Simviation Forum - Payware...FSDS

Mar 26^th, 2007 at 9:21pm

Giteen Offline
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Home Airfield: KONZ

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Hi All,

After debating for a while, I guess I've decided to get a payware add-on.
(Yes, it's my first. Try to control your laughter. Embarrassed

)

My story: I am a pretty good aircraft painter/repainter. I love to paint, but have been looking at getting into the model field. I have tried Gmax with no luck. After failing to learn on my own, I looked at numerous Gmax tutorials. Again no luck with all the buttons, sliders, keys, menus, etc. I am looking at getting FSDS. I know a couple people who have it and like it very much. I understand that it will be released with support for FSX, though before I get ahead of myself with all of the features and "wonderful" reviews, I want to know what people here think.

Would you recommend this program?

What knowledge (if any) is needed?

What are the highlights/downsides?

Is the interface easy to learn and understand, etc.?

I will continue to gather info about this and other possible programs, though SimV input is probably of the most help.

- Thanks, Giteen

« Last Edit: Mar 26^th, 2007 at 11:17pm by Giteen »

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Reply #1 - Apr 1^st, 2007 at 5:59am

gryshnak Offline
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Low flying is when you
have to dodge the trees
Hull. Yorkshire, UK

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I have FSDSv3, and I like it. Easy to use, certainly easier than Gmax to learn. Not quite as powerful, especially where Boolean operations are concerned (using one shape to cut holes in another shape) but there are ways around most of these limitations.

By far the best feature over Gmax is the ability to convert your model to a plane or an item of scenery by just clicking on a menu option. Sometimes I got as far as building one wing, then converted it in a matter of seconds and flew it around - looked pretty weird but it told me I was doing it right. Then I added a fuselage and flew it again, then wheels, etc.

If you're an experienced 3D modeller, go with Gmax because it has more bells and whistles. If you're a 3D newbie, go with FSDS because it's more user friendly.

Gryshnak

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Reply #2 - Apr 1^st, 2007 at 11:05pm

Giteen Offline
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Home Airfield: KONZ

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Posts: 133

I gotta say, I was getting ready to stop checking this post. With your response I am once again hooked!

Thanks for the input, consideration taken!! Kiss

-Giteen

My PC Specs:&&&&OS:&&Windows Vista Home Premium (x32)&&&&Hardware:&&-ASUS P5N32-E SLI Motherboard&&-Intel Core 2 Duo E6600 Processor&&-EVGA NVIDIA GeForce 8800GTS Video Card&&-Western Digital 250GB Hard Drive&&-PATRIOT 2GB (4 512s) RAM&&-NEC DVD-RAM Drive&&-Sunbeam 550W Power Supply &&&&(I like to brag too)

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Reply #3 - Apr 2^nd, 2007 at 12:37pm

ozzy72 Offline
Global Moderator
Pretty scary huh?
Madsville

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Personally I find FSDS MUCH easier than Gmax! I've not produced anything worth releasing yet but I've got a couple of projects on the boil at the moment that look promising Wink

There are two types of aeroplane, Spitfires and everything else that wishes it was a Spitfire!

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Reply #4 - Apr 4^th, 2007 at 10:48pm

MIKE JG Offline
Colonel
Gravity Always Wins...
Ohio

Posts: 845

Giteen, I would echo everything that has been said above about FSDS vs. Gmax. Certainly from a new designer's perspective, FSDS will give you far fewer headaches and more quick results than will Gmax.

FSDS allows you to design using pre-made shapes if you like. So for example designing a hangar for scenery is simply a matter of putting a bunch of pre-made rectangles together and then tweaking if from there. As you work with FSDS more and more you start to learn little tips and tricks and shortcuts. So if designing your own aircraft model is eventually your goal with FSDS, you can start by desiging very basic scenery objects and progressing your way up. The tutorials that come with FSDS will get you started quite nicely as well.

Here is an example of some of the first custom scenery I've designed using FSDS. Really wasn't that hard to do. The AI A-10 in this picture was also designed in FSDSv3, but not by me, I'm not that good yet.

« Last Edit: Apr 5^th, 2007 at 3:56pm by MIKE JG »

-Mike G.

Military AI traffic packages and scenery for the Microsoft Flight Simulator series.

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