====== Importing the .FBX File ======

After finishing the mesh and rigging process in Blender and exporting the vehicle correctly  
(see [[manual:subwaysim:vehicle_development:blender_rigging|Creating a Vehicle in Blender (Rigging)]]),  
the next step is importing the FBX file into Unreal Engine.

This step is **critical**, as incorrect import settings or an inconsistent asset workflow can cause
problems later when creating:
  * physics assets
  * animations
  * vehicle Blueprints
  * material and repaint setups

----

===== Preparing the Folder Structure =====

Before importing the FBX file, we strongly recommend setting up a **clean and well-organized folder structure**
inside your plugin.

A consistent structure:
  * avoids asset duplication
  * simplifies maintenance
  * scales well for larger vehicles and variants

In the **Content Drawer**, navigate to your plugin content folder:

  `[Plugin_Name]_Content`

Create the following base structure:

  * Vehicles
    * TestVehicle
      * Meshes
      * Materials
      * Textures

Depending on the complexity of the vehicle, additional subfolders are recommended:

  * Exterior
  * Interior
  * Cab

This structure allows a clear separation of responsibilities and keeps vehicle assets manageable.

----

===== Importing the FBX File =====

Once the folder structure is prepared, navigate to:

  `Vehicles / TestVehicle / Meshes / Exterior`

With this folder selected in the Content Drawer:
  * click **Import**
  * select your exported FBX file

After selecting the file, the Unreal Engine **FBX Import Dialog** will open.

----

===== FBX Import Settings =====

In the import dialog, several settings must be configured correctly to ensure a clean and maintainable result.

Please refer to the screenshots below showing the **recommended import settings**.

⚠️ **Important note about materials and textures**

For vehicle development using the SubwaySim SDK, it is **strongly recommended** to:

  * **Disable automatic material creation**
  * **Disable automatic texture import**

Recommended settings:
  * Import Mesh: enabled
  * Import Skeletal Mesh: enabled (if applicable)
  * Import Animations: enabled only if animations are included
  * **Import Materials: disabled**
  * **Import Textures: disabled**

These settings ensure full control over the material workflow and prevent unnecessary duplication.

Once all settings are verified, confirm the import.

**Import .FBX to Static Mesh:**

{{:manual:subwaysim:blender_rigging:blender4.png?direct&200|}}
{{:manual:subwaysim:blender_rigging:blender5.png?direct&200|}}

**Import .FBX to Skeletal Mesh:**

{{:manual:subwaysim:blender_rigging:ue5import1.png?direct&200|}}

**Import .FBX with Animations:**

{{:manual:subwaysim:blender_rigging:ue5import2.png?direct&200|}}

----

===== Why Automatic Material Generation Is Not Recommended =====

When Unreal Engine automatically generates materials during FBX import, it creates:

  * one **new Material asset per FBX material**
  * no reuse of existing Master Materials
  * no use of Material Instances

This leads to several common issues:

  * duplicated materials across vehicles and variants
  * inconsistent shading and parameters
  * increased maintenance effort
  * poor scalability for larger projects
  * problems when creating repaints or liveries

For small test projects this behavior may be acceptable,  
but for **production-ready mods and SDK-based vehicle development**, it is **not recommended**.

Instead, materials should be:
  * created manually
  * based on shared Master Materials
  * reused via Material Instances where possible

----

===== Organizing Imported Assets =====

After the import process is complete, Unreal Engine will generate the following assets automatically:

  * a **Skeletal Mesh** (main vehicle mesh)
  * a **Physics Asset**
  * a **Skeleton**

⚠️ **Materials and textures are NOT generated automatically**  
when automatic import is disabled (recommended).

Instead, proceed as follows:

  * Import textures manually into the **Textures** folder
  * Create Materials or Material Instances manually in the **Materials** folder
  * Assign materials to the Skeletal Mesh explicitly

Recommended asset organization:

  * Textures → **Textures**
  * Materials / Material Instances → **Materials**
  * Skeletal Mesh, Physics Asset, Skeleton → **Meshes**

This keeps the vehicle setup clean and avoids hidden dependencies.

----

===== Result =====

At this point:
  * the vehicle mesh is correctly imported
  * assets are cleanly structured
  * no unnecessary materials or textures were generated
  * the project is ready for further setup

You can now continue with the next step:

  * [[manual:subwaysim:vehicle_development:physics_assets|Creating Physics Assets]]

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