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Tailwind Landing Lights (DX10) Anyone else see this?

D

DB93

Charter Member
Hi all,

I've got a bit of a strange problem with the landing lights on Lionheart's Tailwind (all variants) under DX10. Basically, when the landing lights are on within a certain height from the ground, they will change to what looks like an FSX loading screen. Once they turn into the loading screen image, they don't go back to normal unless I exit and restart the flight. They will do it immediately if I'm on the ground when I turn them on. It only happens under DirectX 10, they work fine under DX9. I'm attaching a couple of screenshots to show what I mean. Anyhow, has anyone else experienced this, or am I the only one? I'm just trying to determine if it's a bug with the plane/dx10, or if it's some kind of a configuration/driver issue on my end.

Thanks,

-George
 
I had the same problem and I'm afraid the only solution was to rem out the offending lights thus -

//light.9 = 5, 1.25, 7.0, 1.46, TW_LL_Splash //right landing light point
//light.10 = 5, 1.25, -7.0, 1.46, TW_LL_Splash //left landing light point

I contacted Lionheart about this at the time but there was no other solution. In fact it might just be you and me as no one else had contacted him with the same problem.
 
This is true. It is a wierd condition that I cannot figure out. I do not have DirectX 10 in order to test this either.

Usually when something like this occurs, it is a RAM memory issue, when you start seeing odd things like standard textures showing up where plane textures should be, or perhaps textures not showing up at all. That usually means you are maxxing out your RAM. In this case, its only the landing lights. Very odd issue.

6297J,

Does this totally fix this problem for you?



Bill
LHC
 
Lionheart said:
6297J,

Does this totally fix this problem for you?


Bill
LHC
Click to expand...


It does.

It doesn't detract from the experience for me though, just removing those two lights. But I haven't had this problem crop up anywhere else.
 
Well after reading back here and finding out that I'm not alone, I decided to do some digging. It seems the lines that are being commented out refer to TW_LL_Splash.fx for the landing lights. So I decided to pop open that file and take a look to see if I could figure out if there was something specific to that file that could be causing the issue. One thing I noticed was that one of the textures being called for (fx_esdg_nav_recog.bmp) is no where to be found on my pc. That doesn't seem to effect anything under DX9, so I can't say if that's related to the problem or not, but it's the only thing that jumps out at me since it refers to a file that doesn't exist on my pc.

So Bill, do you have that file (fx_esdg_nav_recog.bmp) somewhere that I can grab it so I can try popping it in the Effects\Texture folder, or should I try pointing the texture entry to a different .bmp?

Thanks,

-George
 
A little more investigation and it seems, on my end at least, that this is related to a missing texture issue. I changed the .bmp that the .fx file was calling for, and the problem went away. I then removed just the extension from each filename (.bmp) and the 'loading screen boxes' reappeared.

For the time being, here's how I fixed it. Go to the <path to FSX Installation>\Effects folder, and backup TW_LL_Splash.fx.

Open TW_LL_Splash.fx in notepad, and scroll down to the [ParticleAttributes.0] section. Change the line that reads:

Texture=fx_esdg_nav_recog.bmp

so that it reads:

Texture=fx_coflight.bmp

Next, scroll down to the [ParticleAttributes.1] section, and perform the same changes as listed above.

Important notes:
1) The landing light on the right-hand wing flashes like a strobe light. I don't think this is a texture issue, as the light is properly activated and deactivated with the landing lights switch. It just flashes like a strobe (and in-time with the strobes if you turn them on) when it's lit.

2) The .bmp file I'm 'pointing' to in the .fx file is one that was already on my system. I'm not sure if that is a 'stock' FSX file, or if it came with one of my addons. If that file is not present in your 'Effects\Texture' folder, then in the above edits, substitute 'TW_Strobe.bmp' everywhere it tells you to use 'fx_coflight.bmp'.

I hope this helps. :)

-George
 
Thanks George!

Thats a massive find. A thousand thanks. I'll be able to do a proper fix for this.

Famed legend developer Bill Leaming designed the light set. I must have some how left out that texture from the effects pack.


Thanks again George.



Bill
LHC
 
Lionheart said:
Thanks George!

Thats a massive find. A thousand thanks. I'll be able to do a proper fix for this.

Famed legend developer Bill Leaming designed the light set. I must have some how left out that texture from the effects pack.


Thanks again George.



Bill
LHC
Click to expand...

No problem at all, Bill, very glad to help. :)

-George
 
Hello Bill,

While you are here, I also had that same problem with the Tailwind, so I just never flew her at night much. I do seem to have another problem with chrome textures and the cockpit glass at night on the Tailwind only, my Kodiak is fine at night.

I'll post a few screenies from tonight.

Windows Vista 32,
P4HT, 3.2 Ghz, 800Mhz FSB, 2Gb PC 3200 RAM, EVGA NVIDIA 8800GT 512 MB Superclocked

Driver 195.62

...it also had the same display problems with Driver 191.07

... maybe it is the Enviroment map... just guessing tho'

... I also use Ken Salter's AlacrityPC program to help my little 'puter along, and always Preview DirectX 10 mode

2009-12-26_19-26-38-531.png


2009-12-26_19-25-5-61.png


2009-12-26_19-25-20-629.png


2009-12-26_19-24-26-189.png



Thanks a bunch Bill

and thank you DB93 for your "scratching around" to help solve problems.
 
DB93,

Important notes:
1) The landing light on the right-hand wing flashes like a strobe light. I don't think this is a texture issue, as the light is properly activated and deactivated with the landing lights switch. It just flashes like a strobe (and in-time with the strobes if you turn them on) when it's lit.
Click to expand...

I also have that, but I was under the assumption that Bill had added that effect to the Tailwind like that of the real Kodiak that can be seen here as she lifts off on her first flight.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fW2EA33Ygcg
 
Nice detective work George :applause:

I guess if you have any Eaglesoft addons then the problem doesn't arise, and I don't have any!
 
6297J said:
Nice detective work George :applause:

I guess if you have any Eaglesoft addons then the problem doesn't arise, and I don't have any!
Click to expand...

Thanks, and thank you for posting that you also encountered the issue. Once you posted that you also had the issue, and that you commented out the landing light .fx entries to just disable the lights so that you wouldn't have to see the issue, it made me think that the .fx file was a good place to start looking. :)

The Eaglesoft comment makes a lot of sense to me as well, as I know their stuff is very popular, so folks that have those aircraft that already have the included texture, wouldn't encounter this issue. As I don't have any Eaglesoft addons either, this would explain why I was also encountering the problem. In any case, I'm just glad I was able to work around it for the time being, and that Bill is going to be able to fix it properly on the next Tailwind update. :)

@Flameout - That was a really sweet video, I hadn't seen it before. I watched it a couple of times, but I couldn't really tell if that was the landing light or the navigation/strobe light that was flashing. It looked to me like it might've been too close to the wingtip for it to be the landing light, as I thought that was more towards the center of the wing, close to where the wing support strut lines up.

I'll have to take another look at the Kodiak in FSX next time I fly, as I don't recall the landing lights flashing on it in the sim. (Of course, I honestly haven't paid that much attention to them, so I could easily be wrong.) I probably wouldn't have noticed that the one on the Tailwind is flashing, except that I was specifically looking at them as I was trying to fix the 'loading screen box' issue, which as you can tell from my screenshots, was very noticible even from within the vc lol. All that said, if the light attached to the landing lights on the right wing is supposed to flash, then just ignore my important note #1, as I'd rather have the aircraft true to life than true to what my own perception of what I think it's supposed to be. :)

-George
 
Actually, if you edit the TW_LL_Splash.fx file, replace each instance of the fx_esdg_nav_recog.bmp bitmap name with either of the following. The TW_Strobe.bmp file will generate a larger "ball of light" than the TW_Nav.bmp will.

TW_Strobe.bmp
or
TW_Nav.bmp

Ah shoot, here is the complete code for the revised TW_LL_Splash.fx file!

Code: 
[Library Effect]
Lifetime=5
Version=2.00
Radius=-1
Priority=0
 
[Properties]
 
[Emitter.0]
Lifetime=0.50, 0.50
Delay=0.00, 0.00
Bounce=0.00
No Interpolate=1
Rate=1.00, 1.00
X Emitter Velocity=0.00, 0.00
Y Emitter Velocity=0.00, 0.00
Z Emitter Velocity=0.00, 0.00
Drag=0.00, 0.00
X Particle Velocity=0.00, 0.00
Y Particle Velocity=0.00, 0.00
Z Particle Velocity=0.00, 0.00
X Rotation=0.00, 0.00
Y Rotation=0.00, 0.00
Z Rotation=0.00, 0.00
X Offset=0.00, 0.00
Y Offset=0.00, 0.00
Z Offset=0.00, 0.00
Pitch=0.00, 0.00
Bank=0.00, 0.00
Heading=0.00, 0.00
 
[Particle.0]
Lifetime=0.00, 0.00
Type=19
X Scale=0.30, 0.30
Y Scale=0.30, 0.30
Z Scale=0.00, 0.00
X Scale Rate=0.00, 0.00
Y Scale Rate=0.00, 0.00
Z Scale Rate=0.00, 0.00
Drag=0.00, 0.00
Color Rate=0.00, 0.00
X Offset=0.00, 0.00
Y Offset=0.00, 0.00
Z Offset=0.00, 0.00
Fade In=0.00, 0.00
Fade Out=0.00, 0.00
Rotation=0.00, 0.00
Static=1
Face=1, 1, 1
 
[ParticleAttributes.0]
Blend Mode=2
Texture=TW_Strobe.bmp
Bounce=0.00
Color Start=55, 52, 50, 100
Color End=55, 52, 50, 0
Jitter Distance=0.00
Jitter Time=0.00
uv1=0.00, 0.00
uv2=1.00, 1.00
X Scale Goal=0.00
Y Scale Goal=0.00
Z Scale Goal=0.00
Extrude Length=0.00
Extrude Pitch Max=0.00
Extrude Heading Max=0.00
 
[Emitter.1]
Lifetime=0.50, 0.50
Delay=0.00, 0.00
Bounce=0.00
No Interpolate=1
Rate=1.00, 1.00
X Emitter Velocity=0.00, 0.00
Y Emitter Velocity=0.00, 0.00
Z Emitter Velocity=0.00, 0.00
Drag=0.00, 0.00
X Particle Velocity=0.00, 0.00
Y Particle Velocity=0.00, 0.00
Z Particle Velocity=0.00, 0.00
X Rotation=0.00, 0.00
Y Rotation=0.00, 0.00
Z Rotation=0.00, 0.00
X Offset=0.00, -0.00
Y Offset=0.00, 0.00
Z Offset=0.00, 0.00
Pitch=0.00, 0.00
Bank=0.00, 0.00
Heading=0.00, 0.00
 
[Particle.1]
Lifetime=0.00, 0.00
Type=19
X Scale=0.30, 0.30
Y Scale=0.30, 0.30
Z Scale=0.00, 0.00
X Scale Rate=0.00, 0.00
Y Scale Rate=0.00, 0.00
Z Scale Rate=0.00, 0.00
Drag=0.00, 0.00
Color Rate=0.00, 0.00
X Offset=0.00, 0.00
Y Offset=0.00, 0.00
Z Offset=0.00, 0.00
Fade In=0.00, 0.00
Fade Out=0.00, 0.00
Rotation=0.00, 0.00
Static=1
Face=1, 1, 1
 
[ParticleAttributes.1]
Blend Mode=2
Texture=TW_Strobe.bmp
Bounce=0.00
Color Start=55, 52, 50, 255
Color End=55, 52, 50, 0
Jitter Distance=0.00
Jitter Time=0.00
uv1=0.00, 0.00
uv2=1.00, 1.00
X Scale Goal=0.00
Y Scale Goal=0.00
Z Scale Goal=0.00
Extrude Length=0.00
Extrude Pitch Max=0.00
Extrude Heading Max=0.00
 
[Emitter.2]
Lifetime=0.50, 0.50
Delay=0.00, 0.00
Bounce=0.00
No Interpolate=1
Rate=1.00, 1.00
X Emitter Velocity=0.00, 0.00
Y Emitter Velocity=0.00, 0.00
Z Emitter Velocity=0.00, 0.00
Drag=0.00, 0.00
X Particle Velocity=0.00, 0.00
Y Particle Velocity=0.00, 0.00
Z Particle Velocity=0.00, 0.00
X Rotation=0.00, 0.00
Y Rotation=0.00, 0.00
Z Rotation=0.00, 0.00
X Offset=0.00, 0.00
Y Offset=0.00, 0.00
Z Offset=0.00, 0.00
Pitch=0.00, 0.00
Bank=0.00, 0.00
Heading=0.00, 0.00
 
[Particle.2]
Lifetime=0.00, 0.00
Type=19
X Scale=0.25, 0.25
Y Scale=0.25, 0.25
Z Scale=0.00, 0.00
X Scale Rate=0.00, 0.00
Y Scale Rate=0.00, 0.00
Z Scale Rate=0.00, 0.00
Drag=0.00, 0.00
Color Rate=0.00, 0.00
X Offset=0.00, 0.00
Y Offset=0.00, 0.00
Z Offset=0.00, 0.00
Fade In=0.00, 0.00
Fade Out=0.00, 0.00
Rotation=0.00, 0.00
Static=1
Face=1, 1, 1
 
[ParticleAttributes.2]
Blend Mode=2
Texture=TW_Nav.bmp
Bounce=0.00
Color Start=155, 152, 150, 255
Color End=155, 152, 150, 0
Jitter Distance=0.00
Jitter Time=0.00
uv1=0.00, 0.00
uv2=1.00, 1.00
X Scale Goal=0.00
Y Scale Goal=0.00
Z Scale Goal=0.00
Extrude Length=0.00
Extrude Pitch Max=0.00
Extrude Heading Max=0.00
 
[Emitter.3]
Lifetime=0.50, 0.50
Delay=0.00, 0.00
Bounce=0.00
No Interpolate=1
Rate=1.00, 1.00
X Emitter Velocity=0.00, 0.00
Y Emitter Velocity=0.00, 0.00
Z Emitter Velocity=0.00, 0.00
Drag=0.00, 0.00
X Particle Velocity=0.00, 0.00
Y Particle Velocity=0.00, 0.00
Z Particle Velocity=0.00, 0.00
X Rotation=0.00, 0.00
Y Rotation=0.00, 0.00
Z Rotation=0.00, 0.00
X Offset=0.00, 0.00
Y Offset=0.00, 0.00
Z Offset=0.00, 0.00
Pitch=0.00, 0.00
Bank=0.00, 0.00
Heading=0.00, 0.00
 
[Particle.3]
Lifetime=0.00, 0.00
Type=19
X Scale=0.30, 0.30
Y Scale=0.30, 0.30
Z Scale=0.00, 0.00
X Scale Rate=0.00, 0.00
Y Scale Rate=0.00, 0.00
Z Scale Rate=0.00, 0.00
Drag=0.00, 0.00
Color Rate=0.00, 0.00
X Offset=0.00, 0.00
Y Offset=0.00, 0.00
Z Offset=0.00, 0.00
Fade In=0.00, 0.00
Fade Out=0.00, 0.00
Rotation=0.00, 0.00
Static=1
Face=1, 1, 1
 
[ParticleAttributes.3]
Blend Mode=2
Texture=TW_Nav.bmp
Bounce=0.00
Color Start=55, 52, 50, 100
Color End=55, 52, 50, 0
Jitter Distance=0.00
Jitter Time=0.00
uv1=0.00, 0.00
uv2=1.00, 1.00
X Scale Goal=0.00
Y Scale Goal=0.00
Z Scale Goal=0.00
Extrude Length=0.00
Extrude Pitch Max=0.00
Extrude Heading Max=0.00
 
[Emitter.4]
Lifetime=0.50, 0.50
Delay=0.00, 0.00
Bounce=0.00
No Interpolate=1
Rate=1.00, 1.00
X Emitter Velocity=0.00, 0.00
Y Emitter Velocity=0.00, 0.00
Z Emitter Velocity=0.00, 0.00
Drag=0.00, 0.00
X Particle Velocity=0.00, 0.00
Y Particle Velocity=0.00, 0.00
Z Particle Velocity=0.00, 0.00
X Rotation=0.00, 0.00
Y Rotation=0.00, 0.00
Z Rotation=0.00, 0.00
X Offset=0.00, 0.00
Y Offset=0.00, 0.00
Z Offset=0.00, 0.00
Pitch=0.00, 0.00
Bank=0.00, 0.00
Heading=0.00, 0.00
 
[Particle.4]
Lifetime=0.00, 0.00
Type=19
X Scale=0.30, 0.30
Y Scale=0.30, 0.30
Z Scale=0.00, 0.00
X Scale Rate=0.00, 0.00
Y Scale Rate=0.00, 0.00
Z Scale Rate=0.00, 0.00
Drag=0.00, 0.00
Color Rate=0.00, 0.00
X Offset=0.00, 0.00
Y Offset=0.00, 0.00
Z Offset=0.00, 0.00
Fade In=0.00, 0.00
Fade Out=0.00, 0.00
Rotation=0.00, 0.00
Static=1
Face=1, 1, 1
 
[ParticleAttributes.4]
Blend Mode=2
Texture=TW_Nav.bmp
Bounce=0.00
Color Start=55, 52, 50, 255
Color End=55, 52, 50, 0
Jitter Distance=0.00
Jitter Time=0.00
uv1=0.00, 0.00
uv2=1.00, 1.00
X Scale Goal=0.00
Y Scale Goal=0.00
Z Scale Goal=0.00
Extrude Length=0.00
Extrude Pitch Max=0.00
Extrude Heading Max=0.00
 
[Emitter.5]
Lifetime=0.50, 0.50
Delay=0.00, 0.00
Bounce=0.00
Light=1
No Interpolate=1
Rate=1.00, 1.00
X Emitter Velocity=0.00, 0.00
Y Emitter Velocity=0.00, 0.00
Z Emitter Velocity=0.00, 0.00
Drag=0.00, 0.00
X Particle Velocity=0.00, 0.00
Y Particle Velocity=0.00, 0.00
Z Particle Velocity=0.00, 0.00
X Rotation=0.00, 0.00
Y Rotation=0.00, 0.00
Z Rotation=0.00, 0.00
X Offset=0.00, 0.00
Y Offset=0.00, 0.00
Z Offset=0.00, 0.00
Pitch=0.00, 0.00
Bank=0.00, 0.00
Heading=0.00, 0.00
 
[Particle.5]
Lifetime=0.00, 0.00
Type=19
X Scale=0.25, 0.25
Y Scale=0.25, 0.25
Z Scale=0.00, 0.00
X Scale Rate=0.00, 0.00
Y Scale Rate=0.00, 0.00
Z Scale Rate=0.00, 0.00
Drag=0.00, 0.00
Color Rate=0.00, 0.00
X Offset=0.00, 0.00
Y Offset=0.00, 0.00
Z Offset=0.00, 0.00
Fade In=0.00, 0.00
Fade Out=0.00, 0.00
Rotation=0.00, 0.00
Static=1
Face=1, 1, 1
 
[ParticleAttributes.5]
Blend Mode=2
Texture=TW_Nav.bmp
Bounce=0.00
Color Start=155, 152, 150, 255
Color End=155, 152, 150, 0
Jitter Distance=0.00
Jitter Time=0.00
uv1=0.00, 0.00
uv2=1.00, 1.00
X Scale Goal=0.00
Y Scale Goal=0.00
Z Scale Goal=0.00
Extrude Length=0.00
Extrude Pitch Max=0.00
Extrude Heading Max=0.00
 
Thanks Bill for that.

Massively appreciated.

I am really impressed with the effects. The nav (wingtip) lights especially. I wish they worked on the Epic planes but the darn plexi covers hide them.


Bill
 
Lionheart said:
Thanks Bill for that.

Massively appreciated.

I am really impressed with the effects. The nav (wingtip) lights especially. I wish they worked on the Epic planes but the darn plexi covers hide them.
Click to expand...

Well, I honestly have to apologize for the problem to begin with. It is obvious to me (now) that I didn't finish editing the .fx file completely, because I certainly would not have included copyrighted ...esdg... bitmaps in the zipped file I provided to you... :blind:

So, the .fx file I just revised and posted is using the two files I did include in the zipped package. The first two emitter sections are using the larger of the two .bmp files to produce the "fuzzy ball of light," while the last three emitter sections are using the "tighter focused star of light." :icon_lol:
 
Thank you for the Fix!

I was having the light problem and implemented your fix. Works well -- thank you!
 
Mr. "DB93," Mr. FlameOut" & Mr. Bill "LionHeart,"

Here is the solution to the DX10 Graphic texture problem(s) that you are all having: Addon Converter X Version 1.03
It is a conversion utility that can automatically convert those textures to the correct "DX10 preview" format, making even many legacy or port-overs DX10 compatible.

Enjoy! :wavey:


Happy New Year!

Hebrews 11:6 "But without faith it is impossible to please Him, for he who comes to God must believe that He is, and that He is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him."

Thank you very much.
Sincerely,
From,
James F. Chams
 
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