[boewolf]

I was wondering what programs people are using besides truespace to make thier modles with, and where i can get a trial version of that program...

[Taristin]

3D Studio Max/GMax

[Liberator]

Blender, despite what everyone else tells you, is good for making meshes.  I picked it up in about a week.  The other more popular, professional grade proggy are like trying to see past the event horizon of a singularity for me.

[NGTM-1R]

I don't model for FS...mainly because A: I suck, B: I REALLY suck, and C: I know of any program that will convert a .c4d file to a format that will be recognized by Truespace or any other free program that can in turn be recognized by a program that can convert it to a .pof file.

[Black Wolf]

Gotta back Raa up here. Max is by far the easiest 3d program to pick up if you follow a few tutorials to get you started. Once you know the control scheme, everything else just falls into place.

[MeekGeek]

A lot depends on what ( if anything ) you are used to.

I have used Max6 for high-detail rendering, but can't get to grips with using it for much lower poly stuff...and I couldn't get to grips with the Max plugin. The plugin seemes to work OK on the sample model that came with it... just not on any of my models! Guess it's me not the software

For modelling and animation, though, I prefer Lightwave. I have been doing work for UT2004 which likes LWO for static objects. It works great for FS2. 3D Explorer does the COB conversion, and the free TS3.2 does the assembler. PCS builds. The only time PCS has refused to convert is after I forgot to 'clean up' after a boolean subtract. Otherwise, it's rock steady

I tried the free versionof Maya that ships with UT2004, but couldn't make any sense of it at all.

Truespace is OK, but I find the interface a bit restrictive. You spend more time looking for the right tool to do the job. Probably gets easier with use. From what I gather, later versions are a lot easier to work with.

Blender was alien ....

In short ( coz I am starting to ramble badly!!! ) try as many free modellers as you can download. Make a few simple shapes, UV map them and convert them to COB with 3DExplorer. Then build in TS3.2. Make sure you can get a stable and usable end product with the modelling pipeline before you commit hours of time to mastering a tool. You have an advantage since you don't already know one particular style of work. Max, Lightwave, Truespace, Blender...all VERY diferent in terms of how you work and how the interface looks and feels. Find what works....then find what feels easiest for you..then get building

I did

[freespace2pilot]

i use truespace, but when i convert to POF all my modifications to basic shapes are gone... can ne one help?

[Swamp_Thing]

Originally posted by freespace2pilot
i use truespace, but when i convert to POF all my modifications to basic shapes are gone... can ne one help?

Never had that happen to me...


I use Truespace 6.5, i have had 3DMax on my HD for the last 2 years and couldn´t ever make anything more complicated than a cube. Then i got TS, and stuff started getting interesting.
I guess it´s all about personal choices. If you want just to make the meshes, i would use TS. If you want to texture them and/or make animations and stuff, learn 3DMax.
I sugest you get both, and use each prog for what it does best, then change.

[Taristin]

I've had that. It's because of the kind of modifiers he's using. I think he turned the objects into a patch, and not geometry... or something.

You'll have to convert it back into a mesh somehow.  I don't remember specifics, though.

[Roanoke]

Originally posted by Swamp_Thing


Never had that happen to me...


I use Truespace 6.5, i have had 3DMax on my HD for the last 2 years and couldn´t ever make anything more complicated than a cube. Then i got TS, and stuff started getting interesting.

Same here. Tried to get used to MAX 'cos I reckon it will be better in the long run but learning a new interface is a pain in the ass.

[karajorma]

Originally posted by Roanoke
Same here. Tried to get used to MAX 'cos I reckon it will be better in the long run but learning a new interface is a pain in the ass.

That's exactly where I am. It's a pain in the arse to change modelling programs once you're used to the way one of them works.

[Roanoke]

TS isn't terrible, but I f*****g hate the way mapping does that "return to default thing". You know, I change the z-axis (right click axis anyway), scale down, see that it isn't straight, attempt to correct the z-axis again and the texture returns to it's initial position.

Makes mapping the "lights" texture an arse 'cos it stretches so much.

[Hippo]

As has been said; Userpreference is key here...