AIRFRAME (MODELLING, TEXTURING AND ANIMATIONS)

To create your aircraft for Microsoft Flight Simulator the first thing you'll need to do is create the airframe. Usually you'd do this in two passes where:

• The first pass is designed to ensure the model is the correct size and proportions. In this  pass you want to concentrate on perfecting the aircraft silhouette, ie: all the shapes, proportions, lines, and curves should match all the Visual References when viewed at all angles, and all the different movable parts should be designed as separate, movable meshes in order to test animations and ensure that they are physically accurate before continuing.
• The second pass would be where the high-res modelling detail is added, ie: lights, joints, rivets, pitot, static dischargers, etc... as well as the detailed texturing.

The pages in this section will discuss the different conventions and methods that can - and should - be used when modelling your airframes, giving all the information required to create a completed aircraft airframe model:

• File Setup
• The Modelling Process
• Drone Collision Mesh
• Animations Overview
• Texturing