Smoke, Contrails and Exhaust problem

[T6flyer]

Hello,

Been using the simulator today and whilst flying aerobatics in my Yak52 (not that well either), noticed that my smoke had taken on a different slant and was not as I remembered it. Thinking it was just perhaps this one aeroplane, I tried a few more and seem to have the same weird result. Thinking that was enough, my AI contrails look odd too and then with the Alphasim Typhoon get odd wingtip vortices and then note the afterburner effect is more akin to something out of Star Wars than in real life.

I presume that its due to some addon I've recently added, but is there a quick and simple cure for such a problem?

Best wishes,

Martin

As so nice outside this afternoon am going flying so won't be able to reply until tomorrow. Thanks.

 

[Shessi]

Hi T6,
It could be something added/changed ie the tex for the contrails(if there is one used?). The alternative is a graphics setting, either with the graphics settings in Fs9 or with your GPU (which is more likely). Take a look at your sim settings, try tweaking those, and/or your GPU. Could also be a recent driver update that's changed something.

Cheers

Shessi

 

[T6flyer]

Hi T6,
It could be something added/changed ie the tex for the contrails(if there is one used?). The alternative is a graphics setting, either with the graphics settings in Fs9 or with your GPU (which is more likely). Take a look at your sim settings, try tweaking those, and/or your GPU. Could also be a recent driver update that's changed something.

Cheers

Shessi

Thanks,

I've had a little play around this morning (not really knowing what I'm doing) and have made a new fs9.cfg file - no change, then checked my card settings - no change. Added and reloaded the Alphasim Typhoon and that seemed to work ok again, but was still getting weird contrails. So made a backup of my Effects folder and then re-installed the whole directory from Disk 1 of FS2004. Smoke still appears to be an issue for some reason and yet to see a contrail in the sky!!

I'm using Traffic 2004, but presume that uses default effects to show contrails at high altitude? Smoke isn't a real bug bear if it remains weird as just wont use it and not that necessary. Think perhaps should stick to my Austers and the Chrislea instead of flying around in fast jets.

Appreciate the reply,

Martin

Weather was a complete waste of time yesterday. Got down to the Flying Club and managed one circuit - was like flying in a goldfish bowl with virtually no horizon. Should have saved my money and stayed at home and tried to rectify the sim. Less money spent and probably more rewarding!!

 

[Shessi]

Hi Martin,
Hmmmm, strange as you'd think if it was a graphics card issue, it would still affect the re-installed tex(s). BUT, as you possibly haven't replaced all of the smoke/contrail/vorticies texs (I don't know if there only one or several? If only one, then why has the Typhoon tex gone back to normal?), so there is prob more than one. BUT(x2), as you've replaced the complete effects tex file....so is it an add-on???

Have you (should really! ) got a completely bare/virgin/vanilla install of Fs9? If not, install one and see what happens with the ac there, then gradually add add-ons.

ATi/AMD or Nvidia?

Cheers

Shessi

 

[stuartcox]

Have you (should really! ) got a completely bare/virgin/vanilla install of Fs9? If not, install one and see what happens with the ac there, then gradually add add-ons.

Shessi

I had exactly the same issue a few months back, and couldn't establish the cause.
I backed up the 'effects' folder and did a clean and painful re-install of fs9. Then copied the backup to fs9 overwriting all existing fx files.
I know it hurts, but it seemed to be the only way out, and it worked.

Stuart

 

[T6flyer]

Thanks for your replies, much appreciated. The idea of doing a fresh install is there, but at the back of my head. I don't really want to go through everything again as although there are these few quirks, I have it set up just as I want it. Will have a serious look at it, next time its raining all day (think that will be Sunday!), but if the worst comes to the worst - it will have to be a complete start again.

Graphics card is a Nvidia 512mb Geforce 8800GT.

Thanks again,

Martin

 

[Shessi]

Hi Martin,
I didn't mean to replace what you have, but to just install another virgin copy of Fs9, i.e I've got 4, one which I keep completely untouched, for exactly these situations. Others for tweaking etc etc.

It's very easy to do it when you first insall Fs9, just copy and paste as many copies you want. Unfortunately to install another copy after the first installation involves some registry tweaking.

And yes the 8800GT is an old but good card. See when the drivers were last updated, and or if there is known probs with the card and the current driver version (you may have to go back in drivers to get the right one etc etc)

Cheers

Shessi

 

[modelr]

I'm wondering if a common effect file didn't get changed, damaged. Check your cfg for the effect file name, then check for the file in the effects folder. See if there isn't another one you can substitute, by renaming, after backing up that file. Not uncommon.

#1 Dumb question... You did try a system shut down and reboot before posting about the change, didn't you??? ALWAYS the first thing to try when something goes wacky!!! Should also mention that it should be mentioned in you query whether you did or not. And should always be the first point in suggestiong a fix. And never just assume it was done. We're all human, and easily forget. Since it is nolonger necessary to shut down the boxes each session, we rarely think about that. But, it does fix at least 90% of my anomolies. Especially ones like this, since they are often memory caused. A reboot cleans out the memory caches.

I return you now to the experts. :mixedsmi:

 

[T6flyer]

I'm wondering if a common effect file didn't get changed, damaged. Check your cfg for the effect file name, then check for the file in the effects folder. See if there isn't another one you can substitute, by renaming, after backing up that file. Not uncommon.

#1 Dumb question... You did try a system shut down and reboot before posting about the change, didn't you??? ALWAYS the first thing to try when something goes wacky!!! Should also mention that it should be mentioned in you query whether you did or not. And should always be the first point in suggestiong a fix. And never just assume it was done. We're all human, and easily forget. Since it is nolonger necessary to shut down the boxes each session, we rarely think about that. But, it does fix at least 90% of my anomolies. Especially ones like this, since they are often memory caused. A reboot cleans out the memory caches.

I return you now to the experts. :mixedsmi:

Thanks for the continuing replies. I've tried everything that have been told and still have the same problems. I don't think I can have another FS9 on my system as only have one hard drive. Tried all that I can think of and besides starting again (which cant do at the moment as testing new flightsim software), only other option is to upgrade my PC. This one is about four years old now and I do have from time to time the odd problem, so perhaps in the future a change could be made. But when I don't know as spare money is a bit of a rarity these days. I'm lucky in that I do have a job, but money is rather tight and a new PC could be seen as a luxury. Perhaps if I spent less time doing the real thing, I could have a new machine more quickly. But that's one thing I'm not going to stop.

So, for the weeks ahead, think its going to be no airliner AI and nothing with a smoke system either. Just stick to my Eurostar, the Austers and whatever else we make.

Can't thank you all enough for your guidance.

Best wishes,

Martin

 

[T6flyer]

Ummmmmm................I don't know how to say this and I'm sorry for wasting anyone's time, but............it was me all along. Word of advice, never delete or move things that you don't know anything about.

After posting my last message, I saw at the bottom of the screen a previous thread by Ian Elliott who had the same problem as me. Had a little read of this and was none the wiser, but hey it mentioned a texture folder in the effects folder (this someone made me have a little think (had to sit down first!)). Now I remember seeing this once before when having a look at the FS structure and so went back for another look. Folder was there, but only contained two files which I presume were the Alphasim Eurofighter afterburner files. So where were the others?

Probably deleted by yours truly recently, so back to FS2004 Disk 1 and reloaded the Effects/Texture folder once again. Loaded up the sim, took off from Bristol (more airliners there, then further South West) and besides scarring myself going upside down, came across an airliner or two. And guess what........yep......all back to normal.

I'm so sorry, and will never touch anything again. I promise. I feel like I looked in the attached photo taken yesterday (sheepish, but there is was a bit rough!).

Apologies all around,

Martin