Flight Simulator model conversion .mdl

[hockley91]

Okay,

 

Our office if going to remodel an old hanger into a student flight training facility.

 

The airplane that they are using need to be shown in the 3 views that I am going to render. I found some models of the aircraft, but they were done for Microsoft Flight Simulator.

 

I need to convert them into Max format. I've tried some converters, but they do not work.

 

I don't really want to model them, because It will take a long time for me to deal with the curves in the model.

 

I've contacted the manufacturer of the aircraft and am awaiting a response. I am hoping that someone has a model over there that I could use. It'd also be good for them for marketing purposes.

 

If anyone has any ideas, it would be helpful.

[chuck]

its a long shot, but is it any of these?

 

http://www.3dcafe.com/asp/aircraft.asp

 

chuck

[Ernest Burden III]

I found some models of the aircraft, but they were done for Microsoft Flight Simulator

 

It's hard to tell, but would the format be one of these? from Unwrap3D

[Onslaught]

I have this, it's a 737. it's in .dwg format. also have a c152 also in .dwg format

[Onslaught]

Actually you can go here, this is where I got the planes.

 

http://www.accustudio.com/exchange/objects/obj_vehi_t.htm

 

hope it helps.

[Charles Gaushell]

If you figure it out, please share with all. I tried to do the same once before but had no luck. It would be very helpful.

[Ged Trias]

What are the airplanes you need models of? There are a multitude of sources out there.

[Lightning]

Hi,

 

I was actually quite involved with modeling for Microsoft's Combat Flight simulator 2.

I used a program that I purchased online that is called 'Flight Simulator Design Studio' (FSDS). It's a simple modeling tool that produced the .mdl files.

It has also the option to export to a .dxf files that I could open quite easily in 3DS Max.

Unfortunately the version I have is good for Win98 only which I don't have installed anywhere anymore.

 

In any case I'm pretty sure that .mdl files are compiled by the program and therefore you can't open them even if you have the right software, but I might be wrong.

 

Contacting the original modelers is the only way, or as suggested looking in other resources sites.

[hockley91]

Thanks everybody for your help so far.

 

I really need a specific airplane called the DA20-C1 Eclipse from the Diamond Aircraft group. The manufacturer apparently won't help me now because all of their stuff is "proprietary". I'm gonna see if the client has some pull here.

 

http://www.diamondair.com

 

I've gone to turbosquid, with no luck either. I've found some similar looking aircraft that might work. Let me know if anyone has something like these attached images that might work. I would appreciate it very much.

 

Hockley91

[Ernest Burden III]

Thanks everybody for your help so far.

 

I really need a specific airplane called the DA20-C1 Eclipse from the Diamond Aircraft group. The manufacturer apparently won't help me now because all of their stuff is "proprietary".

 

I looked at their site, and at suurland.com to see if he had plans, which he didn't.

 

One thing to be careful, of course, as you seek these models is accuracy, especially size OA. Since I could not find blueprints, you wonder what the models were made from. Do you at least have plans?

 

If your firm is building a facility around these aircraft then accuracy is important. It won't look good when the planes don't fit through the doors.

 

Have you contacted Microsoft game division to see if they have any products that will convert models?

 

 

email these guys flightsim.com , maybe they would know how to do the convert.

[hockley91]

I'll check it out Ernest. Thanks!

[Elliot]

Adam,

 

Two years ago I did several airplane models for FS simulator. I used FSD to exchange from one file extension to another (BGL to MDL). In the old days the FS simulator planes where made on BGL files. Now they are saved as an MDL file. I am not to sure of this explanation on the BGL vs MDL. I know the present FS2004 simulator uses MDL file extensions for the aircrafts and BGL extensions for the architecture (buildings, hangars, terrain) It was very difficult and I never got it to work right.

 

I understand GMax Developer is like the Lite brother Max 6 and it is capable of opening and saving MDL files. I think in order to create a file and export as an MDL file you need an export filter that allows you to save as an MDL file or to open an MDL file. What I gather it is that GMax is like the water down version of 3D Max for game developers, but it is the only one that brings the MDL exporter plugin.

 

Gmax Lite is free of charge and I think you can get it from the Discreet site. It was given free of charge with FS simulator 2002. It is not distributed with FS2004. However, the Lite does not have the MDL exporter.

 

Most developer of the real planes you see for FS are very clever and very sophisticated 3D people. They use the developer version of the GMax which is like using Viz 2005. However, their models are very low on polygonal count. Their use of the normals is very clever. If they don't make lite files, the FS simulator will become sluggish.

 

I think ABACUS Publications sells an FS Designer version 2.XXX that works with Windows XP. The world of the FS Gamers has become fairly sophisticated. You can do ILS Cat III landings under real weather. You can even land on a carrier and have an arrestor cable catch you. Or even better, have the catapult launch you to flying speed. You can link many computers to the primary computer and have each screen show different views. These people do 3D models similar to ours, theirs will move. They have reflective surfaces and moving components. You can even attach your game computer to a real GPS that will keep track of your position. You can use this device to couple to the autopilot to navigate or even land.

 

I forgot how I did all the file transformations. I did a my version of a T38 and an F5. They where primitive but I got them off the ground. In addition to all the 3D stuff (similar to Viz) you need to know about flight dynamics and Energy Manueverability to make the aircraft.cfg file which is the file that assigns all the specific flying characteristic that mimic the real aircraft. If you have a basic knowledge of aeronautical or aereospace science you can make planes that feel very real. You can fly them inside and outside the envelope

 

Take a look at

 

http://www.gmaxsupport.com/

http://www.projectmagenta.com

http://www.schiratti.com/dowson.html

http://www.wideview.it/

http://www.abacuspub.com

 

Some of the above sites have forums similar to CGarchitect and I am sure they will get an awnser to your questions. Be aware that there is a large community of gamers that are very young. These guys basically operate on the Microft Zone Forum. The above sites I gave to you are made up off very talented aeronautical individuals (except for Abacus, which is a game developer). Some of them are real engineers working for the big European and American Aerospace companies. Some are real pilots logging with weird names. Sometime ago there was a guy that was publishing on FS Navigator some flight plans of low level missions going between a carrier and targets similar to what we hear on TV.

 

Good Luck

Elliot

[Elliot]

Adam,

 

I have been looking on my files. I can't find the decompiler they had for MDL to GMAX files. The guy that had the file has the server but he is not a working site. I think that if you E Mail to the designer of the model he will send you the GMAX file.

 

Elliot

[hockley91]

Elliot,

 

Thanks for your help, really! This is an interesting dillema....

 

I emailed the modeler:

 

http://www.flightsimnetwork.com/premaircraft/home.htm

 

The model is right there on their web page. I hope I get a response.

 

I've chatted with our client, and they are a bit upset that the manufacturer isn't helping me. They've been chatting with Diamond Aircraft over this matter. Apparently, if they are spending all this money to buy their airplanes they better d**n well give me the 3D model. They are gonna have around 50 aircraft under an open air hanger.

 

For anyone else, since I've been researching this, here's a free model aircraft website anyone might be interested in. it looked pretty good!:

 

http://www.max-realms.com/mod_aircraft.html

 

Adam

[Elliot]

Adam

 

It is very interesting....! When FS2002 was the current Flight Simulator I was able to convert from the MDL extension to DXF and or MAX. There was several conversion utility programs that made that possible. However, since Microsoft went to the current Flight Simulator (FS2004) there has been some minor change on the MDL format. Most of the old converters do not want to work with the new MDL.

 

The converter I used before is http://hem.passagen.se/henry.veppling/mdl/mdl.htm

 

There was another one that it is even better but I can not find it. There is also a guy that wrote a MAX script routine that allows the direct import of MDL to 3D Max. I can't find that one either. Maybe with the creation of the new MDL files nobody has been able to decompile the files and a result removed the sites.

 

When I lived in Europe I found the FS is a very big hobby there. The Europeans take FS very seriously. There is an American group that takes it seriously too. I met a guy in Germany that built a complete Micro Simulator with 10 monitors and a projector beaming up on vaulted ceiling the sky representation. It was very real, doing aerobatics was very amusing. I had the opportunity to fly it and it was very interesting the only thing missing from real life was the G's and the motion. Both in the US and in Europe there are guys that play the pilot role and there is other groups that play controllers. Through a voice software called teamspeak.com they get their clearances.

 

If I come across a converter that works I will send it to you.

 

Elliot

[hockley91]

Elliot,

 

I just tried that converter on a FS2002 model of the plane, and I came up with a big 'mass' of garbage. Looks like crumpled paper. It converted it to .dxf, but I suppose it didn't translate very well.

 

Pretty cool what you were saying about the enthusiests over there in Europe. Sounds like a lot of fun. I used to play Microsoft Flight Simulator all the time back when I had an Apple IIe, back in 1982. I stopped playing it back in 1994, of course I didn't have an Apple anymore at that point.

 

Anyway, thanks for your help! It's great that everyone helps in this forum.

[Elliot]

Adam,

 

I had the same experience here. Not only with that decompiler but also with other ones as well. On Fs2002 I was able to do various models. I even had a bicycle that could fly like a plane...!

 

FS has become like a religion for some of the cult following members. You will find all kind of people doing this kind of flying. I was a pilot in the old days, that was after college and ROTC. Now I just like teaching my children. Every once in a while we rent a Citabria - Decathalon and just strap on the parachutes and do aerobatics. That's about the only flying I do now.

 

I have a carrier with the arrestor and launcher and like hitting the deck at low visibility under the ILS at night. It is interesting. Some times I play server host for a group of guys and they come and do their touch and goes. Most of them just hit the water...! We had a good one about a month ago. He could land consistently no matter how bad I cranked the weather. It turned out that he is a joung F18 driver in one of the carriers. Since I was Air Force I have an F16 specially modified to land on carriers. By the way the F16 was meant to be for the Navy, at the end the Navy did the Y18 which turned out to be the F18 and the USAF did the Y16. However, the designers for both planes where the same. They were called the Pentagon's Fighter Mafia in the early 1970's.

 

http://webpages.charter.net/v1907

 

If you get a decompiler to work let me know. I would like to get back at modifying the existing FS aircrafts..... I guess this is a fringe benefit of doing virtual reality.... do your own plane.... Hi Hi Now I do them in SolidWorks and transfer them to Viz... it is too much work. It is easier to decomplie and modify somebody elses. But with the new MDL format is nearly impossible.

 

See you

Elliot

[hockley91]

That's pretty neat! I'll have to buy Flight Simulator 2004 now huh? I saw the screen shots and the images look pretty incredible!

 

Sounds and looks like a lot of fun! I'll have to try that carrier landing sometime when your hosting!

 

Adam

[Elliot]

Adam,

 

This version of FS is very interesting. I have to get back to it.... My 5 children and work are keeping me too busy..... Hi Hi.

 

I am attaching some photos. These planes are not the standard aircrafts on FS. They are free add-on's made by 3D enthusiast people. These 3D designers are very clever. Example, my F16 has moving flaps, canopy you can open, afterburner that closes and open the exhaust tailpipe, landing, navigation and intrument lights you can turn on and off.... Many other movable things. As you turn you can see the skin surfaces reflecting light at the various angles at which the sun hits the aircraft, you can also see moving shadows. These people don't do photoreal models in term of physical apperance. However, they are real models in terms of functionality. I think the Viz people could learn something from them.

 

I did a building on Viz that had doors windows and many other movable things. I exported it as an MDL file and my friend open it with FS. He could make the doors open and many other inter-active issues. There is a lot of people that have FS.... perhaps it could be a common platform from which Viz people could send inter-active buildings. The difficulty is learning a new set of programing parameters.... this is beyond the capabilities of my 54 years old brain.

 

 

 

 

 

Happy Flying

Elliot