Simviation Forum - today's top stupid question of today is...

May 14^th, 2003 at 1:24am

ViNtAgE FlYa Ex Member

hey all, well, as you see i'm still alive and well Grin

i'm sorry i haven't been hanging around the simV Forums latey, more like.... 3 months!! well i tell you one thing thow, i ain't lost my interest in avaition!! and that follows my question, i just resently got FSDS, but i just found out that you need Aircraft animator for moving parts, not good for my projects i'm on! Angry

anyway, back to the simple stupid question i've been wanting to be asked.....

where do i download GmaX? Embarrassed

yes, i want to see what it is like, and i might convert my FSDS models to gMax...

so, i look forward to your replys

CHEERS!!

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Reply #1 - May 14^th, 2003 at 1:45am

Hagar Offline
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Hi Vintage. Which version of FSDS do you have? The current Version 2 (FSDS2) uses the same part name animating conventions as Gmax. You do not need Aircraft Animator.

If you really want to try Gmax you can download it here. http://www.discreet.com/products/gmax/gmaxconsumer/downloads_text.html
You would need FS2002 Pro to export FS2002 or CFS2 aircraft. CFS3 has its own downloadable Gamepack.

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Reply #2 - May 14^th, 2003 at 6:02am

Felix/FFDS Offline
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What Hagar said on FSDS.

You would STILL need Aircraft Animator IF you were going to make FS2000 models in FSDS2.

as for gmax - you can also wait for FS2004 - and it will be included... no "pro" version

Felix/FFDS

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Reply #3 - May 14^th, 2003 at 9:59am

Hagar Offline
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Quote:

What Hagar said on FSDS.

You would STILL need Aircraft Animator IF you were going to make FS2000 models in FSDS2.

Thanks Felix. I did think of pointing this out.
Question: Has anyone successfully exported a Gmax model to FS2000?

Quote:

as for gmax - you can also wait for FS2004 - and it will be included... no "pro" version

I'm not confident the FS2004 gamepack will be compatible with FS2002/CFS2. Maybe Chris File will come to the rescue once again.

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Reply #4 - May 26^th, 2003 at 2:33am

ViNtAgE FlYa Ex Member

HEY sorry for the hold up guys

hadn't payed my net bills in 4 weeks....

i do not have FSDS2, i hve the 1st version second hand off some mate of mine.

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Reply #5 - May 26^th, 2003 at 2:57am

Hagar Offline
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LOL Vintage. I thought you'd done the vanishing trick for another 3 months. Wink

Here's my two pennorth for what it's worth. Try Gmax by all means. You can use the CVA export plugin posted at SimV to convert your project to DXF format which Gmax can then import. If you're used to FSDS like me you might find Gmax difficult to understand & use. Providing your FSDS1.x is registered it might be better to upgrade to FSDS2. Don't part with FSDS1.x as they will run separately - which I find very useful. Wink

I'm still not sure which sim you're designing for. If it's CFS2 you will need to export from Gmax via MiddleMan + the FS2002 Gamepack.
From what I can tell from a peek at FS2004 beta the Gamepack is the same one included with FS2002.

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Reply #6 - May 26^th, 2003 at 4:57am

RIC_BARKER Offline
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Hi Hagar,

This is a bit of a add-on question to the above (get it?!)

I recently tried exporting a .dxf from FSDS2, wth no luck (I'm told it won't work) so I tried in porting an FSDS2 file into FSDS1, which won't work either. Is there any way of saving an FSDS2 file so that it can be loaded into FSDS1 and then saved as a .dxf so I can port it into Gmax?

I've tried saving as a .fsc and as a part.

Ric B.

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Reply #7 - May 26^th, 2003 at 5:38am

Hagar Offline
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Hi Ric. Unfortunately no to both points. Cry

Being more used to FSDS1.6 I find it more convenient to use it for all preparatory work (including assigning textures). I also produce this original version to the sim for setting up things like the contact points. When this is done I import to FSDS2 for animation & other features. This might sound clumsy but I find it easier.

Some CFS2 utilities like DPED cannot read FSDS2 (or Gmax) model files so it's handy to have the FSDS1.6 version to work with. This is not always easy to remember as I've found out to my cost, particularly if you change the position of the model.

PS. If you have both FSDS1 & 2 I'm wondering why you need Gmax at all. ???

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Reply #8 - May 26^th, 2003 at 4:17pm

RIC_BARKER Offline
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Hi Hagar,

Thanks for the clarification on those points - I like the idea of doing work in FSDS 1 first, I'm going to try it.

The reason I wanted to import to Gmax is because I'm not at all happy with the way FSDS2 applies "Dynamic Shine" or to be more precise, specularity. I'd like to have control over how "glossy" the surface is, not just how reflective it is.

Ric B.

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Reply #9 - May 26^th, 2003 at 4:29pm

Felix/FFDS Offline
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In that case, you're better off doing your project in FSDS1.6, then converting to dxf/gmax for texturing and animation.

Note that you will than have to go part by part and declare materials, etc.

Quote:

Hi Hagar,

Thanks for the clarification on those points - I like the idea of doing work in FSDS 1 first, I'm going to try it.

The reason I wanted to import to Gmax is because I'm not at all happy with the way FSDS2 applies "Dynamic Shine" or to be more precise, specularity. I'd like to have control over how "glossy" the surface is, not just how reflective it is.

Ric B.

Felix/FFDS

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Reply #10 - May 26^th, 2003 at 4:30pm

Hagar Offline
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Hi again Ric. That stuff is a tad complicated for my feeble brain. Gmax defeated my best efforts at texturing. LOL

I've found FSDS2 capable of everything I wanted to do, once I figured out how it's done. I'm still experimenting with all those options in the texture & material properties I'm sure Felix or one of the other experts can suggest something on the gloss.

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Reply #11 - May 26^th, 2003 at 6:41pm

RIC_BARKER Offline
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Hi Felix and Hagar,

Is there no way to edit the .Mdl file itslef to change the gloss setting? I'm sure I read somwhere about Gmax users doing this to acheive the required look, but I've never found anything about it since.

Ric B.

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