ModelConverterX-Question

[Geobas]

Is there a parameter (like the double sided parameter) one should edit so a human model (mdl) can face you at all times , from whichever direction you look at it ?
Thanks

 

[arno]

Hi George,

No, there is no parameter for that. Mainly because neither MakeMDL not XtoMDL support that option.

For FS2004 MDL files you can achieve that effect by tweaking the MDL with MDL Tweaker II.

 

[robystar]

Hello George,

I think you can do it by making the person an effect the same as you would make a cloud as an effect. See my thread on clouds.
I still have to do it but I am pretty sure it can be done.

Update: done.
Well, it is not perfect yet, but it was just to check whetehr possible or not and it is. Don't mind the dimensions. It was done very fast.

 

[Geobas]

Hi Arno ,

Thank you for prompt advice but it seems that there is something wrong somewhere .
l have a .bgl and the relevant textures (FS2004) , No .mdls .
The procedure , the way l see it .

1. Import the .bgl with MCX , tweak the object (set default transparent , give it a name , set new GUID) , export it as a FS9 model object
2. Tweak the FS9 .mdl with mdl_tweaker.
3. Convert the FS9 .mdl to FSX .mdl with MCX and make a library out of the coverted .mdls

Unfortunately l am stuck in step 1 because MCX (latest version) will NOT export the object as FS9 model object although it DOES as FSX model object .
Where am l wrong ?

 

[Geobas]

Hey Roby ,

Thanks . l remember in FS9 had a library with humans having the condition of rotating to user and looked very nice and realistic .
With Arno's help , l might be able to manage and make this object library for FSX

 

[arno]

Hi George,

Do you get some errors when you try to export as FS2004 MDL? As far as I know it should work.

But part of your procedure does not work. For example setting default transparent and a new GUID makes no sense when you export to FS2004. These options are for FSX export only.

Also if you import a MDL you tweaked with MDL Tweaker in ModelConverterX, the tweaks are lost. So the only way to keep the tweaks is to use that MDL directly. You can't convert them to FSX, since the FSX MDL format does not support those tweaks.

 

[Geobas]

Hi Arno ,

No error when exporting (trying) as FS2004 MDL .
Your comments noted .
l tried also importing the .bgl in MCX and without any tweaking tried to export as FS2004 MDL . Nothing doing .
The idea of making a library out of FS9 MDLs , could be the only way to do it , as you suggested , but l don't have the FS9 MDLs .
So l am stuck or what ?

 

[tgibson]

Hi,

Make sure the path to MakeMDL in MCX is set correctly.

Hope this helps,

 

[Geobas]

Thanks Tom ,

MCX (latest release) , will not export FS9 MDL object , unless my version is corrupted , but again how it does export FSX MDL ?

Pls do try the attached

 

[tgibson]

Hi,

After attempting to create the FS2004 BGL file, click on the Event Log tab at the bottom and you will probably see it failed to find your FS2004 BGLComp file.

For some reason MCX has now lost the path to the FS2004 BGLComp and reverts to the default location. The MakeMDL and FSX BGLComp locations are still OK. I had to point it to my location and then the FS2004 BGL file GW_people_00.BGL) was created just fine.

But note that if you are creating a library that turns towards you at all times from the old GW people library, make sure that you create new GUID values for them since you cannot directly replace the original library with ones containing sprites. All sprites must be placed at a single specific heading, which is not true for the original non-sprite library. Thus you must have two separate libraries - the original one that has been used for many years, and a new one containing the sprites (which you can start using now).

Hope this helps,

 

[Geobas]

Thank you Tom ,

Meantime l used BglAnalyseX to get the MDLs, tweaked them (rotate to user), and had no problem in creating a library with LC XML .

Thanks again