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  • Please see the most recent updates in the "Where did the .com name go?" thread. Posts number 16 and 17.

    Post 16 Update

    Post 17 Warning

Want to drive a BMW in FSX ?

R

rcbarend

Charter Member
Hi all,

Just a headsup: within a few days, I will release a totally revised "car FDE"; initially for a BMW 760.

What is a "car FDE (Flight Dynamics Engine)" ?
If you have ever 'driven' an automobile in the MSFS scenery, you'll probably have noticed that, at best, the driving experiance is not what you are used to in your own car.

IMHO, with the standard FDE of MSFS it simply isn't possible to model good car behaviour, because MSFS (obviously, since it simulates aircraft) lacks two important features for creating that:
1. Speed/acceleration is a resultant of "Jet/Prop thrust" (in essence: pushing air backward, resulting in forward speed/accelleration); NOT: based on traction/friction of tires with the ground surface.
2. MSFS has no awareness of a gearbox function, meaning that there is a fixed relation between engine RPM and turbine/propeller RPM; unlike in an automobile, where wheel RPM is directly coupled to engine RPM, either via discrete gear transmission (manually or automatically switched) or socalled CVT's.

So, based on the same principles I use in my "VTOL" implementations (essentially: an FDE in gauge-code), I developped a "car FDE".

Initially, I will release this for Hama's beautifull BMW760LI visual model; although this was created for FS9, it works great in FSX.

What it features:
- A manual/automatic gearbox, 6 speeds Forward, Neutral and Reverse. With proper engine revup/revdown sound, and gearbox transmission factors.
- Accelleration/Speeds in each gear, matching realworld specifications.
- Audible/visible wheelspin/side-slipping/spin effects, including a "doughnut" feature.
- Switchable ABS, TractionControl and a (simple) CruiseControl.
- and a lot more.....

Will it be a perfect simulation ?? No, it won't be. Things like exact over/understeering, spin recovery, "counter-steering", etc. are very difficult to model; that is: it will be just a matter of spending enough time on implementing the right formula's.
And I don't pretend to give you the same quality of driving experiance as in many of today's excellent car/racing simulations "games"; but after all, driving a car around in the MSFS scenery is just a "gimmick".....:icon_lol:

But you can judge it yourself, in a few days from now .....
And....freeware ....

:ernae:
Rob Barendregt
 
That is great news Rob. I only have one car that I drive from time to time in FSX and it happens to be the BMW760Li. I've got a nice overseas airport that is also used as a racecourse on certain weekends and would love to try the new FDE out on that course. It was more than a handful previously with the current FDE.

Thanks for your work on this and I look forward to giving it a go soon.:salute:
 
falcon409 said:
That is great news Rob. I only have one car that I drive from time to time in FSX and it happens to be the BMW760Li. I've got a nice overseas airport that is also used as a racecourse on certain weekends and would love to try the new FDE out on that course. It was more than a handful previously with the current FDE.

Thanks for your work on this and I look forward to giving it a go soon.:salute:
Click to expand...
Hi Ed,

I don't know if you ever tried my Challenger2 tank (with Matt's model), but it gives you a good idea on what I mean with a gearbox and stuff.
File rcbcha2x.zip, on flightsim.com

For the rest: main thing to do yet is a manual.
If you're interrested, send me an Email for a testpackage, so you can try it out over the weekend.

Best, Rob
 
Can you still steer the car in the air after jumping over a bump?
I always found that to be the most hilarious "aberration" of FSX cars... back to mommy! :icon_lol:

Anyway, super idea, FSX with the right addons is just too good to overfly it only.
Rock on, Rob.
 
At last, a BMW I can afford!!:ernae::ernae: I'll be glad to drive the beta (you have my email).

Best, Paul
 
But I DO enjoy driving a JEEP around FSX sometimes (don't need to do doughnuts either!), so I would welcome a good driving FDE for sure :) :salute:
 
I wanted to bump this back to prominence because I've had a chance to test the new FDE and Rob has really done a fantastic job of simulating (as close as possible) not only the maneuverability aspects, but also true shifting functionality (both auto and manual shifting). He has also included tire screeches, smoking tires, doing donuts after a successful race (I've tried it and it takes some practice but it is possible) and a lot more.

Anyone who has gone off on any of the FSX highways and byways knows that despite looking nice and flat and navigable. . . .most roads are not, at least not for long distances. You also know that once you hit some serious bumps, the car get squirelly and pretty much unmanageable. This new FDE has ramped that down quite a few notches. I drove around the track at Goodwood last evening and then hopped on the main highway and drove for about 10 miles averaging around 80mph. The BMW never fishtailed and if I hit a bump it reacted as any car would, going airborne briefly but then right back on the road and cruising along.

I can't say enough about how well Rob has captured the fun of driving in FSX. Put the BMW in Orbyx PNW with all the glitz and glitter of some of the spectacular addons and this will only add to the whole "Reality" concept. Well Done Rob!!:jump::applause::salute:
 
falcon409 said:
Anyone who has gone off on any of the FSX highways and byways knows that despite looking nice and flat and navigable. . . .most roads are not, at least not for long distances. You also know that once you hit some serious bumps, the car get squirelly and pretty much unmanageable. This new FDE has ramped that down quite a few notches.
Click to expand...


sounds good. I've actually gotten good at driving from bump to bump. It's a little tough if there's traffic though.

scott s.
.
 
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