A little advice please?

[DanKH]

Hi All especially our "builders"

I have considered very carefully to try out my modelling skills, and would like to have some opinions on which tools to use? Is GMAX a good place to start?

I will try to make a DC-9-21 (SAS-style of course) Not very British, but indeed a classic.

I suppose I should start off with trying to get some good 3-views first, any clues?

Any help and/or advices would be very welcome.

Something to puzzle with in those coming long winter evenings....

[DelP]

Tricky one Dan..... :think:

GMax is free but has a steep learning curve..FSDS is payware but you can get almost instant results.

FSDS is specifically for producing aircraft and scenery for FS, whereas GMax is a general 'gaming' design programme so there's a lot that won't be used. Different people will give you different opinions..I prefer FSDS but that's because I'm used to it and I haven't been able to get my head around Max.....yet :roll:

If you want to make a start then I would suggest purchasing FSDS..and learn Max on the side ;-)

You'll need good 3-views and as much photo references and data as possible ;-)

..and of course you'll get loads of help here...

Go for it Dan....then you'll be as insane and cranky as the rest of us...

Derek

[Garry Russell]

Hi Dan

As Del says

Given that you are a family man with limited time and have specific needs...FS only then I would suggest the FSDS route.
With FSDS you can get started in a small way and move on in stages learning as you go

With Max you need to learn a bit about it first then apply that to FS.

There is no doubt that Max has the wider application but as Del says in this case most of it will never be needed.

Garry

[DelP]

There you go Dan ;-)

..and you can see the results Garry has had with FSDS on his first model :o

Derek

[FelixFFDS]

Good advice, but then I'm slighlty biased myself in favor of FSDS.

I would add that a good source of "backdrops" would be to use an existing source file - (like from an old FS98 style model) and rebuild it. To make a "new" model, you need to rebuild practically all the parts, but having a "solid" model as a base is another help to merely having a 3-view backdrop.

[DelP]

Nice one Felix

Dan..be sure to check out the 'tutorials' section at the top of this forum ;-)

Derek

[ianhind]

Although I'm not a modeller, having read comments over the years you have to learn GMax first by going through all the tutorials which are not FS-related (basically what Garry said).

Only then can you start to apply what you have learnt to FS.

Having seen what my wife can do with 3D Max, then GMax is likely to be powerful, but just not for FS.

But do we need Dan to be as insane and cranky as the rest of you?

[DaveB]

But do we need Dan to be as insane and cranky as the rest of you?

You've noticed then Ian!

ATB

DaveB :tab:

[Paul K]

Dan, I'm glad you've brought this up.

I've accumulated a load of books, drawings and photographs of the HP Halifax with a view to modeling it. As I never tire of reminding people, I did a bit of modeling for FS98 using Abacus' Aircraft Factory, and in the process produced a respectable ( in my opinion ) Boeing B-29. Consequently I'm not entirely unfamiliar with what's involved, and now am tempted to buy FSDS.

However, I'd also like to do some naval modeling ( books, drawings and photos accumulated for several RN types and classes ) so I feel compelled to make the effort to learn 3DS Max 5. Ed Walters recommends this path, rather than FSDS.

All I need now is the time to actually do it.

[Garry Russell]

3DS Max is very very expensive

That is probably the biggest draw back

Also as mentioned above with FSDS you can concentrate on one bit at a time learning as you go instead of spending a fortune and learning 3D modelling before you can even think of FS.

If 3D modelling is something you really want to get into in a big way then the money is well spent buying 3DS Max later whne you have decided that is what you want to do..on the other hand if FSDS does all you require then it's a much better option. :think:

Garry