[DahBlount]

Please make sure it's the correct PCS 2.1 (this one), and not the one from this thread, which links to a version that spits out buggy models on DAE->pmf/pof conversion.

Well crap, that was the one I got, thanks for the heads up.

However the link you gave me leads to a 404 page.

Wait, are you talking about the binary in Spicious' signature? I already have that one.

[Droid803]

Yes that one.
The 404 is because i derped and added a entier extra .

[DahBlount]

Ah okay. I replaced the binary, now to get to work.

Do I have to manually enter the textures in or should it automatically compile them when I load the .dae into PCS?

[Droid803]

I'm no expert with blender (never used it, in fact), but it should automatically have the textures specified when you open the DAE.
Doesn't really matter though, as long as you have your textures assigned properly, you can just edit the names in PCS2 easily. Just make sure PCS2 recognizes that the right number of textures (however many different ones you may be using) are assigned.

[DahBlount]

I'm no expert with blender (never used it, in fact), but it should automatically have the textures specified when you open the DAE.
Doesn't really matter though, as long as you have your textures assigned properly, you can just edit the names in PCS2 easily. Just make sure PCS2 recognizes that the right number of textures (however many different ones you may be using) are assigned.

Ah, okay. It didn't have any listed when I brought up the model. So if I use two textures, GilgameshText.dds and GilgameshDebris.dds, I would enter their file names under textures and tell which sub-objects use which one.

[Droid803]

I would enter their file names under textures and tell which sub-objects use which one.

Can't do that in PCS2.
You have to make sure they're assigned already, in some way that will export from blender (no idea how, ask an actual blender user).

What I meant is that if the texture names end up being something like 1_Gilga and 2_Gilga (due to a hypothetical 8-character truncation and auto-number of some sort), as long as in PCS2 you see the pink marks over the correct polies, it doesn't matter, simply rename, but you have to ensure that you have at least 8some* texture assigned to the polies already which you can see the pink lines in PCS2 when selecting the texture name, otherwise it no work.

I mentioned this because I just assign dummytextures from a set that I know exports correctly, then put the correct name afterwards in PCS2, since the 3d studio max exporter likes adding the 1_ and 2_ before the textures anyway and doesn't like certain texture names (for example, it hates the names 3DS max autogens for AO bakes for whatever reason and refuses to export it with that texture assigned, but this is getting to be an aside). HOWEVER, this probably is not relevant to you, since the Blender DAE exporter presumably behaves differently.

[fightermedic]

check lepanto's Ammit thread for tips how to export textures from blender

[DahBlount]

Thanks guys. The textures are there now. Time to get to work before the 30th comes around.

[DahBlount]

So I re-read the model contest and there is a snag.

While the ship is being released individually, it is not meant to be exactly part of the FS Universe. hint hint

So under these circumstances I believe my ship may not be eligible for entry.

[Lepanto]

How about you just release it now as the GTF Something-or-other, to make it eligible for the contest? You can then just use it under a different name/designation in your original mod.

[Lorric]

So I re-read the model contest and there is a snag.

While the ship is being released individually, it is not meant to be exactly part of the FS Universe. hint hint

So under these circumstances I believe my ship may not be eligible for entry.

That is commendable when you stand such a good chance to make some money.

[DahBlount]

That may just work.Thanks!

So what are some ways to push the limits of the model to check for any bugs? So far it runs well on several pre-FREDed missions.

[fightermedic]

How about you just release it now as the GTF Something-or-other, to make it eligible for the contest? You can then just use it under a different name/designation in your original mod.

yea, that's exactly what you should do, your ship would absolutely work as terren craft in the freespace universe
there is no need to restrict it's use to only one universe at all

here are the tools to create .anis as you wanted to know btw:
http://www.hard-light.net/forums/index.php?topic=74636.msg1475207#msg1475207

That may just work.Thanks!

So what are some ways to push the limits of the model to check for any bugs? So far it runs well on several pre-FREDed missions.

have you tryed if docking works? that is probably the most likely thing to break
just call a resupply ship and see if it works

[DahBlount]

Thanks guys.

No I have not checked to see if docking works. I will get back to you on that.

[DahBlount]

  So yeah I may have broke the table or something has gone horribly wrong. After changing the table to make the ship a canon terran ship, whenever I load the mission is says it is missing 4 ship classes.

Edit: Or PERHAPS I should have gone back and changed the mission. *facepalm*

[DahBlount]

After a brief fix, docking DOES work. As far as I can see, there are no bugs with the model. But now I'm gonna have to FRED a true mission for it.