Converting Planes for SimCity.

[Fairlane500 8]

I'd like to know if there is a way I could convert a plane from Flight Simulator 2004 to make it a prop or automata for Sim City. Any help/information would be appreciated.

[Swamper77 90]

Fairlane,

You'll have to get the models into .3ds format before you can do anything with them. From there, the easiest thing to make them into props with the BAT. The hardest thing to make them into would be automata, as these usually require some scripting to make them work.
I don't know of any programs that will convert Flight Simulator models into .3ds format, but someone else might.

-Swamper77

[Fairlane500 8]

So in all reality, if I were to find the .3ds file for an aircraft, it would be quite simple to convert it?

[ardecila 125]

Yes! My favorite area of modding. See my thread .

Well, if you can get it in 3ds format, great. If not, then you have a bit of work to do.


Only certain MSFS models are convertable. You need aircraft that use the MDL format.(IE, older ones. the most recent ones use BGL) Also, you need to find BGLs that were NOT created by the MSFS plugin pack for gmax. (There's a tool called MDL2DXF that is my lifeblood. This does the converting.) Once you have the model in DXF format, you can import into the BAT.

Textures are trickier. Some older aircraft have textures as unencoded BMPs. These are useful, but they tend to be low-quality. What I do is extract encoded textures from newer aircraft and put them on the older models. To do this, you need a certain program that comes with the MSFS gmax plugin pack. You can open the encoded BMPs, then save them as unencoded BMPs that gmax can use as textures.

Making them into automata is a process that requires pay software at one point, so I won't go into that right now.

[Fairlane500 8]

Well, I tried my luck at creating a Tu-144 prop. I got through importing it into the BAT, but when I tried to add the fuselage texture, it ended up skewed by 90 degrees.

That was just a trial, what I'm really trying to get is some canadian aircraft for my CJ, I have the models, it's just the texturing process that seems to be my stopping point.

[ardecila 125]

Canadian aircraft? No kidding!

I made a UDI Snowbird (CT-114) for personal use. Those have the coolest paint scheme....

[Fairlane500 8]

Yeah, I'm planning on adding a Canadian airbase to my CJ, so I'm looking into making a CP-140, CT-133, DHC-5, AW320, and SH-3 for now.

I also have a CL 215 in mind.

 

I'm going to try some simple textures first, then go from there.

 

And tips would be appreciated.

[Fairlane500 8]

After a bit of trial and error, I have a semi-success story to share.

I was able to texture semi-realistically a Canadair CL-215 float-plane and turn it into a prop.

http://img523.imageshack.us/img523/6739/cl2151dl.jpg align=baseline>

 

The only problem is that it only is viewable from one angle, and can only appear off the lot.

 

I guess I still have a little work to do. I'll keep everyone updated.

[ardecila 125]

Great job!

You have to put your plane at 0,0 or it'll appear off the lot. I dunno about the only viewable from one angle problem.

[Fairlane500 8]

I fixed the location problem, but I discovered that in all reality the mesh is unusable. From certain angles portions are mssing, such as the top of the rear fuselage in the above picture.

I was able to use a good model to create another aircraft I'm pleased with, a CT-133 trainer

http://img400.imageshack.us/img400/541/ct133copy2pd.jpg align=baseline>

 

Unfortunately the wing markings are to small to have shown up detailed, and I think my scale is a little off.

 

I was wondering, do you have any suggestions on how to create a texture that would incorporate windows for the cockpit and markings such as stripes down the side that could be applied to an aircraft such as an airliner?

[Fairlane500 8]

I'm really pleased. I just finished what I think may be my best work yet, a Boeing C-17 transport.

Here's the preview from the B.A.T. just as a little sneak peek.

http://img389.imageshack.us/img389/9564/c170vr.jpg align=baseline>

 

I may have to try and contact the creators to see about their work in SimCity.

[ardecila 125]

Date: 1/1/2006 11:19:49 PM
Author: Fairlane500

Unfortunately the wing markings are to small to have shown up detailed, and I think my scale is a little off.

I was wondering, do you have any suggestions on how to create a texture that would incorporate windows for the cockpit and markings such as stripes down the side that could be applied to an aircraft such as an airliner?

quote>

If you're not satisfied with the model for the CT-133, I can create a full-3d model for you (like the cars and trucks on the roads). The only downside is that you don't get shadows on the ground.

As for the airliner - the problem with cockpit windows is that they are on an oddly-curved area of the plane, and there's no real systematic way to do it by texturing. The best way would be to do it with an actual part of the model underneath the texture.

The best way to do it would be to detach the cockpit from the rest of the fuselage and texture it seperately. Texture the cockpit with a frontal view, but then texture the fuselage with a side view.

You're entering the BAT world the same way I did - with an imported airplane model. Seriously, a B-1B was my first release on the STEX.

[Fairlane500 8]

The 3-D model, it would show up in better detail as a prop? I'd want to look into that, as i would be useful for such a small plane.

I'll have to attempt the separation technique on a CP-140 I just got, it actually has a separate part for the front of the fuselage.

 

I was lucky with the C-17 as it had a separate piece for the cockpit windows.

 

From now on I'm going to try scouting for those, as they are much easier to work with, at least when they are of decent quality.

[hamsterTK 93]

I may have to try and contact the creators to see about their work in SimCity.

quote>
something tells me boeing wouldnt mind.they probably wouldnt even read your letter.

[Fairlane500 8]

Date: 1/3/2006 2:57:27 PM Author: hamsterTK

I may have to try and contact the creators to see about their work in SimCity.

quote> something tells me boeing wouldnt mind.they probably wouldnt even read your letter.

quote>

Actually, I can't take credit for the model. The creator I'm refering to is the one who made the model for Flight simulator, I just did some converting, texturing, and resizing.

 

As foir the C-17, I've yet to do much with it, as it needs a while to render for how large the plane is. Hopefully I can get an in-game picture up soon.

[Chris M 406]

Excellent! I think I have the same C-17 Model.. So far, I've just experimented around with it like you. But anyway, I have hundreds of models, all in .3DS format.. I just need some worthwhile textures, and they could easily be in SC4.

[Swamper77 90]

Fairlane,

You need to include the SC4model file in the zip. The prop will just display a brown box without it.

-Swamper77

[Fairlane500 8]

It is now done. i thought that I may have been missing something, and thanks to your quick response, i was able to look into it today and update the file.

[SHADD0W09 2]

I have a problem i have downloaded your c-17 but canot find in in the prop's list in lot editor just thaught id let you know

[ardecila 125]

The lot has to be big enough to fit the prop before it appears in the list....