plane icon Welcome to Microsoft Flight Simulator’s SDK Q&A Platform!

You have questions regarding the SDK? DevMode Tools? SimConnect? You would like to submit an idea for future improvements, seek help or exchange knowledge? You’re in the right place.


Please take a moment to read the platform’s guidelines before you get started!


question

tml avatar image
tml asked tml commented

Does the origin of the 3D model *have* to be in the "middle" of the plane?

I am having a hard time getting all the coordinate systems of my aircraft to work together. The documentation says "The plane should be positioned in the file so that the center is approximately 1/3 of the way down the wing from the front as in the image". I guess this "center" means the 0,0,0 point in the glTF? There is no way to get around this using the reference_datum_position or other parameters?

I am asking because when you are basing your 3D model on actual reference information, that often uses a reference plane ("fuselage station 0") in front of the aircraft's nose. It is natural to then use that in your 3D model, too. Then the coordinates of some part of the aircraft in your 3D modelling software (Blender, in my case) directly match those in the reference information.

But is there no way to get this to work?

flightmodelmodeling
1 comment
10 |10000
Toggle Comment visibility. Current Visibility: Viewable by all users

Up to 5 attachments (including images) can be used with a maximum of 4.8 MiB each and 23.8 MiB total.

StevenPearce avatar image StevenPearce commented ·

Just model the aircraft where ever you want, and then move it to the correct position after.

0 Likes 0 ·

2 Answers

·
LagaffeVfr5476 avatar image
LagaffeVfr5476 answered

Since FS2004, in order to be in accordance with the way the flight model is understood and even more with the modern flight model of MSFS, I have always positioned my Center of Gravity (0;0;0) at 1/3 of the wing chord and on a longitudinal plane.

In my opinion, this point allows in most cases to be quite close to the center of gravity which facilitates the flight model development and its corrections.

10 |10000
Toggle Comment visibility. Current Visibility: Viewable by all users

Up to 5 attachments (including images) can be used with a maximum of 4.8 MiB each and 23.8 MiB total.

LagaffeVfr5476 avatar image
LagaffeVfr5476 answered tml commented

Since FS2004, in order to be in accordance with the way the flight model is understood and even more with the flight model of MSFS, I have always positioned my CoG at 1/3 of the wing chord and on a longitudinal plane.

In my opinion, this point allows in most cases to be close to the center of gravity which facilitates the development of the flight model and its corrections.

1 comment
10 |10000
Toggle Comment visibility. Current Visibility: Viewable by all users

Up to 5 attachments (including images) can be used with a maximum of 4.8 MiB each and 23.8 MiB total.

tml avatar image tml commented ·

I did not ask anything about the Centre of Gravity. I asked whether the (0,0,0) point in my 3D model (and in the exported glTF) has to be at what MSFS uses as the "centre" of the aircraft.

0 Likes 0 ·

Write an Answer

Hint: Notify or tag a user in this post by typing @username.

Up to 5 attachments (including images) can be used with a maximum of 19.1 MiB each and 23.8 MiB total.