My first GMAX project

[Damian Clark 1,258]

Hi everyone,This is my first GMAX project.... I've spent about 2 weeks on it. At this pace, I'm hoping to be done with the exterior model in another week or two. My question is... does anybody know what the default FS2k2 aircraft come in at with poly count? My model is currently about 2000 polys with optimization and I'm hoping I'm on track. I want an aircraft that doesn't slow FS down to a crawl (i.e. the beautiful but very sluggish Falcon 50). Does this sound right? Thanks for any feedback..3d08e9be706cdec2.jpg

[Guest]

I know this is unconventional thinking but I don't worry about poly counts. I use FSDS and not Gmax but I build and view in the game as I go. Then I make my parts with just enough polys to make the part believable. For example: If a 20 sided fuselage looks nearly as good as a 32 sided one, I go for 20. But if 16 sides looks lumpy, I up it a bit. Next I set the sliders on the game to max. Then I test the model on my modest machine of PII 800, 256 ram and a 32MB GeForce2. This seems about standard between old and new machines. If it looks good there, then I'm good to go. Besides, a B-17 will always have more polys then an P-51 so how do you deterimine the optimal?. (or a747 to Lear for you tin sausage lovers).Also, 2000 is very respectable. My Stearman is around 5000. Have you added any VC or landing gear parts yet? Sometimes the little parts make the poly count rise.Davewww.daviator.com

[Guest]

WOW it looks fantastic... is it the Citation X? I really love that aircraft :)

[Damian Clark 1,258]

Thanks for the reply... I haven't actually tried the fs2k2 import process yet (frankly, I'm scared!) but I'll do that soon and get a feel for what is 'the bare minimum' while still good looking.I haven't done the details yet including VC, landing gear, antenni, pitot tubes, control surfaces, flap linkages, slats, the whole works.. I am guessing I've got many more polys coming but I hope to keep it as low as possible. I'm thinking 7500ish for a target.Thanks again for the info!

[Damian Clark 1,258]

Citation X, yep... Much more work to do but it will be done eventually! :)

[Guest cwright]

I think you can budget for considerably higher counts (you've probably noted that the Gmax polygon counter has a budget indicator!) My Constellation has 22,000 for the external model - and the VC is a whopping 39,000! (the VC is pretty complex and has animated crew/passengers). On my fairly old P3 800 Mhz spot view frame rates are fine and perfectly acceptable in the VC. Fortunately the amazing rate of PC development lets us do things that would have been impossible just a few years ago. Unfortunately I won't be buying a new PC for some time yet as my shares have crashed on the Nasdaq! Best regards, Chris

[Guest cwright]

>Also, 2000 is very respectable. My Stearman is around 5000. Dave, your Stearman is one of my favourites. She's a real beauty. Many thanks.... Best regards, Chris