I am looking for some updated youtube tutorials for the usual basic stuff like creating a scenery and sim objects and so on. Preferably in english.
Now with the Avitar stuff released and also good old ones like Otto, I was thinking looking into adding my own 3d model (i know my way around blender) as the copilot. Im also thinking about doing some scenery projects, but sadly the tutorials I watch are outdated regarding that stuff.
Most of the tutorials I find are years old and/or doesnt work as intended anymore.
You can do a filter on the YouTube search results for videos posted “that week, month, year” etc. I haven’t seen a lot of YouTube videos about development for MSFS. You may have to get connected with forums and discord servers. Ask questions and figure it out.
This group is promising. I’ve asked questions and got some help. [FS²] Flight Simulator Freelance Society. The #sdk-discussion channel in the MSFS Discord server is a good place to connect as well.
As I’ve discovered, apparently, it’s impossible to find a concise, accurate, up-to-date guide.
There are a ton of great videos, but, as you’ve probably found, I haven’t found one that works.
I’ve spent a LOT of time trying to dig through videos and the SDK, troubleshoot, do it again, troubleshoot, refer back and forth between “current” settings… and I’ve asked about a current WRITTEN guide.
Unfortunately, I don’t think one exists at the moment.
So… it’s kinda back to the drawing board for me - I’m just trying to get a single object into MSFS. I’m documenting it in case I am able fo figure it out.
What exactly are you wanting to learn about? I’ve created scenery, not simobjects, but have found the documentation about scenery to be accurate. Also, I’ve watched several videos by Flying Theston and others that have proved to be quite helpful to getting models into the MSFS SDK, creating and modifying airports, moving runways, taxiways and edge lighting, etc. I’ve also asked questions on the developer forum and received good answers. So I’m wondering what are the topics you are having trouble finding? I’ll be happy to help if I can.
Well… I can make scenery from the built-in objects, and from some (not all) I’ve downloaded.
However, I’d recommend trying creating simobjects if I were you.
I don’t want to hijack the thread, but I’d just like to know the process for a static object from Blender Export to being able to successfully import the object into the SDK.
My goal is to create a standalone collection of globally available scenery objects, rather than a scenery-specific group of objects.
I completely agree. And dont worry about hijacking this topic, any information is good information on this topic as far as Im concerned. The few times before where I have asked spesifics regarding creating something it has gotten no response.
There are some outdated youtube tutorials with exporting from blender and importing into your scenery, but even those tutorials doesnt work as intended anymore.
Im trying to read and follow the SDK documentation, but of course that is very extensive.
So instead of just using the usual “just use the sdk simplescenery example and modify that”, Im trying to make a project from scratch - so that hopefully I can understand what Im doing and not just copy pasting someone elses work and not knowing whats happening.
Just something simple as understanding the folderstructure and how to correctly set up what is needed.
In my case, I know roughly how to import exported stuff from blender to a scenery. But Im currently trying to figure out how to just make a simobject that I can use as a copilot model. From other examples I find, it looks very simple (the folder structure and so on). But I dont even understand how to generate a layout and manifest file correctly.
I can sympathize with you guys because I had the same problem when I first started with scenery creation. I couldn’t figure out where to put the models I had built into the SDK to compile the scenery (as well as other questions).
The first thing I’d recommend is to get a copy of Airport2Project. It is a small program but gets you started AND it creates the directory structure for you. It also allows you to change aircraft parking spots, change runway or taxiway positions, delete MSFS default buildings at the airport, etc., and is easy to use.
The link below is to a document that helped me get started with scenery creation, particularly with where to place the models I had created before compiling the scenery with the SDK. It is two years old, but I think it is still pretty accurate, if not completely. If you take it step-by-step, I think you’ll get there. (But if not, let me know, I’ll be happy to try to explain anything you’re struggling with). Here’s the link: Guide to MSFS Scenery Creation. I’m no expert but I’ve modified and have several models that I have created for airports working on my MSFS install. I’ve been working to finish the airports and make them available to others sometime in the future.
Again, if you have trouble after trying Airport2Project and looking at the recommended document, I will be very happy to help you in any way I can. Once you get going, it can be a lot of fun!
UPDATE: Here’s the folder structure to give you an idea of where to put your custom models before compilation:
J:\Airport2ProjectFiles\Airport2Project_ICAO\Airport2Project_ICAO\PackageSources\Scenery\airport-icao\ICAOModels
Of course, your gltf, bin and xml files go in a single folder below this within a folder like “MyHangar01”. In addition, a single “texture” folder goes under “ICAOModels” containing ALL textures for all custom objects.
There is a Tool/guide for making your own Pilot avatar, by putting a photo of your face on top of a pattern, and stretching it to fit, thus producing the correctly shaped texture to place on the supplied Model.
I last saw it on flightsim.to (Freeware), about 9 months ago, but that was before a lot of addons got withdrawn from that site.
@N6722C Yeah thats a old goodie, and a neat trick to put your own face on a pilot model. But I meant more my own custom model, not of me, but made by me. The 3d model. Or just a custom 3d model in general. Now days you get addons that lets you add pretty much ANY SimObject as a pilot/copilot model. Like the Got Gravel Avitar series as an example.
One example of something Im thinking of. If I can just figure out how to get to the point where i understand how to add a simobject, well then I can for example make a whole group of passengers to any airliner(737 or whatever). But thats just one example. But again, Im struggling to even understand the folderstructure and all the exessive folders and files and who knows. I have modded in other games but never the FS sims, so this way of doing things are very new and confusing to me.
Usually when I needed to learn stuff, like a piece of software - or just how to do something, I would find youtube tutorials that learned me the basics and then I could dive into the more advanced stuff later on.
But my problem with msfs tutorials is that they get outdated and no longer work as intended, and the tutorials I find tend to be very … eh… of mixed quality and not easy to navigate or even find what you need.
Because you want to have a a pilot, as Simboject type use Humans instead of Landmarks
And set the category to AircraftPilot in the sim.cfg
Last note, I see you are struggling to obtain manifest and layout.json, those are created automatically when building the package (by pressing build all in the project editor)
thank you! Yours tutorials from youtube is the ones Im currently following, even though some of them are slightly outdated regarding the sdk. So thank you
edit:well I finally managed to do what I wanted. Understanding the folder structures and what is needed where is a struggle, but at least I managed to get some progress and got a custom 3d model as a copilot.
I want to thank you @mamuDesign for being such a generous powerhouse in the modding community, both with your free mods as well as your tutorials.
