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Post by johnhinson on May 4, 2020 4:43:13 GMT -5
Hello Tom and all,
Hope you are all well and managing right now.
I note that Tom's page of aircraft shows the Stratocruiser as only up to FS2004 but there is mention in the documentation (and elsewhere that I have read) that it can be used in FSX. Having replaced three FS98 gauges, and the sounds, I have it flying fine. But so far I have not managed a manual engine start, which is my preferred way. It will start 1-2-3-4 with Control-E but I like to push all the buttons. Has anybody managed this?
Also, the sounds I am using (made for the A2A model) are not particularly realistic (not at all deep and throaty) - has anybody any better suggestions?
Best regards,
John
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Post by Herman on May 4, 2020 8:35:25 GMT -5
Like yourself John, I used the B377 Strat in FSX, and also was not able to use the proper engine start procedure, but had to be satisfied with Ctr+E start up. Got nice smoke effects though. Herman
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Post by connieguy on May 4, 2020 8:41:21 GMT -5
John, Aaron Swindle has a Skysong Soundworks file available for the C-97. It is not expensive and I am pleased with it. There is a video which helps you to decide. I have only just discovered the C-97. There is (and these comments refer to FS9) an excellent panel and vc textures by Bruce Smythe and a good MATS paint by Dave McQueen, although I believe that only a very small number were built compared with the tanker version.
Ken
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Post by Tom/CalClassic on May 4, 2020 8:46:23 GMT -5
Conversion to FSX compatible format would include converting the engine start gauges. It was never considered necessary at the time since everyone who cared had purchased the A2A model. If I have time I could take a look, but we’ll see.
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Post by jidon on May 4, 2020 12:07:26 GMT -5
Tom, if you get time please do the needed things for the c-97. (377)
Jim
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Post by johnhinson on May 4, 2020 12:19:28 GMT -5
Thanks for the various suggestions - and glad to know it isn't only me that can't start it!
I will have a look at that sound set, Ken. I don't really want to invest in the A2A model, I know I sound a tightwad but it is pretty expensive and if you convert to UK money it works out at 8 times the price I paid for FSX!
Thanks, all.
John
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Post by Tom/CalClassic on May 4, 2020 12:31:07 GMT -5
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Post by Tom/CalClassic on May 4, 2020 14:27:25 GMT -5
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Post by connieguy on May 4, 2020 14:45:28 GMT -5
Tom, I will ask this here as it is an issue I have come across with the C-97, rather than starting a separate thread. There are some aircraft which will produce contrails automatically when I assume certain atmospheric and perhaps altitude conditions are met and others where you have to press I, in which case the smoke appears at any altitude, including when you are on the ground. The C-97 is in this latter category. Am I correct in thinking that the automatic contrail/smoke needs to be built into the aircraft model and that there is therefore no way of getting the C-97 to do this? Many thanks, Ken
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Post by Tom/CalClassic on May 4, 2020 15:09:35 GMT -5
Hi,
Regular contrails are a part of the default FS2004. Any aircraft can display them. If you are not seeing them, then the weather is not correct for them to form. I know the temperature has to be below -30 deg. C at least. I don't know if there are other factors involved. I don't believe I've ever seen them at typical propliner altitudes (FL200 and below).
I just took the C-97, flying at FL140, and set the temperature to -35 deg. C. I got contrails.
You can set a different threshold temperature by editing or adding this line:
max_contrail_temperature=-27
to the GeneralEngineData section of the plane's aircraft.cfg file.
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Post by mrcapitalism on May 4, 2020 20:57:37 GMT -5
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Post by Tom/CalClassic on May 4, 2020 23:24:07 GMT -5
Hi,
Thanks for the tip, but I have no plans for further improving the Stratocruiser. A2A has FSX pretty well covered for those that want a more detailed simulation.
That said, if anyone else has or wants to improve it, I'd be happy to take a look at it for possible inclusion in the Base Pack.
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Post by johnhinson on May 5, 2020 0:25:02 GMT -5
Hi Tom - thanks for that! I'm sorry, I wasn't wanting to make work for you. I was only asking if others had a way of starting it. I've done some quick tests with your changes but don't have much spare time today. - I changed the XML gauge but the aircraft still doesn't start on the FE panel. That's assuming I'm doing everything right: Timing retarded, pumps high, select engine, prime, start
- When in the FE panel, Ctrl-E starts 1 & 2 but oddly not 3 & 4. That may have been the same before, I probably hadn't tried that.
- When in the pilot's panel, Ctrl-E starts all four engines
- With the new beta model, I am getting an ntldll.dll crash which I think is caused by the panel. Maybe with time I could comment a few gauges out, but I'm a bit pushed today.
I'm in FSX-SE, by the way. Incidentally, I find many aircraft in FSX-SE are a bit "slippery" - they climb too well, cruise too fast and sink like bricks compared with performance in FS2004. For the Stratocruiser, I have added the following in the aircraft.cfg which for me makes it more of the lumbering beast it was said to be: [flight_tuning] parasite_drag_scalar =1.1 induced_drag_scalar =1.1 I tend to do shortish flights with a low fuel load, those settings might not be perfect for long-haul take-offs. For anybody wanting to tinker, 1.0 is the default (whether the entry exists or not) so if this makes it too heavy, experiment with a figure between 1.0 and 1.1. I think induced drag mostly affects take-off and parasite mostly affects cruise and descent. Best regards, John
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Post by connieguy on May 5, 2020 7:54:17 GMT -5
Many thanks for the contrail information Tom. Very helpful as always.
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Post by Tom/CalClassic on May 5, 2020 10:43:06 GMT -5
John,
Are you using the FSX versions of the panel.cfg files? They don’t have the slow engine start gauges which crash FSX.
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