Do you have the SDK installed?
Picked up this sequence somewhere:
Install the FS-X SDK from the FS-X Deluixe disc (original) to the default location;
Install the SDK update SP1a (which gives you the gmax gamepack), again, to the default location;
COPY the FSX_gmaxgamepack folder and all of its contents to your gmax/gamepacks folder;
WIthin the FSX_GamxGamepacks folder there is a startup gmax icon .. send (copy/move) that icon to your desktop.;
Start gmax for FS-X with THAT icon (DO NOT USE THE PLAIN DEFAULT gmax ICON);
If you have Acceleration, you'll find all the needed SDK updates on that disk...
The order of installation is :
SDK RTM (from FS-X disc)
SDK SP1a (download or install from ACceleration) <- contains the gmax gamepack.
SDK SP2/ACceleration (download (SP2) or install (Acceleration))
If you already have this, great!
Here are some of my thoughts:
First, modeling aircraft is one discipline separate from doing panels, sounds, textures, flight models, beta testing or documentation. It starts with modeling.
If you are not familiar with Gmax/3DSMax, you need to go through the "Tutorials" to become familiar with the tools.
The "Help" is comprehensive.
Here are some basic tutorials I have done. They may be useful after you have installed gmax/3DSMax and have done the tutorials.
A Basic GMax Video Introduction:
Download the zip of the .avi file to play:
http://www.flightsimonline.com/C162/...basicintro.zip
Here is the Data Collection writeup:
http://www.flightsimonline.com/C162/data/
Gmax tutorials are here:
This is the long series of tutorials created for design of the C-162:
http://www.flightsimonline.com/C162/
Creating a Calibration Box for your 3-views:
http://www.flightsimonline.com/gmax/calbox.htm
As always, Google and Bing are your friends. There is a lot of help out there for gmax questions. Same with YouTube.
The website FSDeveloper is an excellent resource with lots of knowledgeable help, tutorials, and advice. Use it.
There are books for 3DSMax and classes available for 3DSMax.
I hope this helps to get you thinking about a structured process to get started.
Good luck, and have patience.
Milton Shupe