Blender

Blender is a open source 3D content creation suite available for all major operating systems under the GNU General Public License and available for free. ^[1] Many FlightGear developers use Blender, and there are a lot of articles on the FlightGear Wiki about using it.

Note: An importer/exporter for FlightGear's most common 3D format (AC3D, .ac) is only included in Blender version 2.49b or older. For later versions you have to install it manually:

• Forum thread
• AC3D Blender plugin: Stable version (Github)
• AC3D Blender plugin: Experimental version for Blender svn version (Github)

Related content

Blender related articles

• Howto: Add smooth ("Ambient Occlusion") shadows in Blender
• Blender Ground Signs Tutorial
• Aircraft modeling tutorial (flightgear-specific)
  • by Helijah: Breguet Br-761 "Deux ponts"
    • In French
    • In English
• Aircraft modeling tutorial (non-flightgear-specific)
  • by Kevin Jongen: Nieuport 11 and additional discussion
  • by Samo: Policarpov I-15 Chato
  • by Witold Jaworski: E-book "Virtual Modeling" on P-40B. With over 3600 pictures and 1112 pages. Currently only in Polish (no English). But you can try machine translation plus the use of many pictures :-)
• Aircraft modeling video tutorial
  • How to model Me163 Komet (Blender 2.64): youtube
  • How to model an airliner (Blender 2.5): youtube
  • Blender 2.5 Tutorial- Introduction to Modeling in Blender: youtube
  • Blender 2.59 Airplane Modeling Timelapse youtube
  • Modeling an X-Wing in Blender 3D (Blender 2.4): youtube
  • Blender 2.49b Reference Image Setup for Modeling workflow. youtube (Setting up the reference images as textured flat objects visible not only in orthographic views)

Also related to modeling and Blender

• GMax2AC
• Illuminate faces
• Make a helicopter
• Model Import and Export
• Modeling - FAQ
• Modeling - Getting Started
• Modeling - SketchUp
• Normals and Transparency Tutorial
• SketchUp to AC3D exporter

External links

• Official website
• Official wiki
• Get Blender