Workshop Metasequoia
| Aircrfaft building for FMS with Metasequoia |
German translation : This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it |
Download the 3D Software MetasequoiaLE R2.1
(Freeware!)
Japanese site
http://www1.sphere.ne.jp/mizno/
English site
http://www1.sphere.ne.jp/mizno/main_e.html
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***We build a simple aircraft***
Install “Metasequoia” in your FMS folder.
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The model data and the texture bitmaps are stored there.
Copy the .par file and the .wav file from a model that is similar to your project.
Rename the files with the name of your new model.
All files must have the same name.
Start Metasequoia.
Select Configuration > Screen Language
Change to English
Select Configuration > System
Enter the according path for your texture bitmap.
(Necessary if DirectX file (*.x) should be loaded into FMS directly)
Click on File menu > Basic mode and uncheck the box to switch to Expert mode.
Select Panel menu > Object panel, Material panel, Edit panel.
Choose D3D or GL.
Click on the Pt Ln FC button (show point, line, faces)
Click on the Rc button (selection with rectangle)
*** The Fuselage***
Double click on the name (obj1)
Change the name to “body”
Press F5
to change to the projection view.
Select Primitive, choose the closed cylinder and click on Create
Select the X-Rotation button to rotate the cylinder into horizontal.
Decrease the cylinder diameter.
Select the Z-Button and drag with the mouse to elongate the fuselage.
Press F1
To change to side-view
Select the Knife button.
cut the fuselage with the mouse at the mentioned positions.
***Bring the fuselage to the desired shape***
Click on the Rect button.
Draw a rectangle around the end of the fuselage to select it.
Downsize it
Downsize the other end even more.
*** The Wing***
Select New in the object panel.
Double click on the name.
Change the name to “wing”
Select Seperated
This makes the creation of an symmetric wings much easier.
Make sure that “wing” is selected.
Switch of “Fc”
Press F1
to change to the side-view.
Click on the Create button-
Select Front and Line.
Draw the airfoil
Click on the “eye” symbol of the fuselage (body) to make it invisible.
Switch on “Fc”
Click on “Pull” button
Circle the airfoil to select it.
Press F2
to change to Top-view.
Drag to left with pressed mouse button (pink arrow).
Downsize the end of the wing.
Press F2
to change to the projection view.
It looks like the face has been dragged “to the left”.
Therefore select all and “Invert” in the menu
Click on the “View” button
Try to get the below mentioned view of the wing-end by using “Zoom”, “Move” and “Rotate”.
Click on the “Create” Button
Select “Font Tri”
Click successively onto the three marked points to create a new face.
Swap to “Face”.
This time click four times.
Repeat this procedure for the last three points to complete the wing at the front side.
*** The Elevator***
Out of a downsized copy of the fuselage we create the elevator and stabilizer.
Select a wing from the objects menu.
Click on “Clone”
Enter a “2” in “number”.
Click “OK”
Change the names into “tail” and “Stabilizer”.
Switch everything invisible except the elevator.
Click on “select all”
Move the elevator to the tail-end of the fuselage.
Downsize it.
Join the left and right side.
Join the left and right side.
***The Stabilizer***
Switch everything invisible except the stabilizer.
Double click in the name.
In “mirroring” select “None”.
Click on “select all”
Rotate it in Z-direction.
Move the X-center.
Adjust the shape further.
Switch all parts to visible and adjust them until the over all impression of the model meet your expectations.
***The Coloring***
Draw a picture with any drawing program.
The size must be 256x256 pixels.
If you like you can also use a photo.
Save your first draft as a bitmap (*.bmp)
Mind the correct name!!
***Adjustment of the Bitmap***
Click on “New” in the “Material Panel”
Double click on the name.
Select the bitmap file in “tex”.
Set “emission” to “0.00”
Recheck the proportions of the single parts,
Click on “select all”
In the menu select “set material to faces”.
The bitmap will now be adapted to the model parts.
Switch everything invisible except the wing.
Press F2
to change to the Top-view.
Click “Fr”
Click on “Map”
Change to “select face”
Circle and select the object.
Check the box “Realtime”
Click on “Property”
Enter “-90” at “Angle pich”
Click on “Apply”.
Adjust position (move) and size (scale) and rotation (rotate).
To rotate in horizontal position move the mouse multiple times around the centre (see arrow).
If the desires position is reached click “OK”
Press “Shift+F2” to change to bottom-view.
Repeat the steps
“Select face”
“Property”
“Move” and “Scale”
then click “OK”.
Repeat this steps for the elevator.
Press F1
to change to side-view.
Switch everything invisible except the fuselage (body) and the stabilizer (stabilizer).
Click “Fr” to deselect the button.
select all with “Select face”
Click on “Property”
Select an angle (Angle Head) of “90” degrees.
Click “Apply”.
Adjust with “Move” and “Scale”
Click “OK”
***The Propeller***
This time we need a transparent material.
Click “New” in the “Material panel”
Double click on the name (mat2)
Set “alpha” to 0.6 (this makes the propeller partly transparent) and “Color V” to 50.
Click on “New”
Change the name to “Propeller”
Click on “Primitive” and select a cylinder and click “Create”.
Click on "Rect"
Select the bottom row.
Press “Delete”
Select all
Select “double side face” from the menu.
Switch all parts visible and position the propeller.
Transform a “primitive ball” for the cockpit.
Transform a “primitive “column” for the tyres.
Create tyres with “Mirroring Change Separated”.
Press F1
To change to the side-view
Click on “select all”.
The X-, Y- and Z-axis are crossing in one point.
This will be the centre of gravity when the model is imported to FMS.
Move the centre of gravity more to the front.
| ***You have just build your first aircraft! ! ! *** |
Save the model.
Export it as *.x file by using “save as” for FMS.
| IMPORTANT: FMS Beta6 has a bug. Top and Bottom are inverted. Therefore the bitmap must be mirrored horizontally .
This is not necessary for Beta7. |
*** This is how your model will look in FMS***
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Select “File menu > open” to load a *.x file.
Select “File menu > to geo file”
Click on Yaw 90deg (once) to create a 90 degree rotation to the right.
Save the file with “Save as”
| Important: If you have mirrored the *.bmp file before it must now be mirrored again to his original orientation. Do NOT save a *.x and a*.geo file with the same name in the same folder. FMS would load two models at once which would lead to distortion of the model geometry.
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***Author Yosito Sekiai (Japan) ***
