posted 09-12- 11:41 AM               

A while back, you posted on how to put a FST model (fsd file) into SDOE. At least as a static object.

I had printed that post which was like a tutorial. My printout recently got ruined and I wondered if you get a chance, if you could go through the steps needed to put a fsd model into Fighter Squadron. Flying and/or static.

My son has been asking me about this, and I'd like to look at it further when I have some time.

Thanks.

(I tried searching the posts, but I didn't find anything. It might have been from around Jan or Feb of this year)

posted 09-12- 12:39 PM               

1) Either set a path to where fsd2lod is kept or copy the model you wish to convert into the directory where fsd2lod is kept.

2) type fsd2lod model.fsd model.fsd (where model is the name of the model you want to convert - the second .fsd name can be something else)

3) all done. fsd2lod will generate all the level of detail files with I think the highest number being the most detailed.

4) skip to step 5 below....

** Alternate method (95% of the time, fsd2dxf will work, at least one model didn't extract properly with this method or errored out):

1) Download fsd2dxf from Hippie's junk shed (I think), extract the file to somewhere in your path.

2) go to the directory where the fsd model is located, type: fsd2dxf model.fsd <lod level>
- lod level is the number of the lod you wish to extract with the higher the number, the more detailed the lod. I usually type 999 to get the highest lod out

3) load the newly created fsd program into AC3D (if you have it, this might work in other programs). The model will appear wire frame, which is ok right now.

4) Select the entire model, click the 'Poly' button located in the lower left corner of the screen. This will conver the wire model into polygons.

5) Most models will have a lot of lines on them represtenting strut wires, arials, and canopies so we want to keep them from being removed in step 6. So now we switch from 'Object' or 'Group' mode to 'Vetice' mode (press 'v'). Select the lines that you want to keep using the mouse and the shift key, then press 'Poly Line' located next to the 'Poly' button.

6) Switch to 'Object' mode and the from the main menu bar at the top of the screen, click 'Object'->'Optimize Verticies'. Then click 'Object'->'Optimize Surfaces'. With 'Optimize Verticies' you will usually only see a number other than '0 removed' in the case of using a .lod file for the model, DXF files will normally return '0 removed'. With 'Optimized Surfaces' you will usually see a number not '0' as there seems to be some faces that aren't real or, if you didn't convert them to 'Poly Line' aren't legal. Having a number in this instance isn't bad. If you mess up, don't worry, just 'File'->'New' and reload the .lod or .dxf model.

Notes:

Back up often. I have done this and haven't regretted the need to dig through model-xxx.ac project files to find the most recent yet.

Scale the model before parting it out: It is really hard to put the parts back where they belong in order to scale the model to it's proper size. It is much easier to scale the model as a whole than to break out some paper and a calculator to scale the parts.

Converting the model to parts: Sometimes the originator of the model had taken the time to add breaks in the wings, fuselage, etc that allow for logical places to cut the plane into SDOE friendly parts. If not, you can either create a new part from scratch using the dimensions and positioning from the original, or insert verticies, remove faces, and add faces to a model with little effort. There is always the 'Surface'->'Subdivide' menu option in order to speed up the process.

FSD models are great starts: The usually have low face counts, and good size, shape and scaling, but...

you usually need to tweak the model some, increase detail and cut holes here and there to get the model looking pretty. A lot of work, but a heck of a lot easier than starting from scratch sometimes.

A quick way to do canopies: I think either under 'File'->'Edit Settings' or 'Edit'->'Edit Settings' you can adjust properties of different actions, including 'surface hole %'. Surface hole percent is the percent of the surface the surface hole will occupy. This is neat because if you have a multi faceted canopy, and you know where the window panes are supposed to be at, you just make the canopy with a face representing each pane of glass (no subdivision of the face irrigardless of whether the face is coplaner or not, trust me - one pane, one face). You then cut the canopy away from the model and select 'Surface'->'Make Hole' and wala, the window frame will be cut nicely for you. You might need to 'Edit'->'Undo' the holing of the surface and readjust the '% surface hole' a bit to get the thing looking right, but it saves a buttload of time later. Sadly, I didn't figure that out until a week or so after doing the B-29's greenhouse by hand. what a pain in the wazzoo that was.

Plane aren't made over night and the FM is the hardest part: You need time to get the model tweaked to look perfect, textured, and lod'd for use in SDOE, but it takes even more time to get it to fly right. The bit with the shadows makes life even tougher.