Getting 3D models from simulators

Jun 09, 2005 3 Replies

Does anyone here know if there is a way to extract the 3D models of any of the planes from MS flight simulator and import them in to a solid modeling program like solidworks or other similar program?


I doubt you'll find a solid geometry importer. The best you can hope for is a polygon mesh polygon mesh converter. And that will limit you to programs like 3dsmax, lightwave, and pov. It's encouraging that the gmax utility that ships with FS was written by Discreet.

As another option ... which might be far less time consuming that finding a model ... you could just make your own. I traced a Super Hots from plans using Solid Works not too long ago. It took about 20 hours in extreme anal retentive mode, adding stuff like flashing around the wheel wells.

I figure it would take a couple of hours for sport scale. I traced it from the Midwest plans btw.

FS is very much an open system. Microsoft publishes several SDKs and utilities, among them geometry, terrain, and texture exporters. Check their website. Also check discreet's gmax website. I haven't used them, but came across them not long ago while hunting something else.

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