FSX Models from 3DCanvas - Tutorials Overview

[dkightley]

Paul Gausden has been doing some excellent work creating an exporter for 3DC to allow models to be exported to FSX. This will mean that once TS2 comes along, the same exporter will be ready for creation of objects that will drop straight into TS2.

Those who will have read the TS2 section of UKTS, will be well aware of the developing discussions into the increased complexity that will be demanded for scenery objects...and indeed rolling stock, etc. Paul has started putting together some basic tutorials for the creation of simple scenery objects, and I am teaming up with him to develop what we are hoping will be a set of tutorials to allow the novice builder to learn the techniques required to create acceptable scenery objects and rolling stock for TS2 when it is released in 2009.

The tutorials will concentrate on creating items for FSX....and as soon as the specific details for TS2 become available, tutorials for TS2 will emerge (but that will obviously be late 2009, once TS2 hit the shelves).

This thread will be stickied so its easily accessible...and the tutorial threads are:
Tutorial 1 - the very basics: viewtopic.php?f=18&t=86363
Tutorial 2 - intro to textures: viewtopic.php?f=18&t=86422
Tutorial 3 - LODs : viewtopic.php?f=18&t=86494&p=1040991#p1040991
This list will be added to and amended as required...

UPDATE (1st Sept 08):A new tutorial has been created as Tutorial 1....and the above tutorials have been renumbered.
End of update

UPDATE (3rd Sept 08):Tutorial 3 has now hit the shelves. A whopping 23 pages of it!!
Happy reading.
End of update

UPDATE (4th Sept 08):Tutorial 4 has now hit the shelves. A slim 6 pages covering LODs.
End of update

Tutorials available from UKTS file download...

Creating Objects for FSX with 3DCanvas - Tutorial 1 - Getting st [160429 bytes] - FSX 3DC Tutorial01.pdf File ID: 19668 Date: 04 Sep 2008 - 137 Downloads

Creating Objects for FSX with 3DCanvas - Tutorial 2 - Your first [1453781 bytes] - FSX 3DC Tutorial02.pdf File ID: 19669 Date: 02 Sep 2008 - 174 Downloads

Creating for FSX from 3DC Tutorial 3 - Your Second Object [4204311 bytes] - FSX 3DC Tutorial03.pdf File ID: 19675 Date: 04 Sep 2008 - 110 Downloads

Creating for FSX from 3DC Tutorial 4 - Creating LODs [204144 bytes] - FSX 3DC Tutorial04.pdf File ID: 19685 Date: 05 Sep 2008 - 71 Downloads

Anyone who has any suggestions and/or feedback on the tutorials, please PM me.

Anyone having a go at creating objects, please let us know how you're getting on.....

[franksandwell]

Good to hear Doug. I can see the future will be most interesting coupled with a steep learning curve. Unfortunately, I don't have FSX but I'm following the tutorials closely and have them all printed out for future use.

Frank

[dkightley]

Update in first post......Tutorials 1 & 2 available in pdf.

[dkightley]

I've spotted a problem with the hyperlinks in Tutorial1....and I've updated the pdf and uploaded it as version 1.1.

Anyone who has downloaded v1.0 can use the links on this thread instead of redownloading the pdf:
viewtopic.php?f=18&t=86363

[Timcourt1]

Good stuff guys- thanks should give me something to do over the winter:)

Tim C

[dkightley]

Tutorial 3 has just been uploaded.

This tutorial covers getting simple textures on an object, and introduces an easier placement method.

[dkightley]

Tutorial 4 has just been uploaded.

There may be a gap before we get to number 5!

As ever, please feed back good and bad comments.....and do report how you get on, please.

[rufuskins]

Probably a silly question . . . but here goes.

You refer to these tutorials as being for FSX - presumably FlightSim - and then for TS2. Does this mean that they are not relevant to MSTS1? As I said possibly silly question!

Modelling with 3DCanvas or equivalent is a long term aim, and I would therefore be looking to build up a library of references and tutorials now whilst I have the time and money, and before I retire - or god forbid get made redundant.

Ruf

[dkightley]

Hi Ruf

You're correct in your assumption that FSX is Flight Simulator X...and the relevance to TS2 is that TS2 is being built using the same graphics engine as FSX, which means that the scenery (and trains/aircraft) are defined in exactly the same way and use the same file types/content, etc. So, scenery built for FSX will drop straight into TS2 without any modification.

Hopefully, armed with this knowledge, you've realised that what we're explaining in these tutorials doesn't relate to MSTS, as the file format, etc is different to FSX.

As you're aiming to get modelling in the future, then 3DCanvas is the ideal tool, as it's a continually developing product that can export to MSTS, RS, FSX, and TS2. And do watch out for more tutorials in the coming months. In fact, I've just uploaded a tutorial covering the thorny subject of translucency...which is something that every model builder has had problems with.

[CaptainBazza]

I have been trying to find information how to import a <name>.3ds mesh into 3DC Pro with textures intact. According to the specs sheet 3DC Pro can do this, but there's not one article on the methodology, which is frustrating.

I have tried several times to import a textured model into 3DCP, and have only got the shape, but no textures. Please help!?

Cheers Bazza

[CaptainBazza]

Well, somehow the textures appear, but the scene is rather darkly lit. Also, NO animations were imported.

Cheers Bazza

[trevtrain]

HI Doug/Paul,
I would like to have a go at this as I would eventually like to prepare my train models for MSTS2.However, I have been thwarted at my attempt to export the "testcube". On export (flightsim.mdl) I get an error " XtoMDL.exe was not found in the SDK or 3DC plugins folder. Please convert the X and Xanim files from the command line". I have searched all over for the missing XtoMDL .exe, but cannot find. I have all the necessary requirements, FSX, SDK and 3DC pro version 7.1.2. plus Pauls plugin update 16-9-08, all installed on the same computer. Any help in locating XtoMDL please. I have already looked on the microsoft flightsim site - a page is there explaining Xtomdl, but no hints as to where to get the file from. Thanks.
Cheers, Fender.

[decapod]

The plugin first scans your registry looking for the value of:

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\microsoft games\Flight Simulator X SDK\SdkRootDir

This should be a folder name where you installed the SDK.
it then adds \Environment Kit\Modeling SDK\3DSM7\Plugins\ on the end and looks for xtomdl.exe there.

If it is not found, it looks in the plugins folder for xtomdl.exe

Typically it should be in c:\program files\microsoft games\Flight Simulator X SDK\SDK\Environment Kit\Modeling SDK\3DSM7\Plugins\

If you do manage to find it, copying the exe into the plugins folder should enable the export to run.

[HondaWizard]

Hi Fender,

Make sure that FSX and the SDK have the same service pack installed.
I had the same error with only FSX updated to service pack 1
After updating the SDK to service pack 1, the error was gone.

Regards
Gerrit

[dkightley]

That's a good point....which is covered in Tutorial 1. If you've not read the tutorial, now would be a good time to do so.