The real problem facing IVAO is that the aircraft models used in FS2004 and FSX are completely different. The default aircraft in both sims are totally different beasts. For example the C172 in FSX is a fresh design and the textures for this are quite different (and much better) than the textures for the FS2004 aircraft. Not only are the textures much more detailed but they are mapped quite differently - you can't wrap the FSX C172 in the texture used for the FS2004 model (you could technically but it would look rather weird). I enclose screenshots of both just to show the difference. FSX textures are also DDS format (DXT5) and FS2004 doesn't recognise these. As a result IVAO don't accept any FSX default repaints because they cannot be installed by FS2004 users. To me this seemed odd but I now understand that if such a model is used FSX users are OK but an FS2004 user would see no aircraft at all. Although the reverse is true and FS2004 aircraft can be used in FSX any repaints of FS2004 aircraft are only distributed in the FS2004 MTL. Here IVAO are stuck with legalities in that to make the aircraft work in FSX they need to include all the aircraft files (MDL, .air, textures, sounds etc) but would breach MS copyright by doing so. FS2004 repaints are therefore limited to FS2004 users so this is an avenue I won't go down. I say that because if I do we eat into our limited aircraft allocation. IVAO are trying to get away from the default aircraft and their associated problems by sticking with third party models from suppliers like AI Aardvark. The advantage is that these models work with both sim versions so there is no confliction of interest. The AI designs are also very low poly counts and this is essential in keep FS load down. Despite the low poly count most look quite presentable - I guess because the model doesn't need interior detail or complex flap/gear modelling. AVSIM lost a lot of files in their hacked system last year so it looks like the paintkits listed are part of the lost library. bones <mailto:bones@xxxxxxx> bones@xxxxxxx From: jhb-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx [mailto:jhb-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx] On Behalf Of Paul Reynolds Sent: 15 January 2010 06:25 To: jhb@xxxxxxxxxxxxx Subject: [jhb] Re: MTL models That's interesting, the fact they use two different compilers. If this is the case then I would suggest any MTL developed are for our M registered aircraft. Looking at the MTL site, it says within the General Rules: "The repaint must be based on an official paintkit of a MTL model. Liveries which are based on other models are not accepted. A list of paintkits is available here <http://mtl.ivao.aero/paintkits.asp> ." Looking through the official paint kit list, the Baron and C172 are listed so, according to their rules, they should be accepted. There is no B350 or B06 listed so they should bite the dust. I then looked to see whether there was a JS41 and DHC3 (Otter) and neither are listed. Going through our existing fleet (including FS2004 models), those with available paint kits are: A343, ATR72, BE58, B1900 (both C and D versions), B734, B737, B738, B739 (with and without winglets), B744 (GE, P and W or RR engines), B752 (non winglets with P and W or RR engines, winglets ), C550, F70 and F100. The C172 has a paint kit listed on Avsim but my attempt to download it showed "File Unavailable". There is an A310 listed but no A312, There's DH8C listed but no DH8A or DH8D. Just to add to the confusion, on the IVAO MTL forum, Marcel M., (one of the MTL team) said in March last year the JS41 would soon be available and included two Avsim links - "Base kit" and an "Extended details". Of those, the "base kit" includes a paint kit but the "extended details" leads to the dreaded "file unavailable". (see http://forum.ivao.aero/index.php/topic,107328.0.html) I would still like to see the JS41 become part of the fleet if it does become available. I say this because I know there are owners of the PMDG model on this list and as I move back to FSX it's the aircraft I'm most looking forward to adding to my collection. Paul From: jhb-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx [mailto:jhb-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx] On Behalf Of Fossil Sent: 14 January 2010 22:03 To: JHB Private Email Subject: [jhb] MTL models I've just had a chat with one of the MTL team - he was kind enough to fly out of EGNS a few moments ago. We can't use any default FSX aircraft as AI models so the aircraft I submitted aren't going to be processed. We can send in repaints of the FS2004 aircraft but these will only be put in the FS2004 compiler and won't be available for FSX. I can't see the point really. With any default FS aircraft out of the equation we start again. Unfortunately there are no AI models of the FSX default aircraft so it looks as though the C172, B350, BE58 and B06 are simply not going to happen. The next job is to look through the MTL model library and see if there are any decent AI Aardvark models that may appeal. I think there was a King Air 200 somewhere which could substitute for the B350 but it's not the same as having the correct aircraft. bones <mailto:bones@xxxxxxx> bones@xxxxxxx
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