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[karla]

I am struggling to export .msh files after modelling and texturing in Blender running under Ubuntu 14.04. The problem, as you modding guys know, is a suitable exporter.

I can export each entity individually via GMax and BuggyBuggy v 2.52 but I really do not want to take on the tedious task of hand-assembling over 150 files to create 30+ .msh files for the game. (I know modding is labour intensive but I don't want to spend an additional 15+ hours on this exercise in addition to the 200+ hours so far).

I refuse to use (pirated) 3DStudioMax and (legal) 6S.Maraz exporter on principle.

What I'm asking is: can Dr Jones 1.18 mesh converter be configured to convert .3ds files into .msh suitable for use in game? I have seen no guidance on this anywhere. Everyone seems to use 3DSM. My ideal workflow is .msh batch conversion to .3ds; import into Blender for modelling; export as .3ds and batch convert back to .msh.

[Dreamk]

Before posting it is always recommended to look first in the forum for a solution is answer already present here:
Blendy Blendy Exporter Beta 1 by Pablo Roldán pdroldan@gmail.com
an IL-2 MSH/HIM export script for Blender 2.49
https://www.sas1946.com/main/index.php/topic,34203.msg369461.html#msg369461
DOWNLOAD: http://www.solidstate.com.ar/images/bbexporter.zip

If a direct exporter from blender exists, you don;t need a new version of Dr Jones msh exporter .

[karla]

Hey Dreamk, thank you for the gentle reminder that we should look first before asking (I have spent quite some time on this and did look many, many times but at my age one often forgets something one saw only weeks ago). Post #1 of https://www.sas1946.com/main/index.php/topic,33681.0.html was what I was hoping to see more about ... and then post #1 of https://www.sas1946.com/main/index.php/topic,31164.0.html was having trouble and IIRC western also posted about this over three years ago. There may be a way of using Dr Jones mesh converter by exporting from Blender to .obj then converting from .obj to .msh. But -

- bbexporter.py script for Blender is just the thing. Now I am preparing to install two Blender versions so I can create backward compatible models and work in the older version from now on. There appears to be a methodical and manageable path ahead. Many, many thanks.

(For you Windowless guys: outdated versions of Blender running in later versions of Ubuntu may give rise to Python shared library problems. Ensure that you "sudo apt-get install python2.5 python2.5-dev" so that "libpython2.5.so.1.0", or specific file, is loaded).


(thanks SAS~S3 for the tidy-up)

[karla]

I had problems getting Blendy Blendy Exporter to work on and off over the past few weeks - but at last I have got it working. The key was to use Blender 2.49b and Python 2.6.2; I tried Blender 2.49 and Python 2.5.2 unsucessfuly. I can now model and export to IL-2 using Blender running under Linux. My setup is detailed below in case anyone wants some guidance.

BLENDER MODELLING FOR IL-2 IN LINUX

Ubuntu 14.04 64 bit
Use PlayOnLinux to install blender-2.49b-windows.exe (Blender 2.49b) in its own virtual drive, 32 bits
Use PlayOnLinux to install vcredist_x86.exe (MS Visual C++ 2008 Redistributable) in Blender virtual drive c:/ (Edit or update an existing application)
Use PlayOnLinux to install python-2.6.2.msi  in C:/Programs/Python26/ in Blender virtual drive c:/ (Edit or update an existing application)
Copy bbexporter.py to ~/PlayOnLinux's virtual drives/drive_c/Program files/Blender Foundation/Blender/.blender/scripts

[karla]

It turned out that bbexporter.py appeared to export .msh model meshes from Blender 2.49b but that the textures were not quite correct. For some unknown reason the textures render with slightly different shades in the IL-2 engine depending on the lighting direction. Various parameters were tested and checked but no solution was found.

There are few modellers using Blender for IL-2 and therefore the investigation was terminated. See the relevant topic here https://www.sas1946.com/main/index.php/topic,44899.0.html

Still, the bbexporter.py is a reasonable exporter tool for non-critical purposes and I will leave the thread as 'solved'.

[Stainless]

The reason is not unknown, it's the normals.

It's complex to explain, but basically it's a bug in the exporter.

[karla]

Thanks, Stainless ... and thanks again for all the effort you put into this problem.

[Stainless]

I haven't forgotten the problem.

One day I'll come back to it.

[karla]

Let's end this thread.

There is no need to convert .3DS to .msh if you are using Blender. Stainless is correct saying that 'it's the normals'; it's the VERTEX NORMALS that caused my problems. Face normals were tested at one stage during my investigation but there were no apparent problems with them. It was the normals on the corner vertices that were overloaded, so to speak. The cause of the problem was similar to that identified in the link below.

The normal for each vertex should be parallel to it's associated face normal. Ideally separate vertices are required for each face that meets at a corner - giving three vertices at some corners. The uneven textures do not always show up under different rendering/lighting conditions but GMax, Stainless IL-2 Modder, MeshLab and, of course the IL-2 game engine can reveal the defect. Thanks to Stainless who was ready to start to pursuing this problem again.

To fix a model in Blender: select the Object, Modify /Edge Split /decide a suitable angle, say 88deg /Apply; then go into Edit Mode /select all vertices on the Object /Mesh /Normals /Recalculate Outside; then export Object using BlendyBlendy Exporter. Other methods may be used see http://gamedev.stackexchange.com/questions/7502/how-do-i-fix-this-weird-lighting-problem.

One more thing - check the scaling of objects in Transform Properties. If they are different it will probably mess up the lighting in game. To normalize the scale of an object - select object, Ctrl+A, Scale to ObData.

This topic is now definitely solved.

EDIT: added scaling fix

[Stainless]

Well done Karla.

Glad it's all sorted

[vonOben]

Blendy Blendy Exporter Beta 1 by Pablo Roldán pdroldan@gmail.com
an IL-2 MSH/HIM export script for Blender 2.49
https://www.sas1946.com/main/index.php/topic,34203.msg369461.html#msg369461
DOWNLOAD: http://www.solidstate.com.ar/images/bbexporter.zip

Update with working download links:

Blendy Blendy Exporter for Blender 2.49 (look for bbexporter.zip):
http://forum.aviaskins.com/misc.php?do=showattachments&t=1283

Exporter for Blender 2.76:
http://vonoben.free.fr/  Il-2 1946 Misc files page

[Tokyo_Express_420]

Where can Blender v 2.49 be downloaded safely?

Thanks,

- Tokyo Express