making the gauges appear in the dvc is a bit more tricky
but it's not as complicated as it seems...
first, create the 3d model for the DVC, i'll leave that to you
then you want to create a surface that will display your gauges, i usually use a plane... it can have any shape you want (yes, it
can)
then make a bitmap and draw in it, the position and size you want the gauges to have, basically you're drawing the instrument panel...
don't worry about making it look good, it won't appear in FS
you can save it with any name, just add $ before it (i.e. $panel.bmp)
make it 1024x1024 size. this will ensure max resolution
apply this bitmap onto the surface you created before and map it as a texture... now export.
--remember you won't be able to see this plane, only the gauges. so you must have the panel backdrop texture on another surface behind it
now comes the fun part
with your plane already in FS, open the panel.cfg file (im assuming you already have this file, if not, 'borrow' it from some other plane)
the gauges can be placed using only notepad and an image editing software. i used MGI photosuite 8.0 but i think even MS paint will work for this
in the panel.cfg add the following section (if this section already exists, delete it and create a new one)
write it after the last 2d panel section
[VCockpit01]
size_mm=1024,1024
pixel_size=1024,1024
texture=$panel <--this is the bitmap you just created
background_color=0,0,0
visible=0
and now place the gauges, they should look somewhat like this (this was taken from my 737 project. i'll use the first gauge line as an example):
gauge00=PB.PFD, 98,128,133,160
gauge01=FSNAV.EHSI, 243,128,133,160
gauge02=eicas!737 Eicas 1, 463,134,124,155
gauge00= is the gauge id. each gauge must be numbered
PB.PFD is the gauge filename (find gauges you like and place them in your panel folder)
98 is the left/right position of the top left corner of the gauge on the $panel bitmap (measured in pixels, 0 here is the far left of the bitmap)
128 is the top/bottom position (0 being the top of the bitmap)
133 is the width of the gauge (also in pixels)
160 is the height
this is where the image editor comes in handy, use it to find the left/right (X) and top/bottom (Y) coordinates of the gauge markings you drew on the bitmap as well as their width and height (those numbers are usually displayed on the bottom right corner of the screen)
now, simply take those numbers and put them into the gauge line in the panel.cfg. save the file and reload your plane in FS from the selection screen.
usually it takes a few tries to get the position just right, and not every gauge will look ok in the dvc, just keep trying
this is how i made my DVC i hope it works for you too
c ya
Moach
Pages: 1
