[FSXA] Yet another GMax to FSX Export cry for help

[jakubz]

Ok. Not sure what to do now.

I read and followed Milton Shupe's tutorial (http://www.flightsimonline.com/C162/) (By the way, thank you! It really helped a lot!). I made a basic model that can pass for a plane. I took the stock C172 folder and created a copy of it. I deleted all the extra folders (model.xyz, texture.uvw, etc..).I then edited the aircraft.cfg so that I could easily find the model within FSX. I exported the model into the as an .mdl file in the model folder and edited the model.cfg to refer to the new file.

Well, when I tried to load this in FSX, I got the message “Failed to startup the flight model.”.

So I created a box that was 1.5m by 1.75m by 5m and tried to export this instead.

That didn’t work either. So I tried to export the box as an editable mesh, editable poly, and even an editable patch just to be thorough. All of these resulted in the same error message.

I don't think that it’s a regional setting (US Laptop, I double check the settings and it’s English-US), or installation issues (I have been able to export models for scenery).

Does anybody have any advice or ideas how to make this work?

p.s. If you want to take a look at the files I have, send me a PM with your email address and I will send you my stuff in a zip.

[mjahn]

Most likely an error in your folder setup. Perhaps you deleted too many items.

Why not go to the original C172 folder, to the model folder, rename the original mdl as xxx.mdlORI and copy your mdl there giving it the original C172 mdl name. Then see what happens.

[tgibson]

Sounds like you may not have an AIR file or it's not listed properly? (sim=)

[lionheart]

Also, make sure your 'model.cfg' file has the name of the model in it; both exterior and interior. You can use the same model for both, just one MDL file, and list it as the interior and the exterior model.

You will also need a panel folder with the panel.cfg file or FSX refuses to use it, treating it as an AI aircraft instead of flyable.

Bill

[jakubz]

Originally Posted by lionheart

Also, make sure your 'model.cfg' file has the name of the model in it; both exterior and interior. You can use the same model for both, just one MDL file, and list it as the interior and the exterior model.

You will also need a panel folder with the panel.cfg file or FSX refuses to use it, treating it as an AI aircraft instead of flyable.

Bill

Re:model.cfg
I tried that, but no joy. Same error comes up.

Re:Panel Folder
It's the stock folder, and I haven't touched anything inside of it. But thank you for the insight on its importance.

Originally Posted by tgibson

Sounds like you may not have an AIR file or it's not listed properly? (sim=)

Well, that was incorrectly set in the initial file. After fixing that....



IT WORKS!!!! Gotta love how it's the small mistakes are the ones that will trip you up. Thank you tgibson!

Originally Posted by mjahn

Most likely an error in your folder setup. Perhaps you deleted too many items.


Why not go to the original C172 folder, to the model folder, rename the original mdl as xxx.mdlORI and copy your mdl there giving it the original C172 mdl name. Then see what happens.

If the previous attempt hadn't worked, that would have been the next step.

Thank you guys for the quick help. If you want to close this thread, it's fine by me now.

[lionheart]

I always copy out a plane template folder to the desktop, then rip into it, renaming bits and pieces, the folder itself, etc, converting it over to a new plane project, then drop that into the Airplanes or Aircraft folder when done converting.

You get fast at it after a while. I still make mistakes though on the aircraft.cfg file alot of times, in the registry sections at the top...



Bill

[Mr.FaosFX]

LOL don't you just love these? I spent hours one night I remember, trying to figure out why an XML code I wrote would not work. I was certain it would work and after 6 hours I finally find the problem.

<!-- what ever comment goes here --->

The "--->" was ruining the XML code changing it to "-->" solved the problem. I went and banged my head on the wall, you gotta hate it when these catch you by surprise!