Airplane Design Tool

[blin]

hi, i am a newbie in the FSX developer field. I was wondering what tools i should use to start off with simple airplane designs. What should i use? I am willing to listen to all the recommendations.

 

[FelixFFDS]

Q#1 - Do you have FS-X Deluxe?

If so, have you installed the SDK.


What version of FS-X are you running? The original? SP1 SP2/Acceleration?



Basically, you first need FS-X Deluxe to install the SDK, without which none of the design tools will work.

You will find the gmax modelling program executables in a folder within the default SDK installation.


Basically, your modelling program options are:

gmax (free, included in the FS-X Deluxe SDK installation)

FSDS (commercial product, Abacus Publishing).

3DSMax7/8/9 (commercial product - Autodesk/discreet

3DCanvas - (commercial product, but the compiler has been privately developed, and I'm not aware it's been made public.)

For the hobbyist, your practical choices are gmax and FSDS.

 

[decapod]

3DCanvas - (commercial product, but the compiler has been privately developed, and I'm not aware it's been made public.)

3D Canvas Pro 7.1.2 version only ($70) the plugin exporter for FSX is available from my blog site and works correctly (fixed last bug with VC textures yesterday!)

The only down side is that I seem to be the only person using it.
I've made a flyable a/c for FS2004 using this tool but have yet to publish the true FSX version.

 

[blin]

Thanks Felix and Paul, I do have the FSX Deluxe version and will install the SDK for it. I have one more question and I need your opinion. Which one is more user friendly or suitable for a beginner, gmax or FSDS?

 

[Vitus]

kind of neither, all 3D programs basically work the same way and the learning process is very, very painful!

Regards,
Vitus

 

[FelixFFDS]

So, it's sort of like, do you want to get hit by a fast bowler or a fast baseball pitcher?

kind of neither, all 3D programs basically work the same way and the learning process is very, very painful!

Regards,
Vitus

(er.... bowler as in cricket....)

 

[blin]

Thanks Vitus and Felix for your reply. Can anyone give me the pros and cons of each program?

 

[TB111]

Can anyone give me the pros and cons of each program?

FSDS has been known to be easier for beginners. But costs $$$$

Gmax has a steeper learning curve, but it costs 0.

Both are highly capable. I prefer Gmax(very powerful), but I'm not sure if I would have ever figured it out without FSDS. Be prepared to be stumped and confused. However, once you figure it out it's amazing.

p.s. It took me years before I felt even somewhat comfortable with Gmax. Then there is the texturing and UVW maps. Study, study, study then study more. Check out Milton Schupes tutorial for GMAX. It's for an airplane but there's a ton of great tips and techniques. Good luck!

 

[blin]

Thank you for the tips and I will see the gmax first before the FSDS because I do not want to spend $$$ on FSDS and say that i like gmax better. Thank You everyone!!

 

[lionheart]

<--- whispers 'gmaxxxxxxx.......'


:d

 

[FelixFFDS]

<--- whispers 'gmaxxxxxxx.......'


:d

<whisper>little blue checker box</whisper>

 

[Vitus]

<whisper>mirror!</whisper>

 

[lionheart]

<whisper>little blue checker box</whisper>

<--- sneaks away... (fears the little, evil, camoflauged, sinister, dark, blue and (eeks, cant say it) button! ).

The only thing they went wrong with in creating Gmax! That 'blankity' button!

 

[blin]

For you professionals, do you know where the manual for gmax is?

 

[FelixFFDS]

You must first be a 3rd Level Modeller to receive such secrets.

But if you're not, the help files are actually a separate install (in the default installation of the RTM SDK, you should find the three gmax executables in the " ..\SDK\gmax" folder. Otherwise, you can separately download it from turbosquid.com.

For you professionals, do you know where the manual for gmax is?

 

[n4gix]

Perhaps I was fortunate in that I began my Padawan Learning with GMax, and much like Master Luke, am (mostly) self-taught. There were a few pale reflections of Yoda present during the experience sprinkled here and there through various internet fora, but mostly the journey was very (Hans) Solo.

When one of my associates in crime, er... development! asked me for some help in implementing controllable VC gauge backlighting in FSDS, I actually bought a copy and provided the requisite assistance to Louis to implement the same scheme I had developed in GMax.

After looking at the FSDS2 keyboard interface, I ran screaming back to the warm, cuddly confines of GMax and its marvelous point-n-click, GUI interface...

Ah, sweet bliss of mousability! Fragrant blossoms of boolean junctions, as well as the shapely Shape Merge! The absolute JOY of one-vertex-cap-holes!

Hora aderat brilligi!
Nunc et Sliviae tova,
Boragovorant Jabbi!

Now some might argue that FSDS is the "Light Side" and that therefore Max/GMax must be the "Dark Side..."

...but, on the other hand, remember that the Dark Side is MUCH MORE POWERFUL than those wussy Jedi wannabes...

BTW, what is up with Anakin not figuring out that the Chancellor was Sith sooner? I mean, it's NOT like he didn't drop enough hints! <sheesh!>

"You won't learn THAT from the Jedi..." Chancellor Palpatine murmers softly.

If not the Jedi, then whom else? The Coruscant Ladies Sewing Circle?