• Which the release of FS2020 we see an explosition of activity on the forun and of course we are very happy to see this. But having all questions about FS2020 in one forum becomes a bit messy. So therefore we would like to ask you all to use the following guidelines when posting your questions:

    • Tag FS2020 specific questions with the MSFS2020 tag.
    • Questions about making 3D assets can be posted in the 3D asset design forum. Either post them in the subforum of the modelling tool you use or in the general forum if they are general.
    • Questions about aircraft design can be posted in the Aircraft design forum
    • Questions about airport design can be posted in the FS2020 airport design forum. Once airport development tools have been updated for FS2020 you can post tool speciifc questions in the subforums of those tools as well of course.
    • Questions about terrain design can be posted in the FS2020 terrain design forum.
    • Questions about SimConnect can be posted in the SimConnect forum.

    Any other question that is not specific to an aspect of development or tool can be posted in the General chat forum.

    By following these guidelines we make sure that the forums remain easy to read for everybody and also that the right people can find your post to answer it.

Where to start?

C

CX 747-400

Messages
5
Country
us-florida
I have been around Flight sim since before MS was involved, but always as a pilot. I have decided that I want to design some airports that I am interested in that no has done in a while or ever.
Where is the best place to start learning how to design for P3D?

Thank you,
Jonathan
 
Welcome Jonathan, What kind of software do you have available on your pc to learn to "design for P3D"

In the Fsdeveloper Wiki you can find a lot of materials to get started:
- http://www.fsdeveloper.com/wiki/index.php?title=Category:Modeling - modeling (in general)
- http://www.fsdeveloper.com/wiki/index.php?title=Category:Airport_Design - Airport design
- http://www.fsdeveloper.com/wiki/index.php?title=Category:Tools - Overview of most tools in the business
>>
- http://fsdeveloper.com/forum/resources/categories/scenery-design.3/ _ scenery design tutorials in the [Resources] section
>>
Scenery design tutorial video on Youtube:
- https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLjZcDi4c8nLSBlG5S0dhXxXMu2ft-TlQ9
- https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCBfYFdKdH_27a_Qvq_d589A/search?query=scenery+design
>>
- https://www.youtube.com/results?search_query=p3d+scenery+tutorail

I hope this material can get you started into P3D airport building
 
Tools that should be in your list and are almost imprescindible, Ade (airport design editor) with it you design airports (parking gates, taxi lines, runway etc. even you can place the .mdl objects with it) MCX (Model convertex, to check the things you créate. and many things more. a modelling tool, many options too. Seketchup, Blender, Gmax, 3ds max...
an OPT (object placement tool, there are payware and freeware). problably you want to create an objects library. the Library Creator XML is the tool. I you want to model your own objects an Image editor is of help to créate textures. Gimp, Photoshop and other are the tools. and it is almost the basic... Many tools available too for other scenery design fields:
Aibtc, for the creation of ai traffic for boats, ships
Ai Flight Planner to populate the sky with own traffic
Autogen creation tool to populate the city and litlle towns
Sode, for triggered animations, jeways creation with animations an many things more
And Many tools more indeed what make to develope for fsx very interesting
good luck.:cool:
At first it can be hard to get the process to export objects from modelling tool. create a library, compiling. and placing in Fsx, but one you get the process you will see it's not that diffcult at all, just time to follow the learning process.the rest is just a Little of hard work and good projects. and not get lost in the way.
 
Last edited:
CX 747-400 said:
I have been around Flight sim since before MS was involved, but always as a pilot. I have decided that I want to design some airports that I am interested in that no has done in a while or ever.
Where is the best place to start learning how to design for P3D?
Click to expand...

I would start with the P3D SDK for the version of P3D that you are using. Focus on the Environment Kit and the Terrain SDK. This contains most of the information on airports and their components. Having a good basic understanding of how P3D works will help you a lot. When you start to create or modify an airport for yourself then I recommend you start in a small way. This can help to avoid a lot of frustration. Remember you're doing this to have fun.

Ed
 
P3D? What version?
Up to P3Gv2 almost everything worked using the FSX tools like ADEX, MCX, AIFP and so forth but as of P3D3.5 things started to change and v4 is still so new that most of the tool builders have had hardly a chance to adapt to some new things there (including the P3D fellows themselves:-) ) but they will manage, giving them some time.
So I would suggest you wait a while longer if you really want to have the newest and latest.
And, of course, what Ed said is more than true. I am reading it over and over the whole day:(!
 
You will need a 3D program. You can get Max by the month, 3ds Max 2017. You can get Blender free. I 'think' you can still use Sketchup, and I have no idea what versions you need. These are 3D programs for making buildings, cars, etc.

You will need a graphics program for 'painting' your work. Photoshop by Adobe is exotic, rented monthly. Gimp is freeware, limited though.

YouTube is an amazing place for tutorials. Good word choices in searches for the right tutorials are a blessing.
 
......and welcome! Welcome to our world... Its an addiction at times. Throttle your enthusiasm. Dont be discouraged. Take a break if things get overwhelming, then get back into it. Ask lots of questions.
 
Hey Guys,
Thank you for all the advice. I am going to be doing for P3Dv3 and maybe v4 (If I decide it is worth it). My experience to this point is only with ADE. I played around with it some years ago so that I could create some close to real parking spots at KPAE. I have never tried my hand at modeling, so this will be an adventure.
 
Right now the problem would be which modelling tool to choose as 3ds max and Photoshop are trying to keep us off these tools by his renting tools politic and his prices of course. Blender is right people have made amazing Works with it. Sektchup is funny enough but limited.
 
Personally I would start with Blender if I was just starting out, it seems to be a good middle ground between simplicity, versatility, and level of online resources. If you start with something like Sketchup, you may find it unnecessarily hard to model some things that could be done in Blender rather easily. Especially if you start getting into more advanced scenery objects or even aircraft, you'll have all that Blender experience under your belt and won't have to learn an entirely new program. It's friendly to beginners yet powerful enough for the pros.

Blender, MCX, ADE, and an image manipulator like Photoshop or GIMP should suit your needs well enough. Go with the latter and it's 100% free.
 
I think I am going to try my hand at KHOU. I am originally from that area, and I know KIAH is a big beast to start with.
Where would I go to find a good ground image?
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top