[Sur Tutorial] Hitbox from 3DSMAX to Freelancer

I Finally got my model working 95%, enough to use it although i would love to get the other 5% to make it perfect.

Here’s what i did
My model comprises of 9 parts so instead of building a single cmp (due to the mat file issue I made 9 indivdual cmps, one for each section

I built each section in 3DS Max and made sure that the centre of the model was at 0 on all 3 planes when imported into MilkShape (3DS use the base line for the X plane)

I then imported it into MilkShape with autoSmooth checked and made sure it was centred exactly. I export the cmp uising v2 and then resized it using FLModel Tool making a note of the radius.

Next I built an exact copy of the model in 3DS (I never used clone) to use as the the sur but using as few faces and vertices as possible, i.e. my model was a cone with 48 sections and 8 slices but the sur is 24 sections and 1 slice.

I made sur it was centred by dividing the height and exported it without converting to editable mesh. I found that this doesn’t matter for surs either way.

I then imported the sur into MilkShape with autoSmooth unchecked and all I had to do was rotate it. I didn’t adjust it in any other way so as not to screw it up.

I then exported the sur using v1 exporter (the only one that seems to work at the moment) and used sur_splice to mate it to the cmp using the radius I got earlier from FLModel Tool.

I then assembled the model in space by adjusting the location to match them up and made 8 of the sections as children to the main section so that it was selectable in space as a single unit

This method has worked perfectly for each section except the one with the boolean holes in, shame but it’s still early.

Using this method I can have seperate mat files for each section plus the radius when approaching is more accurate and the solar flare only shines through when you are withing that radius

As for the boxed holes for docking they work when you initially enter as i bounced off the roof section but then I tried the floor and passed straight through. Once I had passed through the floor i found that I could now pass through the roof that initially bounced me off. Weird

Has anyone been able to make their own animated docking doors?

Just a brief pointer or two…

The reason I don’t like to add dummy parts (spheres or dev’s boxes) is that:-

1. I break up my models into sensible names anyway, and use these names with _lod1 on the end.

2. when the ships are destroyed the separate groups break away and spin in space ! Nice!

3. When you group ship parts that use different textures they are combined to use only one texture - messes things up.

4. I don’t want lots of surplus bits if I can avoid it. Duhhh - that’s just me, don’t worry, not criticising.

Hey - I’m very pleased so many of you are now looking into these problems too, maybe a proggie who wrote one of these plugins can help us out to get a better solution? Dev?

Bejaymac?

Where are you?

If you tell us everything you know about the structure of different sur types it may save us a long long time, bud. I might even send you a bottle of Glayva!

(Of course once you’ve done that we’ll have to bump you off!!)

Any updates or new experiences anyone?

i had a try at crating surs inside and out this is what the results were
http://fl-onslaught.com/maze.zip
i found if your doing a dome shape you have to split it into 4 and use havok to generate the sur
and its fine inside and out

Well done, Kosacid.

Excellent Mirkha & co., great news all round, I can’t wait to try.

This will let the more serious modders have a few more years of FL invention and exploration!

Thanks for putting in the time and for sharing with us.

warning …
just an update to our process

this method work only with the SUR exporter 1.1, cuz the 1.2 don’t have the same algorythm and generate a crash

Mirkha, any update on this? Im working on a base model atm and Im hitting the 18 part limit wall. If you can figure out how to duplicate your previous success that’d be awesome.

Mirkha, that’s fabulous work!

Here’s an idea for bases guys.

Make component modules for your base instead of one large piece. Think carefully about the design so you can position each piece to connect in the right place to the next.

Then you can have up to 18 groups for each module.

Aldebarran made modular station models that can be positioned using FL Explorer.

Why don’t you have a go, I’m sure you will be pleased with the result, especially if you make sensible modules that you can use in several different station combinations like FL does with the habitats etc?

Reply to Buck Rogers about baydoor anims (asked back in november oopsy )
Sorry to bust into the convo, was reading and just noticed that particular inquiry

Here’s the relevant threads on animations, the last one’s quite lengthy, so bring beer / espresso.

http://the-starport.net/index.php?option=com_smf&Itemid=26&topic=573.0

http://the-starport.net/index.php?option=com_smf&Itemid=26&topic=961.0

http://the-starport.net/index.php?option=com_smf&Itemid=26&topic=462.0

Very nice mirkha!
If u share the sur’s for the docks, can u upload them for me?
I would like to include them into NU 1.8 and my next modular station pack (it based on aldebarans modul pack).

Greetings
Mind