Has anyone figured out the Crew eyepoints for the Donationware B-17?

J

jackedwardmorris95

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Has anyone figured out the Crew eyepoints for the Donationware B-17?

Has anyone figured out the Crew eyepoints for the Donationware B-17?

Jack
 
There aren't any eyepoints for the crew members on any CFS2...unless a panel set up is done that will show a 2D view from the tail gunner, waist gunner, belly gunner, navigator's positions. Eyepoints are only used to set the eye point for the VC view only.

OBIO
 
OBIO said:
There aren't any eyepoints for the crew members on any CFS2...unless a panel set up is done that will show a 2D view from the tail gunner, waist gunner, belly gunner, navigator's positions. Eyepoints are only used to set the eye point for the VC view only.

OBIO
Click to expand...

Untrue, You can go to aircraft cfg file and shuffle around the ac by altering the eyepoint views,

Jack
 
While that may be doable, it is not real useful. Ever tried flying an airplane from the tail gunner's position?

OBIO
 
Flying the plane from the tail gun posistion is doable it is not much fun. I just put the plane on autopilot and sit in the rear seat, fly along and watch the world go by. Now let me say it is done on some planes but others are not doable.It can only be done in the VC not in panal view unless there is a panal made for it.In the VC view on some planes the head rest gets in the way.
 
Before good VCs were the norm, many cockpits came with "hat views" for the different 2d views when using the hat switch.

Roy Chaffin's B-25J uses this approach to make up for the lack of a VC in his plane. It is a very good option and can also be used for planes with a VC. It takes some modification to the panel.cfg file as well as corresponding .bmp 2d views for each view. Some of the old 1 G panels for the P-39 and other planes also came with these extra views.

Example of the panel.cfg file to enable these views with corresponding .bmp files:

[Window Titles]
Window00=Introduction Screen
Window01=Main Panel
Window02=Pilot Panel IFR
Window03=Copilot Panel
Window04=Copilot Panel IFR
Window05=Quadrant
Window06=Starter Panel
Window07=Radio Stack
Window08=Flap and Gear Levers
Window09=Sperry Autopilot
Window10=Pilot Panel VFR
Window11=Copilot Panel VFR

Fixed Window30=Forward Right
Fixed Window31=Right
Fixed Window32=Rear Right
Fixed Window33=Rear
Fixed Window34=Rear Left
Fixed Window35=Left
Fixed Window36=Forward Left
Fixed Window37=Bombadier

Bottom line? Obio's correct in that these positons will need to be added as the stock DWare B-17 doesn't have the VC views at the different guns statons, but .bmp files could be made and fit into the above method to activate them with the hat switch. The B-24 Guy also used this approach for some of his updated MS AI aircraft and as I recal, some of the AF Midway and 1% aircraft enjoy this feature too.

Here are a few examples of different views set up for the hat switch.
 
I don't care if it is boring or not, I'll just fly from the 2D panel. All I am asking is this: The default donationware B-17 eyepoint looks like this:

eyepoint=7.90,-1.20,3.7

What do I have to change those numbers to, to get the following positions (if you can only post one it will be helpful, and please don't tell me to figure it out myself!!!):

Bombardier/Nose Gunner
Navigator
Co-Pilot
Top Turret Gunner
Bomb Bay
Radio Operator
Ball Turret Gunner
Left/Right Waist Gunner
Tail Gunner

Thanks,

Jack
 
Jack,

Those numbers represent the X,Y,Z axis of the viewpoint. You'll need multiple viewpoints as in my previous post above to enable the hat switch to display each view.

As I recal, in the panel.cfg file:

X = vertical positon
Y = lateral position
Z = longitudinal position
 
The eyepoint settings are for the VC view..and unless the model you are working with has a VC type view for the waist gunner, tail gunner, belly gunner, etc, there will be no view from those positions. The VC view rarely includes the entire plane...the VC is a separate 3D model depicting the cockpit and what can be seen of the plane from the pilot's seat...some VCs will include enough of the plane to allow you to sit in the co-pilot's seat, but not all will. And the pilot/co-pilot can not see the tail gunner from his seat.

In order to have all the views you want, you will have to create 2D panel bmps for each position and modify the panel config as shown in Jag's post.
 
If I can attach the screen shot, I took one with the eyepoint in the B-17E set back about 8 from the pilots seat. And as the pic shows, there is basically nothing there.
 
OBIO said:
If I can attach the screen shot, I took one with the eyepoint in the B-17E set back about 8 from the pilots seat. And as the pic shows, there is basically nothing there.
Click to expand...

Oh Dear, Well it works with the stock B-24 at least,

Jack
 
I guess we should clarify if you want these views from the VC cockpit or the 2d cockpit.

The VC eyepoint is located in the aircraft.cfg file.

The 2d eyepoint is located in the panel.cfg file.

For some reason, MS reversed the X and Z axis between the two files, so what is X in the 2d is Z in the VC.
 
jackedwardmorris95 said:
Oh Dear, Well it works with the stock B-24 at least
Click to expand...

Bear in mind that not all models have a complete visual VC model to match the exterior model. For VC mode, most only have complete VC cockpits with nothing else behind the pilot's bulkhead, like the stock Corsair for instance. The pic that Obio posted is an example of what i mean. This is a poly-saving measure that ensures good frame rates, plus it eliminates a lot of superfluous modeling in design of parts that will not be seen anyway in CFS2.
 
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