Topic: Got a question for you guys...

[Rogue NineCH]

I have been dormant for the last couple of years, but now I have been thinking about starting up some new kitbashes again.  I've got a few ship ideaas in my head that just won't go away, so I figured why not just do them?  The problem I am running into is that 3dsMax5 won't work with my new PC.  I am running Vista (which I more than a little frustrated with), so I was wondering what modeling programs are you guys using now?  Also I need a program that I can use to put Hull registries on with.  My Photoshop 6 won't work with Vista Either.  Thanks again for any help.

[Bonk]

Not much of a modeller myself, but recently I was quite impressed with the latest release of blender:
http://www.blender.org/
(Says its good for vista, and it runs portably too, you can carry it with you on a USB flash drive!)

[Rogue NineCH]

I'll have to check that one out, thanks

[Klingon Fanatic]

I have been dormant for the last couple of years, but now I have been thinking about starting up some new kitbashes again.  I've got a few ship ideaas in my head that just won't go away, so I figured why not just do them?  The problem I am running into is that 3dsMax5 won't work with my new PC.  I am running Vista (which I more than a little frustrated with), so I was wondering what modeling programs are you guys using now?  Also I need a program that I can use to put Hull registries on with.  My Photoshop 6 won't work with Vista Either.  Thanks again for any help.

Welcome back!

I hope this is a temporary technical problem.

We can always use MORE non-Federation ships, auxiliary craft and bases.

Qapla'

KF

[Rod ONeal]

You'll have to get someone to do your porting to/from .MOD for you if you don't get max5 to run. AFAIK Milkshape runs on Vista. It doesn't work perfectly for .MOD, but is your only other option and it's cheap.

IMudd tried to get Max to run on Vista (even used virtual machine) and got no joy. He rolled back to XP. Unless you really need DX10 you might consider doing the same thing. Apparently the current version of Max will run on Vista. No SFC modeling tools though.

Blender has been mentioned and is a good modeling tool. Mod Tool from XSI is also free and very good too. www.softimage.com It's basically a free version of Softimage XSI. It has a easier UI (IMHO) than Blender and terrific support for learning it at Softimage's forums.

[atheorhaven]

I have been dormant for the last couple of years, but now I have been thinking about starting up some new kitbashes again.  I've got a few ship ideaas in my head that just won't go away, so I figured why not just do them?  The problem I am running into is that 3dsMax5 won't work with my new PC.  I am running Vista (which I more than a little frustrated with), so I was wondering what modeling programs are you guys using now?  Also I need a program that I can use to put Hull registries on with.  My Photoshop 6 won't work with Vista Either.  Thanks again for any help.

There are three virtual machine programs I can think of that may work for you..

Microsoft Virtual PC 2007
VMWare Workstation
VirtualBox.

If I can sneak in some time this week, I'll see if I can build some VM's under each under Vista at work and then see if I can get Photoshop 6 (which I have an old copy of somewhere in the software at work) and will drag my copy of 3dsMax and/or Milkshape to work and see what'll install.

[Rogue NineCH]

i forgot to mention that I still have my old PC hooked but it's hooked up to my new monitor now.  It is much faster without the firewall, and antivirus/spyware stuff on it.  For now until I figure out a way to model on my new PC, I'll use it.

[Anduril]

Wonderful Vista has made Max obsolete up until 9.  And then it took the release of a service pack to make the two compatible.  I did the same thing.  Got creative, dusted off the old Cd's and shortly thereafter got the sinking feeling that that creativity was all for naught.  I didn't even bother to try and see if photoshop would fire up.

Did some searching through forums and other boards and found a ton of other folks that tried all the usual workarounds that the world of Vista has forced us into.

Without a doubt when it comes time to replace this PC my electronic world will be limited to whatever software is being made for Mac's.

[Centurus]

I agree with the earlier recommendations.  Get rid of Vista and install XP.  You should be able to find XP drivers for your computer from the manufacturer's website.

The only other solution I can think of is that we find a way to take the source code for the SFC plugins for MAX and compile new plugins for later versions of MAX that can be used on Vista. 

[I, Mudd.]

VirtualBox 'worked' best for me, however, I set it up with a virtual network, so I could build thing with max9, save it to 3ds on the virtual drive/folder, then boot up VirtualBox/Max5 and continue making adjustment for SFC.  Even dumping a gig of ram into the box, it still ran rather sluggish ... probably more a vista issue than anything else ...

It would be well worth your time and effort to research your box ... find all, and I do mean all ... the drivers you'll need to run XP. I sifted through 60-70 HP customer complaint forum pages until I found a way to get this Compaq Presario (that shipped with Vista and allegedly had Vista ONLY components - don't believe the hype) XP compliant ...  and computing has never been better since. (and NOW, that extra gig of ram isn't going so much to waste anymore ...)

JM.

[atheorhaven]

i forgot to mention that I still have my old PC hooked but it's hooked up to my new monitor now.  It is much faster without the firewall, and antivirus/spyware stuff on it.  For now until I figure out a way to model on my new PC, I'll use it.

Then you're in luck.. VMWare makes a couple of utilities.. one called P2V and also VMWare Converter.  Either one of those can be used to create a duplicate of a physical machine as a VMWare virtual machine duplicate.

Then you should be able to copy that virtual machine across the network to your new machine, shut down the old PC, fire up the Virtual Machine, install VMWare Tools to reinstall network and video drivers.. and you should be up and running. 

With luck..

[Panzergranate]

In response to KF's call for more auxilaries and service vessels (FMSE scenario fooder as I call them!!) I'm jst finishing off a Klingon Commercial Deutronium / Neutronic / Beer Tanker.

I've flown it in a couple of test scenarios, buzzed it close in with fighters to check the detail close up in game and done the shiplist file in Ship Edit.

I've now only to put in the hardpoints and put the Tractor point where it should be and it'll be finished.

Also a Civilian Ferry that could be pressed into service as a ad-hoc millitary transport.

Future projects are an Auxilary Space Control Ship, which my son has suggested, based on a modified large freighter.... maybe a 4 pod job utilising 2 x CVA pods and 2 x PF pods  or 1 x PF pod and 1 x Repair or Battle pod.

I'm thinking Klingon or Federation but other race versions could be devised and made.

Another project is a tow ship for the Klingons to recover battle damaged warships and salvage plus enemy technology once victory is won.

 

[Anduril]

I wouldn't mind being back.

If I wasn't stubborn, I'd go down the line of I, Mudd's suggestions, but that involves a lot of thought and at my age I only have so many thoughts I can keep in my head at once and I'd have problems choosing which of the 3 or 4 thoughts I can run at once to shut down.

I've been leaning toward finding all the drivers needed to go to XP and buying a copy of it.  Depends on the where's/whens/ and costs of our impending move.  And the whole job thing after the move. 

But I do keep tabs on the work being done here.  Keeps rekindling the creative juices.

[Starforce2]

In response to KF's call for more auxilaries and service vessels (FMSE scenario fooder as I call them!!) I'm jst finishing off a Klingon Commercial Deutronium / Neutronic / Beer Tanker.

I've flown it in a couple of test scenarios, buzzed it close in with fighters to check the detail close up in game and done the shiplist file in Ship Edit.

I've now only to put in the hardpoints and put the Tractor point where it should be and it'll be finished.

Also a Civilian Ferry that could be pressed into service as a ad-hoc millitary transport.

Future projects are an Auxilary Space Control Ship, which my son has suggested, based on a modified large freighter.... maybe a 4 pod job utilising 2 x CVA pods and 2 x PF pods  or 1 x PF pod and 1 x Repair or Battle pod.

I'm thinking Klingon or Federation but other race versions could be devised and made.

Another project is a tow ship for the Klingons to recover battle damaged warships and salvage plus enemy technology once victory is won.

 

[shamelessplug]there's that tanker I pisted in the N5 thread...[/shamelessplug]

[Rogue NineCH]

Hey if you don't plug it, who will?

[Rogue NineCH]

I have been dormant for the last couple of years, but now I have been thinking about starting up some new kitbashes again.  I've got a few ship ideaas in my head that just won't go away, so I figured why not just do them?  The problem I am running into is that 3dsMax5 won't work with my new PC.  I am running Vista (which I more than a little frustrated with), so I was wondering what modeling programs are you guys using now?  Also I need a program that I can use to put Hull registries on with.  My Photoshop 6 won't work with Vista Either.  Thanks again for any help.

Welcome back!

I hope this is a temporary technical problem.

We can always use MORE non-Federation ships, auxiliary craft and bases.

Qapla'

KF

Well the projects that have been going through my mind are Feds, but I am gong to try my hand at bashing a couple of other races and see what I come up with.

[Panzergranate]

I feel kind of bad that the Gorns seem to be neglected by everyone when it comes to model designs.

[Bonk]

But I do keep tabs on the work being done here.  Keeps rekindling the creative juices.

Indeed, great to see you sniffing around here. I used a bunch of your old models (unmodified, with readmes intact) in SFB-OP-04 and you never know, there just might be an SFB-OP-05 yet!

From the SFB-OP-04 acknowledgements/credits:

2) The Fleetdock13 models (created by Anduril, Atra-hasis Cleeve, E, Ghost.fox, Lansing, Starfire, Stress puppy, Jeff Wallace and Wicked Zombie)

I don't know if I ever got to thank you for your work, but if I did, thanks again anyway!