SSS finding/creating Additional models?

[rdeis]

I have all the models on the yahoo site, and am looking for a few others.

Is there a primer on how to create new model files and or on converting model files from other sims (say, FMS or backyard edition) to work on SSS?

I'd like to find or build a P-38 that flies like my model does and practise with it!

Also- is there an easy way to play with the fixed trim settings like CG, down thrust, right thrist, etc that gives realistic results? Is there a hard way? ('course there is..)

[rutat]

Run the batch file run_ds.bat to create the config file for DS.

As for making planes, pretty easy if you use an existing foil (otherwise you need 3D Max). In structions at http://www.rowlhouse.co.uk/sss/ and http://www.rowlhouse.co.uk/sss/documentation.html

[rdeis]

I found great instructions there and at the yahoo site for setting up and running on OSX, but didn't see anything about creating or locating model files other than those included in the package (on on Yahoo). Did I miss something?

I know nothing of 3D Max.

I looked around a bit in the model files that are included, found text and data versions. I assume the one is processed somehow to create the other? I understand, (or can figure out) the physics parameters in the text model files, I think, and I know that all numbers are in basic metric units.

How are the images derived?

[rutat]

Here's gist of it:

There are type types of models that SSS supports: ones found completely in the .dat file and those where the gemoetry is created in 3DMax (.3ds) and combined with the .air file. IOW, one part and two part models.

The .dat files are editable by note pad or Wordpad etc. and you can go to each section of the aircraft geometry and change the colour by adjusting the RGB values. If you look at the section on wings you'll see datapoints. You can display the foil section by copying the values for a wing and creating an Excel X-Y graph of them. Here's where you can adjust the foil (make a flat bottomed one undercambered, etc.). EVERYTHING to do with a SSS model is in this one file in text format. Simple. Sorta.

The two part files are another much more complicated story. the plane's geometry and colours are all created in the .3ds file by a packaged called 3DMax (or Autocad etc.). To view these files you need either the creation program or a really neat little util from Keith Rule called Wcvt2pov - it allows you to display all the geometry and change colours for parts. Like you want a red cowl - no prob - change it. But you really can't alter the geometry - only change colours. The .3ds geometry file is combined with the .air file of the same name at execution time. The .air file is plain (pun intended!) text and is editable by Wordpad etc. You have some limited control of how the geometry is applied to the end product. Some change to wing section lengths, etc. But unlike the .dat file type gliders you cannot change the airfoil.

In case you are wondering why there are two formats, it is (AFAIK) to allow the much more complex models like the mapgpie bird or eagle. The eagle has for instance almost 2500 vertices and 5000 polygons. The Bell Ranger has over 6000 vertices and over 12000 polygons!

Bottom line: start with the .dat planes and change the colours (on a copy of course!). Then experiment with changing the airfoil. If you have your heart set on a P-38 the best way would be to get a .3ds file of it from Autocad or 3Dmax and use a similar .air file to display it in SSS after you make the tweaks to the parameters. Good luck!

[rdeis]

The .dat files are editable by note pad or Wordpad etc.

plain text, then- so vi or etc. work as well? (I'm in OSX)

You can display the foil section by copying the values for a wing and creating an Excel X-Y graph of them.

Nice! So in theory I could put any airfoil I have a section for in to SSS but plotting points on it and change the flight charatceristics? Seems like it should be easy to model a Slow Stick or other basic airplane, then.

In case you are wondering why there are two formats, it is (AFAIK) to allow the much more complex models like the mapgpie bird or eagle.

So the .dat files are plain text and ideal for relatively conventional models, while the .air/.3ds pairs allow for much more difficult shapes and images in the display (.3ds) without troubling SSS to model detailed aero physics over the complex display shape because the flight physics are set up in the .air file?

Do you know how these parameters and/or files relate to FMS model files (or other sims?) There seem to be a huge wealth of aircraft developed by users for various sims, and if SSS files could be created from them it would really open the flood gates, as it were.

If you have your heart set on a P-38 the best way would be to get a .3ds file of it from Autocad or 3Dmax and use a similar .air file to display it in SSS after you make the tweaks to the parameters.

It's more that my heart is set on flying the new airplane well instead of breaking it up, and (now that I have a Tx interface) getting a relatively realistic sim of the model will be a great leap towards doing that. (-:

[rutat]

Just found a neato freeware pkg. that will allow you to CHANGE the SSS .3ds files! http://www.anim8or.com/download/index.html I'm gonna have fun with this one now!

[rutat]

plain text, then- so vi or etc. work as well? (I'm in OSX)


Sure eMacs, pointed stick, whatever! :)

Not sure why you'd want to do a slope version of a Slow Stick, but you are correct.

So the .dat files are plain text and ideal for relatively conventional models, while the .air/.3ds pairs allow for much more difficult shapes and images in the display (.3ds) without troubling SSS to model detailed aero physics over the complex display shape because the flight physics are set up in the .air file?


Correctomundo! If you look at the files combined, SSS basically does an "include" for the complex geometry in the .3ds file in the .air file.

As for FMS models... I'll look - but I suspect it is pretty similar. Just checked... :) It appears that FMS usues a similar approach to the .dat file scheme that SSS uses. Note that there are lots of editors for FMS but AFAIK no translators. Pretty easy to build FMS models with the avaialble tools. Not sure what the effort level would be to convert one to SSS. besides, SSS is slope sim; most of the FMS planes are powered.

As for not cracking up the new P38 (is this for DS or PSS?) I think the Mustang would come comes to representative, no? (I know little about DS and NOTHING about PSS!)

Tom

[rdeis]

Not sure why you'd want to do a slope version of a Slow Stick, but you are correct.

...

As for not cracking up the new P38 (is this for DS or PSS?) I think the Mustang would come comes to representative, no?

SSS allows for powered flight, and as a Mac user FMS is unavailable to me. The fact that I can get accustomed to flying the power ships in bumpy air (I'm originally a sailplane guy) is just bonus. (-:

X-plane no doubt has a full-scale P38 I could fly from tower view, but my machine is a bit old/small for x-plane and SSS is free!

[rutat]

Never used the powered option - I have FMS and GFR2. How do you do that?

[rdeis]

I haven't got my Tx hooked up yet, but with basic mouse flying you'll find throttle on the mouse buttons. I'm not sure how it works on other systems, but with my iBook (only one mouse button) I have to use hot-key modifiers to emulate the middle and right buttons. I'll report back after my Tx cable comes in later this week.

I was zipping around with the Twinjet model last night, just a couple of "clicks" of throttle and it was turnin' and burnin' (awfully hard to fly with the trackpad, though)- it makes little exhaust puffs while under power that seem to increase in frequency with throttle setting.

[rutat]

Duh - I shoulda seen that! BTW, I use a Logitech Dual Action Gamepad ($15) as a dummy tx. Maps nicely and saves wear and tear on the tx.

[bcc1955]

SSS is awesome. There are 2 things I would like to see for improvements. One is too get some different slope locations incorporated and two is to be able to color the bottom of the wings a different color than the tops. Does anyone know if this is possible?

Cheers,
Brian

[rutat]

Depends on which model type (one or two file) is used. The 3DMax files , IF the wing was built in top/bottom halves - is recolourable. Don't know about a terrain editor.

[rdeis]

Anyone have a favorite (cheap/free) .3ds editor? For Mac?

[rutat]

There's a bunch here: http://www.artzend.com/3D%20Programs.htm Maya is pretty hot - and FREE! Blender looks neat.

[rdeis]

SSS is awesome. There are 2 things I would like to see for improvements. One is too get some different slope locations incorporated

Aren't there a bunch of different terrain files included?

[rdeis]

I'll report back after my Tx cable comes in later this week.


Got my MileHighWings cable in the mail yesterday. There seems to be a little setup and calibration required for Windows users, but for mac folks it's pre calibrated and ready to go. All I had to do was plug it in, copy a few lines from the included CD into the SSS config file, zero out the Tx trims, and fly!

Very nice.

It took me a while to realize the trim and endpoint settings were off in my transmitter, and that was a bit frustrating, but it's all running nicely now. Throttle is on the left stick, right where it belongs. (And the default glider is such a hotliner that you can't land it with neutral throttle trim- too much power!)

I suppose messing with the config files in a text editor can be a little intimidating, but it's really easy- there's nothing to fear as long as you keep a copy of the original in a safe place (like on the CD that came with the cable), and you can easily set up several different transmitter configurations that you'll be able to choose from at run time. (disconnect the throttle and fix it at zero, for instance; or extra sensitivity to make one of the built in airplanes very twitchy)

This is going to be a very useful tool, and fun to play with, too.

[StormySkies]

I can create 3DS models. So if I have this right, it's just a case of modelling my aircraft then writing an *.air file to match it?

[rutat]

Pretty much. Or use a similar plane's .air file and clone it.