...pretty please?

I have started using GMax, and I've come up with a basic model that I'd like to export to FS (I have FS9) as a sort of test. I'm going to be using the flight dynamics of another aircraft, and no textures for the moment.

I have heard that exporting models from GMax to FS involves a program called Makemdl, and a series of other downloads and procedures that have succeeded in completely befuddling me.

Please could someone talk me through the process, including links to software I'll need to get - as far as I'm aware I have none of the supporting files or software - and please no jargon, as mentioned I'm a newbie to this.

Thanks in advance - any help would be hugely appreciated.

P.S. the model in question is;

I didn't say I was any good.

Spit,

Looking good!

F.A.B.

"colocated vertices" means that you have one or more vertex points "on top of each other" in the same polygon. You need to take careful note of which part(s) it is complaining about and then find and WELD the colocated vertices to get rid of them...

spitfire boy wrote on Jul 25^th, 2007 at 6:35am:


Youngling (in modelling terms, of course, you'll know youself if it applies to other aspects of yourself)...

Make sure that your "System Unit Scale"  in gmax are set to 1 unit = 1 meter.

You will find this under Customize->Preferences->[Tab:General]  "System Unit Scale"

Hey.
Model size problem=
I model in US units you can model in either US or Metric. Then Gmax will convert them. What you do is start Gmax go directly to Customize tab at top then Units set up. Choose either Metric or US. Making sure to either pick Meters or Feet with decimal inches. Press OK.
Next reopen the Customize tab and go to Preferences. There under System Units Scale choose Meters making sure to check Automatic Units Conversion  and that it is set to 1.0.
While still on Preferences you may want to Crank up your scene undo I like to have 100 just in case I want to back way up. Its on the same page as the System units scale.
Now click Viewports. In order to have your textures display well go to Display Drivers and click Configure driver. Click 512 and check Match BMP as close as possible. Also have triangle strips checked now push OK. While on the Viewports page you can also choose some preferences to help Gmax run better on your machine such as backface cull wich just means you can see through the back of the poly. Less for your machine to have to generate.
Now open your model file. You should get a window that pops up and says something like the Scale of the model is different then the sytem scale. Choose adopt system scale. There you go now click on the little tape measure on the top left next to the movie camera and use the mouse to check the demensions of the model. If everything is ok  then procede but if things are out of wack set up a jig. Either with the tape or a simple box. Select all parts and Uniform scale them down to the size you desire.
A few other tips= Dont group your parts link them together only group at the end when you have your Exterior model and Interior model ready. Link upwards link parts you want to adopt your main parts annimation. Such as c_gear this is the parent with the annimation. Link all other parts for the c_gear to your main animated part. Depending on the Parent it may have to be linked to the nearest non annimated part like a wing or engine. This helps keep from getting scaled annimation errors on export.
SAVE OFTEN! Gmax can be a little scitso especialy when your new and apt to do things the program doesnt like.
Welding parts=
Select vertices in the main tab select all verts in the part go to weld options start at lowest setting and weld till your model part deforms that should take care of collocation.
Jigs are important=
I like to use boxes that are unconverted to Polys or meshes because you can change the size of them in the control box. This comes in handy when measuring for your Flightsim docs. I also like to have one box at the Flightsim Ref point. This is at 0.0Y 0.0X 0.0Z this just helps to orient you in the GMax and Sim world and is important to flight dynamics.
OK outta time gotta go watch my niece and nephew. Im planning on making some Videos for tips and tricks soon so watch for them here at the Forums.
Greg
EDIT!= If you dont have annimations yet you should not have to link anything together to get them to show up in the sim generaly only need to link animated parts.

Fr. Bill wrote on Jul 26^th, 2007 at 3:56pm:


This error is caused by a rounding error in gMax when you group objects - which is why you generally don't get the problem. When you look at the scale that appears it will be something like 1.00000000001 - not enough to have any effect on anything, but its mere existence is enough to cause MakeMDL to fail.

If you should somehow run into the dread "OBED Scaling" error, one possible solution is as follows:

Select your group and open out a new track view. Go to the animation keys and you'll probably find there's one in there for scaling, delete it and the problem will go away (maybe).

I have only one thing to say; THANKS FOR THE HELP EVERYBODY!!!

I am in the middle now of exporting a model to test in FS, after following your advice; will report back as to whether it works or not.