The SOH P-61 thread.

***warchild*** · April 13th, 2012, 20:22

OK, by now most of you know that the P-61 development thread was deleted. I apologize for that. I assure you it was not the doing of either myself or any of the P-61 team.

The bottom line is, the P-61 is alive and well, and moving forward. We have run into some technical issues with exporting the model due to poly count ( its quite hefty ) but we are looking for ways to overcome the limitations of GMax so that we can complete the model.. Please stay tuned and we will bring this model too you as promised..
Thanks
Pam

**elcamino** · April 13th, 2012, 20:51

Oh wow!! That sound terrific . . We need a good black widow in the hangar.

**stovall** · April 13th, 2012, 21:42

Great news Pam, you know I will be flying the P-61 off Iwo Jima. Thanks for the update.

**mjahn** · April 13th, 2012, 23:04

We have run into some technical issues with exporting the model due to poly count ( its quite hefty ) but we are looking for ways to overcome the limitations of GMax so that we can complete the model.

You have heard about ULE, Unlimited Export from Gmax? Edit: delete this. Sorry, for a moment I thought this was FS9. Still, at FSDeveloper they have a compiler that can handle huge numbers of polies.

**Pips** · April 13th, 2012, 23:35

Very kind of you to post an update Pam. Really appreciate it. Shame that the development thread was moved, belongs here in FSX.

**hairyspin** · April 14th, 2012, 06:56

Originally Posted by mjahn

... at FSDeveloper they have a compiler that can handle huge numbers of polies.

OpenXtoMDL, a 64-bit MDL compiler by Sean Isom. Assuming the export from Gmax to .X and .XANIM succeeds it might help. It reportedly gets around the problem if using 3ds Max, so worth a shot.

***warchild*** · April 14th, 2012, 15:38

Originally Posted by mjahn

You have heard about ULE, Unlimited Export from Gmax? Edit: delete this. Sorry, for a moment I thought this was FS9. Still, at FSDeveloper they have a compiler that can handle huge numbers of polies.

can you give me a link?? I imagine zRob has already tried, but who knows.. anything i can do to help this dream come true ya know

..
Pam

***warchild*** · April 14th, 2012, 15:39

Originally Posted by hairyspin

OpenXtoMDL, a 64-bit MDL compiler by Sean Isom. Assuming the export from Gmax to .X and .XANIM succeeds it might help. It reportedly gets around the problem if using 3ds Max, so worth a shot.

Indeed it may be.. I'll pass this along as well.. Thank you..

***warchild*** · April 14th, 2012, 15:39

Originally Posted by Pips

Very kind of you to post an update Pam. Really appreciate it. Shame that the development thread was moved, belongs here in FSX.

Afraid it wasnt just moved. for reasons I dont know, it was completely deleted..

***warchild*** · April 14th, 2012, 15:50

Also, does anyone know how i can contact Michael Davies??
Thanks
Pam

**mjahn** · April 14th, 2012, 22:44

FSX & Gmax, I am fairly sure you don't get the .x file, you'd need max for that.

But owls to Athens dept. probably, have you tried the usual trick, i.e. move all texture maps to a different folder so that gmax can't find them AND use a single wire frame window only ... that should give you a massive mem boost. If that is what's needed ...

***warchild*** · April 15th, 2012, 10:13

Originally Posted by mjahn

FSX & Gmax, I am fairly sure you don't get the .x file, you'd need max for that.

But owls to Athens dept. probably, have you tried the usual trick, i.e. move all texture maps to a different folder so that gmax can't find them AND use a single wire frame window only ... that should give you a massive mem boost. If that is what's needed ...

to be honest, i'm not sure what techniques Rob employes. I can be fairly certain he's tried everything reasonable and a few things that arent, cuz after working with the man for two years, i can unequicably say that the man knows GMax inside and out.. he's one of the very best..
Franly, if we need Max to get the x file then we need to look at another way of possibly do this. Max costs 5000 dollars and more, and is not an option for us at this time..
Thanks though.. great suggestions

pam

***N2056*** · April 15th, 2012, 11:38

Regarding the export issue...I am aware of using wire frame mode and not loading textures to save memory. I am also aware of the new exporter as I followed that discussion over at FSDeveloper. It is only for Max as Gmax does not allow access to the .x file for user manipulation. That was part of the agreement between Discreet and Microsoft to allow a Gmax game pack for FSX. I have not actively worked on the project for some time, but I occasionally open it up and fiddle with things, and I am constantly pondering how/what I can simplify in the model to keep it exporting. Right now it is doing fine (after removing the 3d engines and going with a textured disc), but I still have a fair amount of parts to build in the vc. I am also hoping for an update from the MAAM on their restoration site. The photos there have been invaluable to me on the project.

***Sundog*** · April 15th, 2012, 12:06

Have you guys tried contacting Lionheart and seeing if he would put in 3DSMax and export it for you?

***N2056*** · April 15th, 2012, 12:31

It's not really an option for many reasons, not the least of which being the number of times I need to export the project to check things in a session.