There seem to be plenty of forums out there with bits an pieces on how to create a new weapon for CSWeapon, but no real tutorials (if there is one, please point me in it's direction). I have Gmax and the FSX SDK, so where do I go from here?

Gmax is really only used to create the missile, bomb or projectile and I created it as an .mdl (aircraft model).
Next is the sound of the weapon firing and the explosion or impact sound.
Then it's the effects. The smoke trail, tracer line of bullet or shell, and the explosion or impact.
And finally it is the coding in the CSWeapon.xml file.

I can't point you to a tutorial for creating all that, as I don't know of any. As for a tutorial on creating an .mdl, you could try the FFDS Design Forum. I learnt most of what I know about creating aircraft for Flight Sim there. It's probably far more in depth than what you need to know for creating a model for Weapon for FSX.

Mark

Where can I find the effects that come with CSWeapon? I would imagine that, seeing as I'm just beginning fsx development, I think I'll just borrow those for my weapons for the moment. Thanks!

Go to [FSX]\SimObjects\Misc\CS_Weapon_XXX\ (where xxx = weapon name), in there you will find a file named sim.cfg with all the information there.

[fltsim.0]
title=CS_Weapon_Hydra70
model=
texture=

[General]
category=SimpleObject

[contact_points]
destroy_on_impact=1

[effects]
ImpactLand  = csweapon_rocket_land
ImpactWater = csweapon_rocket_water1

The effects themselves are in the [FSX]\Effects\ folder

Mark

Awesome. What about the sounds? Or are those contained in the effects?

Oh yeah, how do you specify how large the missile should be?

boeing247 wrote on Mar 7^th, 2011 at 3:50am:

Awesome. What about the sounds? Or are those contained in the effects? Oh yeah, how do you specify how large the missile should be?

The sounds are found in the [FSX]\Captain_Sim\weapon\sound folder.

To make the missile the correct size, you must create it to scale. On the gmax menu, select Customize > Unit Setup set it to Metric and use millimeters.

When you create an object, before you convert it to and editable poly or editable mesh, you can change the xyz dimensions. After you convert it, the only way to change its size is to use the scale tool.

The object creation takes time and knowledge to complete. It's not just a case of just making it and dropping it into FSX. :(

Mark

Yeah, I realize that. That's why I'm starting simple. Right now, I'm just learning how to use Gmax. I'm just asking questions in advance so that I know where I'm headed and don't have to go back and change anything.  :)

I was advised to do all the tutorials until I knew them backwards and THEN start creating an aircraft or scenery for Flight Sim. I never did that, but I sure wish I had. I have to keep referring to my books, The gmax Handbook and gmax Bible, so I can figure out how to do something I need to do. My problem with gmax is because I started out with FS Design Studio 3.

Mark

Thanks for the tips. I'll probably buy at least one of those books and learn how to use the software first.  :)