Model disappears when exported from blender to fsx mdl

[jer029]

I'm going crazy with this. Since I updated to the latest tools, Blender2FSXP3Dv09.4, I can no longer see the model when the MDL is loaded into MCX. It appears with the simple shader (red teapot unchecked) but when I click it to see the animation, the model disappears. I've loaded an earlier animation I made prior to this tool set and re-export it with same results. I've attached the files related to this simple animation (tom4.zip) that works in Blender but not in MCX.

I've included another animation that seems to have similar issues.

Perhaps someone can tell me what I might be doing wrong or what settings I need to change to make the model visible with advanced shaders.

Thanks,

John

 

[gastonj]

Hi,
I have tried tom4.zip (exported with my Blender toolkit) and the result is visible in mcx in all cases but a bit wrong for animations.
Don't rely on MCX quite buggy with bones animation. Your file tom4 work's fine.
You can see the result here : https://mega.nz/#!1q4DzCwa!Oj3LexifpgBtJjhfiTT9F0FJ_X0vNJamEOh0-i5259s
JMC

 

[jer029]

Thanks gastonj, Yes...I know that tom4 worked - and have used it in scenery. My problem is that with the old tools it would work in MCX. It is not visible in my MCX when exported from my new blender version and new p3dfsx tool. This makes me think that my install of the current version of the toolkit - Blender2FSXP3Dv09.4 - is messed up or I must tweak some settings. I would have thought that Blender would keep the original settings on the import of the blender file and that I should just be able to export it back to mdl without a problem. This is not the case with my new blender install. I'm still wondering what to do, as I followed the new tool install - I'm using Blender version 2.79 by the way with the blender2fsxp3d tool. I don't get any errors on the mdl file creation but I new get a warning about LOD when I push the verification button.

Thanks for taking the time to look at this for me.

John

 

[Pyscen]

I haven't looked at your files, but which of the toolkit did you have prior to v0.094... if it was the previous (directly) before the current, what might has happened is that you might have both versions installed. The previous doesn't have the same files with the same names (though some do) goto into User preferences -> plugins and check. If I remember correctly you might notice 4 or 5 files... when there should be 3.

Even if you updated Blender to v2.79b, the plugins, do not get removed.

Hopefully this is the only problem...

 

[jer029]

Thanks Pyscen, I checked and I only have the 3 files shown in the install instructions. I deleted and reinstalled the program and tools but still same results - I see the animation bar in MCX but I can only see a non-animated model in simple shader mode and it disappears in complex shader mode (clicking the red teapot).

Is there certain settings in the FSXP3d tools material settings other than Skinned Mesh that I need to set (other than what was defaulted or saved from the model's old blend file that might be keeping this model invisible in complex shading?

 

[Pyscen]

Hello...

Make sure the LOD and the Armature (animation) are selected prior to exporting to the .x file.

Then when exporting, these boxes need to be click "on" or checked" (should be under the toolkit, of course):

Export Selection, Apply modifiers, Export Animations/LOD, Skinned mesh, and Export model...

I didn't get any errors within blender on export and within MCX: Was able to view in the complex shader viewport without any problems.

Try it out!

 

[jer029]

I've done these things (I believe), but sadly I still get a disappearing model when clicking complex shader.

 

[gastonj]

Hello...

Make sure the LOD and the Armature (animation) are selected prior to exporting to the .x file.

Then when exporting, these boxes need to be click "on" or checked" (should be under the toolkit, of course):

Export Selection, Apply modifiers, Export Animations/LOD, Skinned mesh, and Export model...

I didn't get any errors within blender on export and within MCX: Was able to view in the complex shader viewport without any problems.

Try it out!

And all is bright ? Never got a correct bones animation with the Blender toolkit showing correctly in MCX. Can you do a video with animations for Tom4 in MCX?

JMC

 

[jer029]

Ok...interestingly, I've discovered my problem (or part of it). I was not selecting the entire model when I was exporting selection. selecting bones and mesh gives me the visual model in advanced shading (Yeah!). I'm trying to figure out what I'm doing wrong with the assigning the animation to the armature or the mesh or both. Often I end up with no animation, but I did get a partial animation. Not sure what I'm doing wrong on the selection of the model when assigning the animation. I note that the keyframes are only visible in the timeline when the armature is selected. I note that there appears to be a separate animation property for both armature and the model.

John

 

[jer029]

Ok...got it working! I had assign the animation to the armature, then select all items and export that way to mdl.

Thanks for all your time and help.

John

 

[jer029]

Here's the screen prior to export. Note the animation assigned to the armature and then full model selected before the export. No animation assigned to the model itself. Not sure if this is the way things are supposed to work or if there's something I should change, but at least I can get the animated model exported.

John

 

[Pyscen]

Hello...

Another way without having to do what you did... what I did...

Selected both the Armature and the LOD:

Then from the File tab - > Export -> DirectX for FSX (P3D)

Then before exporting: making sure these are checked:

and Done: finished once you have click to save.

Again, as stated - no errors and you didn't have to change anything (of course I'm going by what I saw within MCX animation). The animations appear to be complete in comparison to Blender and MCX.

Glad you found the problem though....

 

[jer029]

Thanks Doug! I'll try those things.

John

 

[gastonj]

It's very strange to see you select everything to export a selection. In principle, when selection is not checked, the complete model is exported.

JMC

 

[gastonj]

Hello...

Another way without having to do what you did... what I did...

Selected both the Armature and the LOD:

View attachment 48975

Then from the File tab - > Export -> DirectX for FSX (P3D)

View attachment 48976

Then before exporting: making sure these are checked:

View attachment 48977

and Done: finished once you have click to save.

Again, as stated - no errors and you didn't have to change anything (of course I'm going by what I saw within MCX animation). The animations appear to be complete in comparison to Blender and MCX.

Glad you found the problem though....

Hi,

This is the bone animation as shown by mcx. Make a comparison with the same in FSX (previous post #2) :

https://mega.nz/#!J2xX1IBL!NDKE24G5mRR3r6AReADnvHFQ-NgH8Fi7tuJto752Za4

so i'm surprised you get some results.

JMC

 

[Pyscen]

Here is what I got:

https://1drv.ms/v/s!AsM-lqBFx9GprS-hyPVPss9GI7zw

 

[gastonj]

Yes, I don't know where is the problem, animation works fine in FSX and buggy in MCX....but for you it seems ok (moreover the same file, same toolkit...pfft)!
JMC

What are the Visual C++ redistributable versions in your PC ?

 

[Pyscen]

I suggest you look into MCX settings - considering you said it worked in FSX (worked in for P3D for me also). I'll PM what my MCX settings and C+ Redist versions as well, but you would most likely be getting errors if the C+ Redist files were not there or incorrectly installed.

 

[gastonj]

Yes you are right. I have a problem with my pc W7. I don't know why but the animation works fine in my portable PC with w10. I think a file is corrupted (I use only SSD) but I have problem finding that. MCX is the only one showing this default. A fresh install of MCX don't cure the problem.
JMC