Okay, I got my Economical Stimulator Tax Rebater check today.  (Woo Hooo!), and want to do soem upgrades, including possibly getting FSX delux, if I need it.  I realy want to get into the designeing of add-on aircraft/vehicles, and in looking at the FAQ's, find my brain getting twisted around with all the tools.  My questions are as follows:

1) Do I need to buy FSX Delux since from what I gleamed it appears the SDK isn't so much a tool package, so much as a "how to" guide that assumes I already have design tools?

2) Is there a "from the ground up" list of all the tools needed to design a ready to fly add-on? (Again, I've looked through the FAQ, but the options appear endless, and I wouldn't want to get a "package" of downloads only to discover that the tool outputs are in some way incompatable, and generate "crash on start", or endless guage problems, or overspeed shudders when you are sitting on the ramp in a cold dark cockpit.

3) Preferable, freeware tools.  I may have just received my ESTR check, but I'm still a tightwad, and would rather spend some of that money to a) repair my central A/C, b) Video Card, c) payments on some long overdue hospital bills.  Thats "preferably".  If the program(s) are inexpensive, I'll buy them in a heartbeat.

I'm sure all this is "glaringly obvious" for the "old-timers", but when it comes to software, I'm a complete ignoramus. (I'll probably print out that compete idiots guide to add-on listed in the FAQ.. And I'll probably still get confused at times..   )

Felix/FFDS wrote on Jul 2^nd, 2008 at 7:53pm:


Okay, I'll have one FSX delux to go, hold the lettus...

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So far, I am not confused.  That's a good sign.


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Still not confused, and I haven't seen any problems brought up relating to SP1.  So far, so good.

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Here's where I get a little edgy.  I've read bad Mo-Jo on SP2 and it's effects on FS9, or at the very least, aircraft that were converted FS9 to FSX.  I'd have to dig through the piles of posts in the FSX forum to see what they were, exactly.  Same for FS-X Acceleration.  But if SP2 and Acceleration are not needed, then I won't worry about them until such time as I can handle any problems they may cause with any FS9 add-on's that are "near and dear" to my heart...


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That would be greatly appreciated.  That and glancing through the "Idiot's guide.." in the FAQ "Sticky", it looks like I might actually be able grasp the fundementals.  

And also, thatks for your reply!  

Getting into MSFS modeling is kinda like getting into vintage car restoration. There's too much to it for a step-by-step, "how to". You'll need to be a mechanic, body man, painting expert, re-upholsterer, stereo installer and world-class record-keeper. Of all the hobbies I've taken on during my 50 years on this planet... MSFS modeling has been the most challenging, and rewarding. The most important tools you'll need at first, are patience and enthusiasm.

No matter how you end up working your way through it, you need to get Gmax installed and start playing with it, ASAP. Even though it's a "lessened" version of the commercial counterpart (3D Max, I believe), it could take the same commitment as a full-time job for a year or more, to really learn to use it.

The tutorials out there are great references, but Gmax is so complex, that how you end up using it will depend more on you, and how you visualize taking something from 2D images, to a 3D model.

The excersise that got me over the hump of the huge learning curve; was to model a complete, traditional chess set. Pawns and bishops are good for learning fusealge shaping... rooks are good for modeling more complex shapes..  kings and queen get you familiar with asymetrical modeling, and knights are good for abstract, creative modeling. The board itself, with its pattern, is a good intro for texture application...

Most important of all, is the help you'll get here, and at other sites like Free Flight Design.

Good luck.. take a deep breath, and dive in  

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I'm trying to imagine the racket THAT contraption would generate  

You'd hear him taking off, a county (or two) away ...  LOL

Okay, I was looking for the GMax download and ended up at the Autodesk web page and they do not appear to offer G-Max any more, but something called "3ds max 9", and it does not appear to be freeware.  And that was as of October, 2005.  So, is there a current download site for GMax, and where is it hiding?

Travis wrote on Jul 5^th, 2008 at 4:22am:



Thanks!  I did a google and my brain must have shut down because I went to Turbo Squid and then got side tracked, or something.  

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One order of Paint Shop Pro, hold the mayo, coming up... I might hit up office depot or Wally-world this afternoon, then.

(I want to get all the pieces ad parts together before I start installing everything.)

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I'll put it on The List.


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Gmax doesn't do panels and sound files?  I guess that explains why most of the add-ons grab them or alias them to stock aircraft. Bugger!

Thanks a bunch for the gmax addy and advice!

P. S.  I downloaded Gmax and the Gmax files on the right, but I don't need those "tempest" downloads, do I?  They look like they are for some sort of stand-alone game.

PPS  Disregard "PS".  Had my morning shot of extra strong tea, brain awake now.

Nope!  Haven't installed Delux yet.  Is it possible for me to load Delux (as you suggest, at C\FSX) and not uninstall my current FSX?  I don't think that would cause any conflicts, but I may be wrong.

Brett_Henderson wrote on Jul 7^th, 2008 at 5:11pm:


Sounds good to me, but do I really need to remove the current FSX?  I was thinking about using it as a redundant test bed of sorts.  But if that's not practical, I can dispence with it. (Besides, there's no add-on installed there that can't be replaced:  I archived all the zips I downloaded)

Thanks Fr. Bill, that's what I needed to know. I'm looking forward to getting things set up so i can do some add-ons, which from what I understand will cause me to lose what little hair I have left, cause great consternation, tie my brain into wee little knots, causeing me to post many more questions in the design forums, and have fun doing so.

I'm going to try someting simple first, which means it's going to end up being horribly complex for a first attempt, and will probably take months.  But once I get the hang of it, look forward some "weird" add-ons.  You can never have too much "weirdness" in life, I always say.  Well, that depends on the "class" of the "weirdness", I suppose... 

If you are going to model for FSX, you need to know that DXTBMP.exe cannot create DDS files properly.

You will need to use the FSX version of Imagetool.exe to convert .psd or .tga bitmaps to DDS/DXT5 or DXT1 format.

Fr. Bill wrote on Jul 10^th, 2008 at 1:46pm:



Well, it's like I said, when it comes to software, I'm a bit of an ignoramous. 

I downloaded "Imagetool" V.3

Is there as FSX specific IT somewhere?

You said it was for converting psd and tga to DDS/DXT5 or DXT1 formats.  I'm probably getting way ahead of myself at this stage of the gme, but what are, and why would, or where would psd and tga files come into play?

Thanks again!  I'll just leave that ImageTool V.3 where it's at then

Like i said, information ovrload!