posted 09-20- 11:00 PM               

I've found you can swap files back and forth from MAX to AC3D and keep the mapping coords.

I've done things like add real gun ports for the Ki-61 and made wing roots for the C-46 I did so the wings mold with the fuse.

All this and the mapping coords stay and the parts can be used in game right then. I also have a plug-in for MAX that lets you export to LOD format but i'm still trying to figure out how I got it.

this setup can add gear holes, canopys, windows, control surfaces, and many many other things easier then it is in AC3D but you can still use AC3D to do the major modeling if you liek it like I do but get all the cool features like MAX without the hugh learning curve.

And the cool thing about not loosing the mapping coords is it means you can edit old planes to add new things without redoing a bunch of stuff. I'm pretty sure I could add the wing slants to the 109s in 10 min for all versions. then it would just be a matter of something adding the OP stuff for them to work.

I'm not working on SDOE stuff but if you guys that are want to know how let me know and I'll fill in the blanks.

posted 09-21- 10:17 AM               

Here's how you get files from AC3D to MAX.

check the settings in AC3D to make sure you have "Output VRML textures" checked.

Now you can export to VRML2 and the mapping will stay and you can import that into MAX and view the model there.

Now you can export in MAX to LOD or 3DS and AC3D can read those and your mapping should still be there if what ever you did in MAX didn't hurt the coords.