After hours and hours of research and trial and error effort, I got LW 6.5b to work. The Hub is up and sees both Layout and Modeler. After I put all the important executables in W2K compatibility mode and installed the most current Sentinel System Driver from sentinelcustomer.gemalto.com, Layout stopped crashing on the lwtools3.dll file. So, I’m cautiously optimistic at this point.
For light testing purposes, I opened up Poktarl’s/RK/P81 Excelsior scene file in Layout without a problem. Since I’m a little bit rusty on how to move models around to see the whole ship, I’ve got to re-figure out that info. At the moment, there’s this odd reverse mouse/model motion going on when I try to move the model. I’ll move the mouse right and the model will turn left. So, I have to figure out why its happening.
Strangely enough, I have no idea why Newtek didn’t name the Lightwav.exe program Layout.exe, because that’s exactly what it opens. Initially, I tried renaming Lightwav.exe to Layout.exe, but the program either didn’t open or the Hub didn’t see it. Although, I later renamed Lightwav.exe to Layout.exe again, clicked on Layout.exe, and Layout opened. Then, I closed it, checked to see what the Hub detects, and it sees Layout.exe as a legit program. Now, Layout.exe will start when I double click it from the Hub.
Maybe Layout.exe is working now and is seen by the Hub because I opened it first and then it auto-registered the program name change with the Hub to make it valid. All I can say is, "Yay, no more weird program name!"
Switching to Layout in Modeler with the F12 “Switch to Layout” and visa versa works too. So, maybe my previous problem was a fluke or I inadvertently fixed it.Just to let you know, I haven't fully tested this copy of LW 6.5b to make sure it works with everything because it would take a bit of time and because I'm relatively confident it will work with KA.
Here's what's in LightWave_6.5b_KA.zip
KA Modding Tutorials
- LW 5.6 KA Weapon Placement Guide
- Various Disorganized Unedited Tutorials
LW 6.5 Presets
LW 6.5b Hi-Res Manual.pdf
LW 6.5b Long Install
LW 6.5b Quick Install
LW 7 Ref Card - Might Work for 6.5b.pdf
LW 7.5 Layout & Modeler Flash Tutorials
LW 9.6 Building USS Enterprise
Sentinel_System_Driver_Installer_7.6.0_2017_09_28
Let me know if something doesn't work or if I made a mistake that needs correcting.
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April 3rd, 2018, 3:54 pm
Since Scotty recently informed me that Kt’Hyla’s "Phoenix Experimental Shipyards" website is no more, I thought I should finally post these resources and info.
I've been meaning to post and provide these programs and info for awhile, but one thing after another in the real world always gets in the way. Also, I was hoping to find the time to get some LW answers to questions I have detailed in the included "Lightwave 6.5 & 7.5 KA Compatibility" document, but that's been on the back burner for years. So, I'm just going to give you the links to these programs, information, and resources in the hopes you can use them "safely". Because it's been 5 years since I messed around with this stuff, I'd also have to start from square one to get familiar with it. So, if you've got a question, I might be able to answer it, but no guarantee.
Anyway, have fun and enjoy.
FYI: To open these items in a new tab, you have to right click on the link and choose new tab from your browser pop-up menu.
Lightwave 6.5 & 7.5 KA Compatibility.pdf
Myth #1: You can only use LW 5.6 to mod KA ships.
In a nutshell: LW 7.5 Modeler object and Layout scene files, and probably LW 6.5 versions of those files too, can be exported to LW 5.0 Modeler object and LW 5.6 Layout scene file formats that Klingon Academy understands and can use.
LightWave Programs.7z (478 MB)
Folders:
Tutorial: how-to-build-the-u-s-s-enterprise
LightWave 5.6
LightWave 6.5
Lightwave 7.0 Shortcut Cards
LightWave 7.5
LightWave 7.5 Test
Sentinel
LICENSE.KEY
Hypervoxels2.pdf
LightWave History - LightWiki.url
Klingon Academy Modding Manual.pdf
A few years ago, I was working on an information consolidated KA modding manual because I got tired of hunting and pecking through the KA community website for information and insight. I never got around to finishing it, but it does have the SHP file tutorial info along with other things.
Klingon Academy 1.02 Install Instructions for Windows 7-10.pdf
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Addendum 5/7/18: Oops. I did not do you any favors by not providing some very key tutorials. I've been looking over my stash of KA modding stuff and I noticed I had all these tutorials on a separate hard drive partition that are vital to learning how to mod KA with LW. So, here's the link.
LW_KA_Mod_Tutorials
The sources are varied and I tried to clean up and revise some of the tutorials years ago for better reading and instruction. Apparently, I also got started on a tutorial for the gun additions and modifications I did on Moonraker's K`Tinga, but I never got around to actually doing a write up on it. Still, the pics are visually informative. If I find anything else of value, I'll let you know.
Btw, here's an updated link that works for the history of LW versions to replace the dead url in the LW Programs zipped folder:
LightWave History - The Evolution Of LightWave 3D
Check out the links to the right of the page that might still might lead to useful info.
Posted below, but posting here too for info consolidation: An interesting blog retrospective on LightWave 3D.
The LightWave Buyer's Beware Guide
http://lwbbg.blogspot.com/
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