I have a series of GA airplanes based on the same general fuselage structure that I'd like to get operational for both FS9 & FSX.  Got it perfect in FS5, but had to abandon it ....
   Can someone help me shorten the learning curve before FS XX comes out?  I'd like to build shareware and would consider a partner (or partners) in endeavor.
    Since FS5 model is nearly ideal, is there any way to transfer data points to FSDS or G-max?
    Also need help w/custom gauges....

    - JohnM

Felix/FFDS wrote on Oct 6^th, 2007 at 9:09am:


Felix, tried to answer sooner but AOL disconnected before I could finish - and was ~ 95% done! -  Yes, they are original Aircraft Factory .afx files from a 3-view of the plane my late Dad and I flew from ~1965-1971.  I got it climbing, service and max ceiling, "glide ratio" and engine power settings right.  Even got a 3-d interior, cowl flaps open/closed "animation", prop and flap "animation" (within limits of FS5) and "see-through" windows in the bird, which everybody said was impossible for FS5!  I don't want to start from scratch if possible.  I do have access to scanner and original 3-view drawings, though....  I'd like to put original Narco and other special gauges into it that Dad and I had in the bird...

Felix/FFDS wrote on Oct 9^th, 2007 at 10:07pm:


Perhaps an equally good question is:  Since I hope to put this plane on the market as share- or pay-ware, should I go to G-max and start from scratch, esp. since I'd have major re-design to go to full animation?  I have access to full 3-view artwork.... <sigh>

Would still like to put together a design group....

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How is the conversion from .afx to .dxf accomplished?  Are the performance characteristics also transferred?

Thanks, John

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Felix, forgive my denseness -- FFDS???
Also, is Gmax or FS Design Studio (version 3) closer in workability to the old MSFS5.1 Aircraft Design Studio?
(I wish SOMEONE would come out with a gauge designer which would allow people to: 1) EASILY design new custom gauges in .XML format; and 2) let a person modify the excellent gauges already out there (the ones not copyrighted) to FS9/X .XML format....)
John

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Felix, it'll take me a little time to remember how to get old system up and running, but I will.  I'll send you 3 planes, all of my own design, and .afx-maxed out but very rough as far as fs9 goes.  One or more have old .afx "paint" on them but if I try to find textures, it'll be mid-2008!  Can you convert without textures even though they're specified?
   Oh, how's that conversion program coming to convert .afx files?
Thanks.  BTW, would ffds accept a freelanced fs5 file of a scaled-up version of a ficticious RC taildragger I used to experiment with as a gift for your help?  The bird has a partial-3-d cockpit, floats whose bottom half become "invisible" while taxiing at low speed and water rudders extend automatically, and is also a wheeled-taildragger w/skis (I think).... I'd be glad to provide any comments you'd want....
   Best, John

What i have done (and in fact, one of my few releases) was to use the afx "parts"  as the "backdrops"  and rebuild over them.

With FSDS it's a matter of rebuilding a new part.

With gmax, you can take the SAME part and add complexity to it.  For example, applying a "meshsmooth"  modifer adds more points and vertices.  With a basic 8-sided fuselage, one click and you have 16 or 32. (I'm going from memory...)

You will find that you can build up on a part, or just rebuild it.