Freeflight Design Shop - Tutorials & Resources

Most of the these tips have been culled from the FFDS Forum postings. However, we've included tips and nuggets that have shown up in other sources and forums, and from direct e-mails. Where the information came from another place, the author has granted permission to use it here.

Our Tutorials Section provides more detailed tutorials, usually with included graphics.

Use these tips (and any information you download) wisely and carefully. Freeflight Design Shop does not guarantee that using the tips you get will work for you. If you have comments or questions, please post them to the Forum.

The Resources Section provides links to user supplied resources - 3-views, aircraft specs, etc. - that are used in their various projects. These resources have not (necessarily) been reviewed by, nor endorsed by, Freeflight Design Shop. As always, the copyright requirements of the listed publications must be respected by all.

Tip	Program	File Type	Size	Author(s)	Date
NEW TIPS
gmax Boolean operations - more on making windows (Simviation Posting)	gmax	HTML		X_eidos/ J Mackay	29JUN2003
gMax Props (still/slow/blurred) with associated gmax parts file.	gmax	HTML		Milton Shupe	05MAY03
How to do the "window shine" effects	gmax/	HTML		Milton Shupe	03MAY03
Nosewheel steer angle	gmax/ FSDS2	HTML		Tom Gibson	29APR03
3D Studio Max to X file converter (make an FS mdl directly)	3DMax	HTML		David Segovia	21APR03
FSDS2 and Four Ailerons	FSDS2	HTML		Tom Gibson/ FFDS	17FEB03
HIERARCHY NODES VS_ PHANTOM BOXES	animation gmax/FSDS	HTML		D. Simanaits/ G. Oxtoby	15APR2003
A MINI-TUTORIAL ON SELECTIVE TEXTURING	gmax	TEXT		Dennis Simanaitis	17MAR03
HOW TO BREAK YOUR PLANE IN CFS2 (WITH A LITTLE HELP FROM FSDS 2.1)	FSDS2	TEXT		Hayden Scott-Williams	17MAR03
Making a Virtual Cockpit from the AVSIM Forums	gmax, FSDS2	HTML		Fr. Bill Laeming.	19DEC02
Elevator and Rudder Control Cables, Made Easy	gmax, FSDS2	HTML		D. Simanaitis	18DEC02
Mini-Tutorial: Alpha Channels in PSP	textures	HTML		Tom Gibson/FFDS	11DEC02
Lightmap with Alpha Mini-Tutorial	textures	HTML		Tom Gibson/FFDS	11DEC02
Compiling a gmax file too large for makemdle.exe	gMax	HTML		tom (Project Airbus)	3DEC02
On/Off Ground Variable	fsds2	HTML		Dave Eckert	29NOV02
Animating one-sided rudders with spoiler action	fsds2/ gmax	HTML		Inspector Poly	29NOV02
Fuselage Thickness - The Perfect Way	gmax	HTML			27NOV02
Texturing two sides of a gmax model	gmax	HTML			27NOV02
Making Fowler Flaps	gmax/ fsds2	HTML			27NOV02
Scripts - Handy Tools	gmax	HTML			27NOV02
Rudder Pedals in VC - flightsim.com	gmax/ fsds2	HTML			27NOV02
Booleans: Wing to Fuselage joints	gmax	HTML		G van de Hharst	27NOV02
Intro to new CFS3 Map Types/gMax 1.2 video	texturing CFS3	HTML		Finn Neuik	27NOV02
Useful Colors for Glass - AVSIM	gmax/fsds2	HTML		Steve/ufo	27NOV02
Key Frame Animation Basics - AVSIM	gmax/fsds2	HTML		Fr. Bill Leaming	27NOV02
Linking multiple parts - (3-part rudder) AVSIM	gmax/fsds2	HTML		Fr. Bill Leaming	27NOV02
Boolean method of cutting cockpit windows	gmax	HTML		Firestriker	27NOV02

Arranging Aircraft Files in FS2002	FS2002	text	4	Fr. Bill Leaming	28FEB01
AA Mini-Tutorial	AA	HTML	11KB	Tom Gibson	07NOV01
AA Multiple axis Gear Motion	AA	HTML	7KB	Mark Dyson (SpinDry)	24FEB01
Reading a basic AA motion Sequence	AA	HTML	3KB	F Rodriguez/FFDS	25FEB01
Flaps sequencing	AA	HTML	4KB	Tom Gibson/FFDS	25FEB01
Animated Spoilerons	AA	HTML	n/a	Kerry Gipe	12NOV00
AA Motion Range Table	AA	HTML	n/a	Felix Rodriguez	07NOV00
Spinning Blades - non AA animation	2K	HTML	4KB	Mark Dyson (SpinDry)	26FEB01
Adding a cross section to an Unstructured part	DS	HTML	n/a	D. Attrell	21AUG01
How to use transformation in parts properties	DS	HTML	n/a	Mike Crosthwaite	09MAR01
AF99 afx to fsds	AF/DS	HTML	8,192	Richard Osborne	07NOV00
Showing gmax props in FS2K2	GMAX	HTML		Milton Shupe	23JUL02
Steerable Nose Gear	GMAX	HTML			24SEP02
Son of Dreaded OBED Scaling - & conquered!	GMAX	HTML		D Simanaitis	24SEP02
Visual Prop Pitch Changing	GMAX	HTML		P Sanchez/T Gibson	24SEP02
Setting gmax Transparency from the Flightsim.com Aircraft Design Forum	GMAX	HTML		Dennis Simanaitis	22JUL02
12.5 Step Program - gmax to FS2002 from the Flightsim.com Aircraft Design Forum	GMAX	HTML		Dennis Simanaitis	22JUL02
Getting better gMax backdrops	GMAX	HTML	8K	Neuik/WIlliamson	12JUN02
Animating flaps	GMAX	HTML	3K	Charles/ F Williamson	07JUN02
Ratty Gmax Textures	GMAX	HTML	7K	Conrad/Edge Gerard/Neuik	07JUN02
AVOIDING THE DREADED GMAX "SCALE" ERRORS IN UNGROUPING/GROUPING special to FFDS Tips	GMAX	HTML		Dennis Simanaitis	30MAY02
Animating Control Cables from the Flightsim.com Aircraft Design Forum	GMAX	HTML		Dennis Simanaitis John Woodside	11MAY02
Gmax - Adding Segments from the Flightsim.com Aircraft Design Forum	GMAX	HTML		various	11MAY02
Gmax - Aligning Textures	GMAX	HTML	10K	Mikko Maliniemi	03MAR02
Gmax - Joing two Selected Parts	GMAX	HTML	3KB	Chris	06JAN02
Applying Two textures to the same part (from the AVSIM Forum)	GMAX	HTML	4KB	Chris	04JAN02
Exterior Model Positioning	GMAX	HTML	5KB	Marcel Kuhnt/Chris	22DEC01
Gmax - Gear Doors	GMAX	HTML	3KB	O'Lenin	22DEC01
Filling in holes in Gmax (from the AVSIM Forum)	GMAX	HTML	3KB	Graham	22DEC01
Gmax_Gear hinges	GMAX	HTML	4KB	sherv/Tatum	22DEC01
Boolean Operations in Gmax	GMAX	HTML	3KB	Chris/Graham	22DEC01
Importing objects in gmax	GMAX	HTML	3KB	Danny Voisey	22DEC01
How to do Landing Lights in GMAX	GMAX	HTML	3KB	Chris	08DEC01
Gmax Flaperons	GMAX	HTML	3KB	Jason Brown	08DEC01
Gmax Transparent Textures	GMAX	HTML	4KB	Graham Waterfield	08DEC01
Nose wheel steering	GMAX	HTML	2KB	Chris	26NOV01
Gmax keyboard shortcuts	GMAX	HTML	n/a	link at gmax at digital arenas	23NOV01
Working DVC in Gmax	GMAX	HTML	3KB	Chris	22NOV01
How to make Water Rudders in GMAX	GMAX	HTML	3KB	Chris	12NOV01
gMax Animation Variables listing #2A	GMAX	HTML	9KB	Chris	12NOV01
gMax Animation Variables listing	GMAX	HTML	15KB	Valentin	07NOV01
Flight Dynamics Primer	dynamics	HTML		Milton Shupe	24SEP02
Lights in FS2K	dynamics	HTML	3K	Tom Gibson/FFDS	26NOV01
Setting a Seaplane in FS2002	dynamics	HTML	5KB	Ron Andersen	10NOV01
Afterburners	dynamics FS2K2/CFS2	HTML		Andrea "Kefren" Brunori	26NOV01
Too Low View Point	dynamics	HTML	2KB	Paul Varn	03APR01
thrust reverser var in FS2K	dynamics 2K	HTML	2KB	Paul Varn	03APR01
Setting Jet Transport AIR file Parameters	dynamics	Text	8,192	Ron Freimuth	27MAR01
FS2k Turboprop RPM settings	dynamics 2K	HTML	2KB	Fred Banting	26FEB01
Locating Center of Gravity	design	HTML	2KB	Paul Varn	03APR01
COG Explained from the Flightsim.com Aircraft Design Forum	design	HTML	2KB	Paul Varn	22JUL02
Air Files - Report # 1 Air Files - Report # 2	98 98	Text Text	8,192 8,192	Steve Baugh	17OCT99
SDL Edit for pitch trim	SDLEdit	HTML	11kb	Mike Crosthwaite	07NOV01
Alpha Channels	Texturing	HTML	4K	Andersen	21NOV01
Lining Up 512 X 512 repaints	Texturing 2K CFS1 CFS2	HTML	4K	Rodriguez Safranek Ackerly	19MAR01
Making spotlights with PSP	Texturing 2K	Text	2,306	Ron Ackerley	19FEB00
Easy Hex Editing for Repainting	Texturing 98/2K	HTML	3KB	Gerald S. Mclaughlin	23FEB01
Flight Simulator 98 Basics	98	Text	20,415	Bob Seaman	31JAN98
Night Lighting via SCASM	2K	HTML	N/A	Pascal Linder/ Kevin Trinkle	25MAR00
Kevin's Aircraft Painting Tutorial (AF5)	Texturing FSFS	web link	N/A	Trinkle	11MAR01
Kevin's Aircraft Painting Tutorial (AF99)	Texturing AF99	web link	N/A	Trinkle	11MAR01
Transparent Cockpit Windows	98	web link	N/A	Alexander Remus	21FEB99