Static model maker

[Terry]

I haven't tried this yet but if it works as advertised it will sure help the framerates. There is also a new version of FS Recorder available.

FS2004 (ACOF) - Misc. FS2004/FSX Static Aircraft .mdl Maker
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Name: samm1000.zip Size: 442,104 Date: 11-21-2010
FS2004/FSX Static Aircraft .mdl Maker ("SAMM"). Tired of having to program AI (and suffer the overhead) just to have some "eye candy" sitting around your airport? No more! Static Aircraft .mdl Maker ("SAMM") will convert just about any flyable or AI aircraft into an FS2004 scenery model. (FSX will display most of these models satisfactorily). Just "point" SAMM to the aircraft you wish to convert, decide where to save the scenery file and, presto, "eye candy". Most aircraft will convert using SAMM's default settings. Where, the static model is not quite right using default settings or if you want to make your static models as efficient as possible, SAMM includes a set of tools to help you. By Don Grovestine.

[Tako_Kichi]

I have been using it for a week or so now and it does what it says on the label....although it does have a few quirks and the interface is a bit 'clunky'. It is still very much in development and I got at least three upgrades in the time I have been using it but each one made it better.

I was able to convert several FS2004 aircraft models into a static models and then convert those to true FSX models using a different application. I have some issues with missing textures but that can be expected as the original models were extremely complex.

A word of caution
If you are planning on making sceneries to share with other people you MUST get permission from the original model's creator otherwise you will be in breach of copyright. It is only good manners after all to ask before you use!

[AndyG43]

Thanks for the head's up Terry, this looks like it could be an exceptionally usefull tool, certainly raises some intriguing possibilities.

[magoo]

It's a pretty neat little program. The issue of turning standard MDLs into scenery BGLs has (to me) been a complex procedure, if even possible at times. This little proggie makes it pretty easy.

Just finding out about it here, I was able to solve an issue that had been bugging me earlier today.

I found the rare time to enjoy a real flight. I picked out the old Wings of Power B-17G, (in my mind) a ferry flight from Tofino, Vancouver Island across Georgia Straight to CYVR.

Real weather was cranked on, and it was like hopping into a blender turned on high-speed. Sun, clouds, fog, snow, rain, sleet, icing, everything you could experience in the PNW when a semi-tropical low meets an Actic outflow. The Boeing was well equiped, and hauled through just fine. ATC put me onto runway 12 (the cross wind strip) for the first time I could ever remember. Everything from traffic to wind was bloody realistic, especially Nigel Grant's great YVR freeware scenery....massively evocative. That is......until I taxied to parking on the south side.

Passing in view of the south end float plane terminal, there was nothing parked between me and the Flying Beaver/Harbour Air complex. It's a big yard where countless floaters are dragged out of the water and stored, floats right on pavement.

Attachment 24019
...there (see?)...behind the Flying Fortress, the other side of the empty stretch of pavement. That's the riverside Flying Beaver restaurant (and Harbour Air dock) over there. Pavement's empty in between.


Fifteen minutes (including learning curve) got me this:

Attachment 24020

...absent are the road that passes between the float yard and the river, the chain link fence, and the railway-crossing style gate that desends across the road whe they're dragging float planes to and fro the river.

Attachment 24025
....Hmmmph...some kinda instant drag'n'drop scenery program'll do that ez enough. The big deal is the statics. Man...I'm pleased as punch. This is going to be fun.....and....mind the frame rates.

[ian elliot]

A word of caution
If you are planning on making sceneries to share with other people you MUST get permission from the original model's creator otherwise you will be in breach of copyright. It is only good manners after all to ask before you use! 

Wise words, i hav'nt try'd this program yet but im assuming the generated bgl just points to the mdl in your aircraft folder rather than recompiling the mdl into your scenery folder which probably would creat copyright issues, even so i can see all sorts of ac turning up in many scenerys and not all ac designers would be happy.
I wish this program had turn'd up a few years ago, i still have trouble getting my head around traffic tools, although a do like abit of movement around my airfields, so i'll still keep on learning about ai, but this do'es look a fun program but mainly for private use for the time being perhaps.
cheers ian

[Desert Rat]

I'm looking forward to trying this. For one main reason, all the fine ships designed for CFS2 are mdl files like planes, convert to scenery, add an AFCAD. Instant carriers from all eras, (mainly WWII, but could also add static BBs to cat launch seaplanes from, all good fun. Collin, Virtual Navy, Usio, Mas, and many others. Only problem if it does work, another fekkin' project, lol.

Jamie

[Dangerousdave26]

i hav'nt try'd this program yet but im assuming the generated bgl just points to the mdl in your aircraft folder rather than recompiling the mdl into your scenery folder which probably would creat copyright issues, even so i can see all sorts of ac turning up in many scenerys and not all ac designers would be happy.

No the program compiles the MDL into the BGL as a scenery object just like if you had the original source code...

With maybe a few surprises here and there.