Adding Objects to Aircraft

Using the tetrahedron object file (tetrahedron.obj), we’ll copy into the aircraft directory. By convention, miscellaneous (i.e., non-cockpit) objects should be grouped in the objects subdirectory, under the aircraft’s folder.

Then using Plane Maker, select Standard -> Objects menu. This pops up a box where you can add objects. On the right, there’s a clickable button which pops up a file-selection box. On the left, you can set the position of the object.

In this example, we want to place the object one meter above the center of gravity. From the Plane Maker Weights & Balances page, we see that the COG if 2.9 feet back from the reference point and .3 feet up.

So, we edit the object position to be “2.90” feet back, centered at “0”, and moved up “2.98” feet (one meter less 0.3 feet).

You can position the object relative other aircraft parts such as the Left Wing, or Vertical Stabilizer, by selecting that as the aircraft reference.

Note that objects have no effect on center of gravity or drag on the aircraft, they’re just visual elements. Flight characteristics are specified using Plane Maker (and/or modified by plugins).

(2020 X-Plane Plane Maker Tutorial by danklaue on YouTube) (2022 Animating in Blender Tutorial)

xplane2blender Scene properties -> Textures. Set (at least) Default to the file you created with Texture Paint / UV Editing