FSDS3 moving gates tutorial

[fsisland]

do you know of a tutorial about how to animate gates in FSDS3?

 

[arno]

It's not about gates, but it discusses FSDS3 and animations:

http://www.scenerydesign.org/forum/showthread.php?t=2546

 

[fsisland]

Thanks. In the tutorial it is suggested that CAT is used to compile the MDL file and the animation is placed with paywere EZ scenery. Can I use some other freeware program to place the animation f.e. ObPlacer. Will the animation work if I use it?

 

[arno]

Yes of course. Once you get the new (tweaked) MDL file out of CAT, you can use it like any other MDL file. So you can place it with the tools you normally also use or include it in a library, etc.

 

[fsisland]

Hi and congrats with the new site. It is great as expected.

I am still struggling with the moving gates. I have managed to move the gates in a single direction, moving down, using only the front macros like shown in these images:

Then the gates must move to the right, the front macros and the middle section are supposed to move, but nothing happends.

Is it only possible to move in single direction or is it somehow possible to combine movements like this. Any ideas?

 

[nickw]

Hey there!

I have only ever done this in GMAX. But I must get my hands on FSDS and I will give it a go. It will be next week sometime.

 

[cearnsh]

Hi

This kind of combined animation should be possible in FSDS3.

Make the front part of the gate (green in your screenshots) a child of the middle (yellow part). Then in the animation move the front section of the gate first, and in the following frames rotate the central part. This should then move the front of the gate along with it. You must be sure to rotate the entire part (vertices + axis) and not just the vertices. This will require the axis for the middle part to be placed at the pivot point (if it isn't there already).

Both of the parts will have to have their own 'Tick18.something' names.

Goodl luck!

Chris

 

[fsisland]

Hi
Make the front part of the gate (green in your screenshots) a child of the middle (yellow part).

Hi Chris. I thought about doing that but I have to join the selected parts (the green ones) to make them a child of the middle right? If I do that I won't be able to lower the gate for various types of aircrafts I think.

 

[cearnsh]

Hi fsisland

I was assuming that the front part of the gate was already joined into one part - otherwise it wouldn't appear green in FSDS. However, if - in your final model - it needs to be in multiple parts that shouldn't be a problem. Each of those parts could individually be children of the middle section. They will then inherit any rotation applied to the middle, but can also be manipulated individually.

Cheers,

Chris

 

[fsisland]

You are right Chris, the front part of the gate was joined into one part. I tried to make this joined part a children of the middle section and, as you succested, also each of those parts individually and it worked perfectly. Thank you very much Chris!

Kjartan