15 days ,Don't worried some good modelers take years in a single model, I tried to take no more than 3 months .

I knew it when I saw those beautiful round shapes,My friend take and advise learn how to export more than anything FIRST...
,for example

I watch my model in FSX While I'm making it

,Animations ,shapes IN THE FSX GAME I use FSX-SDK-SP2

I'm working in a md 83 at this moment working on its flaps animation ,so I make then in gmax (Its the same as 3d max 5,7,9,) I'm showing how I do work and so far it has work very well for me


Never forget this


otherwise You won't really see what are you making ,just because you see it in max it doesn't mean it will shown in FSX the same

Now I see you have some Vertices issues ,Right?
   

__________________________________________________

Let's do something close your proyect and run Max 9 ,Make a box ,a simple box, in the tab  FSTool/ LOD tools  assing a name  Example "Box"
Now
try to export it as Flightsim DirectX (X) file

this is the place where TWO files *Xanim and *.X you have to export

Microsoft Games\Microsoft Flight Simulator X SDK\SDK\Environment Kit\Modeling SDK\3DSM9\Plugins

I hope you are running windows Xp otherwise ...we will in trouble
NOt because it doesn't run ,is just that the procedure is diferent

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Oh Gosh!!
well we will export and follow the shot I post under this

then later we will deal with the VISTA issue

Still No Luck....Ok i will give you step by step what I do...
1st..Open 3ds max 9....
2nd..Create Box 
3rd ..Click on AcesTools...Open LOD export tab
4th...type in friendly name "Box01" and hit Create GUID...
then
5th..Go to File...Export...then get error  " failed loading animation definition file M:\Program Files\...\3DSM9\Plugins\ModelDef.xml

Ok I have managed to get a .x file exported to desktop named Box01.x  ..heeehhha  now what? lol

ps..yes i did just that ..copy xml to plugins  ...thanks

lol i am reading but it makes no sense yet.... oh dear

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Oh dear , first of all Set your system to NOT HIDDEN FILES  find it in folder option otherwise you won't be able to see some of the hidden files

Original Entry by Bill Leaming

Find the send to folder which is
in vista

C:\Users\YourUserName\AppData\Roaming\Microsoft\Windows\SendTo

go back to the pluin folder you just exported the files and find XtoMdl.exe right click and make a shortcut of it for a moment in your desktop..
Next, right click on the moved shortcut and edit the "target" like this:

%windir%\system32\cmd.exe /K E:"\FSX_SDK\SDK\Environment Kit\Modeling SDK\3DSM9\Plugins\xtomdl.exe" /XANIM /DICT:E:"\FSX_SDK\SDK\Environment Kit\Modeling SDK\bin\modeldef.XML" > buildlog.txt


now place this shortcut from your desktop to here C:\Users\YourUserName\AppData\Roaming\Microsoft\Windows\SendTo

now rename it like "Aircraft compiler " or anyname to remind you..

Close it up

Go to the plugin folder Find the X file example Chopper.X  right click on it and send it to "Air Compiler " or the name you choose.

Important: Copy and paste exactly this

XtoMdl /XANIM /DICT:..\..\bin\modeldef.xml Chopper.x

Chopper.X is the name I gave it can be md600.x it has to be the same name as the X file is in the plugin folder

don't forget to type the .x
let me know as soon you have the mdl file which should be now in the same plugin folder

Ok  I have two shortcuts on desktop...AircraftCompiler  and  x to mdl shortcut...phew 

...phew...I have moved the aircraftcompile shortcut to send to folder....then i right click on Box01.x  to send but when the small black screen opens it says error "system cannot find the path specified"     i think i have to redo the target path...my SDK is on the M drive  at  M: Program Files\ Microsoft Flight Simulator X SDK\....

Thanks MDFlyer....Alex is teaching me at moment how to export...losing my hair...

Alex..i am still getting the path error in the black window:(

The system cannot find the path specified.
Hi Alex I get the error message in the black screen....
The system cannot find the path specified

then when i copy the txt you said
C:\Windows>XtoMdl /XANIM /DICT:..\..\bin\modeldef.xml Box01.x

i get the following error
'XtoMdl' is not recognized as an internal or external command,
operable program or batch file.

C:\Windows>

Please change this ,go to "Send to" right click on the shortcut ,I change from 9 to 7 in the 3DSM7 and see


%windir%\system32\cmd.exe /K E:"\FSX_SDK\SDK\Environment Kit\Modeling SDK\3DSM7\Plugins\xtomdl.exe" /XANIM /DICT:E:"\FSX_SDK\SDK\Environment Kit\Modeling SDK\bin\modeldef.XML" > buildlog.txt

Hi Alex...my brain is no longer working ...been a long day and nearly 11pm here...I will give it a rest and re trace my steps and your instructions and let you know tomorrow morning....thank you very much for your help and patience   

ethan

ps goodnight

thank you again alex... good night

LMAO!! 

Congrats!!!

well you have pass the most difficult part,now the rest ,you have to make another model with the VC for your chooper,I'm sure you already know this 

Hold on there! how is that you have an ultralight and the box???? you should put the box as a model airplane 

I just need to know if its recognize by FSX as an airplane ,see,
grab any one of the default model folder ,example

B737_800.mdl  or any other plane , Put it safety in your desktop (be careful not to delete the original MDL 737 default file!!) just move it to the desktop, then you will rename the box.mdl to B737_800.mdl Open FSX and open the boeing 737 and it should be there as the plane,I just did it with a joke I made about a thread

    http://www.simviation.com/yabbuploads/caballodetroya.jpg

Yes Yes Yes!!! success...I now have a giant green FLYING BOX!   Thank you ....  I did not add any texture files... not sure why it remains green..as I only got a mdl file and xml placement / bgl file?  what a lot of drama!!

Lol there is no chance of me getting famous...lol...but I will put your name on it and make a custom paint for you 

I am a bit scared but will try...does it matter if it has open edges and unwelded vertices and 60 000 polys?..maybe i should clean up the exterior model first then try tomorrow? I've noticed it has loads of parts and lod names??

ps. I would like to make a cessna 340a or 402 next so once the md600  fly..look out..I am now on a roll

Nice!
I remember my first flying green flying box, shortly followed by my first flying teapot!
If you're going to be making military A/C, a bunch of people(including me) would love a good SU-37 or PAK-FA.

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Me?

..I am just a lazy sod... ...!

I pick something that someone else has already made... ...!

Paul...back to sleep........ ...ZZZZzzzz.....

Yes Paul, I think I may stick to flying only ...more fun...tho as Alex said,  fsx became more a "lets collect as many aircraft as possible just to see how they look" game but I am sure it is very rewarding to see your own design flying
...just keep swimming

For some reason I can get a box..or even a few boxes and shapes to show up in fsx..but as soon as I try anything that is a bit more complex..i get a 0 byte model or one that does not show up in the game..

Ooooh boy! here we go again, try not to use at the moment TEXTURES ,save the choppers work first of all and so go to the Utility Icon (the one with the hammer)click in  "more" a new windows will appear and there is a list UVW remove click it , and now select the whole chopper ,click materials  and now export like this JUST COLORS 
I do hope you have FSX-SP2 on you machine  

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remove all the maps and give it a try as I told you and see if it shows in FSX and if it does put a shot of it
That chooper has a texture map somewhere and that's why its becomes invisible ,remopve all the UVW maps (select all the chopper) and reexport it