Custom sur

@ JONG, Because your ships are not multi component you really only have 2 choices regarding SURs.

1. resize vanilla SURs with FlModelTool.
2. use my tutorial and resize shield bubbles to fit your ships.

Even the CMP to SUR app that LS is making won’t give you anything different, as a CMP with one component = a SUR with one convex component (think bubble shaped), even DA had to stick with this.

As for custom SURs for 200+ ships, forget it, it would take me half a year to convert the models and to make new CMPs & SURs from them, and I know what I’m doing.

Still gotta get off my arse and see if having multiple SUR meshes with one name will work like DA’s do.

Sorry Mini_Me but it doesn’t, I’ve tried it so many different ways, I can create a SUR using milkshape that (as far as I can tell) has the same internal stucture as a vanilla station SUR, I just cannot get the damned thing to register, at least they don’t CTD me any more :P. I even tried it with the splicer, FL aborted the other components and gave me a nice list in spew for my troubles :P.
I’m not sure but I think it may be the shrink wrap mesh itself that’s causing my problem, just wish I could code as I’d create something to strip that mesh out so I could test my theory.

Some good news guys.

Check this out, I don’t want to clag up this thread any more…

http://forums.seriouszone.com/showthread.php?t=56306

Enjoy and report back.

Looks good ST
Though I prefer .OBJ format, that way if you have a name longer than 8 chars it does not get cut off when importing between the two.

Usually I also export all the SUR meshes in one file. Then open in MS3D, weld each mesh separately, save as modelname_sur.ms3d. Next I go through the group list one by one, double-clicking to select the group, hit CTRL+i to select all but that one, delete those, export the sur mesh that’s left, and lastly hit CTRL+Z for undo, rinse and repeat (if I’m using the SUR splicer).
But naming the SUR parts correctly (partname_lod1, except Root) should negate the need for using splicer. Plus there are a couple parts in a SUR file that a spliced version won’t include entirely -like the tri-strip section if memory serves me right.

Try using the max2ms3d plugin instead of .OBJ or .3DS, it even swaps the Y & Z axis for you so your model sit’s the right way up in milkshape, it should be in the download archive here on the starport.

LOL i got the havok sdk and stuff ages but never looked into it, awesome-O find ST ^^

Good tip about the shortcuts, guys.

The problem I had with the wing not generating a good convex shape was due to some of the verts not being welded. The Weld function in MilkShape is not working perfectly, I did it several times to no avail. So I had to weld them all individually and manually - took ages, should have made a new sur part for it by hand. Anyway, now you guys know too.

msSURExporterV1_1.dll

Where can I get version 1.2 guys?

**How about here ST

http://digitalbrilliance.com/Downloader/index.php?action=downloads&id=48**

No, that was the source code only, I don’t have a clue how to compile the dll from it.

Anyone got the dll please?

And can you tell me what is good and what goes wrong with this one so I don’t waste too much more time finding out for myself guys? ??? ???

Check your e-mail (the one in your profile). I can’t tell you much info on what is wrong about it, if I recall correctly it is the shield bubble messing things up, whereas shrink wrap seems to be more reliable than in 1.1

That is all I know, but I haven’t quite used it, so resort to the others for more detailed info.

1.2 doesn’t create the mesh properly ( according to LD & Colin) and it’s not compatable with every system, I’ve heard from quite a few people who just can’t get milkshape to recognise the plugin ( me included).

Louva keeps meaning to remove the download, but keeps forgetting ::) ;D

Thanks pals.

http://rapidshare.com/files/148782004/msSURExporterV1_2_beta3.zip

;D Thanks for the link Strail, and I’m glad I downloaded it, the version I have doesn’t have that read me in it, so I had no idea I needed to install 2 of the mfc71 dll’s into my milkshape folder to get it to work.

DO NOT DISTURB
Mad Scientist at work
;D ;D ;D ;D ;D

EDIT

Right, I’ve had a play with the 1.2, I was hopeing that the shrinkwrap worked better in this version than in 1.1, no such F%&*in’ luck
I can make Station SURs in 1.1 & 1.2 that have the same construction as DA’s Station SURs, only problem is that FL doesn’t recognise them.

Time to try the shield bubble and see if it’s any better that 1.1

EDIT 2

After extensive testing I can safely say that v1.2 is the biggest load of garbage I have ever seen or used, it cannot even create a properly formed mesh for a simple sphere. I even tested it using meshes that I’ve used for SURs with the 1.1, end result is either it freezes, CTD’s or just doesn’t register.

Stick with v1.1 as it gives far better results.

word!

Check this out guys…

I’m Very Sad it did not emerge until now that this is possible, it saves HOURS of work making sur parts convex.

http://forums.seriouszone.com/showthread.php?t=56348