Question Is 3ds max good to model with?

[jinglesassy]

Hello, ive been wanting to make some stuff for orbiter and around 2 years ago my dad bought me a license for 3ds max so i might as well use that if i can and but if i model in it is it possible for me to export it into whatever format orbiter uses? and sorry if this is in the wrong forum this is the closest one i could find

 

[n72.75]

3ds is the best format to work in.

You can find info about converting to MSH here: http://www.orbiterwiki.org/wiki/Converting_to_msh

 

[jedidia]

3dsMax rules pretty much. especially in terms of documentation and interface (Blender actually seems to come up with most features of 3dsMax, at least for non-professional modellers, but as a n00b you're pretty lost in it...). Of course Blender is for free and 3dsMax costs expensive bucks which makes Blender still first choice if you have no higher ambitions, but since you said you already got the licence you're pretty much set. Spend a few days doing the modelling tutorials and of you go. Exporting the meshes to orbiter is no problem thanks to the script mentioned in the above link.

 

[TSPenguin]

It is quite possible to make meshes with 3DS MAX. There are plugins to export directly to mesh (Look for gmax plugins).
And just to get your hopes up: the XR2 was modelled with it.

 

[jedidia]

the XR2 was modelled with it.

Maybe we should add that it was modeled by a professional, or he will get his hopes too high...

 

[Istochnikov]

Maybe we should add that it was modeled by a professional, or he will get his hopes too high...

My comsats and other payloads are being modelled in 3DS Max and they don't look bad even considering the fact that i'm a self-taught modeller (excuse me if i'm so ostentous)

Here there are 2 samples Again, sorry for my ostantation

 

[vonneuman]

Ok if you had to recomend a 3D modeling program what would it be?
anim8or, sketchup, 3ds, max for example

 

[Donamy]

For ease of use and a shorter learning curve, it would be AC3D hands down, and it's relatively (there's that word again) inexpensive for the power it has. And yes there is a AC3D to mesh plugin.

 

[TSPenguin]

:hesaid:
AC3D seems perfect for making Orbiter meshes.

 

[jinglesassy]

i already have 3ds max so i will use that and thanks everyone for your help and one more question what should i start with a basic space only ship a airplane or a rocket? thanks

 

[Donamy]

One other good thing about AC3D is, you can import other Orbiter meshes into it and see how they are done.

 

[TSPenguin]

i already have 3ds max so i will use that and thanks everyone for your help and one more question what should i start with a basic space only ship a airplane or a rocket? thanks

You can look at ar81s tutorials. They are for anim8tor but it should give a good idea where to start and what to look out for.

 

[Donamy]

i already have 3ds max so i will use that and thanks everyone for your help and one more question what should i start with a basic space only ship a airplane or a rocket? thanks

You read the "Modeling for Orbiter Warnings" I trust ?

Extremely addictive !! Do not operate heavy machinary while thinking about Orbiter addons.

 

[streb2001]

One other good thing about AC3D is, you can import other Orbiter meshes into it and see how they are done.

Another good thing about AC3D is its texture mapping tool. So easy even I understand it.

 

[EtherDragon]

AC3D +1

I have had no trouble figuring out how to do a lot of cool stuff in AC3D. For the price - it's tops. =)

 

[jinglesassy]

i just made a simple rocket to test it and it saved as .max instead of .3ds so can i work with this?

 

[Istochnikov]

You can export from 3DS Max to Orbiter MSH format with this plug-in: http://www.nestadlinn.de/orbiter/downloads/max2msh13.zip

It docks automatically to the MAXscript plug-ins. The only thing you should do once installed is clickin' "Export MSH File" button

 

[jedidia]

i already have 3ds max so i will use that and thanks everyone for your help and one more question what should i start with a basic space only ship a airplane or a rocket? thanks

There s a modelling tutorial for an airplane comming with 3dsMax, if you don't know the ropes yet start with that. You won't use your first model anyways (allthough you only realise that was a very good idea when you did your fitht... )

 

[jinglesassy]

i got it into .mesh so any tutorials on how to make it a spacecraft 3 spacecraft?

 

[Donamy]

Read the Spacecraft 3 manual.