Creating Aircraft for FSX

[Guest djackson]

Now with FSX coming out and GMax is no longer available (see: http://usa.autodesk.com/adsk/servlet/index...&siteID=123112)What 3rd party software will be used to create good looking aircraft for FSX?I build using Cinema 4D which is my favorite 3D app. of choice, yes even over 3dsMax. I can save in a variety of formats, including .3dsCan anyone here on the design forum suggest a good workflow using a commercial 3D app. to FSX? I just looked at Abacus and the current version of the FSDS is old now, only being for FS2004 and below.Thanks much!I work in Cinema 4D, Photoshop CS2, and Illustrator CS2.~Dale

[Guest N66FC Raptor]

Hi,>What 3rd party software will be used to create good looking>aircraft for FSX?Take a look at "Expressions Interactive Designer" here (click "see it in action") http://www.microsoft.com/products/expressi...er/default.aspxThis designer uses a new programming language called "XAML" http://windowssdk.msdn.microsoft.com/en-us...y/ms752059.aspxSome of the FSX aircraft/gauges use something similar to XAML called "ACEXML" http://www.dre.vanderbilt.edu/Doxygen/Beta/acexml/index.html and "SAX"Do you know if there is a valid DTD for FSX?

[Guest djackson]

>Take a look at "Expressions Interactive Designer" here (click>"see it in action") >http://www.microsoft.com/products/expressi...er/default.aspx>>This designer uses a new programming language called "XAML">http://windowssdk.msdn.microsoft.com/en-us...y/ms752059.aspx>>Some of the FSX aircraft/gauges use something similar to XAML>called "ACEXML">http://www.dre.vanderbilt.edu/Doxygen/Beta/acexml/index.html>and "SAX">>Do you know if there is a valid DTD for FSX?Hmmm...I didn't see anything that had anything to do with Flight Simulator aircraft design in the links you provided. I did, however find out, that Turbosquid.com now offers Gmax, which is a relief.Thanks anyway~DJ

[n4gix 4,947]

>Hmmm...I didn't see anything that had anything to do with>Flight Simulator aircraft design in the links you provided. I>did, however find out, that Turbosquid.com now offers Gmax,>which is a relief.GMax v1.2 is included on the FSX Deluxe version DVDs. However, there is not export module ready for it (yet). It may be another month before that is ready for release.At the present time, the SDK contains only the export module for Max7/8, the three plugin scripts & support files, and of course the new XtoMDLexe compiler.

[Guest N66FC Raptor]

Hi,I included the "quote" as follows:>What 3rd party software will be used to create good looking aircraft for FSX?It looks like Interactive Designer can be used to assemble/compile the texture bitmaps to create not only "good looking aircraft" but, "INTERACTIVE" panels (eg. clickable bitmaps) as well. I don't have the "3rd party software" so I could be wrong.

[n4gix 4,947]

It matters not which modeling program is used... provided you have a way to create the FSX "unique" .x file format used... which includes, among other things a "FRIENDLY NAME" and unique GUID...Note carefully that the .x file(s) required by the XtoMDL.exe compiler are not run-of-the-mill DirectX files at all, but contain an enourmous amount of custom code generated by the export script, as well as the new FSX Materials Script, the Modeldef.xml file, etc.Your exporter for any modeling program must also be capable of parsing the model and generating an modelname.xanim file, which contains all of the custom XML code from the Modeldef.xml file.XtoMDL.exe will then combine the contents of the modelname.xanim file and the modelname.x file to generate the modelname.mdl file.XtoMDL.exe is then run again to combine the contents of the modelname.xanim file and the modelname_interior.x file to generate the modelname_interior.mdl file.

[Guest FelixFFDS]

It is my understanding that the ACES team should be releasing the necessary gmax modelling tools, hopefully in the not too distant future.Felix/FFDSPegasus Aviation Design