Learn the Black Art of building new 3dz's?

And how to repair old EAW bodged models?

Hi John

I'm interested

Cheers

Hi John,

well if you are offering to write a detailed manual for the latest 3dz editor/RS calculator, I would be interested, but at the moment I am too busy with the ww1 map and Burma to actually make any models myself, but one day ............


cheers,


Pobs

Oh yeah,

All I want to do is try and get you started in the right way of doing things. It will take a bit of time and thought, because you'll need to forget everything you know about bodging 3dz's to make them work.

What I will do then is describe in very simple terms how to build a fully working 3dz.

I'd like to do this in small stages, posting daily chunks, so non of us get diverted for any length of time from our pet projects. Yes, that means you too Pobs!

Now, can we agree on a simple project?

Don't suggest something big and complicated, as you need to learn to crawl first, before you walk and run.

I think you'll all learn fast if you build, with me, and see how making the model in a certain way is vital to success, using bulkhead elements to cut the model up into small sections.

Gee willikers.. a genuine university class taught by one of the legends.

May I audit the session please professor?

Hi BoilerPlate.

I'm no Prof, just a bit enlightened, and if I can help other to get over the fear of building a clean model, then I think we will see lots of new models appearing.

Guys.

How about a typical German water tower?

http://www.flickr.com/photos/15632944@N00/2552969103/

How about a fairly straight forward Atlantic wall emplacement then ?... not too many elements to work with in the basic shape.....


cheers,


Pobs

Oh yeah,
What are the necessaries software req'd, etc?

I'll have to dust off me old RHINO/ACAD exp! ... or throw it out!?
Small steps to start please...

Thanks , a good winter project.

Jacko

Hampton?.....

Hi Col,

Think I mentioned the problem I had getting my head round modifying a Beaufighter a year or two back. Even with Ray's help I gave it up as a bad job so please count me in - I would like to try again. But keep it simple like me!

Cheers

Peter

Hi 45North.

I'll prepare a zip with all the tools which will be needed.

I suppose to get going I should start with a glossary of basic terms, so you'll know what I'm on about.

To start with we will be building the wireframe of the model. The wireframe, is the skeliton of the model, which is constructed from Elements, and Nodes, [These are also refereed to by many of us as points].

Elements are normally made up from 3 Nodes, but more can be used if the Element is flat in 2 planes.

Nodes are points in 3D space, and always has 3 values to determine each Node.

These values are always:

X = Length
Y = Width or Span
Z = Height

Each of the Nodes is measured from
X = 0
Y = 0
Z = 0
Which is the true centre of the model.

More tomorrow.

Please consider placing the important information from within your posts into the first post of this thread. If a newbee has to read through 200 pages of posts to find the basic information, you will loose them. If your thread finds a common question or needed information, place a copy of the information in the first post and organize it so a person starting to think about making 3dz will find enough basic information in the first post to spark there interest and save them from asking the same questions that have been asked by everyone else learning.

Joke
Or maybe BP would like to organize the information durring his audit

Aldo has a good idea: keep editing the top post.

Or you might use the EAW Wiki.
It can be a standard reference place. Join to post.

http://eaw.wikispaces.com/

Hi everyone.

Can all of you who are going to follow this, please download this zip and unload it into a folder on your Desktop.

http://rapidshare.com/files/283821322/3DZ_Starter_Kit.zip

The zip contains everything you'll need to build a 3dz.

Hi Mike,

Try Hampden - I think John knows what we mean! Far too difficult for a first attempt I suspect.

Cheers

Peter

OK, I don't want to start building anything before you understand how the 3dz editor works. If you click on the 3dz Studio exe the screen below will appear.



Now, you need to know what does what. I'm only going to deal with the Elements tab to start with, which is the one shown above.

OK, starting from the top of the tab you have the following:

Element: This shows the element number your working with. Element 0 is always the first element.

Piggyback: These are elements which have been added to an existing element. Normally these are used to add elements and avoid recalculating the rendering sequence.

Type: The element types generally used are in EAW are.

Type 1 = Single line, from two nodes. These lines can be colored to appear in any of the default 256 colors.

Type 2 = These are invisible points to which you can attach other 3dz's or weapons. These are only used on aircraft models.

Type 3 = An element which can be colored to appear in any of the default 256 colors.

Type 5 = The most commonly use element type. These elements need to be mapped to a texture in 8bit PCX or 24bit BMP.

Type 6 = As above, but allows transparency effects to be used.

Code: These are the numbers which determine which type of animation, if any the element can be used for. There is a drop down box, which tells you what the codes ara.

Flag: The element flag can be set to allow an element to switch on or off, 0 or 1, or code a hard point for weapons 1 to 5.

Below these boxes, we have the main elements section. To start using this part of the program, you will need to load the starter 3dz which I enclosed in the zip.

To do this, just click on the folder icon and click on the starter 3dz, and you will see a single element displayed, as in the screen below.



You will see the 4 nodes and the positions of them plus the mapping which is 128/128.

Now, spend a bit of time loading playing with node positions, and saving the Starter 3dz, so you become familiar with the display and buttons. Don't worry about pressing the save button, as the program creates a new numbered 3dz each time, so you always have the original 3dz to go back too.

That's ok. Your first suggestion sounds more efficient..

I hope this is not too boring, but I need to go though the basics first, for those who have never opened the 3dz Studio program before.

Later, I will be showing, how easy it is to build a basic house shape, render it and put it into the game.

Evening all.

OK load the Starter.3dz into the 3dz Studio, and click on the element.

It will now change colour from White to Red. The Red colour means this is the element you are working with. If you look at the second screen you will see what I mean.

Look down the Elements tab, to the section Element Operations.

Click "Duplicate New Element" once only. Nothing will change.

Next, click on the F4 - Nodes tab.

Click the "Add New Node" button four times. You will notice the Node number in the box at the top go up to 7.

Return to the Element tab.

Change the Node numbers from 0,1,2,3, to 4,5,6,7, hitting enter after you have changed each number.

Now the magic.

Click Select All.

Then click on the arrow buttons, each once [ < > ], below the, X Length, Y Span, Z Height. Doing this enters the positions of the original Nodes.

Then clicking on the X Length, change the position from 0 to 20. As the X Length increases you will see one element, move away from the other.



OK, you now have two sides of a box, but one side the wrong way around.

Because you'll need to add two side elements, click the "Duplicate New Element".

Un-click the boxes on the first and third Nodes.

Now, look at the "Node Operations" section, and click the "Move Down" once.

You have now reversed the original element, which now forms the back of the box.

Click on the rear element, that is facing you, which will change it to Red.

Click the "Duplicate New Element" button again.

Then change the First node to 1 and the last Node to 2. These changes of position will move the rear element, to form the Right side of the box. What you should have, I've shown below.



The remaining element needs to be folded out in the same way as the Right side.

I'll leave you to figure that bit out.

Save your box.

Is this Gurney's editor, or were there others created thereafter?

Hi BP.

Yes, this is Gurney's 3dz Studio, with a few fixes by Sydbod.

There is another 3dz Studio around by Will Baldwin, but there is no code available for that one, so it can't be updated with changes to codes, which are being discussed at the moment.

Evening all.

I hope you are all still with me, and now have a 4 sided box shape.

Now we will add the ends of the walls, to create a pitched roof.

Click on the front element of your box, and duplicate it.

Open the Node tab, and add a new Node.

Using one of the two lowest Nodes [X Height = -10] Change the Node number to 8.

Check the box of the second Node [X Height = -10] and in "Node Operations", click Delete.

You will now only have a triangle remaining.

Enter the Values X = 0, Y = 0, Z = 20.

Check the box for Node 8, and in "Node Operations", click up or down, depending on which Node you have selected.

You should then have a triangular element on top of you front wall, as in my screen shot.



Repeat the process for the rear wall, so you have this.



Now, we need to form the roof.

Click on the Right side element, and duplicate it.

All we do now, is fold the element up.

The easiest way of doing this is just look for the lowest two Nodes, once again [X Height = -10].

Change these two Nodes to Nodes 8 and 9, but doing so you should not see a Red Triangle. If you do, simply switch the numbers around 8 to 9 and 9 to 8.

Then as we have done before, select Ndes 1 and 3, and in "Node Operations", click Move Down.

You will see the roof element appear in red as in my screen shot.



I'll let you figure out the other half of the roof.

Tomorrow, we will add the Normals and RS, and try it in game.

Still with me? I have no idea, because I've had no feedback, so I have to assume, yes.

OK, so we have a little house shape?

I'm now going to show you how the "Centre Mover" works.

So far we have a model which has a front wall at X Length = 0, and the base of the walls, at Z Height = -10. This is below land height, so we need to adjust the X Length and Z Height.

Load your model, and click on the "Centre Mover" tab.

Using "Change Centre Position" boxes, change the X Length by -10, and the Z Height by 10. This will reset the centre of your model to the exact middle of the model, which is where is should be.

When you have done this click "Apply" and the numbers you entered will reset to zero.



For Aircraft models, it should be the CG, or Centre of Gravity, so the model moves correctly in 3d space.

Perhaps you would like to resize your model?

In the "Scale %" box, you can type in any value:
less than 100% to reduce your model in size.
Grater than 100% to increase your model in size.

I've used 500%, which resizes the model by 5 times, and clicked "Apply" once. If you Click "Apply" again, you will continue enlarging the model by times 5, and there is no undo button!



Below this box you will see 4 Grey boxes. These indicate the size of the model in relation to EAW Aircraft scale and real life. Just remember, the Tmod's display at a different scale.

Save your 3dz, and close 3dz Studio.

Now for the scary bit.

Rename your 3dz Tmod27_h.3dz

Drag and drop the Tmod27_h.3dz over the Converter1.8.exe.

This will create a text file Tmod27_h.

Now, click on the Run RSC.bat.

This will open a DOS dialog box.

Type in the full file name including.3dz, so Tmod27_h.3dz, and hit enter.

This will generate two files.
OUTPUT.3dz
OUTPUT.txt

Open the OUTPUT.txt, and you should see this.



The above output shows a successful generation of a Rendering Sequence, and only takes a second to generate.

Below is an example of what a non successful output looks like after running for a few seconds. If you let the program run for too long, you'll fill your entire HD!



I will stop here, as I will now have to spend a bit of time explaining the text dump version of a 3dz.

This is a text dump using the Converter1.8 program. I've noted all the sections of the text version of our 3dz.



Everthing is fairly easy to understand, after you have worked on the 3dz in the Studio.

Only the elements can be a bit confusing.

A sample line from our model look like this:



And a breakdown of this line looks like this:

E003= Element number
5 = Element type
4 = Number of nodes in this element
8 = First Node numer
128 128 = Mapping
9 128 128 Second node and mapping
7 128 128 Third node and mapping
3 128 128 Fourth node and mapping
0 136 255 End of element code. This has to be 0 + any number up to 255 + 255

Next we wil add the RS and Normals.

Still with me? I hope so.

Now, you might think the "OUTPUT.3dz should be OK to simply rename, and it should be, but sadly, in most cases the OUTPUT model has errors in it. So, we can only use the "Rendering Sequence" from the "OUTPUT.3dz" and copy and paste it into our original 3dz text file.

This is the RS from the OUTPUT.3dz


Then select all the "Points" and "Elements" from our Tmod27_h text file, and copy.

Click on the program "3dz Calc"

You will see two windows open like this.



You will notice at the bottom of the left window two buttons.

"Clear" Clears the Left screen, so click that button now.

Now, paste into this window your Points, and Elements result.

The other button "Recalculate", click and another small window will appear.

Leave the setting at 0 and click OK.

You should have a result similar to the one in my screen shot.



Select only the second to last line of the result, and copy it.

Carefully paste the result into your Tmod27_h text file.

Your text file should look something like this.



The last thing to do, is to change the texture name, so we don't have to worry about adding a new texture at this stage.

So change the "Texture" from BLANK.PCX to GRND01.PCX Like this.



To



At this stage, you can save the text file.

Click on the Converter1.8, and a DOS window will open.

Type "B" and enter.

Then Type Tmod27_h and enter.

Then Type Tmod27_h and enter. This will generate your finished 3dz, which can be copied into your EAW main directory.

Run the game, select any ground start game, hit Ctrl F12, and go looking for you model, which has replaced the standard hanger 3dz.

If you have followed me through every step, please post a screen of your model.

Hi Col

I'm trying to get the 4th side of the box to behave , I guess I don't understand the proper sequence of the nodes.
Must they match up to the adjoining panel node numbers?

I keep getting sides that slide outside the model or otherwise act screwy.
Anyhoo, it's late so will give another go tomorrow night.

C-ya
Jacko

Hello 45North.

If things get a bit complicated, like in my DR1 model you can do the following.



Click on the zoom button, allows you to zoom into any part of the model.

Clicking on the Texture button, allows you to remove the skin of the model, and show only the wire frame.

Clicking on the Node button, shows all the nodes in the model, as Blue dots.



I've clicked on the Red element. The the first node of the element is always displayed with the Red, Green and Blue lines.

Now click on the "Node" tab

If you now click on any node, it will be shown by the Red, Green and Blue lines, and the node number shown in the Node box, as shown in the screen shot below.



I hope this helps you sort out which nodes you need to use to join up the right side of your box. :0

Hi Col.

Here's about all I can duplicate as your tutorial.
I may have a corrupted starter file, since the probs continue.

Starter

Shouldn't the back side be Element #2?
Also, I keep getting the diag in the back panel. Is the geometry bad?

Hi John,

I will try this when I have time but serious family problems take first priority at the moment. Perhaps you could give us a day or two as we are going to be a bit slower than you. Probably why you don't have much feedback yet.

If you want to try a really messy model I can think of nothing better than the Beaufighter. No criticism intended of the early efforts - pretty good but the shape is basically wrong. The nose is too short, the fuselage too deep, the engines far too large in diameter and the tail is wrong as well. I nearly managed to correct the tail a year or so ago but I just don't have the skill. I managed to reshape the vertical tail making it bigger and more rounded, and moved the horizontal surfaces backwards quite a bit, making them wider. It almost worked but I had a few nodes unaccounted for which distorted the rudder and elevator line. Maybe sometime with your much appreciated help I will finally get it right.

Keep up the good work.

Peter

Hi 45North.

No, the side shown is fine. What I think you have done is moved one node of the back element, which is why you only see a triangle there.

Like this:



Now, it should look like this:



The element number is not an issue, as you can build this model in a variety of ways, but in the end, the construction of the model will be sorted into a correct order by the Normals, and RS.

I've now done a diagram of how the back element should fold out.



I hope this gets you going on the right track again.

Slowly but surely I'm getting this. Thanks. It will be a long road for me.

Hi Mike.

Don't worry about it. Just think about building a card model. Any 3D model is the same. They are all made from flat squares, flat rectangles, and flat triangles.

Has anyone had any success?

Hi Col.

I got the house w/roof, but when trying to proceed the prog crashed, error " Subscript out of range."

Also the model was not appearing as solid, when rotating it some areas did not paint as filled altho the wireframe looked correct.

Will keep at it.
Don't despair.
It has to get better - LOL...

Later,
Jacko

Hi Col.

Here's a house

A House

When running the RSC.exe as described, I only got 1 file out - OUTPUT.3dz, no OUTPUT.txt, altho there is Tmod27_h.txt.

The Sequence listing is all zeros in that file.

Awaiting further info,

Later
Jacko

Hi Col. Gibbon,

I have a question from a different point of view - not a newbie, but an outsider. I've never actually played EAW, but I have played F-15 Strike Eagle III and hacked its 3D file format fairly thoroughly, and it turns out it is quite similar EAW's (but without textures).

My question is: Why do you have to use three different tools to make your .3DZ file? Is source code available for these tools so that they can be integrated?

I'm not actually "playing along at home" and using the tools you're mentioning, but I have found your tutorial interesting, so thanks for providing it!

Regards,
David

Hi 45North.

You seem to have the shape, but there looks like you have a few reversed elements.

If you can mail me your model, I'll go though in detail where you have errors.

As to the OUTPUT.3dz, you need to convert it to text, so then you will have an output.txt.

wingspl at yahoo dot com

Hi odshea.

Like most things, the tools we have evolved over time. The text converter was made by Paulo a very long time ago, and we don't have the code for it. 3dz Studio is by Gurney, and we have the code for it, along with the RS calc. Gurney never got around to adding the RS calc or Normals calc, to his studio, so the project remained unfinished, and that's why we have this collection of programs to use, rather than one.

There are many more tools, which we have for rotating, joining, de duplicating elements, and mirroring models. All of them really need to be integrated into one program, but we have not time to do it at presents as all our efforts go into code work, or modding the game. Tools for modding 3dz's are not high on the list of jobs.

G'day Col.,



Are the tools by Gurney open source so that anyone can take a look at the code and consider improving it?

Thanks,
David

Hi doshea.

The original 3dz Studio has been worked on by other people. Sydbod has fixed Gurney's original code, and Will Baldwin too the original code and made an much improved basic studio, without RS and Normals.

If you wanted the basic code, what would you want to do with it. I know Gurney would have no objections, if the you wanted to improve his editor fr the EAW community.

I'd be interested in making it support .3dx files from F-15 Strike Eagle III and at the same time not require the use of external tools to do the rendering sequence tree and normals/plane equations. Also, since you mentioned that the rendering sequence tree generation doesn't always work, I'm interested in looking at that - I've been thinking myself about how to generate the rendering sequence tree. I might not be able to generate a correct one (i.e. one that works), but I'm sure I could do something about the running forever and filling up the hard disk, that is I could make it display an error message!

Regards,
David

Hi doshea.

So, that wuld be like Will then. He made his version handle 3db for Gunship, as well as 3dz for EAW.

I'll PM you in a min.

Hi

An important note:

The 3dzStudio version included in the 3DZ_Starter_Kit.zip, which is Sydbod’s improved version will CTD if you open and work with 3dz’s that only have one element.
For such 3dz’s I use WB’s version of 3dzStudio, which doesn’t have that problem.

Cheers

Hi Guys.

I thought it might be worth Bumping this old thread.

As the original file downloads don't work anymore I've uploaded the latest 3dz Studio and support files on the link below.

http://www.mediafire.com/?k767d2cd9v8a24f