adding operational landing lights

[michaelvader]

Good evening friends,

how can I add operational (means that they lighten the tarmac or taxi- and runways) landing light to an air craft which does have them build in?
Are there specific light effects which will work even if in the model the author haven't buid them in?
Hope that some one can give me a good solution

Best regards

Michael

 

[Tako_Kichi]

The landing/taxi lights that shine on the ground are a 'special' effect that MUST be attached to a polygon on the model during it's creation and before it is exported as a .mdl file. You can add different lights in the [Lights] section of the aircraft.cfg file but they will not illuminate the ground if the required lighting poly is not part of the model.

 

[wolfebee89]

@michaelvader - alternative to the likes of payware https://secure.simmarket.com/a2a-simulations-3d-lights-redux-fs2004.phtml , you can always try the freeware https://simviation.com/1/search?submit=1&keywords=nick+needham+lightfix+version+2

and to specifically address your concerns, with respect to the need to 'better' illuminate the tarmac or taxi-/runways - perhaps a helpful preview: https://simviation.com/1/preview-popup?fileId=27380&path=Nicks_Lightfix_V2/Images/&file=Lights3.jpg --> potentially feasible?? then with the above mentioned Nick Needham's LightFix V2

cheers!

 

[wolfebee89]

The landing/taxi lights that shine on the ground are a 'special' effect that MUST be attached to a polygon on the model during it's creation and before it is exported as a .mdl file. You can add different lights in the [Lights] section of the aircraft.cfg file but they will not illuminate the ground if the required lighting poly is not part of the model.

if I am not mistaken, A2A Simulations' payware Shockwave 3D Lights Redux for FS2004/X is the only package, known to me, that is designed to bypass the hard-coded limits of the sim itself vis-a-vis utilizing an xml gauge component to create custom lighting (that can be stickied onto any external position of any aircraft model), independent of any modeled lighting https://web.archive.org/web/2017070...a-simulations-3d-lights-with-add-on-aircraft/ source: https://a2asimulations.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=11776

@michaelvader - you may give Nick's LightFix v2 a try but I believe, at best you will achieve a more volumetric glow about the aircraft as in said regard, @Tako_Kichi is wholly correct - Nick's package updates the default lighting effects but cannot achieve parity with the custom lighting offered by the payware A2A 3D Lights, especially where it concerns lighting pertaining to volumetric projected illumination of the tarmac, taxi-/runways - typically embedded within the aircraft model itself

cheers!

 

[Tako_Kichi]

I was part of the team that developed the A2A/Shockwave 3D lights but even those will not cast a light on the face of the ground if the required poly is NOT on the model. They can simulate the spread of light but the ground splash will still be missing.

 

[wolfebee89]

@Tako_Kichi you are perfectly in the right, and I stand corrected. @michaelvader for comparison, I have taken several screenshots of David Eckert's Sopwith Camel (that has no prior lighting modeled whatsoever - accordingly merely quick and short cfg edits and of course, Nick's LightFIX and A2A Simulations' 3DLights) about to set-off for routine night patrol to counter the many night-time Gotha and Zeppelin raids over WWI England, with the various aforediscussed lighting solutions

Default


Nick Needham's LightFIX v2


A2A Simulations 3DLights Redux (the remarks by @Tako_Kichi are self-evident, i.e. precisely what is depicted below)


unfortunately, @michaelvader it appears the only solution is to recompile the model mdl with the requisite lighting; naturally, the required permissions permitting

cheers!

 

[wolfebee89]

several further screenies from the A2A Simulations 3DLights Redux Pack

in VC view


and the scope of the ground / taxiway illumination

lights off / no illumination


lights on / illuminated - not bad, I daresay


cheers!

 

[Dangerousdave26]

We (LDR) made a similar 3D light effect for the Ryan Navion project. It's actually more of an illuminated smoke than light. The light effects were a FSX project but should work in FS9.

Ryan Navion B 300 hp

This is a modern restoration of a Ryan Navion B featuring a 300HP engine and 21st century avionics. Aircraft like this are available from Sierra Hotel Aero Inc. who specialize in restoring and upgrading older Navions to 'like new' specs. The...

sim-outhouse.org

Again though it doesn't actually illuminate the ground.

Looks cool though.