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FSDS, Is It Worth It? (Read 439 times)

Oct 9^th, 2009 at 12:31pm

RaptorF22 Offline
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Is FS Design Studio really worth $49?
Does it make the whole aircraft or just the .mdl file?
Is it as good as Gmax?
I am thinking of getting it, but I don't want to waste $49.

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Reply #1 - Oct 9^th, 2009 at 6:44pm

Brett_Henderson Offline
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I haven't used the latest version in FSX.. but I am familiar with FSDS. Overall it's a good program, easily worth $49 on its own merit.

But considering Gmax is free, and that the FSX SDK is centered around it (3D Max).. and all of the material options are more Gmax-oriented.. and most of the FSX modeling help you'll get online is Gmax related..and Gmax is a more powerful piece of design software.. I'd advise against using FSDS.

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Reply #2 - Oct 9^th, 2009 at 8:30pm

Felix/FFDS Offline
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<Where are the instructions: "How to DUCT TAPE BRETT"S FINGERS" ... >>

All kidding aside, FSDS IS worth the 49 (although they run specials from time to time.

You still need to install the SDK, since both gmax and FSDS use the same compilers.

FSDS will create the complete MDL, interior and exterior, as well as set up the new airplane file hierarchies and basic aircraft.cfg, panel.cfg, sound.cfg, etc etc files. In THAT sense it's a modelling program for flight simulator, better thatn gmax.

HOWEVER... gmax is free, and is a more powerful modelling program. Any modelling you can do in FSDS, you can do and more in gmax.

IF you are interested in modelling for flight simulator, I would start with gmax ... I started with gmax in 2002 (and still can't model wirth a durn in it). Others take to it like a duck to water.

Howver, right now, I'm at a stage where I model in FSDS, port to gmax, abuse the part with gmax, then take it back to FSDS.

FS-X eye candy, bump maps, etc., can be added to the FSDS model with Dave Nunez' excellent free utility - FSDSxTweak.

FSDS is worth the 49.... but gmax can be the more attractive first choice.

Felix/FFDS

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Reply #3 - Oct 9^th, 2009 at 10:08pm

Brett_Henderson Offline
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The funny thing is (and you'll learn this if get sucked into the modeling vortex).. that $50 here, and $50 there won't matter to you one iota in the big picture. A model (especially a first model) can have you learning, taking breaks, diving back in to the tune of 500+ man-hours and upwards of year. The personal commitment and rewards are priceless. What you might have spent on FSDS will seem trivial.. even if you just use it to see other modeling tools and compare them. That alone is $50 worth of tuition times ten.

And.. if your computer is on the old side.. a $50 spent on FSDS is will be peanuts, after you upgrade to a computer than can keep FSX running in the background, while you make tweaks to a texture bitmap.. apply them in the modeling program, compile it and take a quick peek at in FSX.. because opening and closing all those programs can add untold hours to the process.

While I'd advise Gmax for the new modeler.. getting FSDS too, woudln't be a bad idea.

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