Gary Gunnerson's Metasequoia Questions and Answers

Make sure you're using the oldest version of Metasequoia LE which is 2.1. Also make sure you're not using the regular version of Meta or the newer version of LE, I've had problems with that one.

Some things to think about while learning Meta is that it is a simplified version of 3D software so it doesn't have 3 simultaneous views or any of the other stuff the expensive software has. When working with a model you should be looking at the side view <F1> key, the top view, <F2> key or the front view <F3> key. Holding down the shift key while selecting a function key will give the opposing view. Try it!

The easiest way to find out how to use Meta is to work with existing models. All mine have the .mqo file included for playing with. You can play all day and if you don't save it, nothing is changed. Also, you can always download the original from my website.

Objects must be unlocked and visible to select the object or parts of an object. The little lock and eyeball next to the object name are how this is done. Click the eyeball, a piece disappears, click the empty box where the eyeball used to be and the object reappears.

If all locks are indicated, you can't edit anything but you can add new objects or create new objects. Click the little lock, it disappears and you can edit the object. Click the little box where the lock used to be and you can't edit anymore. Objects can be anything from a simple point to a sphere, circle, pyramid or just about anything. Most complex objects are built up from simple ones.

One simple way to start out is use File and New to clear the workspace. Then click on the [Primitive] button under the Command section of the screen. Now click the cube that popped up. Now hit the F1 button for the side view and click near the center of the screen. A large white box will appear. If you hold your right mouse button elsewhere on the screen and drag it at a diagonal, you can rotate that cube now. Try it!

You may note that the object is made up of points, lines and what are called faces or surfaces. In the upper left corner of the work area are little toggle boxes that say [Pt], [Ln] and [Fc]. As you might guess, clicking and unclicking these will reveal or hide the points, lines or faces. Try it! The [Si] button is used for displaying virtual objects that are mirrors of actual objects. We usually leave this in the up position. The [Fr] is used to select only a portion of an object that is in FRont of you. So you can say change a color of a single face if you want. While the [Img] button is for using an existing 3-view as a background to make modeling easier but it's a bit tricky to use right away.

On the Command list, click the [Rect] button now. That says you want to use a rectangle to select an object or parts of an object. Knowing how to select what you want to work on is critical for playing with Meta. Go back to your cube now and hit the <F1> key for the side view. Then put the mouse cursor above and in front of the cube face you arer looking at, then hold down the right mouse button and drag it until the rectangle is below and to the right of the left line of the cube, then release the button. You should now have a single green line with 2 green points selected and the rest of the cube is pink. You've selected the entire front of the cube now.

Now comes the fun part. We're going to play with that front part of the cube by using the Edit Panel which should be on your screen in the work area. The first column is for movement, the second is for shrink and grow and the third is for rotation. You activate them by moving the mouse cursor over the one of the boxes, clicking and holding the right mouse button and moving the mouse itself left and right. Try them all, it's a blast.

Questions and Answers:

1. Is the size of the model on meta important? or does the PAR file accomplish that?? (how DO you size on meta??)

The relative size is important for FMS. Too small and it will disappear in the distance and seem to fly very fast and too big and it will look like it's very slow and floating around. So, I pick an average size of 100 units within FMS and adjust flight characteristics in the .par file. The easiest way to see this is to borrow another model’s FMS files except for the .x and try your model out with another model’s settings that you're aiming for. You'll see if it looks too big or too small right away. It's easy to fix though, so no big deal.

Sizing is done by clicking off all the lock buttons, clicking on the [Sel All] button, clicking on the [Scale] button and then click the [Number] button on the Scale pop-up, set the center to 0,0,0 and then adjust the percentage on the left side. Remember the Ctrl-Z UNDO key is your friend. <smile>

2. Does it make a difference where on the grid the image is?? Half the time I end up with the grid thru the middle of the airplane.

The image should be with the center of gravity at the airplanes CG. So usually, 1/3 of the wing chord back from the leading edge and somewhere near the middle of the fuse when using the side view with the <F1> key. Remember that the Z (blue) axis is fore/aft, X (red) axis is left/right and Y (green) axis is up/down.

3. Do you import a scale dwg. or something to actually get meta model accurate?

Yes, the best way is to bring in a 3-view image file that's accurate. This is a bit advanced and someone else's tutorial did a good job of describing it. If you need this info, I'll look up the other tutorial. You use the [Img] button at the top of the work area, the {View} {Set Background Image} menu item and the left hand side Command called [BkImg] that allows for resizing and moving the background. Hold down shift while resizing or your background will not maintain its aspect ratio.

4. Do you "build" wings and tails separately or all at once with the fuse?? How do you "attach" them to the fuse if they are built separately?

Usually you build separate objects when selecting them later would become a problem. Just move the wings, stab or fin to where they belong, there is no need to join them together. In fact, FMS is just flying a bunch of pieces at the same time. You can copy entire airplanes and fly formation too.

5. Are wings and horz. tails built with mirror functions? How do you add dihedral?

There are 2 ways to mirror, one is physical mirroring by selecting an object and then using the menu item {selected} {mirror} and then choose X, Y or Z mirroring. As an option you can mirror in software by double-clicking on an object name and then filling in the {Mirroring} section of the object property box. The only problem with mirroring in software is that both wings will look exactly the same even down to the graphics so you can't have different logos on each wing. That's why wings are usually physically mirrored. But this is done only near the last step of model creation. Start with software mirroring until it's time to make it pretty with image mapping.

Dihedral is also added as a final step as image mapping is easier with flat surfaces. The way you add dihedral is to rotate the wing around the Z axis.

6. How do FMS and/or PAR do Center of Gravity?? Do I do it?

If the CG in Meta is good, there will be no need to adjust it in the .par file. However, if you're a bit off, it's easier to fix it in the .par file than going back to Meta and moving the model. I test CG by hand launching (R button in FMS) and watching the glide. Nose up, move CG forward, nose down move CG back, gently glide straight ahead and it's perfect. Just like building real models. Use the PAREDIT program from Mr. Masuoka for editing .par files.

7. How do I look at my terrible simple plane without the construction points and grid??

Up at the top of work area there were the [Pt], [Ln] and [Fc], click point and line off. Then down by the view area on the left bottom, click off the ZX grid and the Ax axis. Now you can see the model without hindrance.

8. I saved a MQO file and I know I need to edit a PAR and WAV file to the same folder name;But what is the --.x file? and how do I do it?

Within meta, do a <Save As> and select {Direct3D Retained Mode .x}

9. I want to use the FMS plane as a precurser of a future real model. I know I have to edit thrust, surface deflections ,mass ,wing incid., wing span, wing chord, and 'effective " tail areas to what I believe they will be. (What is EFFECTIVE tail areas??? Is it the total tail?? -- or without rudder or elevator?)How does FMS tell how big the control surfaces are?

Total tail area is actual square meters I believe for version beta 7.

The best way to start is to find a model that flies the way you want your model to fly and then copy the .par to start with. All .par files are independent of the actual model. That said, it'd be very difficult to have MetaLE drive the actual model's flying characteristics. To make .par files, either use the parcreator for version beta 7 or pareditor for version alpha 8.5. Both are available for free download at: http://sekiai.net/fms_e.html#A8Editor_Converter . I never did get a good handle on how the .par worked for version 2.7 but was able to edit them enough to make my models fly OK. In version alpha 8, a good representation of your model in the .par file should approach realistic flying of an actual model. I've yet to figure out how to modify POLARs for adjustments of wing lift, drag and moments.

10. When I set wingspan etc.how does FMS recognise the length and width of the fuse?? Is it from my editing"tail moment arm"?? (This is mean wing chord to mean stab chord?) How does it get the nose moment dimen.?

Fuse is not important to the overall handling of a model except with extreme 3D models. The fuselage is not usually a lifting body but it is reflected in the drag coefficient. Weight, wing area, thrust are all important. As well as the pitching moments. The tail moment arm affects the control authority of the empennage components. Longer arm, more influence...

11. In PAR What is "EQUIVALENT"center of gravity and the dimen. is where to where??

Not sure about this question but equivalent I think means differential fore/aft from the actual 3D model.

12. I now have FMS 2.7 and 2.8 on separate computers. Am I right that 2.7 planes work on 2.8 but with 2.8 PARs they would be much better??

Version 2 alpha 8.5 will fly both beta 7 and alpha 8 .par file models. Version beta 7 only flies beta 7 models.

13. I like to build odd and original models.Is there a way to print side and top views of something I come up with on Meta to a particular scale ?

Meta doesn't print and the free version wasn't designed as a real 3D CAD package. You'd probably have to save the file out and use another CAD package for printing.

THE END

Metasequoia LE Questions and Answers

FMS Home Page FMS Forum www.rc-sim.de Forum RC Groups Sim Forum Other FMS Links		Make sure you're using the oldest version of Metasequoia LE which is 2.1. Also make sure you're not using the regular version of Meta or the newer version of LE, I've had problems with that one. Some things to think about while learning Meta is that it is a simplified version of 3D software so it doesn't have 3 simultaneous views or any of the other stuff the expensive software has. When working with a model you should be looking at the side view <F1> key, the top view, <F2> key or the front view <F3> key. Holding down the shift key while selecting a function key will give the opposing view. Try it! The easiest way to find out how to use Meta is to work with existing models. All mine have the .mqo file included for playing with. You can play all day and if you don't save it, nothing is changed. Also, you can always download the original from my website. Objects must be unlocked and visible to select the object or parts of an object. The little lock and eyeball next to the object name are how this is done. Click the eyeball, a piece disappears, click the empty box where the eyeball used to be and the object reappears. If all locks are indicated, you can't edit anything but you can add new objects or create new objects. Click the little lock, it disappears and you can edit the object. Click the little box where the lock used to be and you can't edit anymore. Objects can be anything from a simple point to a sphere, circle, pyramid or just about anything. Most complex objects are built up from simple ones. One simple way to start out is use File and New to clear the workspace. Then click on the [Primitive] button under the Command section of the screen. Now click the cube that popped up. Now hit the F1 button for the side view and click near the center of the screen. A large white box will appear. If you hold your right mouse button elsewhere on the screen and drag it at a diagonal, you can rotate that cube now. Try it! You may note that the object is made up of points, lines and what are called faces or surfaces. In the upper left corner of the work area are little toggle boxes that say [Pt], [Ln] and [Fc]. As you might guess, clicking and unclicking these will reveal or hide the points, lines or faces. Try it! The [Si] button is used for displaying virtual objects that are mirrors of actual objects. We usually leave this in the up position. The [Fr] is used to select only a portion of an object that is in FRont of you. So you can say change a color of a single face if you want. While the [Img] button is for using an existing 3-view as a background to make modeling easier but it's a bit tricky to use right away. On the Command list, click the [Rect] button now. That says you want to use a rectangle to select an object or parts of an object. Knowing how to select what you want to work on is critical for playing with Meta. Go back to your cube now and hit the <F1> key for the side view. Then put the mouse cursor above and in front of the cube face you arer looking at, then hold down the right mouse button and drag it until the rectangle is below and to the right of the left line of the cube, then release the button. You should now have a single green line with 2 green points selected and the rest of the cube is pink. You've selected the entire front of the cube now. Now comes the fun part. We're going to play with that front part of the cube by using the Edit Panel which should be on your screen in the work area. The first column is for movement, the second is for shrink and grow and the third is for rotation. You activate them by moving the mouse cursor over the one of the boxes, clicking and holding the right mouse button and moving the mouse itself left and right. Try them all, it's a blast. *Questions and Answers:* 1. Is the size of the model on meta important? or does the PAR file accomplish that?? (how DO you size on meta??) The relative size is important for FMS. Too small and it will disappear in the distance and seem to fly very fast and too big and it will look like it's very slow and floating around. So, I pick an average size of 100 units within FMS and adjust flight characteristics in the .par file. The easiest way to see this is to borrow another model’s FMS files except for the .x and try your model out with another model’s settings that you're aiming for. You'll see if it looks too big or too small right away. It's easy to fix though, so no big deal. Sizing is done by clicking off all the lock buttons, clicking on the [Sel All] button, clicking on the [Scale] button and then click the [Number] button on the Scale pop-up, set the center to 0,0,0 and then adjust the percentage on the left side. Remember the Ctrl-Z UNDO key is your friend. <smile> 2. Does it make a difference where on the grid the image is?? Half the time I end up with the grid thru the middle of the airplane. The image should be with the center of gravity at the airplanes CG. So usually, 1/3 of the wing chord back from the leading edge and somewhere near the middle of the fuse when using the side view with the <F1> key. Remember that the Z (blue) axis is fore/aft, X (red) axis is left/right and Y (green) axis is up/down. 3. Do you import a scale dwg. or something to actually get meta model accurate? Yes, the best way is to bring in a 3-view image file that's accurate. This is a bit advanced and someone else's tutorial did a good job of describing it. If you need this info, I'll look up the other tutorial. You use the [Img] button at the top of the work area, the {View} {Set Background Image} menu item and the left hand side Command called [BkImg] that allows for resizing and moving the background. Hold down shift while resizing or your background will not maintain its aspect ratio. 4. Do you "build" wings and tails separately or all at once with the fuse?? How do you "attach" them to the fuse if they are built separately? Usually you build separate objects when selecting them later would become a problem. Just move the wings, stab or fin to where they belong, there is no need to join them together. In fact, FMS is just flying a bunch of pieces at the same time. You can copy entire airplanes and fly formation too. 5. Are wings and horz. tails built with mirror functions? How do you add dihedral? There are 2 ways to mirror, one is physical mirroring by selecting an object and then using the menu item {selected} {mirror} and then choose X, Y or Z mirroring. As an option you can mirror in software by double-clicking on an object name and then filling in the {Mirroring} section of the object property box. The only problem with mirroring in software is that both wings will look exactly the same even down to the graphics so you can't have different logos on each wing. That's why wings are usually physically mirrored. But this is done only near the last step of model creation. Start with software mirroring until it's time to make it pretty with image mapping. Dihedral is also added as a final step as image mapping is easier with flat surfaces. The way you add dihedral is to rotate the wing around the Z axis. 6. How do FMS and/or PAR do Center of Gravity?? Do I do it? If the CG in Meta is good, there will be no need to adjust it in the .par file. However, if you're a bit off, it's easier to fix it in the .par file than going back to Meta and moving the model. I test CG by hand launching (R button in FMS) and watching the glide. Nose up, move CG forward, nose down move CG back, gently glide straight ahead and it's perfect. Just like building real models. Use the PAREDIT program from Mr. Masuoka for editing .par files. 7. How do I look at my terrible simple plane without the construction points and grid?? Up at the top of work area there were the [Pt], [Ln] and [Fc], click point and line off. Then down by the view area on the left bottom, click off the ZX grid and the Ax axis. Now you can see the model without hindrance. 8. I saved a MQO file and I know I need to edit a PAR and WAV file to the same folder name;But what is the --.x file? and how do I do it? Within meta, do a <Save As> and select {Direct3D Retained Mode .x} 9. I want to use the FMS plane as a precurser of a future real model. I know I have to edit thrust, surface deflections ,mass ,wing incid., wing span, wing chord, and 'effective " tail areas to what I believe they will be. (What is EFFECTIVE tail areas??? Is it the total tail?? -- or without rudder or elevator?)How does FMS tell how big the control surfaces are? Total tail area is actual square meters I believe for version beta 7. The best way to start is to find a model that flies the way you want your model to fly and then copy the .par to start with. All .par files are independent of the actual model. That said, it'd be very difficult to have MetaLE drive the actual model's flying characteristics. To make .par files, either use the parcreator for version beta 7 or pareditor for version alpha 8.5. Both are available for free download at: http://sekiai.net/fms_e.html#A8Editor_Converter . I never did get a good handle on how the .par worked for version 2.7 but was able to edit them enough to make my models fly OK. In version alpha 8, a good representation of your model in the .par file should approach realistic flying of an actual model. I've yet to figure out how to modify POLARs for adjustments of wing lift, drag and moments. 10. When I set wingspan etc.how does FMS recognise the length and width of the fuse?? Is it from my editing"tail moment arm"?? (This is mean wing chord to mean stab chord?) How does it get the nose moment dimen.? Fuse is not important to the overall handling of a model except with extreme 3D models. The fuselage is not usually a lifting body but it is reflected in the drag coefficient. Weight, wing area, thrust are all important. As well as the pitching moments. The tail moment arm affects the control authority of the empennage components. Longer arm, more influence... 11. In PAR What is "EQUIVALENT"center of gravity and the dimen. is where to where?? Not sure about this question but equivalent I think means differential fore/aft from the actual 3D model. 12. I now have FMS 2.7 and 2.8 on separate computers. Am I right that 2.7 planes work on 2.8 but with 2.8 PARs they would be much better?? Version 2 alpha 8.5 will fly both beta 7 and alpha 8 .par file models. Version beta 7 only flies beta 7 models. 13. I like to build odd and original models.Is there a way to print side and top views of something I come up with on Meta to a particular scale ? Meta doesn't print and the free version wasn't designed as a real 3D CAD package. You'd probably have to save the file out and use another CAD package for printing. THE END
	Questions? Comments? Email me: GaryG51384@aol.com

FMS Home Page FMS Forum www.rc-sim.de Forum RC Groups Sim Forum Other FMS Links

FMS Home Page

FMS Forum

www.rc-sim.de Forum

RC Groups Sim Forum

Other FMS Links