[Goober5000]

As seen here:
http://orbit.medphys.ucl.ac.uk/home.php

Has anyone tried to import its models into FreeSpace?

[FlareBaffled]

There is no reason why Orbiter models can't be input. They can be extracted which means htey can be imported back into FS. The question is whether they need a lot of work to be converted and whether they look any good once done.

Sometimes it takes more effort to convert a model than it does to start one from scratch.

[Goober5000]

Yup, that's the salient question.

A bit of googling revealed that Orbiter uses its own model format, .msh.  However, it looks like there are converters available to go back and forth from .msh to 3DS and Blender formats.
http://www.orbiterwiki.org/wiki/Converting_to_msh

[Goober5000]

I split and locked the Newtonian physics thread derailment.  Can we please stay on topic?

Who here is good at model conversions?  Aside from Galemp; I don't want to burden him with anything in addition to what he already is doing.

[Nuke]

i can understand the split but was it necessary to lock it?

[Goober5000]

Probably not.  I see that it's been unlocked though.

[Angelus]

A few months back, i've tried to convert the Spacepark ( BSG ) from Orbiter. but the ship wasn't worth the effort ( to much stuff to fix in the mesh to make it usable for FSO, but i'm not sure if it was model or system/ tool related ), so i deleted all the Orbiter files and tools. 

Now, with the fresh install of all tools, i consider giving it another try, when i return next Friday.

[Goober5000]

That would be great.

[Angelus]

So, my new attempt to convert the Spacepark was far away from beeing a Success.

But i guess you don't want that ship anyway. 
Which model should i try to convert first? Any special wishes?

[Goober5000]

How about something simple to start.  Try converting the Space Shuttle Atlantis.

And after that, what I would really like to see is the International Space Station model.  It would be nice to have each component as a separate model, and then we can dock them all together in FRED.

[karajorma]

The shuttle would be another great model for those "How big is it" shots people like to take.

[Angelus]

Ok, i'll start with the Atlantis.

[Snail]

The shuttle would be another great model for those "How big is it" shots people like to take.

I still think the car was the best, because it's something you see on an everyday basis...

[Angelus]

The shuttle would be another great model for those "How big is it" shots people like to take.

I still think the car was the best, because it's something you see on an everyday basis...

I'm not even thinking about do something like this...unless it's a '67 Shelby GT 500.

[chief1983]

May be true, but a lot of ships are so much bigger that you can't compare them to a car.

[Goober5000]

Now here's something really handy.  Direct from NASA itself, .3ds and .lwo files of all sorts of awesome things, including the Shuttle and the International Space Station.

http://www.nasa.gov/multimedia/3d_resources/assets/iss-hi-res.html
http://www.nasa.gov/multimedia/3d_resources/assets/shuttle-hi-res.html

http://www.nasa.gov/multimedia/3d_resources/models.html

[Herra Tohtori]

NASA delivers again.

They're awesome.

[Angelus]

At least, one of the Shuttles there, doesn't come in parts, unlike 90% of all models from orbiter.
Attached is Atlantis, no Lods, no debries. Just the Mesh (11kpoly) in .pof format.
The length is off by 7cm, but i think that's ok.

Still working on the Orbiter ISS, don't hold your breath it will take some time, as i have other stuff on my plate too.


EDIT: The highrez ISS is nice, but it's a puzzle. At least, NASA provided an assembly manual. 
Converting this mesh would require some serious optimisation, so I'll stick with the Orbiter one. For the moment.

[attachment deleted by admin]

[Dragon]

Nice, but I thought Orbiter had better textures than these.
Also, a model with closed cargo bay would be nice.

[Angelus]

Nice, but I thought Orbiter had better textures than these.
Also, a model with closed cargo bay would be nice.

Hehe, that's the one ( lowerpoly) from the Nasa site.
Most Orbiter Shuttles are highpoly and/ or split in parts, which is a pain to convert to .pof.

Also, not all Orbiter models have good textures. They are mostly low-rez and VERY rarely in the power of two.
Not to mention that some models have several textures, and i don't like the confetti-map philosophie. At all.