Well.. another idea occurred (I've had too many of these in one day) I opened the dummy fx file up in notepad and it was obviously a smoke file. Scrolling down further to [ParticleAttributes.0] shows the little tinker references ssw_fx_smoke.dds. So.. our friends at SimSkunkWorks have lobbed a Yorker into the equation Not sure which model is responsible yet.. I have the Zipper and the AV8 but logically.. I don't have the AV8 on my previous install but I do have the Zipper. On this install.. the Zipper was installed first.. the AV8 more recent. It would point to the AV8 though why a newer file has overwritten a newer file is a bit odd. A quick look at the attributes of the newer file (the Zippers) it points to ssw_fx_aurora.bmp and the 2006 version is simply fx_aurora.bmp. I think we have our culprit
ATB
DaveB
That would make sense (sort of ). Some models use a fx_dummy entry in the cfg to prevent the default FS wingtip vorticies. If SSW has replaced that with their own that's quite naughty as it would affect quite a few other models.
I've no idea what 'aurora' is or does and I've not yet checked the differences between the dummy 'non-ssw' aurora and the ssw-aurora. There's bound to be one otherwise why replace one with your own. All this aside.. it's still odd that once the B29 has been loaded.. the ssw smoke dummy attaches to every other aircraft. Anyway, I've had 2 rushes of sh1t to the brain today so I need a day off
Right.. wake up you lot A new day.. another dollar
The dummy file 12.5.2006 is original. Checked it in my FSX backup (fresh install in case of emergency) and the same file is present. I've checked this file against the file SSW installed for the Zipper (31.10.12) and the attributes are identical to the original.. so is the texture file. The only difference is that the SSW dummy file calls their own bmp which is a rip of the default file renamed.
Not that anyone has looked (or is vaguely interested) but the aurora bmp is white (looks white to me anyway).. the detail is in the alpha which looks like swirling white clouds on a black background. Strangley.. my previous installs effects/texture folder contains an SSW AB effect (for the Zipper) which has the same bmp but.. the main file is the same as the alpha in the aurora effect and the alpha is white
What else? Well.. nothing. What were you expecting I've put the default effect back so no strange smoke but in doing so.. I've probably lost something on the SSW AV8. Never mind. I'd sooner it be that way round
ATB
DaveB
I knew you'd know Just wish you'd have told me about it before
I still have no idea why once the B29 is loaded with this rogue SSW fx file active, all other aircraft display smoke in exactly the same position regardless of type or size and to be honest.. I'm not going to pursue it further. Glad I have enough FSX installs knocking around to be able to cross reference them to 'effect' a fix. Garry would have liked that one
ATB
DaveB
I opened the dummy fx file up in notepad and it was obviously a smoke file. Scrolling down further to [ParticleAttributes.0] shows the little tinker references ssw_fx_smoke.dds. So.. our friends at SimSkunkWorks have lobbed a Yorker into the equation 
Not sure which model is responsible yet.. I have the Zipper and the AV8 but logically.. I don't have the AV8 on my previous install but I do have the Zipper. On this install.. the Zipper was installed first.. the AV8 more recent. It would point to the AV8 though why a newer file has overwritten a newer file is a bit odd. 
A quick look at the attributes of the newer file (the Zippers) it points to ssw_fx_aurora.bmp and the 2006 version is simply fx_aurora.bmp. I think we have our culprit 
