Hard Light Productions Forums

Off-Topic Discussion => Arts & Talents => Topic started by: watsisname on July 17, 2006, 01:05:13 am

Title: Importing FS2 ships to Orbiter?
Post by: watsisname on July 17, 2006, 01:05:13 am
So I recently decided to try something new, which is use ships from Freespace (the SF Mara, for example) in the program "Orbiter"  http://orbit.medphys.ucl.ac.uk/orbit.html (http://orbit.medphys.ucl.ac.uk/orbit.html)

I know that I can try modelling the ship myself, using a program called "anim8or", website here: http://www.eharm.net/shop/freeware/orbiter/developer/model2flight/model2flight.html (http://www.eharm.net/shop/freeware/orbiter/developer/model2flight/model2flight.html)  I've never modelled anything before, so this will be quite a learning experience for me.
However, (assuming this is possible), I'd like to start out by importing the model directly so that I can save time (and have it as close to canon FS2 as possible), and get right to work on editting the ship so that it is functional in Oribiter.  The problem is, I have no idea how to transfer the model directly, or if it is even possible to do so. 

So could you guys give some advice to a complete modelling newbie?  I'd very much appreciate it. :)



Title: Re: Importing FS2 ships to Orbiter?
Post by: karajorma on July 19, 2006, 05:23:39 am
I took a look at the anim8or website and I noticed that it could deal with 3ds, obj and lwo files.

That means that importing the models should be possible. You can either

1) Extract the files from FS2 and convert them to .cob with PCS. Then convert the .cob to one of the forms anim8or can deal with using 3D exploration, Lithunwrap or even using TrueSpace.

2) You can look at the various high poly models release threads and see if you can find a model in one of those formats.

The tools you may need to do convertions are avaialble from my FAQs tools page.
Title: Re: Importing FS2 ships to Orbiter?
Post by: watsisname on July 19, 2006, 05:51:20 pm
Thank you very much, Kara.  That was extremily helpful. :)
I've already started with the Mara and hopefully I'll have it finished by the weekend, depending on Real LifeTM.  I'll be sure to post a nice pic when I'm finished. :D

I've also looked at some of these tools you mentioned, like PCS and Lithunwrap.  They're pretty awesome and I'll have to try playing around with them more when I get the chance.
Title: Re: Importing FS2 ships to Orbiter?
Post by: karajorma on July 20, 2006, 10:24:31 am
No problem. Post links to the orbiter site once you have it all done. :)
Title: Re: Importing FS2 ships to Orbiter?
Post by: watsisname on July 20, 2006, 09:06:28 pm
Eh... do you mean post a link to the orbiter site here, or post a link to here (or pictures of what I hope to do) on the orbiter site?
The former I've already done in my first post, and I can't do the latter.

As for my progress, it's not coming along as well as I'd like.  Turns out the guide to putting ships in Orbiter isn't as good as I hoped, and Orbiter doesn't seem to want to display the texture properly for some reason...  :hopping:

So I'll need to do more searching for detailed guides, a lot of fiddling with those programs, and probably some more hitting things, too.  I'll update on my progress again later on.
Title: Re: Importing FS2 ships to Orbiter?
Post by: karajorma on July 21, 2006, 08:34:06 am
Sorry. My bad. It's Celestia not Orbiter which has a list of Sci-fi objects on the main page. :)
Title: Re: Importing FS2 ships to Orbiter?
Post by: watsisname on July 21, 2006, 02:00:21 pm
Oooh, that's another cool idea.  Being a fan of Celestia as well, I'll need to try doing that once I've finished with this. :)
Edit:  I just realized how many happy faces there are in this topic. :lol: