[blowfish]

Up until now, I have been converting models by exporting as 3ds and editing the hierarchy in TrueSpace.  This method has two problem: 1) Smoothing is not preserved and 2) Truespace is a pain in the @$$.  So basically I need a newer, more reliable method for conversion, preferably something that doesn't involve fumbling around in TrueSpace too much.  I am using SketchUp, which can export 3ds, obj, and dae, among other things.  Does anyone know of another conversion method I could use?

[Zacam]

I concur. Maybe a PMF Import/Export for Max/Blender etc or better COB support for the above. Having to use multiple apps to convert to and from is teh suck.

But to answer yor complaint more directly, blowfish, what 3D Modeler are you using? There is a COB import/export for Blender. Judging that you mention 3DS, I am guessing Max, which would require a more updated Import/Export plugin. So far I have not had any luck in having 3D Explorer conver COB-3DS and I haven't loaded TrueSpace to know what it's export options are.

[blowfish]

I am using SketchUp

EDIT: Does anyone know how far off DAE import for PCS2 is?

[Nuke]

use the max exporter, contrary to popular opinion i think it works better at converting meshes straight from max, than it would to convert through a few formats and use pcs2.

but since you're using sketchup, and cant do this, id suggest not using 3ds. that format sucks, has numerous versions, is inconsistently implemented from program to program, its just crap. i hear good things about obj format.

[Flipside]

.Obj is my standard for transporting between applications, can't complain about it at all.

[blowfish]

Does OBJ support hierarchy?

[Hellstryker]

This is probably the most idiotic thing i've ever heard. 3ds exports perfectly fine out of sketchup, and to be honest, I haven't found anything else that does

[blowfish]

But 3ds doesn't keep smoothing.

Also, I tried OBJ, and it imported into truespace with no complaints ... but the entire ship was one mesh.  No turrets, LODs, etc.  Nothing.

This is becoming a serious problem.  Will I have to wait for DAE support in PCS2 to get this to work?

[JGZinv]

I use Deep Exploration for conversions... it has just about every format known to man in it.

Problem I'm having is that when importing anything from SU to Max
for rigging and other final items - the mesh may be in multiple parts,
and it's always completely made out of edge errors in the STL check.

If you guys have found a way to get models out of SU without edge errors I'd love to hear about it.
I've tried every conversion available between Max, SU, and DE.

[Nuke]

deep exploration is pretty damn good, dispite sounding like the name of a pron vid

and stop using stl check unless you plan to print your model in epoxy!

[JGZinv]

and stop using stl check unless you plan to print your model in epoxy!

Um... may I ask why?    STL Check's purpose is to check for sound geometry... if I've got a screwed up
mesh, then any number of weird stuff could happen in FS2.

If I've spent an hour making a model, I don't want to see lasers going right through it.

[Nuke]

no its purpose is to check to see if geometry is compatable with a stereo lithographic process or format, for rapid prototyping. using it as an error checker isnt the way its supposed to work. whether a model will work or not is not dependant on the results you get from stl check. a model can work perfectly while failing the tests, or it can have holes everywhere and pass. the biggest source of holes is unmerged verts and micropolies, both can be fixed bu selecting the whole mesh, set a low weld threshold (0.01) and welding. that will kill all those problems, just make sure it doesnt mess up small geometry.

[Galemp]

And is there any reason you can't do both? I always weld but STL check helps me find double-polies, open edges, orphaned faces and all sorts of other nasties that show up every so often.