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gmax models for Prepar3d. Is it possible

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sweden
Hi

I'm quite a newbie in model and scenery making. I've done some work with ADE to modify stock airports and using stock models. Now I've just started to move on to making my own models with gmax (I'm only into quite simple construcions like houses etc.). But by looking around in forums and digging in to the P3D SDK I'm getting concerned if there really is a way to export my gmax-models (without the FSX Game Pack) into a format that somehow (via existing tools) could be used in Prepar3d. For example by importing into ADE and then placed in P3D.

So before I continue to create models in gmax my questions are:
Am I out on a mission impossible?
Is buying 3DS Max the only way to go?

I should say that I own FSX with the SDK but hesitate to install it as I have moved over completly to fly only in P3D

Thanks for any help
 
At this stage there are NO differences between the FSX and P3D model formats.

So, at the moment, simply use gMax with the FSX gamepack as you have done in the past.

WRT the future (whatever that may hold) -- you can recapture geometry using ModelconverterX and plug it back into 3dsMax, if you go that way down the line.

Max is very much like using gMax, only on steroids, so you will feel (more or less) at home if you end up going this route.

Depending on your personal circumstances, and whether you are making non-commercial content, there are generous Max licenses available, too. (Free for unemployed or retraining, if I remember correctly!)
 
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Thanks for your swift reply.

So, at the moment, simply use gMax with the FSX gamepack as you have done in the past.

So, I guess I have to install FSX again and take it from there.

But still, just for my knowledge. Is there a way to go without the FSX Game Pack?
 
Hi,

You would only have to install the fsx sdk again to get the gmax gamepack, not the entire sim.
 
Hi and thanks a lot arno, that made things easier.

I've installed the FSX SDK without any problems from my FSX DeLuxe disc.

Then I read this post
http://www.fsdeveloper.com/wiki/index.php?title=SDK_Installation_(FSX)
on this forum about the SDK and got a bit confused about which SP's I need or don't need to install.

I do have the FSX SP1, FSX SP2 and FSX SDK SP1a installers alredy downloaded on my harddisc since before and the FSX SDK SP's I see are also available for download here at the forum.

So, before I start installing SP's and perhaps mess things up could you please help me with information on which SP's I should install and in what order.
 
Ideally, you want to update to SDK SP2.

From memory the original RTM of the SDK was missing the gMax plugins (!)

Also from memory, SP2 won;t allow you to install unless you have already installed SP1 (or was that 1a)

I would download the SP2 SDK update, nd if it won;t let you install, install the SP1 update first, then run it again.
 
Actually, the GMax plugins weren't "missing" at all. MS/ACES didn't have an agreement in place with Autodesk at that time to provide an export module for GMax to create the .x and .xanim files... :cool:
 
Thanks for all help!

Now I've got the FSX Gmax Gamepack installed and running.

So, now I'll dig in and start working
________________________________

For anyone interested, this i what I did:

1) Installed FSX SDK standalone, from retail FSX Deluxe Disc 1
2) Copied the gmax-folder under the FSX SDK folder to a secure place (will otherwise be overwritten by the SP's)
3) Downloaded and installed FSX SDK SP1a and FSX SDK SP2 in that order (The SP installtion will find FSX SDK automatically)
4) Installed gmax
5) Copied the whole [.....\FSX_SDK\SDK\Environment Kit\Modeling SDK\FSX_GmaxGamePack] folder to the [........\gmax\gamepacks] folder
6) Ran gmax from the [........\FSX_SDK\SDK\Environment Kit\Modeling SDK\FSX_GmaxGamePack\FSX_GMax] shortcut
 
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