Poser 11.2 -- The NEW Poser :(

[McGrandpa]

Saw some evening sit-com/dramady on TV a long time ago, a Dad got his daughter out, stopped their car, and told her it was time she learned how to do something very important but pretty simple with her car.   Change a tire.
They got out, and he spoke instructions, she followed them.   And inside 10 mins, she'd changed the tire and stowed everything back in trunk, ready to go.   She said she'd been dreading that possibility till then. Now, it isn't bad at all. 
I did the same for my 4 kids.  That, and the 'check the hood' things, oil, water, transmission fluid, steering pump fluid, brake fluid and clutch too, if its hydraulic.  And all 4 were happy, even eager, to learn these things about... their own First Car!   Yeah I know, I oughtta be shot and all that.  But hey, they're yer KIDS, ya love em and want em to have a good clean start, right?

[McGrandpa]

hey how often is it a TV show gives you a GOOD idea, huh !??!

[thelufias]

Indeed.....

[McGrandpa]

Hello PDG!   Got a question for ye.
Located a NICE prop model of a US Navy WWII thru Viet Nam F7F Tigercat, twin engine heavy fighter, night fighter, ground support/attack role.  Cool looking plane.  This model has some highly detailed stuff like a double row 18 cyl Wasp radial engine.   Cockpit instruments.  But being an .obj no rigging came across. 
I wanted to use something in PP 11 to break it into parts, try to rig it a bit.  Never did any of that.But the fella did a great job modeling this prop.  The engines are exquisitely detailed!  Cooling fins, rockers and pushrods, manifolds.  :D
Pretty sure this is that one: SketchFab

[Wizzard]

Mc-G, try the grouping tool, load in scaled proper, select the plane, grouping tool, check the top window to see if it's already grouped. near bottom, Spawn Props. *SAVE as scene*.
Delete the "Complete" obj, then connect the parts from the fusalage out, *Rinse Repeat*
Load scene, well.... replace scene. set limits, hide uneeded dials, rename dials if needed.
*Rinse Repeat*
As you can tell I advise saving often and soonest. I spent 19 houres setting up a 39 Packard, opening doors, boot, bonnet,seats move etc...
Power brownout rebooted the computer. lost all that time and effort. Would hate for anyone to go through that.
Cheers and good fortune

[McGrandpa]

Thanks Wiz!  Yeah I know that Save it drill!

[Wizzard]

Cool beans, save on tear time  8 )
Good luck maybe I'll give it a go.
Cheers

[parkdalegardener]

Mc-G, try the grouping tool, load in scaled proper, select the plane, grouping tool, check the top window to see if it's already grouped. near bottom, Spawn Props. *SAVE as scene*.
Delete the "Complete" obj, then connect the parts from the fusalage out, *Rinse Repeat*
Load scene, well.... replace scene. set limits, hide uneeded dials, rename dials if needed.
*Rinse Repeat*
As you can tell I advise saving often and soonest. I spent 19 houres setting up a 39 Packard, opening doors, boot, bonnet,seats move etc...
Power brownout rebooted the computer. lost all that time and effort. Would hate for anyone to go through that.
Cheers and good fortune

Yeppers. Grouping tool is a great thing. Same suggestion as I would give. I would look at the current textures and spawn them off as separate props to give myself a start, then lots of poly picking and a creative use of add/remove group/material. Once everything is back into the groups you want and they are spawned into props head for the hierarchy editor and assemble as necessary. Remove most of the dials and rotations as they are not necessary. Only landing gear and props really need to move. Lots of work and time involved but the grouping tool is your friend.

[McGrandpa]

Hey thanks Wiz and PDG!   Ok, grouping tool it will be.   Time for snoozing a while right now.

[Wizzard]

I find hiding rather than removing to be bettre, you never know when you might want a damaged aircraft in the back of an airfield. OOh OOh.... Important note.
If you're going for a figure, never name any part "body" caps or not. it'll save on a lot of stress and remote controlled parametres Like controlling the airlons from BODY, or raising lowering the landing gear with a single dial. Looking at the mesh it appears the canopy lifts then slides back. I could be wrong, it may flip like a Cessna workhorse.
8 )    Cheers