Hi all,I have done some basic airport mods in the past on FS2004 using AFCAD and RWY12 but not too extensive. I would basically add an ILS and maybe a VOR nearby where they didn't exist. Oh, and some chickens on the runway 8^). Anyways, so now I would like to add a static model of each aircraft I fly at my home airfield KABQ, a showcase so to speak. I have about 20 different planes I fly and I would like to park one of each on the flight line. Each has a custom paintjob with my tail number so there would be multiple models for some of the planes. What I don't know is:1. How I would go about creating and saving a model of each of my planes?2. How would I add this model to the airport?3. Is the process a lot different for FSX than for FS9 or basically the same? 4. Are there any decent free tools for doing this for FSX? I still have AFCAD and RWY12 for FS9, will they do the job? I am interested in doing this in both sims but FSX first.Thank you for any help.

You need SAMM- http://library.avsim.net/esearch.php?DLID=154542regards,Joe

Ok, got it thanks. Oh, and I read last night that RWY12 appears to work with FSX so I guess I have all the tools I need. Maybe. Will try today.

Today I got Rwy12 to place an aircraft model which was made by SAAM on a new section of KABQ I created with ADE. There is a lot to it so I have created a crib sheet to make it easier for the next time I try this (could be a week, could be years).Now I just need to find a program that will make .bgls out of a FSX bird. SAAM does not work with FSX planes. Any ideas? I have Gmax and it doesn't seem to work in reverse. I can create new objects with Gmax (that's a whole other story how to do that, I haven't learned yet) but I cannot seem to import a plane and then make a .mdl and .xml file from it.

In FS X, the mdl file for aircraft is the same as the mdl file for scenery. So, simply copy the aircraft mdl file, and either create an xml file to make a bgl, or use a object placement tool that can place mdl files, such as SBuilderX.Best regards.Luis

Thanks Luiz. I will tinker with it. There are some planes I have for FSX but not for FS9 so I will deal with that issue separately. My post above is a duh - I read up a bit about Gmax since then and now understand the reason why I can't import a plane. Hey, I'm still learning.

In fact, you can import a mdl file into gMax, but first you have to convert it into a suitable format. And you can do that thanks to our friend Arno Gerretsen and his ModelConverterX that you can find on his web site:http://www.fsdeveloper.com/forum/downloads.php?do=cat&id=5Simply convert your model and then import into gMax as usual.However, you don't really need to do this for what you want, since FS X mdl files for aircraft are the same as the scenery version, so you can just use the mdl file directly.Best regards.Luis

Simply convert your model and then import into gMax as usual. However, you don't really need to do this for what you want, since FSX mdl files for aircraft are the same as the scenery version, so you can just use the mdl file directly.

Thanks for that info Luis. However, FSX mdl files include navigation and strobe lights as well as the ground illumination from landing lights at night...not good for static objects. Also, what about aircraft with retractable landing gear? Samms took care of these issues for FS9 mdls. Any further instructions on fixing the FSX mdls without redoing them in Gmax?Art

Thank you for reminding and correcting me, Art. I appreciate it.So, the only recourse is to convert the mdl files, import into gMax, remove the offending elements, and export the modified mdl file for use as scenery.Best regards.Luis

Sadly, I was mistaken. I thought I placed some scenery made by SAAM but I only placed a built in Rwy12 object. I have tried all sorts of different things to get Rwy12 to place a FS9 model I made with SAAM but no matter what I do I can't see the object. So in effect, i have tested my Rwy12 installation only and that is working. So there is a problem with either 1) the .mdl and .xml produced by SAAM or 2) something went wrong in the large amount of steps required to add an object into Rwy12 for placement. Either way, I'm at a loss but I will not give up. I think I might contact Opa and see if he can help me. He knows all there is to know about Rwy12.

Sadly, I was mistaken. I thought I placed some scenery made by SAAM but I only placed a built in Rwy12 object. I have tried all sorts of different things to get Rwy12 to place a FS9 model I made with SAAM but no matter what I do I can't see the object. So in effect, i have tested my Rwy12 installation only and that is working. So there is a problem with either 1) the .mdl and .xml produced by SAAM or 2) something went wrong in the large amount of steps required to add an object into Rwy12 for placement. Either way, I'm at a loss but I will not give up. I think I might contact Opa and see if he can help me. He knows all there is to know about Rwy12.

Why not just use the placement option (xml method) that is detailed in the SAMM program?There is really no need to try to work it through RWY12.I have done several times that way and it works fine for me.

Are there any decent free tools for doing this for FSX? I still have AFCAD and RWY12 for FS9, will they do the job? I am interested in doing this in both sims but FSX first.

You indicated that you were using ADE. It is very capable of placing the SAMM models in FSX. Just read the instructions on adding library objects.Art

Very good point Opa. Thanks to all you guys for your help. As Opa said, placing the aircraft does work through SAAM. I am happy now.