[Thaeris]

Well, what's so hard? What model format is getting spit out from there?

Furthermore, what's the problem with parts? Fuse the model together, optimize it, and then move on! That probably means you'll need to do a new UV map, but if you want a well and properly made model, you're going to need to do the work - there's no other way around it.

[Goober5000]

Or take the separate parts and make them into submodels... that's why they're separate instead of fused in the first place.  We want operating cargo bay doors and Canadarms, and we want destroyable SSMEs.

And if the ISS is provided as a bunch of separate models needing construction, even better!  Make separate POFs out of each of the modules.  We can create our own space stations in FRED out of the building blocks, and fantasize about NASA having the budget of the DoD.

[Thaeris]

...

The latter may in fact be a bad idea. What would be a better idea would be to optimize the individual componets of the station and then provide a "kit" of sorts which would allow the modeler/.pof rigger to create the space installation of his or her choice. Forcing the user to manually put things together in FRED is just a terrible idea, and what happens if you accidentally place something too close? Let the structure self-collide itself to death?

...Not to mention that the latter is a hackish solution - why do that when you can do it properly?

 

[Scourge of Ages]

Or you put dock points on the POFs and just dock them all together?

[Goober5000]

Exactly.  I thought it was implied, but I meant that all the modules could be docked together in FRED.  And the docking would take care of all the alignment issues.  Heck, if someone gave me the POFs, I'd add all the POF data and dockpoint information myself.

Even if the modules weren't docked, there have never been problems with "assembling" space stations in FRED before.  Witness the many uses of the Karnak installation.

[Angelus]

Maybe i should add something for clarification.
When i say "parts", then i don't mean module A is one part and module B with Solar panels is another.
Some of the models are made of 150 to 290 parts/ pieces, where "part" means, that the entire mesh is made of cylinders, boxes and spheres, which have a texture slapped on them.

This pic shows the upper part of a different Orbiter model:



Turning those parts into pofs will eat up your shipslots, and will drive the user into madness when trying to assmble the ISS in FRED.  
Most Orbitermeshes are build this way ( from the model app, staright into Orbiter), for instance, there are high poly SW fighters with over 160.000polys. Made of Boxes, Cylinders and Spheres.


The ISS will be set up for assembly Module by Module in FRED, as originally requested, which makes the most sense to me.
I think that certain parts ( Solarpanels and such ), will also be available separately.
Openable Cargobay doors and a moving Canadarm on the Shuttle are possible.

[Goober5000]

Oof.  Well, if the model is made up of multiple independent cubes and spheres, that's different.  That's definitely harder.

Is there a way to select a bunch of models and fuse them all together, similarly to the Group/Ungroup command in graphics editor programs?  Although I'd suspect you'd have to clean up the internal geometry at the intersections.  I hope that the "fuse" action takes care of that for you.

Maybe some of the other modellers (Galemp?  VA?  Etc.?) would be willing to chime in.

Also, it may be necessary to study other illustrations of the ISS in order to tell whether Part A is part of, for example, the solar panels or the truss next to them.

[Goober5000]

Any progress on this?

[Angelus]

Any progress on this?

it's progressing. Might have a small present soon^tm.

The ISS is going to take a while though, but i think the worst part is behind me. No estimates though.