Simviation Forum - Out of curiosity..

Oct 31^st, 2008 at 3:10am

Boikat Offline
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Does anyone use "Blender" to create their 3d models? Someone on another non-sim related board suggested it, and it looks pretty good. I was just curious if anyone else had any experiance with it, and how it stacks up compaired to GMax in using and in "learning curve"?

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Reply #1 - Oct 31^st, 2008 at 9:47am

Travis Offline
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I fiddled with it for a bit, and the learning curve is MUCH easier than Gmax, or probably even FSDS. Don't know, never used FSDS. But Blender has a few drawbacks. It won't be as powerful as Gmax, since it was designed with full game creation in mind. It would be highly useful in designing some type of terrain or a large structure, but you would have to go to Gmax to get the full capability of either FSX or FS9.

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Reply #2 - Oct 31^st, 2008 at 2:00pm

Fr. Bill Offline
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Boikat wrote on Oct 31^st, 2008 at 3:10am:

Does anyone use "Blender" to create their 3d models? Someone on another non-sim related board suggested it, and it looks pretty good. I was just curious if anyone else had any experiance with it, and how it stacks up compaired to GMax in using and in "learning curve"?

Someone has begun work on an FS9/FSX exporter for Blender, but I haven't been following the progress since I'm frankly not interested...

Search http://fsdeveloper.com forums for "Blender"... Wink

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Reply #3 - Oct 31^st, 2008 at 5:55pm

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For *me*, seeing that I'm used to FSDS and, to a point, gmax, Blender's interface is anything but "easy" . When I use it, it's as a conversion gateway .. (then again, I haven't given Blender a thorough "shaking out" .

Felix/FFDS

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Reply #4 - Oct 31^st, 2008 at 11:00pm

Boikat Offline
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I'll have to see how it goes, I guess. Since I'm just starting on the designing thing, I'm not wedded to any one app or the other.

Thanks for the input, guys!

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Reply #5 - Nov 1^st, 2008 at 11:45am

garryrussell Offline
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One thing worth considering

As you get more into model building you will need advice.

For that reason alone you might be better to stick with one of the tried and tested programmes.

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Reply #6 - Nov 2^nd, 2008 at 12:50pm

Boikat Offline
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garryrussell wrote on Nov 1^st, 2008 at 11:45am:

One thing worth considering

As you get more into model building you will need advice.

For that reason alone you might be better to stick with one of the tried and tested programmes.

True, however, both are tried and tested. Logically, if I had a Blender question, I'd seek advice from a Blender board. Likewise for a GMax question wouuld be asked here , or on a GMax board.

But, again, at this point in time, I'm just "splashing around in the pool", though I am working of a model in GMax. It's likely just a "Mk1", and will be tossed after I actually know what I'm doing, and then redone rom scratch. As far as Blender, I haven't installed Blender yet, since I'm waiting on a graphics card (Should arrive this week. It's a "PNY Geforce FX5200 256MB PCI Graphics Card".)

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Reply #7 - Nov 6^th, 2008 at 7:00am

decapod Offline
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Another thing to consider is that gMax won't work for FS11.

I'm using 3D canvas for FSX. http://www.amabilis.com
Basically I have duplicated the gMax game pack as plugins for the program.

Tutorials here:
Scenery
http://forums.uktrainsim.com/viewtopic.php?f=18&t=86566
Aircraft
http://forums.uktrainsim.com/viewtopic.php?f=18&t=88061

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http://wwwnew.atomic-album.com/showPic.php/22531/msj9.jpg/6

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Reply #8 - Nov 6^th, 2008 at 7:02am

decapod Offline
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I should add it is the PRO version of 3D canvas ($70) that is required to run the plugins, the free(trial) version will not do this.

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Reply #9 - Nov 6^th, 2008 at 9:18am

Boikat Offline
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Quote:

Another thing to consider is that gMax won't work for FS11.

FS11?

"I reject your reality, and substitute my own" Adam Savage, Mythbusters

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Reply #10 - Nov 6^th, 2008 at 11:32am

decapod Offline
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Boikat wrote on Nov 6^th, 2008 at 9:18am:

Quote:

Another thing to consider is that gMax won't work for FS11.

FS11?

Not due till 2010, Train Sim 2 (based on FSX/ESP will be before then)

Another alternative being worked on is the XSI mod tool but he's not finished it yet.

http://blogs.msdn.com/ptaylor/archive/2008/09/03/freeware-and-affordable-modelin...

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Reply #11 - Nov 6^th, 2008 at 7:08pm

N2056 Offline
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Gmax will still work in that FS11 will support true FSX models.

Remember...This is Fun!

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Reply #12 - Nov 6^th, 2008 at 8:34pm

Felix/FFDS Offline
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N2056 wrote on Nov 6^th, 2008 at 7:08pm:

Gmax will still work in that FS11 will support true FSX models.

So long as you're migrating to FS11 from FS-X Deluxe and have the SDKs updated..... Whoever comes in "new" will have a choice.

Having said that, ACES is looking towards being more "third party program" friendly, rather than developing tools for *just* 3D Max, recognizing that it is a pricey program <G>.

Felix/FFDS

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Reply #13 - Nov 6^th, 2008 at 11:00pm

Boikat Offline
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decapod wrote on Nov 6^th, 2008 at 11:32am:

Boikat wrote on Nov 6^th, 2008 at 9:18am:

Quote:

Another thing to consider is that gMax won't work for FS11.

FS11?

Not due till 2010, Train Sim 2 (based on FSX/ESP will be before then)

Another alternative being worked on is the XSI mod tool but he's not finished it yet.

http://blogs.msdn.com/ptaylor/archive/2008/09/03/freeware-and-affordable-modelin...

I'll have to check those out after I cure my video card issues. Thanks for the head's up.

"I reject your reality, and substitute my own" Adam Savage, Mythbusters

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