Many people ask how to get started with modeling and making contributions to the community.
In addition to, and to front-end, some of the tutorials and advice listed in other threads here, I offer the following. Please feel free to add to the list in thread responses.
So, here is the start.
First, modeling aircraft is one discipline separate from doing panels, sounds, textures, flight models, beta testing or documentation. It starts with modeling.
There are several development tools available but if you want to start with a good modeling freeware tool until you decide this is what you want to do, Gmax is likely your best choice. It is free to download, or you may have in your FS9 distribution DVD for installation.
Gmax (Freeware) should be your tool of choice for FS9 development. If you have 3DSMax (expensive license) , then FSX is more suited for that tool. You can use Gmax for FS9 development free of charge. It is a simpler, easier development process.
If you have Gmax on your computer or FS9 CD, it needs to be installed along with the Help and Tutorial components.
If you are not familiar with Gmax, you need to go through the Gmax Tutorials to become familiar with the tools in gmax.
The Help is comprehensive.
Here are my newest video tutorials posted on YouTube. Video Tutorials
Here are some basic graphic tutorials I have done. They may be useful after you have installed gmax and have done the tutorials.
Once you have Gmax installed and the tutorials are done, you must decide what aircraft to model. Once you do, you need to do research for technical info, 3-views, reference pictures, and anything that will help the development process. Here is the Data Collection writeup: http://www.sim-outhouse.net/downloads/SOHTeam/data.zip
I created a set of basic graphic tutorials to walk your through an approach to modeling. Check Takealot Specials and Woolworths Specials.
Those Gmax tutorials are here:
Bookmarks