Thu Jul 24, 2003 6:43 pm
Utility : Gun / Turret orientations
i've posted a milkshape model in the downloads section which helps find exactly the right orientation matrix for your hardpointsdownload Here. I'm putting this post here as its the obvious forum to look for instructions and this sort of file.
Heres how to use it:
step one
--------
Load in your model into Milkshape.
Deselct all vertices and faces.
step two
--------
Merge in the GunOreintate.ms3d Milkshape model. The new groups should appear near the origin.
step 3
------
Select the newly merged turret group (and only the turret group) and move and rotate it so it sits at the correct orientation at the desired position for your weapon.
Feel free to scale up the turret if it makes things easier (but DO NOT SCALE the Xaxis, Yaxis and Zaxis groups).
step 4
------
Select the turret vertex at the middle bottom of the turret base and goto the Vertex menu and press edit. Note down the vertex coordinates. This is the position of your turret.
step 5
------
Select the whole turret again, and press move, enter the vertex coordinates you noted above into the x y and z text boxes, but reverse all the signs.
This will move the turret back to near the origin.
(Note this step isn't essential but you need to know in the next steps which way is forward and up, this is easier when you have parts of the model to refer to and this move ensures that for most models you will be able to see parts of the model and turret in one view.)
step 6
------
Select the turret, Xaxis, Yaxis and Zaxis groups
step 7
------
Choose the rotate tool, select rotate Options origin and rotate the turret around until its pointing forwards again and is up the correct way (ie the orientation it was when gunOreintate.ms3d was first merged).
step 8
------
Identify the Xaxis group, select the vertex at its tip, write down its coordinates.
Identify the Yaxis group, Select the vertex at its tip, write down its coordinates.
Identify the Zaxis group, select the vertex at its tip, write down its coordinates.
The numbers written down in step 8 are your orientation entries.
Simple hard point orientation is probably best done using this tutorial but this method work no matter what angle your hardpoint is at.
I think there is a way of doing a similar thing automatically within a Milkshape exporter. So if anyone has source code for the existing exporter i could have a go at modifying please let me know.
Heres how to use it:
step one
--------
Load in your model into Milkshape.
Deselct all vertices and faces.
step two
--------
Merge in the GunOreintate.ms3d Milkshape model. The new groups should appear near the origin.
step 3
------
Select the newly merged turret group (and only the turret group) and move and rotate it so it sits at the correct orientation at the desired position for your weapon.
Feel free to scale up the turret if it makes things easier (but DO NOT SCALE the Xaxis, Yaxis and Zaxis groups).
step 4
------
Select the turret vertex at the middle bottom of the turret base and goto the Vertex menu and press edit. Note down the vertex coordinates. This is the position of your turret.
step 5
------
Select the whole turret again, and press move, enter the vertex coordinates you noted above into the x y and z text boxes, but reverse all the signs.
This will move the turret back to near the origin.
(Note this step isn't essential but you need to know in the next steps which way is forward and up, this is easier when you have parts of the model to refer to and this move ensures that for most models you will be able to see parts of the model and turret in one view.)
step 6
------
Select the turret, Xaxis, Yaxis and Zaxis groups
step 7
------
Choose the rotate tool, select rotate Options origin and rotate the turret around until its pointing forwards again and is up the correct way (ie the orientation it was when gunOreintate.ms3d was first merged).
step 8
------
Identify the Xaxis group, select the vertex at its tip, write down its coordinates.
Identify the Yaxis group, Select the vertex at its tip, write down its coordinates.
Identify the Zaxis group, select the vertex at its tip, write down its coordinates.
The numbers written down in step 8 are your orientation entries.
Simple hard point orientation is probably best done using this tutorial but this method work no matter what angle your hardpoint is at.
I think there is a way of doing a similar thing automatically within a Milkshape exporter. So if anyone has source code for the existing exporter i could have a go at modifying please let me know.