FSX/FSX-SE Aircraft and Panel Design Forum - How To

I'm kind of shooting in the dark here, but does anyone know of a standalone (i.e., not embedded in a tach) digital Hobbs meter or engine hour meter for FS2004? I just need something, a .gau file I guess, that I can "plug and play" into a panel; simple modification of a panel.cfg is about all I can do, I know nothing about actually designing and building a gauge.I'm looking for something to graft into a few panels that I have, that I don't want to use the C172/182 tach on (Milton Shupe's Aero Commanders, for example, assuming I can find room on the panel!).Thanks!Lewis "Moose" GregoryColumbia, South CarolinaDVA 1427/Solent 644

Does anyone know how I can check for moisture saturation levels? I need to know this for an "ice detection" system.

I swapped aircraft models out and my aircraft sat 6 ft off the runway. So, I edited the contact points in the .cfg file so it sets on the runway now(after dropping). The problem is, every time I load a flight, it drops to the ground, it doesn't come in at the correct height initially, what value do I set to correct this?Thanks,Ryan

Okay I've been working on releasing the F-14A Tomcat in Maverick and Goose's markings and am needing to tweak the lighting arrangement and XML gauges for the afterburner...The problem I'm getting is that the XML settings for the afterburner are slaved to the aircraft's lighting system and I'm wondering if it's possible to slave it to the smoke system as well...My major problem is that there seems to be a limit on the number of lighting effects that can be at play at one time...Seems to have a limit of 20.Does anyone have any ideas how to tweak this XML data attached to either slave the afterburners to the throttle system or to move it elsewhere away from the lighting syst…

Hi, I'm trying to disply Groundspeed/drift angle ie 182/02Port. Im new to XML and I've tried to follow the rules given in the SDK, but why doesn't this work?%((A:GPS GROUND SPEED, knots) near)%!d! / %((A: PLANE HEADING DEGREES MAGNETIC, degrees)(A:GPS GROUND MAGNETIC TRACK, degrees) - )%!d!%Cheers, Brendan

Hi,Is there any way of changing the default zoom on the virtual cockpit to .79?THANKSJason.I

hi everyoneI've already asked your help about this but probably used a wrong subject for that topic so I try again.I've a problem with EPR in md80 aircrafts. I've tried the virtualitalia model and epr setting are not realistic, it's only about 1.30 (full throttle) on take off while it should be 2.0 (or even more with full throttle).I attach the model file text. Can I modify something to fix this problem?second problem:I've tried the ffx md80 but it comes with the standard 737 panel which does not display EPR, I've tried to modify it adding a gauge that displays EPR (I've tried the standard 747 and the virtualitalia md80 one) but EPR is always at 0.thanks[fltsim.0]title=MD…

Does anyone know where I could find a step by step tutorial on how to create masks for gauges. I've been trying all day to find info on how to do it but with no success.Cheers, Brendan

Hi, I'm animating the landing gear for my Piper Seneca I and have been unable to get the right shape for the brake cable as you can see below...http://forums.avsim.net/user_files/71400.gifThe brake cable (when suspension is decompressed)looks sort of like an "E" when it should look more like a "C" shape...Currently the brake cable has been divided into two cylinder objects. I would like to have just 1 cylinder object and use the move and rotate for the animation, something like the following...http://forums.avsim.net/user_files/71401.gifI've tried this in FS but it doesn't work.Can FS do the above ?? or am i going to have to just make do with what the two cylinder objects…

Hi, I am currently using teh Abacus panel design software. I tried to use Microsoft paint to paint the panel a custom color but the only colors it lets me use are white and grey even when I select orange!! Anyone know a way around this. I have tried just opening the BMP with MS Paint and that did not work as well. Any help is appriciated. Thanks, Joe

I am adding a compass card to a VOR gauge. I have implemented the card as a needle so I don't have to mess with masks etc. However, it seems to be distorting the texture as it rotates. At 0 rotation it looks great, but as it turns it sort of flattens out the bottom edge of the circular texture and squeezes it vertically. It's quite bizarre looking.There are no limitations for needle texture sizes are there? Even so, it should be under that limit.Has anyone ever experienced this?

Hello, I'm trying to make a 747 from NASA and wich transport the Space Shutlle on top of it. I already search in AVSIM forum but I couldn

What is better for serious flying in boeings, the Virtual cockpit or the 2d Panel?I am unsure of this because the default 2d panel is unrealisticly murged together and incorrect gauges in wrong places or to close together.If anyone knows a better panel for the default 737-400 i would be gratefull.ThanksJason.I

A321 in development.http://forums.avsim.net/user_files/71046.jpg

Is LOW_HEIGHT_WARNING the proper variable to use for this?If I am setting from within a gauge(radar altimeter), do I need to set this value as well?KEY_LOW_HIGHT_WARNING_GAUGE_WILL_SETIs this the proper technique to set these?Tell it I am setting within gauge...trigger_key_event(KEY_LOW_HIGHT_WARNING_GAUGE_WILL_SET,TRUE);then...To turn on or off...trigger_key_event(KEY_LOW_HIGHT_WARNING_SET,TRUE);ortrigger_key_event(KEY_LOW_HIGHT_WARNING_SET,FALSE);Thanks for any tips...Ryan

Hi all,Don't know if this has been answered elsewhere but I searched and came up with nada.When using the VC on the Cessna 172 I can't see the tacho...without taking a paintbrush to the yoke and rendering it invisible (which I understand is one valid method) is there another way to determine engine speed ?Pls note, I'm new to Flight sims and have only just completed Rod Much-gung-ho's flight school... but fairly sure it's quite important to see engine speed ?Cheers,

I'd like to read the FS variable that corresponds to the leading edge slats in a C gauge. Does anyone know how to do this?FLAPS_POS_LEFT/RIGHT or TRAILING_EDGE_FLAPS0_LEFT_ANGLE give only information about the trailing edge flaps, not about the slats.In XML, I noticed the following parameters exist:LEADING EDGE FLAPS LEFT PERCENTLEADING EDGE FLAPS LEFT ANGLEBut I don't know how to read these parameters in a C gauge.Does anyone know how to do this?ThanksEric

Hi?i have a question reguarding loading airbus aircraft in FS2002My OS is Win98 second edition.i have the error saying.."...3rd party software will be disable.. File : GAUGE/PSS A-320.gau ...""i did install GDI+ under windows/system32 but still not working..Please help me out.!!Thank you for your time..

Can anyone tell me why I have multiple copies of the same gauge in the FS9 gauges folder? They are distinguished by having _nnnn appended to the name, eg. a-26 fpr.gau a-26 fpr_0001.gau a-26 fpr_0002.gau a-26 fpr_0003.gauThose with the _nnnn extension have the same date which is different from the original.Can I delete those with extensions?George

Peace.......... To you and your family.Regards,Romanhttp://home.new.rr.com/spokes2112/images/Image2.gif

Hi there oh gurus of FS Design. I'm not a designer like you, but I would like to add some spoilers to the Carenado Bonanza. I've looked for a variable in the cfg for this, but now luck..I would also like to know how to turbocharge the engine, without it taxiing like it's got 17" of MP in it. Anyway to turbocharge without compromising the taxi characteristics?Thanks to anyone taking the time to read this.Regards

What parameter can be edited to reduce spool up time on the jet engines? Is that a function of the inertia settings for the fan and turbine? I messed with them a little in the .air file, but it seemed to really increase power if they are reeduced???Is there a more direct way to set that?Thanks,Ryan

Hi, Good Eastern everybody!A small question.Is someone of you using:(>K:KEY_TUG_HEADING)with the values 0 - 65535 (0-360 degrees)?I cannot get it to work, always same heading ( a bit north)5 (>K:KEY_TUG_SPEED) (5 km/h) and (>K:TUG_DISABLE) are working ok.Useful for tugging to the aprons etc.Jan"Procul Negotiis"

I am fiddling with cfgedit to make a more fitting panel for a Lockheed L-10. The included panel makes use of all modern gauges and I would like to make them a little more retro. At this point in time I am too cheap to buy FS Panel studio so that I can properly handle xml gauges (use the DC3 package) so I am looking for straight up .gau files, no cabs.If any one can route me to a package or pool of gauges that would fit the bill I would be most appreciative. There is so much to cull through out there, I am hoping someone can help a n00b out.Better yet, are there any utilitarian panel editors (freeware variety preferred) that can handle xml gauges.Thanks in advance!

Thanks to the new FS9 MakeMDL. This has set my mind reeling with possibilities!I'm sure many others have figured this out too, but I thought I'd share the technique, below is a rather sketchy rundown:The recently released FS9 gmax SDK comes with a new version of MakeMDL. This new MakeMDL is accompanied by a file named "makemdl.parts.xml", and both files are installed into your gmaxplugins folder. If you open "makemdl.parts.xml" you'll see the familiar XML code, very similar to the code found in FS XML gauges.This file contains coding for all the new gmax tags. The coding for each gmax tag is contained within the XML tags . The name you should give your gmax part in order …