FSX Native Conversion Tutorial

[falcon409]

I may have dreamed this, but I thought that several years ago someone here put together a tutorial on how to get started with converting aircraft to Native FSX. The two that came to mind were Henk and Shessi, but I came up dry there unless I'm not looking deep enough. Any ideas?

[mjahn]

This is Tom Gibson's Tutorial thread at SOH:
https://www.fsdeveloper.com/forum/threads/fs2004-to-fsx-aircraft-conversion-tutorial.444227/post-824012

[falcon409]

This is Tom Gibson's Tutorial thread at SOH:
https://www.fsdeveloper.com/forum/threads/fs2004-to-fsx-aircraft-conversion-tutorial.444227/post-824012
That should do just fine. . .Thanks!

[Butcherbird17]

There is a thread here: http://www.sim-outhouse.com/sohforums/showthread.php/99693-Model-Converter-X-Question-and-Help
Tom's tutorial is pretty good but doesn't go into custom animations that you might come across in some models. There are a few
threads over at the AIG forums that have some tutorial's and some added syntax for the modeldef.xml for animations.

Joe

[awstub]

The tutorials I remember are good but were based on older versions of MCX, so can be a little bit confusing at first. One thing that's important is to use the development version of MCX.

[falcon409]

. . . . .One thing that's important is to use the development version of MCX.
Actually I didn't know there was anything other than the Development version. I've been using MCX for years for converting my Sketchup models and every time there's been an update I've installed it. . .just did another one a few days ago. Currently Ver 1.4.0.0 cbd41df3 DEV 7/8/2019.

[falcon409]

Well, first conversion attempt (FS9 L-16) ended with about 50 lines of "Failed" information. All seemingly referring to Makemdl or some function of that. I had already gone over all the "Options" settings and everything was consistent with where they should be so no idea why all the errors. I had just completed reassigning all the animations and assigned a new name and GUID number and exported as FSX MDL. . .proceeded to spit out line after line of errors, lol

[falcon409]

Here is what I'm getting every time I complete the animation updates and then try to compile to an mdl:

https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/48249672886_192d931ff1_b.jpg (https://flic.kr/p/2gvEbKQ)FSX_Conversion_Errors (https://flic.kr/p/2gvEbKQ) by Ed Wells (https://www.flickr.com/photos/157601388@N02/), on Flickr

[Bjoern]

Did you point MCX to the correct modeldef.xml?

[gavinc]

Also check whether the model has multiple LODs. MCX will generate a light attach point for every LOD and then barf on compile because of duplicate light entries.

Gavin

[falcon409]

Thanks guys, I'm going to set this aside for a few years and let it marinate, lol

I'm going back to flying!!

[rhumbaflappy]

I think when you use MCX' options to point to a new modeldef.xml, you need to exit MCX and restart it. Then the new modeldef.xml will be used.

[FlyingsCool]

Oh, man, this is a subject I'd love to see some tutorials focused on this subject (Using MCx to convert to FSX)(Change texture types, etc.).

I was hoping to modify the Alphasim Bobcat to fix the instrument panel in the VC, and ended up lost. I wanted to remove the landing gear control box and some other box that weren't supposed to be there (the landing gear is controlled by a switch on the panel) to make the panel more realistic, and remove some plane that was causing issues in the VC and blocking the panel in some models I found out there, and recompile it, but, MCx removes animations(? I believe I'm correct there?). And how come I can't see the rudder pedals when I read the model into MCx?

So I started working on the GMax model to add the animations in... (where did the rudder pedals go?). But I'm not experienced enough with GMax. I have been using engineering Solid Modeling software since the late eighties, so it's not beyond me, but that interface is too much like an Apple interface, and I just ain't any good at that.... And then I deleted the LOD's, which I guess I shouldn't have done... sigh

I did figure out a way to convert SolidWorks models into GMax models though, so that was a plus. I can model in that and the old I-DEAS Master Series all day long.... :)

Learning GMax would be a huge help for me in scenery design, too...

I've got a ton of started nearly done projects and would love to finish them this winter....

I will check out Tom Gibson's tutorial referenced above...

[FlyingsCool]

PS... Those errors above look like they're related to incorrect format of the crash-box callouts?
Just a total guess...

[falcon409]

I think when you use MCX' options to point to a new modeldef.xml, you need to exit MCX and restart it. Then the new modeldef.xml will be used.
Yes, I did that, thanks.