, but I don't recall seeing options to export the model as 3ds.What I usually do is use 3D Studio to import a DWG model.In anycase, I think it should be okay.

[Guest subdriver]

>>I have AutoCAD too, but I don't recall seeing options to>export the model as 3ds.>Hi there ...Yup! I just checked .... .3ds is one of the "export" options. At least in AutoCAD 2000 and up.John

[Guest Hardraade]

>Hi there ...>>Yup! I just checked .... .3ds is one of the "export" options.>At least in AutoCAD 2000 and up.>>JohnI just checked, and unfortunately I don't have an option to export to 3ds here. I'm using AutoCAD 2007. :(

[Guest subdriver]

Really?I'm on ACAD 2000 at home - but we have 2007 in the office. I will have a peep tomorrow.(Autodesk does do some strange things, I know ..........)Regards,John

[Guest jstevenson]

>>If you have 3D Max Studio, you won't be needing GMAX anymore. >Just export your models into 3ds, which is support by>Flightgear.>I assume you mean Autodesk 3ds Max? I downloaded a demo/trial version of 3D Max v9, expecting to find a native capability to import from GMAX. In fact, if I found this, it would be enough of a reason for buying 3D Max Studio.However, I can find no way to import GMAX files. Ditto on the GMAX end - I see no way to EXPORT out to 3ds there either (either way would work afterall). I have a huge set of GMAX models (for FS2002) that I am not prepared to simply abandon or re-do!Perhaps I'm simply missing something like a plug-in to get this capability? Although, why this wasn't built-in is beyond me. I'm *this close* to actually contacting Autodesk directly to get the scoop. I find it outrageous that there would be this little support for those trying to do the honest thing (i.e. upgrading to 3ds Max from GMAX). Seems they may have taken a page from Microsoft?! (although even they generally will support 2-3 generations back of the same company products!).Any and all help or advise would be welcome!-Jon

[Guest Hardraade]

>I assume you mean Autodesk 3ds Max? Yeah.>I downloaded a demo/trial version of 3D Max v9, expecting to>find a native capability to import from GMAX. In fact, if I>found this, it would be enough of a reason for buying 3D Max>Studio.>>However, I can find no way to import GMAX files. Ditto on the>GMAX end - I see no way to EXPORT out to 3ds there either>(either way would work afterall). I have a huge set of GMAX>models (for FS2002) that I am not prepared to simply abandon>or re-do!You could, export it to .ac format first:http://wiki.flightgear.org/flightgear_wiki...in_AC_from_GMAXThen, ask someone who has AC3D, or get an elevation copy of AC3D, and export the mesh from .ac to .3ds.>Perhaps I'm simply missing something like a plug-in to get>this capability? Although, why this wasn't built-in is beyond>me. >>I'm *this close* to actually contacting Autodesk directly to>get the scoop. I find it outrageous that there would be this>little support for those trying to do the honest thing (i.e.>upgrading to 3ds Max from GMAX). Seems they may have taken a>page from Microsoft?! (although even they generally will>support 2-3 generations back of the same company products!).>>Any and all help or advise would be welcome!>>-JonDon't bother about contacting them. Their intention is for people to buy 3D Studio. Think about it this way, if everyone can export models into .3ds format from GMAX, who is going to buy 3D Studio?

[Guest subdriver]

>>I just checked, and unfortunately I don't have an option to>export to 3ds here. I'm using AutoCAD 2007. :(Hello again ...My word - I did check at the office today - You're quite right!You can still do it in 2000 and 2002 - but in their wisdom, Autodesk seem to not think it appropriate in their latest version. I can't imagine why they would make this change.How odd.:-hmmm So much for progress! :-vuur Best Regards,John

[Guest Hardraade]

>How odd.:-hmmm So much for progress! :-vuur If that function exists in 2007, it would have made my job so much easier.Anyway, what aircraft model have you done in AutoCAD before?

[Guest helijah]

Lol,Pass under Linux and these questions will even disappear from them;) Moreover the format AC is open and in ASCII what makes it much simpler to use. Me I would continue to convert all 3DS into AC for my personal use in FlightGear.Best regards

[Guest subdriver]

>Anyway, what aircraft model have you done in AutoCAD before?Hi Hardraade,Actually ...:-shy ... none!No - I use AutoCAD professionally, mainly 2D but sometimes 3D in my work as a constructon design technician. Of course I've modelled buildings and architectural features etc. in 3D - but mostly as "solids" - I'm not so adept with meshes. However, I am also a Marine/Aviation Artist and frequently model 3D simplified "lay models" of ships and aircraft to assist in perspective views etc for paintings.I have managed to whack out quite passable U-Boats, Japanese submarines and even the Zeppelin "Hindenburg" (Real easy!) using AutoCAD and Rinoceros(Unfortunately I only have the demo. version - great application, though!). I also did a 'generic' nine cylinder radial engine for "modelling" purposes.So ... I think the time may have come for me to take a shot at something more serious ... ?I would need some help, though ... haven't a clue about coding the animation etc ...(Please don't laugh ... at my old age - you never know what might happen ... :-newbie)John