Oolite is open source so the models and textures should be easy to acquire. (Ask permissions! {they will say yes, just credit them properly})
I don't have it installed anymore but I think that information was zipped into a database. You'll have to check/ask around to find out. Heck, I bet you could write a script to convert the meshes and generate the SC3 files.
To state the truth, as a hardened, long time Elite fan, I was actually considering making the old Elite fleet for Orbiter before this thread was started, and already had a couple of an8 preliminary models made (Cobra and Python) quite a while ago, before I ever posted any add ons myself on OHM. I may as well expose what my intentions were right now, as it is a large-ish sort of project, and someone might like to cooperate in bringing it to fruition in due course. I thought it would be nice to have the "Realistic Physics Elite" on Orbiter...
Some of the ideas;
1. I was thinking of doing the ships with dll modules, mainly because of the flexibility, expandability and just the sheer "class" they allow the vessel to have.
2. Make a specific solar system, with plenty of planets.
3. Perhaps elaborate a trade function, based on Elite's original. It could either be an MFD, or built into each ships own module instance. Doesn´t make much difference for the desired effect.
4. If possible, make a market system specific to each planet with celbody class (this is the reason I am playing around with making comet dll's, as a prototype for this idea, to see just how much programming you can cram into a celbody).
5. In the long term, there is no reason why even a simple combat routine might not be implemented (one of the reasons why it should be dll).
6. I do believe, from what I deduce in the API Reference, that the hyperspace between planets CAN be simulated with out too much grief, BTW, but again, needs to be a dll.
7. Upload the whole package as one big, main add on, after it has been properly beta tested. I am a bit averse to the uploading "snippet ships" unless they have a specific, tutorial type purpose.
Now, I was keeping this on the back burner for several reasons. I am completing another, reasonably complex add on at present. I am pretty busy at work at the moment. And finally, I am completing the transition from Visual Basic, which I have used for years now, to Visual C++ (thanks for the push, Orbiter!).
For VC++ to be worth the while for me (work wise, I mean), I have to be able to do on it what I did on VB, with Windows, which has sidetracked me a bit. But I am pleased to say it has not really been too difficult a transition, thanks to some previous C experience and of course, help from this forum (thanks!). Therefore, I will be able to provide the generic dll's for the project for those who might want to join in on this project and hurry it along but are not keen on VC (it could be well over a year, otherwise).
It will be a little while before I am free to address this topic again, personally, but I leave this as testimony as to what I had in mind.
What do you all think? Good idea? A definite no go? Any ideas? If it is a go, then someone could start a social group for it...
Thank you for your attention.
