Editing Vehicle Creation (section)

===First, Catch Your Model===

You'll need to find the model you want to convert on sketchup.  Have a look through the [http://sketchup.google.com/3dwarehouse/ 3D Warehouse].  There are a few things to take into consideration:

===== Technical =====

* Is the model too detailed?  Check the download size, anything over 5Mb is probably off limits.  If the model is "tuned" (spit), try and find the original.
* Can Darkwind support it?  Four wheelers with enclosed cabins only.
* Is it possible to texture it?  We'll look into this in detail later, but for now the closer to a simple cube it is, the better.
* Is it legal?  Models on sketchup can be used for pretty much anything, but I'd steer clear of anything with comments like "found on the web", or anything ripped from another game (obviously).

===== Aesthetic =====

This is more about whether your model will ever make it into the game.  Making something that fits with sam's vision of the world gives you a much better chance.  I'd avoid one-offs, made up cars or kit cars.  Modern cars are lower priority than 60s and 70s style, and anything unusual tends to be better.  There are any number of 70s muscle cars, for example, but I haven't bothered converting any because there are so many in the game already.  Except for the Capri, obviously.  I never said I followed all the rules :)

===== Our Example =====

For this tutorial, I'll be using this [http://sketchup.google.com/3dwarehouse/details?mid=e646866ff6a7eabd8869daa461a34b2&prevstart=0 Chevy Suburban], spotted by Knight.  This passes pretty much all the tests above, except possibly being a bit close to an Apache.  I suspect the differences are enough though.  When there are multiple options, you want to download the model in the newest sketchup format.