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FS2004 Help for converting FSX AI aircraft model for FS2004

FS9ER

FS9ER

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41
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canada
Hi,

For the past weeks I've been reading lots of articles around researches for converting a FSX AI aircraft model to FS2004 but I'm quite confused and lost for the conversion procedures as even many whom have tried have then failed to make one therefore I don't have any other information whether there is a success to make it happen, I know it might be a tough work to do but I could please use help and guidance on how to do it properly I will be extremely grateful for that. Now please before any replies read the following...

I'm giving you my word, I'll be quite honest and straight with this... I don't want to get banned, I will not reveal the model, I'm not here to make problems, step on anyone's toes or take charge any sorts of way that will neglect original content, no intentions for any of that. I'm aware of copyright, license, persmission and so on. I'm not going to release anything, I'm not going to make money out of this and I'm not going to share anything in discrete, it's simply only for my personal use, nothing more, that's all I want and all I care. I have just put up too much work and hours into FS2004 enhancing it to my realm to the point that I don't want to switch to another sim just to have for instance 1 or 2 extra AI aircrafts. If anything, we can discuss through private messaging.

With that being said I hope everything is crystal clear from my part and looking forward for the good.
I'm not sure if this is the right forum to ask about converions, if it is then I sincerely apologize.
As for tools I think I will be needing MCX and GMAX which I just found on my disc 1 of the sim.

Thanks in advance.
 
My very limited experience of "borrowing" FSX details, scenery or aircraft, for use in FS2004, is that the FSX model often simply has too much detail for the FS2004 compiler to handle.
To proceed any further, redrawing the problematic parts with fewer vertices or splitting the parts into several smaller pieces, would seem to be the only answer.
The work involved would be similar to (or greater than) starting from scratch.
Especially for an AI aircraft, the level of detail need not be high, so making a fresh model using appropriate software, then applying the textures from the original FSX model (suitably converted, obviously), seems to be the optimal solution.
Just my tuppence worth ... YMMV ;)
 
The easy way to start this process would be to see if the model is in FSX format or already in FS 2004 format, which is pretty common. Check in the texture folders to see if the textures are BMP or DDS. If they are DDS, it’s more likely that it is in FSX format, but not absolutely required to be.

Then try using the plane in FS 2004. If it shows up in the Sim then you’re on your way. If the textures are DDS you will need to convert them to BMP, flipping them vertically.

If the plane does not appear in FS 2004, then you will need to convert it. The first thing to try is to import the plane into model converter X and use the animation slider to see what it looks like. If all appears normal, use export object and save it as an FS 2004 aircraft model. Then try using that in FS 2004 and see if it works OK.

Let us know how it goes.
 
Hi guys, thanks for replies. Ok so it doesn't appear normal. Some parts of the wing flaps are above the wings and airspeed flaps brakes too. And when I export it's not working, I get "Failed to locate MakeMDL, please update the path in the options"
 
In MCX under options/exporter settings is where you provide the path to makemdl.exe on your system. You need to have the FS2004 SDK package on your system in order to have a copy of makemdl.exe. You can find that package in the Wiki section of FS Developer if you don't have it already. The model parts being misaligned on import is not something that I can help you with. Sorry.

Ed
 
I can't find the FS2004 SDK, all I see is FSX but then there's no page opening up.
 
FS9ER said:
I can't find the FS2004 SDK, all I see is FSX but then there's no page opening up.
Click to expand...
Try https://www.fsdeveloper.com/forum/resources/categories/fs2004.6/

You'll need the pdf file at the top of the list and the Make Model SDK (and possibly the BGL Compiler SDK) for starters ... anything else you can come back for as required ;)
The documentation tends to be a little "cryptic" and there certainly are some minor errors in the BGL Compiler documentation, but everything is there, just got to work through it slowly.
Good luck.
 
Ok I installed MakeMDL then opened modelconverterx and in the exporter settings under MDLWriter section I changed the path for the line "MakeMDLPath" for where the MakeMDL.exe is located. I also did the same for under BGLWriter section "FS2004 BGLComp path" for where the bglcomp.exe is located. Then I export as FS2004 MDL aircraft object (*.mld) to a temporary folder but there's nothing there, it's empty.
 
What did the model converter X log at the bottom of the screen say?
 
Here...
 

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Your object is larger than 65,534 (units? - I don’t remember). Make MDL will not compile a file larger than that. You either have to simplify the plane by removing objects in model converter X or some other way.
 
I wonder which plane he is trying to convet to FS2004 AI.
From my eye from the data , seems too complexed to do.
Is it really a FSX AI plane ?
 
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tgibson said:
Your object is larger than 65,534 (units? - I don’t remember). Make MDL will not compile a file larger than that. You either have to simplify the plane by removing objects in model converter X or some other way.
Click to expand...
Have no idea how much large things need to be. The units, etc... I'm unfamiliar with but as for simplifying objects in model, you mean the polygons on the plane? Well I can convert the model into a wavefront obj (if I succeed too) then import it in another program which I can select every polygon one by one to then delete but I think it's a bad idea because then the plane will be deformed so I think we are at a dead end? Or we could try another smaller model?

@Hiroshi Igami yes it is a FSX AI aircraft. I also have P3D version and MFS if not mistaking but I do have P3D and those have bigger .MDL size models than FSX.
 
FS2004 MDL has a lot of limitation.
Largest is the total number of Vertex in 1 set of LOD.
Can only handle 65535 vertex in that set.
Since you don't open which plane you are trying to do.
Can't even check and give some more info.

P3DV2 or later mdl file will be larger since by the material difference and index format change from FSX.
Those changes can make handle more larger amount of vertex then FSX.
So should be different.

FS2004 's MDL format is much different from FSX or later , the structure of the format is different so can't simply compare by a file size.
 
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