Hi all,I am looking for a good tutorial on creating ai aircraft using fsds. Any suggestions? Mainly I want to build a B-52H Stratofortress to go with a scenery I am working on for Minot AFB. Thanks in advance.Matt

Hi,Do you already know FSDS for creating aircraft in general and only need the information on how to create LODs for the AI aircraft? Or do you need help from the start?If the latter, head over to Freeflight Design Shop tips and tutorials:http://www.freeflightdesign.org/tutorials.htmlhttp://www.freeflightdesign.org/tips.htmlSome of the links are dead, but others aren't.If just the AI part, I assume in FSDS3 you create them the same way as in GMAX.You use the normal Exterior dummy part as your base part, then under that you name each LOD. So children of Exterior (i.e. linked to the Exterior node) would be dummy parts like Airplane_LOD_100, Airplane_LOD_70, Airplane_LOD_40, and Airplane_LOD_10. And linked to each of these nodes are all the parts for that LOD's model. LOD 100 is the complex model, LOD_10 would be very simple.I create the main model first, then create simpler parts as children of the lower LOD models using the complex plane's shape as a guide. I end up with an LOD 10 model that is a fuselage shaped 4 sided box, with simple wings and tail. You can hide various models to concentrate on the one you are working one. Alternatively, you can make them as separate files and combine them later. Each model's file still has to have the correct hierarchy, though, so the merge goes properly later.In FSDS2 you instead create LOD models in the Manage Models menu item, set them as LOD models, and set the pixels and meters. I use:Main ModelLOD Model 10 pixels, 10mLOD Model 10 pixels, 5mLOD Model 10 pixels, 2mThese settings can be adjusted for the size of the plane, and the number of LOD models you wish to include.I build the Main Model first, then copy and paste it into the first LOD model. Then I create simple parts using the Main Model parts as a guide to their shapes. Then delete the old Main Model parts. Then copy the 1st LOD model into the 2nd LOD model and continue the process. You use Shift M to move between your various LOD models.Hope this helps,

I will definitely take a look at those links. Is GMAX easier to use than FSDS 3? I don't have a lot of experience with either so any help anyone can give is much appreciated.Matt

Hi,FSDS is easier to use, but less powerful. GMAX is much harder to learn, but is much more powerful.Hope this helps,