A little VC problem

[Matt_UKMIL]

Hi guys,
I'm Matt from UKMIL, currently working on my new improved Nimrods for FS9 and FSX
But I'm having trouble with my the VC.
using FSDS V3 for FS9

I've come to the point of placing the gauges within the VC so looking over the Internet I have followed this procedure

Created a Polygon and made it Transparent, tested the polygon in FS and it is indeed Transparent

Added a BMP texture file with the extension removed
and added a few lines to the panel .cfg

But when I load in FS the polygon has now appeared and has a Reflective texture (when aircraft have reflections is selected in the options or Black when they are not)

I have used the $pan1 file that comes with the FSDS VC guide but to the same end.

I am thinking it may be a Texture issue, has anyone else come across this?
Any help will be greatly appreciated

Thanks in advance Matt

[Rick Piper]

Hi Matt

you just need the material used for the projection panel to be renamed to TRANS_***** then it should work ok (*****=anything you like)

i used to use a material (black 0,0,0 non specular) wich i called "projection" i just renamed the material in FSDS3.51 to "TRANS_projection" and it works fine

depending on how long you have been making the model you might not need to flip the dummy texture "Y" axis like you needed to do for FS8 & FS9 but that varies on which methos you use
to project the gauges (basically if when you compile you find your gauges are upside down just go back in an unflip the "Y" axis

Regards
Rick

EDIT: i just re read your question and realised it's for FS9 so my answer won't help as i only model for FSX.

not tried FS9 from FSDS3.51 as FSDS 2 worked fine when i was FS9 modelling. sorry

[Matt_UKMIL]

Tried it and I get the same, a Reflective texture as above

[Rick Piper]

Hi Matt

make sure your $pan texture is in the correct format

and make sure the projection poly material is black 0,0,0,255 and that the poly is NOT tagged in FSDS3 to have transparent texture
(not tagged to have reflection) or anything else
Regards
Rick

[Matt_UKMIL]

Just so I am sure what is the correct format for $pan1?

And I can confirm 0,0,0,255 and no tags on the polygon

[Rick Piper]

Hi Matt

for the texture on the projection poly i use 24 bit bmp with no alpha channel
this must be placed in the "Panel" folder or it won't show (my models use the texture visually)
some people don't use the texture other than to place gauges.

confirmed 0,0,0,255 material with nothing tagged in FSDS3

Regards
Rick

[Matt_UKMIL]

Tutorials I have read say to remove the file extension, is this correct in your experience

Oh and thank you for your help so far, much appreciated

[Rick Piper]

Hi Matt

you only remove the file extention in the texture management screen of FSDS not the actual file it's self (thats how i do it anyway)

but there are various ways of getting a working projected poly so there is no fixed single answer.

can you post the vcpanel section from your panel.cfg here so i can check it?

Regards
Rick

No worries on helping mate as i think it's the hardest part of FS modelling to master the adding of a working projected VC poly (i went almost bald learning this bit)
but i am also rusty on projected polys as i now make all the gauges in 3d parts and animate them seperately (FSX & FS9) but you need to learn xml programming before you can go this route

[Matt_UKMIL]

Sorry its a little late, I had enough last night and went to bed, was at it since 0600 yesterday morning

This is my VC Section from the Panel .cfg
The gauges are not in there correct positions, I what to get the projection correct first

[Vcockpit01]
Background_color=0,0,0
size_mm=1024,1024
visible=0
pixel_size=512,512s
texture=$pan1

gauge00=DM_COMET!DME, 100,100,75,100
gauge01=DM_COMET!FLAPS, 482,809,117,119
gauge02=DM_COMET!SPEED_REFERENCE, 863,521,70,86
gauge03=DM_COMET!DME_2, 927,499,72,22
gauge04=DM_COMET!EYEPOINT, 1212,617,40,38
gauge05=DM_VC10!REG, 477,548,113,28
gauge06=DM_1-11!COMPASS, 867,33,80,74
gauge07=ukml_nimrod!RPM1, 670,635,65,65
gauge08=ukml_nimrod!RPM2, 753,635,65,63
gauge09=ukml_nimrod!RPM3, 975,634,63,64
gauge10=ukml_nimrod!RPM4, 1059,634,63,63
gauge11=ukml_nimrod!ENGINE_TEMP_1, 670,712,66,68
gauge12=ukml_nimrod!ENGINE_TEMP_2, 755,712,65,68
gauge13=ukml_nimrod!ENGINE_TEMP_3, 973,714,66,66
gauge14=ukml_nimrod!ENGINE_TEMP_4, 1058, 715 ,63,64
gauge15=DM_COMET!SMOKE, 1,1,1,1

[Rick Piper]

Hi Matt

this is from one of mine that works ok

[Vcockpit01]
file=panel_overhead748.bmp
file_1024=panel_overhead748.bmp
Background_color=0,0,0
size_mm=1024,1024
visible=0
pixel_size=1024,1024
texture=$overhead748

only difference i see are my 2 file entries

so i am guessing it's a poly problem in FSDS

you could send me the FSDS file just the projection poly fsp and it's texture and i can look
sorry but no easier way to do it.

Regards
Rick