posted 11-24- 10:08 AM               

That is, you can fire up this proggie and make any model you like then save it as a 3DS (3D Studio) model!! Think of the possiblities for those without a 3D program!!!

It can also open (import) 3D studio models, .obj files and .lwo (lightwave files)

The program itself is called Anim8or and it is used to create models and then scenes to "Anim8" (animate) them in. I had this program for a long while but I only just realized this feature today. Although I haven't got 3D Studio (why I would even write this if I had?), I am sure Anim8or is much more simpler but it may have potential. The program (Anim8or) also supports Textures and UV but I've no idea currently of how to use them.

Some pics of it below with models I made myself

And I am certain that they are exported as valid 3DS models because I used 3D Exploration to view the exported model and it looks just fine! Isn't that what we are after? Any program that can make 3D models. Hows does AC3D work? Do the plane builders convert their models to 3DS before converting them for use in OPS? How exactly does that work? For example, with this program, you can export 3DS models among others. Can planes (or even just ground objects) be made to be used in SDOE?? If the models need to be converted to asc format, you just export them as 3DS in this program, load up 3D Exploration and Export them again as asc format. Also, I managed to open the "MVWorld" terrain by first opening its SM in OPS file and exporting it as an .obj file and then opening it in Anim8or.

Currently, you will need to use 3D Exploration to aid in converting the models to and from 3DS and obj file formats as Anim8or only exports 3DS with success but can import obj, lwo, and 3ds without problems. So for example, you want to improve the look of an aircraft part, open OPS and the aircraft in it, select the part, export it as obj. Open Anim8or and import the part. Do whatever you like to it, and make sure you center it and re-orient it. Export it as 3DS. Open 3D Exploration and open the 3DS file you just exported. In 3D Exploration, export it as obj so OPS can read it again. I've done this but the only problem is that the model I modified doesn't show up in SDOE!!

Here's the pic of it in OPS: (no idea why its got a strange color, no texture maybe?)

And then after firing up SDOE...

DOH!!!

Is there any potential in this??

posted 11-25- 03:59 PM               

1. The polygons were inverted in the translation. If a program designates the poly's as single sided and they are inverted, they disappear.

2. The polygons were "flipped". This is not the same thing. Some programs rely on the vertices always being numbered in the same direction (CW or CCW). If the program flips the rotation of the numbers another program knows something is supposed to be there, but can't interpret the info.

See if there's a setting for inverting or flipping the polygons on the engine in one of the programs you use.