Hi! I've been playing and modding this game in the early 2000's. Now with a sense of nostalgia returning and a garage of cars I could only dream of at the time I'd like to mod my cars into the game when I was young.
So I'm oke with computers and a background in graphical design. I have downloaded all the tools like NFS Wizard, Zmodeler etc. I've extrated the .viv and from that moment I have no clue what I'm doing...
The first car I like to start with is the X308 Jaguar XJR. Luckely someone already made it: https://www.nfsaddons.com/downloads/nfshs/cars/jaguar/1819/jaguar-jaguar-xjr-100-x308.html but I own the Daimler Super V8 version so I like to start making some altercations to it.
Who knows if there still is a tutorial around to help me finish this project? And for the effort I'm always open to pay. Thanks!
Good choice, Nils's cars are very easy to mod unlike some other older ones. First off you open that CAR.VIV in NFS Wizard, Extract the CAR00.TGA and CAR.FCE . You might want to grab FCE Centerer and center the CAR.FCE..then open that in FCE Finish 2 and go through every part except :OD and :OH (it screws them up if you mess with those) click the wheel furthest to the right with the gun sight, This further centers stuff. Then center it again in FCE Centerer. Import the CAR.FCE into ZModeler and from there you can use the [ ] thing and Create, Objects, Unite Select (join parts) OR Deselect (to remove parts) Just left click the mouse and drag it over what you're wanting to add/remove) Now as for parts, You open the CAR.FCE (after you center it) in CarCad..From there you can add parts, (to get parts you open other cars in CarCad and use EDIT, VERTEX EDITOR, Remove Vert.. In EDITOR just left click the mouse and move over everything in the part you want to take, Then click FILE, PARTS, EXTRACT PART. That's basically most of it, Edit this that verts wise..To add parts you've removed from something go back to FILE, PARTS, and then INSERT PART.
There is a ZModeler tutorial somewhere, I don't know where it's at now but I've got it printed out..It was long enough to make 2 catalogue sized books.
You also need a photo editor to mess with the CAR00.TGA file (I use a OLD one from 1998). I sometimes edit vehicles to create other versions of them my self. It's a tedious process of reshape,remove,add this-delete that,etc. but in the end if it turns out decent and is usable it's worth it =D You can reshape things in BOTH CarCad or ZModeler via Vertices but it's easier to do in CarCad as the red dots are bigger and they don't disappear if you zoom way in. You control zoom via right side + and - on your keyboard.
Welcome back m8!! Make sure to have a look at AJ's awesome tutorial videos on how to convert a car. It covers up almost all important things of how to use Zanoza Modeler 1.07b and how to properly edit them models.
https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PL7KPpoce6Bti-I1MFahSgeaa95luj-lAm
PS: Paul has mentioned some useful stuff, maybe he was talking about the tutorial i'm posting now
Quote from: pete9516 on Jan 12, 2025, 3:01 AMWelcome back m8!! Make sure to have a look at AJ's awesome tutorial videos on how to convert a car. It covers up almost all important things of how to use Zanoza Modeler 1.07b and how to properly edit them models.
https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PL7KPpoce6Bti-I1MFahSgeaa95luj-lAm
PS: Paul has mentioned some useful stuff, maybe he was talking about the tutorial i'm posting now
Hey Pete, Maybe you can go more indepth..I suck at summarizing ::) .
I can highly recommend Pete's channel, where he comments on modding and records cool HS gameplay 8) : https://youtube.com/@155metalhead?si=D3Ye0Nf8aXjok2Jc
Modding this game has been on mind my mind for a quite a while now. Been enjoying every aspect of it. Now I would like to add my own vehicles to it.
Problem is finding time and dedication to do it...
75% of the cars I would like to make are from 70's & 80's.
Thanks for the help!
So I got the car into Zmodeler. I removed the antenna and now I need to change some surfaces to chrome instead of body colour. This however is a complete mystery. There are some chrome parts on the car which is nice to "copy" the attributes but I have no clue how. Could someone assist me with that?
(https://i.ibb.co/WKjzKYz/carx308.png)
Next steps are changing the wheels and some badging work.
I find it easiest to use FCE Finish 2 for that, Just go to texture edit (Checkerboard thing) then paint where the part is you want to Chrome or Unchrome. (https://i.postimg.cc/wTrW4ZjJ/Pic.png)
Lools like a military police Niva :)
Quote from: Paul Spain on Jan 12, 2025, 4:36 AMI find it easiest to use FCE Finish 2 for that, Just go to texture edit (Checkerboard thing) then paint where the part is you want to Chrome or Unchrome. (https://i.postimg.cc/wTrW4ZjJ/Pic.png)
Don't recommend using FCE Finish for that because if the mesh has custom-tuned normals, FCE Finish will break them.
Quote from: baz10_600 on Jan 12, 2025, 4:10 AMThanks for the help!
So I got the car into Zmodeler. I removed the antenna and now I need to change some surfaces to chrome instead of body colour. This however is a complete mystery. There are some chrome parts on the car which is nice to "copy" the attributes but I have no clue how. Could someone assist me with that?
(https://i.ibb.co/WKjzKYz/carx308.png)
Next steps are changing the wheels and some badging work.
To change what flags the polies you selected are using, open the FCE Properties dialog in Plugins > FCE Properties. In your case check the "High Chrome" flag and click Apply
Quote from: Paul Spain on Jan 12, 2025, 3:03 AMQuote from: pete9516 on Jan 12, 2025, 3:01 AMWelcome back m8!! Make sure to have a look at AJ's awesome tutorial videos on how to convert a car. It covers up almost all important things of how to use Zanoza Modeler 1.07b and how to properly edit them models.
https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PL7KPpoce6Bti-I1MFahSgeaa95luj-lAm
PS: Paul has mentioned some useful stuff, maybe he was talking about the tutorial i'm posting now
Hey Pete, Maybe you can go more indepth..I suck at summarizing ::) .
I think you can do that way better than me. I'm not good at mapping at all. I'm even barely able to UV map. Your post was way more valuable than mine, but AJ's tutorial is a must for everybody who puts hands on nfs4 cars
Quote from: baz10_600 on Jan 12, 2025, 4:10 AMThanks for the help!
So I got the car into Zmodeler. I removed the antenna and now I need to change some surfaces to chrome instead of body colour. This however is a complete mystery. There are some chrome parts on the car which is nice to "copy" the attributes but I have no clue how. Could someone assist me with that?
(https://i.ibb.co/WKjzKYz/carx308.png)
Next steps are changing the wheels and some badging work.
Ok so here goes the mapping part i guess. When the FCE already has parts which are chromed (not talking about the FCE polygon flags here but actual chromed body parts), you don't have to edit the car00.tga. What i would do now is to detach those parts you want to have a chrome texture on and remap those detached parts. I don't know how to do that properly. I've once been able to do so but it is very complicated to me and i used AJ's tutorial for that. So his tutorial actually made me UV map edit a model. It will take you some time to get along with it
Thanks! Sorry for asking a lot but I got the options and checked High Chrome for the back end license plate. The parts that are showing up chromed with the default vehicle have this box checked.
However it doesn't show up in game. I double checked the version of the car because I also removed the antenna. Is there a different kind of texture over it?
(https://i.ibb.co/9qn84xQ/carx3082.png)
When you apply FCE custom settings that modify face properties, you may notice changes in the 3D viewing window.
But I confess I'm a little disappointed by the chrome face in the game. It looks more like brushed aluminum.
Yeah so the chrome parts had a grey alpha layer behind in the .tga so that explains it being overridden with body color. Don't know how but I managed to tick almost all boxes. The hardest step will be changing the wheels.I'm not sure which rout to go yet but I'm now trying to alter the original wheels. My idea was to strip out the spokes. Make the center fill out the wheel and replace the center cap with a full wheel image.
Or should I just replace it with an "easier" default wheel?
(https://i.ibb.co/yp37m4F/wheels.png)
To make the center fill out the wheel:
Display -> place Axis -> in the left viewport, you put the axix in the middle of the wheel you want to change.
you select the two wheels left and right if you want to modify the two wheels together.
you turn in vertex mode.
you select the point of the center.
you check 'SEL', 'H', 'V' button are active
Still in left viewport you Modify -> Scale the vertex until you're satisfied.
Thanks! I guessed the Zmodeler step would be a bit harder so I went with the "copy" method of replacing them with the BMW M5 part wheels and adjusting the .tga. I'm almost done with a very good copy!
(https://i.ibb.co/r5hkTRg/daimlernfs.jpg)
(https://i.ibb.co/37n6nFJ/Knipseldgffgdd.png)
Mine is a long wheel base so maybe in the future I'll try to extend the base of the car. But I need to tweak the wheels a bit, add some chrome strips and shrink the piece of chrome on the rear booth. But I think it's coming around nicely and thanks a lot for the help!
Question for another topic but what ways can I try to do some good "photography" inside NFS? The replay doesn't work with this model and the views are very back, front, side and not the angles you would like.
Quote from: baz10_600 on Jan 13, 2025, 1:35 AMThanks! I guessed the Zmodeler step would be a bit harder so I went with the "copy" method of replacing them with the BMW M5 part wheels and adjusting the .tga. I'm almost done with a very good copy!
(https://i.ibb.co/r5hkTRg/daimlernfs.jpg)
(https://i.ibb.co/37n6nFJ/Knipseldgffgdd.png)
Mine is a long wheel base so maybe in the future I'll try to extend the base of the car. But I need to tweak the wheels a bit, add some chrome strips and shrink the piece of chrome on the rear booth. But I think it's coming around nicely and thanks a lot for the help!
Question for another topic but what ways can I try to do some good "photography" inside NFS? The replay doesn't work with this model and the views are very back, front, side and not the angles you would like.
The replay doesn't work with this model? Just drive a race on any track where the replay cameras aren't screwed and pause the replay with the pause button in the middle if you want to take some nice screenshots
Quote from: pete9516 on Jan 13, 2025, 10:53 AMQuote from: baz10_600 on Jan 13, 2025, 1:35 AMThanks! I guessed the Zmodeler step would be a bit harder so I went with the "copy" method of replacing them with the BMW M5 part wheels and adjusting the .tga. I'm almost done with a very good copy!
(https://i.ibb.co/r5hkTRg/daimlernfs.jpg)
(https://i.ibb.co/37n6nFJ/Knipseldgffgdd.png)
Mine is a long wheel base so maybe in the future I'll try to extend the base of the car. But I need to tweak the wheels a bit, add some chrome strips and shrink the piece of chrome on the rear booth. But I think it's coming around nicely and thanks a lot for the help!
Question for another topic but what ways can I try to do some good "photography" inside NFS? The replay doesn't work with this model and the views are very back, front, side and not the angles you would like.
The replay doesn't work with this model? Just drive a race on any track where the replay cameras aren't screwed and pause the replay with the pause button in the middle if you want to take some nice screenshots
No so if I drive it a track it is replaced by a McLaren GTR... which also crashes immediately.
Quote from: baz10_600 on Jan 14, 2025, 2:06 PMNo so if I drive it a track it is replaced by a McLaren GTR... which also crashes immediately.
Serial number issue, change it to any one below 50 that's not being used