Model format support

Hello. Only got as far as creating a few cubes flying about with MiniB3D so far as I'm working on a 2D project for the next few months.

Anyhoo...

1. Is it correct that MiniB3D only supports B3D format?

that being the case...

2. When I used Blitz3D a couple of years back, I always opted for 3DS format for static models, or models with a mesh hierarchy. For example, suppose you have a tank chassis, with a turret on top that rotates on the Y axis, and a barrel attached to the turret which rotates on the X axis.

i) Is it possible to do this kind of thing with B3D models?
ii) If so, can B3D format be compared to 3DS format (i.e. have three entities in a hierarchy, that can be referenced by name), or must I create bones, and attach the vertices of each object to a bone?

Sorry for sounding like a complete gimboid here but I haven't ever created anything in B3D format - others have always done it for me.

I don't know about sidesign.minib3d, but kleptos mod
supports 3DS.

Ah. I'm asking about the 'sidesign' one.

Funny about using user-made mods since nine times out of ten, the authors toddle off into the sunset never to be seen or heard from again.

1. Yes
2. .b3d can do everything .3ds can, including model heirarchies. No need to do the bones thing...

The extended minib3d or whatever doesn't have correct 3ds support though.