Exporting & Replacing an existing weapon model into BF1942 (3dsmax/gmax)

This tutorial will cover the basics in exporting a weapon model into 3dsmax; it will not cover the creation of the model, but rather simply putting it into, and replacing an existing model in the game. It requires you to be familiar with 3dsmax‘s interface.

Tools you’ll need:3dsmax/GmaxGmax- http://www.turbosquid.com/gmax

Battlefield Mod Development Toolkit (WinRFA to be exact) http://www.filefront.com/3593215/Battlefield-Mod-Development-Toolkit-v2.5g/

3dsmax 8 .sm export/import plug-inGet it here: http://www.moddb.com/games/battlefield-1942/downloads/bf1942-3dsmax-8-plugin

Ok once you have installed the necessary files, let’s start by opening up 3dsmax and loading up the weapon model that you already have, for this tutorial I will be using my existing G36 model which will replace the MP44 model in vanilla BF1942.

This model has 924 polygons, ideal for Bf1942 mods.

Time to get started! Use WinRFA from the Battlefield MDT to extract the MP44 model files. WinRFA will be located in your BFMDT directory, inside a folder named “RFA tools”. Open it up and go to File- Open .rfa and locate the file “Standardmesh.rfa” in your BF1942 dir/mods/Archives folder. Default- C:\Program Files\EA Games\Battlefield 1942\Mods\bf1942\ArchivesOnce you get there find the files that have “SG44” in it.

Select these files and hit Extract Selected and extract them to a convenient spot. I extracted them into my gmax/3dsmax meshes folder.

As a side note, your weapon model should be separated into three parts, the main body of the weapon; the ammo magazine and the trigger. In Bf1942 each of these parts have a different naming convention.

Now that that’s done, we’ll import the selected .sm files into 3dsmax/gmax and replace them with the model you have. I will be using G36 model shown before.Run the program (either 3dsmax or gMax) and let’s get going.

Go to Battlefield ToolsModel Import/Export. For now we’ll simply import the objects.

We will import it and replace it bit by bit, so let’s start out with the base. The proportions might turn out messed up but we’ll fix that, just rescale YOUR model only. Once that’s done put your model exactly into the place of the model you’re intending to replace.

That’s how it turned out when I did it. The Red lines show the G36 wireframe, while the yellow ones belong to the SG44.

Press H in 3dsmax, this will give you the list of all the objects in the scene.

The object that we are trying to replace is called sg44, so change the name of your base model to sg44 and delete all other meshes. DONT SAVE, you’ll end up deleting your magazine and/or trigger permanently.

Time to export our object, after changing the name of it, set it up in the export menu so it looks like this:

Hit export and name it SG44.

Repeat these steps on the other parts replace the object with your own model and name it correctly. Doing it for the trigger isn’t entirely necessary.

Okay, were almost there. Its time to pack it up for BF1942 using the RFA tools. Go the folder you’ve exported your files. Make sure their altogether and the folder’s name is “standardmesh”. Copy this folder into your Mod Development tools. Open up the RFA Tools folder and run the program “GUI_RFAPack”. The one with the green icon. It should look like this:

Hit the “Pack Folder” button and voila! A standard mesh RFA file ready for BF1942! Make a new mod using the BF1942 Mod Wizard in the MDT files, and copy paste this RFA file in to your mod’s archives folder.