gMax CFS3 contact point helper (should also work for FS2002 and possibly CFS2)

Follow the instructions carefully!!!!

This is a beta version to test out the basic functionality - as such it isn't very forgiving if you do something wrong! I intend to work on a better interface as time allows. Principally a wider range of defaults, some error trapping and the implementation of the contact point helpers as 'scripted plugins'. So: follow the instructions carefully!!!!

1. First off unzip the script to your gMax scripts folder, then launch gMax.

2. Go to the Utility tab and click on MaxScript.

3. Click on 'Run Script' and select contacts01.ms

4. Select Create Contact Points from the list of Utilities

5. Optional: Create an point helper object (on the create panel click on the helper button, then click on the 'Point' button) called 'helper_COG'. You can actually use any object, but stick with point helpers as we're dealing with those. If you skip this step it assumes the CoG position is [0,0,0]

6. Optional: Create an point helper object called 'helper_datum'. If you skip this step it assumes the datum reference position is [0,0,0]

7. Create a point helper called 'helper_static01', position it where the rear wheel would settle when the plane is at rest.

8. Create point helpers called 'helper_static02', 'helper_static03' and position them where the left and right main wheels would settle when the plane is at rest. These two points and the point you created in step 7 define the position of the ground when your aircraft is at rest. In principle they ought to be able to be placed in any order, for some reason the order *does* matter. You may also get strange results for the static height and angle for tricycle (non-tail-dragger) gear configurations. I'm aware of this and am looking into where I've made a slip.

9. Create either a point or a circle shape with a name starting with any of the following:

contact_cgear
contact_lgear
contact_rgear
contact_scrape
contact_skid
contact_float
contact_waterrudder

If you choose to create a circle then the config maker will automatically use it for setting the wheel radius. If you have more than one of a particular contact point type, just add different endings - eg contact_scrape01, contact_scrape02 or contact_scrape_nose, contact_scrape_tail

Note that you can name a contact helper with anything starting with 'contact_' - if you pick one from the above it will give you some default values to save you a bit of work.

10. Optional: Animate the contact helper position if you want the program to calculate the static compression/compression ratios. You will need position keys at frames 50 (full extension), 75 (static compression), 100 (full compression)

11. Return to the Utilities panel and click on 'Make contact helper'. Next click on your helper 'contact_LGear'. You will only be able to select from objects with names starting with 'contact_'. Select by name (h on the keyboard) will also work at this stage and may be more convenient.
 
12. Go to the modifier stack tab and look at the point helper's parameters. It should have lots of new properties with familiar names :-) Set these to the values you'd like. See the CFS3 or the FS2002 aircraft container SDKs for details.

13. Repeat from step 9 until you have all your contact points defined with their parameters set.

14. Open up a new MaxScript Listener (F11) 

15. In the Utilities panel, click on 'Write contacts'. You can then copy and paste the static CoG position/pitch to your aircraft.cfg file. Likewise with the contact points section.

The contents of this file and the accompanying MaxScript are Copyright ©2002 Finn Neuik (Newick). You are free to use this in your own projects, but please do not distribute it as it is still in development.

Terms of use: if you use this helper in the preparation of an aircraft that you're building with gMax then e-mail me about it, as I'm always interested in seeing other people's work. Don't let it worry you if you decide not to do that however!