Alphasim's C-141 Starlifter and the mysterious missing gau

[Sbob]

For those of you who have the C-141 installed, there was always a gauge missing from the 2D panel.
Look to the right of the "bar graph" engine displays and you (won't) see it. Its the Engine Temp displays for the four engines.
If you want to install this gauge, read on.
Make sure you read this entire post so you don't miss the surprise ending.

Finding the gauge took some digging and sleuthing. You'll need to head back to Virtavia's download page and grab the

ALPHASIM_REALLY_OLD_FREEWARE.ZIP file. This is a fairly large download at 109.75 Meg.

Inside the Zip you'll want to find the "deleted B-1B.zip" file.
Inside of that, extract the GAUGES folder and its contents.

The gauge you want is named B1B_Temp.gau. Install this gauge to your main FS9 Gauges folder.

Now, head over to your ALPHA C-141 folder(s) in your main Aircraft folder and open the panel.cfg file.
Adding the gauge to the 2D panel is fairly easy.
Find the gauge lines below:

gauge05=B1B_Power, 901,596,34,114
gauge06=B1B_Fan, 944,596,34,113

Then add the following line:


gauge07=B1B_Temp, 987,596,36,115

and renumber the rest of the gaugeXX= lines below it.

One thing you will notice, the TEMP gauge seems to be "off" a bit and the temps will read low. I guess this was why Alpha didn't include it in the C-141 download.
But, at least the 2D panel is finally complete.

 

[AndyG43]

Thanks, I've just reinstalled them, so shall go hunting for that gauge. If anybody has the Shockwave lights installed, here is the configuration for the Starlifters.

C-141A Starlifter and B
AIRCRAFT.CFG
[LIGHTS]
light.0 = 3, -28.50, -79.50, 1.90, fx_navred
light.1 = 3, -28.50, 79.50, 1.90, fx_navgre
light.2 = 2, 11.25, 0.00, 7.00, Fx_shockwave_beacon_rotating_red
light.3 = 2, 19.1, 0.00, -9.25, Fx_shockwave_beacon_rotating_red
light.4 = 2, -81.60, 0.00, 29.55, Fx_shockwave_beacon_rotating_red
light.5 = 4, 44.00, 0.00, 0.50, fx_vclight ;main panel
light.6 = 4, 41.00, 3.50, 1.00, fx_vclight ;engineer
light.7 = 4, 41.00, -3.50, 1.00, fx_vclight ;navigator
light.8 = 4, -30.00, 2.00, -2.00, fx_vclighth ;hold rear RH
light.9 = 4, -30.00, -2.00, -2.00, fx_vclighth ;hold rear LH
light.10 = 4, 32.00, -3.00, -2.00, fx_vclighth ;crew entry1
light.11 = 4, 32.00, -3.00, -2.00, fx_vclighth ;crew entry2
light.12 = 3, -28.50, -79.50, 1.90, Fx_shockwave_strobe_3
light.13 = 3, -28.50, 79.50, 1.90, Fx_shockwave_strobe_3

 

[Sbob]

I also have a long-term project I've been puttering with, filling out the VC part of the panel.cfg file.

I have a couple of gauges I still want to get placed then I'll post the update.

Also, adding a sound folder from HJG.

 

[AndyG43]

I also have a long-term project I've been puttering with, filling out the VC part of the panel.cfg file.

I have a couple of gauges I still want to get placed then I'll post the update.

Also, adding a sound folder from HJG.

I've used the Pratt & Whitney JT3D-7, the one HJG have for the 707-320 & C-135, which is doing the job very nicely.

 

[Sbob]

Don't forget your <F2> key, make sure you have thrust reverser sounds.

 

[Sbob]

So, I'm making good progress with the VC but its been a bit of a bear.

I'm doing two versions, this one uses all of the old gauges. Here's a taste to get an idea of what's possible:


Add the following lines to your VC section in the panel.cfg file-




gauge09=B1B_Power, 149, 33, 8, 31
gauge10=B1B_Fan, 158, 33, 9, 31
gauge11=B1B_Temp, 168, 33,10, 31
gauge12=B1B_Power, 179, 33, 9, 31
gauge13=B1B_Fan, 188, 33, 9, 31
gauge14=B1B_Temp, 198, 33, 9, 31

Make sure you add the B1B_Temp gauge from the posts above.
While the layout looks like it was designed by the Department Of Redundancy Department , you could also just add the first three lines.
More later once I get all of the 2D panel gauges added to the VC.

 

[Sbob]

Thanks, I've just reinstalled them, so shall go hunting for that gauge. If anybody has the Shockwave lights installed, here is the configuration for the Starlifters.

C-141A Starlifter and B
AIRCRAFT.CFG
[LIGHTS]
light.0 = 3, -28.50, -79.50, 1.90, fx_navred
light.1 = 3, -28.50, 79.50, 1.90, fx_navgre
light.2 = 2, 11.25, 0.00, 7.00, Fx_shockwave_beacon_rotating_red
light.3 = 2, 19.1, 0.00, -9.25, Fx_shockwave_beacon_rotating_red
light.4 = 2, -81.60, 0.00, 29.55, Fx_shockwave_beacon_rotating_red
light.5 = 4, 44.00, 0.00, 0.50, fx_vclight ;main panel
light.6 = 4, 41.00, 3.50, 1.00, fx_vclight ;engineer
light.7 = 4, 41.00, -3.50, 1.00, fx_vclight ;navigator
light.8 = 4, -30.00, 2.00, -2.00, fx_vclighth ;hold rear RH
light.9 = 4, -30.00, -2.00, -2.00, fx_vclighth ;hold rear LH
light.10 = 4, 32.00, -3.00, -2.00, fx_vclighth ;crew entry1
light.11 = 4, 32.00, -3.00, -2.00, fx_vclighth ;crew entry2
light.12 = 3, -28.50, -79.50, 1.90, Fx_shockwave_strobe_3
light.13 = 3, -28.50, 79.50, 1.90, Fx_shockwave_strobe_3

Hey Andy, something I mostly forgot about with the C-141.. The cabin lights in the VC stink.
Do yours turn on and quickly turn off again at night?

Like any good FS project, I've hit a detour.

A quick check of the [electrical] section in the aircraft.cfg file turns up some missing lines, kind of like in the Alpha C-130 thread.
While I'm fixing that, there are also a ton and half of VC Lights (as shown in Andy's quote). Maybe its just too many VC lights?
Cranking the bus amperage up to 750 amps hasn't fixed it, so I'm thinking something else is sour in the [electrical] section?


Meanwhile, here's another update for the VC in the panel.cfg file. This will fix and display the gear handle and lights-


Replace the old gauge07 line in the VC section with:

gauge07=beech_baron!Gear Lights, 129, 14, 14, 14
gauge08=beech_baron!Gear Lever, 129, 30, 12, 21

And renumber the lines below it.

One thing about this VC, the gauge locations are really tight (+/- 1) and I'm going to have to tweak the VC panel BMP once I'm done.



Update- Keep the first three VC lights, trash the rest. I think the lights in the cargo bay are just too far away from the View Point for FS to consider them as cockpit lights.
I also used the deep red DSB VC light and offset it to the pilot's side to keep the gauges readable at night. It now looks like this:

light.5 = 4, 57.00, -2.00, 0.50, fx_dsb_vclight_red

It might be fun, later on, to keep the extra VC lights but change the "type" to maybe a Nav or Logo light.
I defiantly want to dig into that [electronic] section some more, but for now it works.

 

[Sbob]

OK, so here's my final edit for the C141 using the stock gauges (plus the B1B Temp gauge mentioned above). Be sure to read the full post before cutting and pasting.


[VCockpit01]
size_mm=256,256
pixel_size=1024,1024
texture=$vpanel
background_color=0,0,0
visible=0


gauge00=X15_adi, 62, 24, 25, 26
gauge01=f111_airspeed, 45, 28, 14, 37
gauge02=alpha_altim, 27, 28, 16, 16
gauge03=F105_Spoiler_Lamp, 28, 21, 4, 4
gauge04=F111_altwarn, 35,14,7,8
gauge05=f111_altimeter, 90, 28, 16, 37
gauge06=alpha_hsi, 63, 55, 24, 23
gauge07=a10_airspeed, 3, 43, 16, 15
gauge08=Alpha_Clock, 17,30,10,10
gauge09=vc10_flap, 0, 64, 8, 11
gauge10=beech_baron!Gear Lights, 129, 14, 14, 14
gauge11=beech_baron!Gear Lever, 129, 30, 12, 21
gauge12=Alpha_Vsi, 110, 10, 16, 15
gauge13=VC10_Trim, 115, 28, 9, 9
gauge14=F15_AOA, 114, 41, 10, 10
gauge15=B1B_Power, 149, 33, 8, 31
gauge16=B1B_Fan, 158, 33, 9, 31
gauge17=B1B_Temp, 168, 33,10, 31
gauge18=B1B_Power, 179, 33, 9, 31
gauge19=B1B_Fan, 188, 33, 9, 31
gauge20=B1B_Temp, 198, 33, 9, 31
gauge30=ALPHA_B-52!b52smoke, 1,1,1,1

-If you didn't install the B1B Temp gauge, don't sweat it. It just won't show up.

-I also use an ADI from an early (freeware) X-15 download that is the same gauge as the ADI in the old FSD T-38 with a blue "ball".
If you want to keep the original "stock" ball, just don't change that line (gauge00=).

-I put some time into this edit, the numbers are as close as they can get. If you're running a really high resolution or use a wide monitor, you may need to tweak some position numbers BUT don't tweak them a lot. Keep the gauge position numbers +/- 1 and the width and height +/- 2 or 3 at most. This is an old FS9 panel.

-One thing to watch out for, I've noticed some differences in how the VC gauges align with different C-141 repaints. You may need to swap some textures from another repaint folder.

-I didn't add the light switches or door positions from the 2D panel. I wasn't sure if they would work in the VC and it just felt like over-kill.

-The last line (gauge=30) is just a generic "smoke switch" if you have added engine smoke to the aircraft.cfg file, and it turns the smoke ON at RPM higher than 90%.

Speaking of adding engine smoke, you may want to add the following to your AIRCRAFT.CFG file:

[smokesystem]


smoke.0 = -35.19, -30, 38.39, fx_hjg_vc-137.fx
smoke.1 = -35.06, -32, 22.27, fx_hjg_vc-137.fx
smoke.2 = -35.06, -32, -22.27, fx_hjg_vc-137.fx
smoke.3 = -35.19, -30, -38.39, fx_hjg_vc-137.fx

I got my smoke effects file from HJG, along with a really good sound folder.

There's one more panel edit I've also finished for the C141. I replaced the engine displays with gauges from the (newer) Alphasim/Virtavia B-1B along with updating some of the other gauges. The B-1 is available as freeware from Virtavia.com.
If you're interested. let me know and I'll post the full edit.


Update- I KNEW I would forget something.

There are two gauges listed for the 2D panel that don't do anything besides get in the way.

Look in the [Window00] section and delete the following lines:

gauge18=c130sw!cargo-close_sw, 633,409,1
gauge19=c130sw!cargo-open_sw, 633,409,1