Lightwave to FS9

[BGen_SirJohn]

Has anybody converted a Lightwave object (.lwo) file for use in MSFS?

If so, is there a tutorial somewhere?

I'd like to build a Delta Flyer and a couple of shuttlecraft, but HATE Gmax (and its big brother, 3D Studio Max). I refuse to use it, ever.

[InspectorPoly]

Export your model as a direct x file *.x and use makemdl.exe directly on the x file.

[BGen_SirJohn]

Cool! Thanks for the reply.

Any idea on what the point count should be? Ideally, I'd love to export something like Ed Giddings' excellent (and highly detailed) Delta flyer model, but I'm sure it would be far too complicated to run smoothly under FS9...

[InspectorPoly]

Be a polymiser .... :)

I have a friend that is modelling in TrueSpace - has made beautiful models - TBF, P51, FW190 - all of which choke gmax ...

Some of the highly detailed flightsim models run about 50,000 polygons.

May I recommend that you strive for not more than that (I know you dedicated modellers like the more is better)?

Can you really tell the difference between 32 and 64 sided fuselages?
Unless you zoom in, probably not.

Many times the real frame stopper will be the textures... those 32bit 2048x2048 textures are mean...:)

[BGen_SirJohn]

Cool, thanks.

I think I'll try a Type 9 shuttlecraft first. I know I can get that one down below 50k polys...

[BGen_SirJohn]

Ah, yes! I think that may just be what I'm looking for...

EDIT: No, it isn't. FSDS won't import properly from LW7. :(
At least not the setup I have here.

Hopefully, Lightwave 8 has the ability to export in usable formats. I've got a copy. I just haven't installed it yet...

[impactvision]

I used a 3rd party program to convert the lightwave file to an FSC file...

[impactvision]

Do a search on the flightsim.com forums for cva-conv.zip

It's what I used just hours ago to convert the LWO object into FSC...

I downloaded the bucket from turbosquid.com (free turbosquid model), and then ran it through CVA to convert it to an FSC file... (flip poly's).

I then applied smoothing in FSDS to make the bucket look round again.

The screenie you see is the end result, untextured....

[edit] BTW it also handles DXF files

[BGen_SirJohn]

Ah, okay. That's what I've been looking for. I've been using Deep Exploration to do the conversions, and the output has been disappointing, to say the least.

Thanks for the help. If I can get this type 9 shuttlecraft flying (I'll probably need a whole lot of help with the .air file), I'll be sure to post it...

[impactvision]

yeah let me know how the conversion goes...

[impactvision]

I just converted a lightwave bucket to FS through FSDS 2.xx

attached is a pic taken from FSDS...