modeling for SHIII

[USS Sea Tiger]

Hello all

I model considerably for otrher programs, namely trainz. And funny,, mostly ships. I model in Gmax and using exporters to get it into game format. W hat is the primary program for modeling and texturing for SHII and what exporters are needed? Is there a poly limit to this exporter, or amount of polys to keep the models under?? Also,, what "points" are needed to make say a basic ship or airplane? (i.e.limfronts, limbacks ect? Would it be possible for someone send me a bacis airplane and ship model to review and to see how it all comes together as I have not yet located a content creators manual here.

thank you

Mike Davis

[DivingDuck]

Moin,

sorry to tell you, but there is no exporter that brings your modelled ships into game format. I don´t recall whether GMAX ia able to export to *.obj format. But that´s the most important thing you have to care about when modelling. The *.obj format is limited but supported by Pack3D. This tool, by Sensal, is used to import / export 3d objects to / from the *.dat files. So, no need to send you a basic plaen or ship. Get all 5 versions of Pack3D and a good hex editor and you´re ready to go. You may d/l Pack3 from various sites for free. Click my sig and you´ll find it easily in the ModdingTools folder.

Regards,
DD

[USS Sea Tiger]

Thanks I'll get that,

I can convert to .obj but then have to reskin the mesh,

Once in that format, and remeshed, and set up,, what is next?

I will be converting a 239 Buffalo (finland) as a first try.

[DivingDuck]

Moin,

Originally Posted by USS Sea Tiger

Thanks I'll get that,

I can convert to .obj but then have to reskin the mesh,

Once in that format, and remeshed, and set up,, what is next?

I will be converting a 239 Buffalo (finland) as a first try.

you don´t have to reskin the mesh. When exporting to *.obj format all UV mapping coordinates will be stored with the *.obj file. While exporting an additional file will be created, an *.mtl file that contains information about the textures used.

What is next?

Well,

1. create a new aircraft folder ...data/sea/aircraft/new_aircraft
2. copy all files from an existing aircraft to this folder (use an aircraft that is similar to your new unit)
3. rename all files within the new folder to new_aircraft (folder name and unit`s name must match)
4. run Pack3D
5. open the new_aircraft.dat
6. press CLONE
7. go to ...data/sea/roster/country_of_your_choice/aircraft/...
8. open the aircraft.cfg of the unit you cloned from
9. save as new_aircraft.cfg
10. run SHIII/Museum
11. check whether the new aircraft appears in the museum

Now,

1. run Pack3D
2. re-open new_aircraft.dat
3. choose part to replace, e.g. main body
4. press IMPORT
5. choose the main_body.obj of your new model to import
6. go to line #3 until you`ve replaced all parts
7. run SHIII/Museum

Regards,
DD

[USS Sea Tiger]

Now I have a clue,, thanks diving duck!!!


look forward to adding things now!!!