EE Lightning?

hschuit said:
Chris, I will send you a PM.

In summary, this is what is still on my wishlist / to do list:

pack 1 - F1/F1A/F2:
1) F1/F1A VCplaneRHside1.bmp area extends through the right side fuselage wall when a light is switched on. This is an MDL issue. I guess only Paul can fix it.
2) I just found out I need to do some extra work on the F2 standby gyro (the plane is rotating with the digits now, it should be static, always pointing upwards with only the digits rotating LOL).
3) I want to update the exterior F2 19 Sqn textures to make it look more bare metal like.

pack 3 - F2A/F3/F6:
1) Overwing tanks, missiles, refuelling probe configurations not working because Concorde Visor keys do not work in FSX. This is an MDL issue. I guess only Paul can fix it.

pack 3 - T4/T5:
1) Gunsight reticle is solid black, does not respond to switch. The gunsight reticle switch uses the model's secondary exit which does not work in FSX for the T4/T5 MDL files. I guess only Paul can fix it.
2) T4 VC AWP and SWP areas extend through the side fuselage wall when a light is switched on. This is an MDL issue. I guess only Paul can fix it.
3) T4 VC bitmaps need to be fixed for "see through issue when a light is switched on". As the T4 does not high on my priority list I put this on the backburner.

General: I have sorted out the unique vs shared testures, converted them to DDS and repacked them to save diskspace. I could share a list of which files go where if anyone is interested.

Peter is right, it might be nice if we could do some sort of portover kit for each pack.
Click to expand...

I am afraid that the old FSDS V2 FS9 mdl's will have to stay as they are. I have spoken to Dave about this - I am retired now, but he is still working away behind the scenes. Anything being worked on now uses newer development software. I know that an FSX native Lightning is actually on his 'to do' list. But he has other priorities first which will take some time, so don't hold your breath.

Cheers

Paul
 
hschuit said:
pack 3 - T4/T5:
1) Gunsight reticle is solid black, does not respond to switch. The gunsight reticle switch uses the model's secondary exit which does not work in FSX for the T4/T5 MDL files. I guess only Paul can fix it.
Click to expand...

Agree with most of your comments, but I've just spent the last few hours playing with the gunsight reticule. The switch is working. If you delete/erase/repaint GunsightReticule.dds you can see the change on the gunsight as you toggle the switch. I'll play some more tomorrow, but it does look like something can be done - maybe.
 
For all those people flying around in the F1/F1A/F2 models:
You must all use Ctrl-E to start your engines, because if you did the manual start, you'd find your battery flat after ten minutes. I did mention that I wasn't happy with this back in post #153.
This fixes that, just remember to switch on the alternator (labelled standby inverter) after engine start;

View attachment 34509
 
After more flying around in the F1 I find the ILS gauge / Marker lamp isn't working correctly and the heading & altitude knobs (not the windows) are arse-about. Try these;

View attachment 34543

The Valid/Invalid Lamp logic in ILS.xml is a bit of a bodge, you should be using "HSI CDI NEEDLE VALID" & "HSI GSI NEEDLE VALID", but they don't want to play ball. If anyone can fix it, feel free...

The sound is greatly improved (shutdown really shuts down) by using this sound.cfg, you'll have a bit of work to do copying & renaming the wav files but it's just too big to upload (38Mb).

View attachment 34542
 
I've been looking at the LH panel on the F1/F1A/F2. The only improvement I can do is;

F1:
[Vcockpit13]
Background_color=106,123,135 // was 0,0,0

F2:
[Vcockpit15]
Background_color=106,123,135 // was 0,0,0

Can't seem to fix the gap between the panels showing the outside. Anyone have any success with this?
 
I finally found a cure for this pack 1 F1/F1A MDL issue:

View attachment 34774

The VCplaneRHside1.bmp area extends through the right side fuselage wall when a light is switched on. As I am not allowed to distribute the fixed MDL files, you have to DIY. You will need to change the alpha channel of the VC glass material in the MDL files with Martin Wright's MDLMat tool for each of the 3 F1 models:

Change the Diffuse Alpha to zero for these materials:
Lightning_F1.mdl = LOD 02 28
Lightning_F1A.mdl = LOD 02 28
Lightning_F1_TFF.mdl = LOD 02 26

BTW, there is a good MDLMat tutorial from OBIO in this SOH library FS2004 - Other page:
http://www.sim-outhouse.com/sohforums/local_links.php?catid=8
 
Nice work! I shall investigate over the weekend.

I've been working in the F2A/F3/F6 CDI/GSI valid lights, the FD switch problem and the voltmeter (that's just a bodge - bus voltage * 0.8). All complete but I haven't pulled the CAB, bitmap and config file changes together to upload.

One thing I've noticed during this work;
You can make some changes, load another aircraft, reload the one you're working on, nothing's changed. Shut FSX down, restart and there are your changes. I can only assume it's a cache problem.
 
Chris Keane said:
Job done, handy tool.
I assume you've tried this for the T5 gunsight problem ...
Doesn't work does it :-(
Click to expand...

I tried the T4, found the VC glass / gunsight glass materials (LOD 02 30 / 02 34) ) but whatever I tried, no result. Strange thing is when I load the model in FSX SP2 the gunsight works just fine. It looks like an FSX Acceleration thing, maybe the shader version or ...?
 
Sounds like a google job - fsx acceleration sp2 shader
Here are the changes for the ND valid/invalid lamps, the voltmeter, AP heading and altitude knobs and the FD switch.
The FD switch is a strange one. Everything is fine - until you load another Lightning model, then you get the same section of the switch dissappearing when you click on it.

View attachment 34816
 
For the F1/F1A/F2, I've got rid of that strange greenish blue blob that's supposed to be the light port on the gunsight and tweaked the radar for all models. You need to have battery on and avionics on before the radar 'works'.

Drop the dds files into all the texture folders (F1/F1A/F2 only), copy the bitmaps to their respective panel folders and add the files in 'EELightning' to your CAB file (EELightning.CAB for the F1/F1A/F2, EELightning(2).CAB for the F2A/F3/F6).

The changes to make to your panel.cfg files are in the respective folders.

View attachment 34836
 
question lightning

there is some question, regards non fsx native aircraft and dds versus bmp....converting bmp to dds may not be the best solution....the argument is that non native fsx models ported from fs9...look for bmp before they default to dds.....that converting to dds would also require, a model hack, for fs9 portovers....

whats the consensus of opinion......ps, thanks for all your fine efforts....its much appreciated......jim
 
Which .air file

I am dutifully installing all these changes in my Lightnings. Quick question: I was using the F3v2 air file in all the variations approved, but subsequently I have the Lightning_FSX.air file (which can be used in all versions). Have we adopted the Lightning_FSX.air as the "standard" .air file - or is it a matter of preference? Thanks for all the excellent work, Bill
 
jetwelder said:
there is some question, regards non fsx native aircraft and dds versus bmp....converting bmp to dds may not be the best solution....the argument is that non native fsx models ported from fs9...look for bmp before they default to dds.....that converting to dds would also require, a model hack, for fs9 portovers....

whats the consensus of opinion......ps, thanks for all your fine efforts....its much appreciated......jim
Click to expand...

When you think that the 'so-called' bitmaps in the texture folder are really dds files anyway with a .bmp extension - and containing mipmaps, I can't believe they'd be slower to load. After converting all the textures I certainly noticed improved load speed just in the selection window. With bitmaps, after selecting the model, the model would pop into the window and just sit a while until it was textured, after dds'ing the model came straight up. I do have an old computer (20fps max) so it may be that with the 16 core nitrogen cooled 1kW power supplied models of today, no-one notices a speed improvement.

My 2-cents worth anyway.
 
Wings of Gold said:
I am dutifully installing all these changes in my Lightnings. Quick question: I was using the F3v2 air file in all the variations approved, but subsequently I have the Lightning_FSX.air file (which can be used in all versions). Have we adopted the Lightning_FSX.air as the "standard" .air file - or is it a matter of preference? Thanks for all the excellent work, Bill
Click to expand...

The main difference between marks is the engine thrust and all up weight(I know there are others relating to tailfin area and reheat nozzles) but these can be set in the aircraft.cfg file to overwrite the airfile data.
The major problem with moving FS9 air files to FSX is that some parameter scaling has changed. As far as I'm aware Henk only changed these. (Henk, where are you?) You can do the changes yourself on the original. I seem to remember 15?n and 15?n+1 for min thrust setting and 430 for Cd, I'm sure it's back there in the thread.

The bottom line (unless you want a perfect model) is;
Can you do M2.05?
Can you cruise at FL500? (i.e. N2 below 90% - no reheat!)
Can you zoom climb to FL750?

Can do? - No problemo!
 
Chris Keane said:
The main difference between marks is the engine thrust and all up weight(I know there are others relating to tailfin area and reheat nozzles) but these can be set in the aircraft.cfg file to overwrite the airfile data.
The major problem with moving FS9 air files to FSX is that some parameter scaling has changed. As far as I'm aware Henk only changed these. (Henk, where are you?) You can do the changes yourself on the original. I seem to remember 15?n and 15?n+1 for min thrust setting and 430 for Cd, I'm sure it's back there in the thread.

The bottom line (unless you want a perfect model) is;
Can you do M2.05?
Can you cruise at FL500? (i.e. N2 below 90% - no reheat!)
Can you zoom climb to FL750?

Can do? - No problemo!
Click to expand...

Actually there is a bit more to it:
- 1503/1504: Idle RPM increased to 32% (was 20%, causing unwanted engine stops)
- 430: Fixed curves in order to reach mach 2 at 36000 ft (old curves limited to mach 1.5)
- 1524: Fixed curves in order to reach mach 2 at 36000 ft
- 1101-1Ch Basic Weight: To zero (redundant in FS9, FSX)
- Removed obsolete pre FS9 tables which used to make the difference between the various versions but those parameters are all moved to the aircraft.cfg file with FS9/FSX (e.g. fuel capacity)

Attached the latest version: View attachment 35095
 
ta very much

Chris Keane said:
When you think that the 'so-called' bitmaps in the texture folder are really dds files anyway with a .bmp extension - and containing mipmaps, I can't believe they'd be slower to load. After converting all the textures I certainly noticed improved load speed just in the selection window. With bitmaps, after selecting the model, the model would pop into the window and just sit a while until it was textured, after dds'ing the model came straight up. I do have an old computer (20fps max) so it may be that with the 16 core nitrogen cooled 1kW power supplied models of today, no-one notices a speed improvement.

My 2-cents worth anyway.
Click to expand...

thanks for the observations....i havent got round to doing this yet...busy modelling the lovel observatory, and radio telescope...i should have tested it myself..ime mad about lightnings...building an f6 for fsx...one year so far...but too busy with too much...so the virtavia download is great....and all you people doing the hard work for me.....thanks...

running a cray supercomputer with a quantum sub system cooled by liquid methane...still cant get all the settings on max....jim
 
I just uploaded the 1st FSX portover kit to the Library:

new.png
zip.png
E.E. Lighting FSX portover kit: Pack 1
<TABLE class=ldm_table_fullwidth><TBODY><TR><TD width=250 align=right>




</TD><TD class="ldm_description ldm_spacer" vAlign=center align=left>This is an upgrade kit to make the FS9 Alphasim/Virtavia EE Lightning pack1 (with the F.1, F.1A and F.2 models) FSX Acceleration ready.

For more info see the EE Lightning? thread here:
http://www.sim-outhouse.com/sohforums/showthread.php?39889-EE-Lightning

Category FSX British Aircraft

</TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE>

The 2nd one will be uploaded by Chris Keane shortly.
 
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