CFS2 lacks some visual "eye candy" such as Exhaust flames and smoke that react to engine and throttle status.
This "gauge" is supplied to provide visual effects capability utilising the cockpit lights switching. It automatically switches on or off as described below.
It is invisible on the cockpit panel. As it is a panel object it ONLY works for player Aircraft.
The only easily player switched FX in CFS2 is the cockpit "panel" lights - and this can only control one FX.
This therefore makes this incompatible with my or other Gauges that control the panel lights.... You'll have to choose one or the other.
Exhaust:
ON : ALL engines are running and any throttle 1% or more.
OFF : All Throttles at 0% with engines running.
Or Any Engine not running.
(Above are defaults - throttle % is configurable - see below)
Known Issues:
Sometimes switching aircraft in Freeflight might confuse the gauge...
It may - not show any FX
- not respond to throttle position.
Resolution: Change to 2D panel view. Stop the engines. Restart engines....and it should be OK again.
HOW TO INSTALL:
There are 3 basic steps to install:
1. Install the gauge file.
2. Configure your panel.
3. Modify the aircraft.cfg for FX file to use.
Other steps that may be required:
4. Remove any existing exhaust EXTRA fx from the DP file.
5. Create your exhaust FX file....
I have included an example FX and configs for the stock Hellcat.
(Always make backup copies of any files you modify so you can revert back again easily)
1. Install the Gauge file.
Copy DAP_ExhaustFX.gau to the "GAUGES" folder of your CFS2 install.
(Copy the xyz.FX file to your "EFFECTS" folder of your CFS2 install. )
2. Configure your panel .
Just add the gauge to your panel as any other gauge using the next free gauge number.
Eg edit the panel.cfg - if you are at gauge20
gauge21=DAP_ExhaustFX!ExhaustFX, 371,246,10,10
You can add an extra parameter which equals the throttle percentage - below this value is off, above on.
gauge21=DAP_ExhaustFX!ExhaustFX, 371,246,10,10,33
This would turn ON the FX with throttle at 33%
(Note values are X pos, Y pos, Size X, Size Y, Param)
Using CfgEdit to add Parameters-
CfgEdit is a freeware visual panel editing tool - making it easy to place your gauges into your aircraft panel.
Add the gauge as normal - then select and click on the gauge, right click - select properties and add the value in the Param.
3. Modify the aircraft.cfg for FX file to use.
FX files are stored in "Effects" folder of your CFS2 install.
Eg: fx_f2g_exhaust_Hellcat.fx
Place or identify the FX you want to use in this folder.
Edit your aircraft.cfg file and go to the LIGHTS section (or add if missing)
Eg say your current plane has the setting :
[LIGHTS]
panel=0.00, 0.70, -0.80, fx_vclight
Comment out the original panel light and add your new effect :
[LIGHTS]
//panel=0.00, 0.70, -0.80, fx_vclight
panel = 0, 0, 0, fx_f2g_exhaust_Hellcat
The values are: left right (0), forward backward (0), up down (0), name of the FX file (fx_ f2g_exhaust_Hellcat) in the "Effects" folder WITHOUT the .fx extension.
The FX file itself should have all the necessary positional adjustments so 0, 0, 0 should be OK for this setting.
Note: Fx files can be tricky and have been know to crash CFS2. Try using a default Microsoft FX file if you are having problems to confirm if it is the cause of your
problem.
Extra Steps:
4. Remove existing Exhaust effects from the dp file.
You may already have exhaust or other effects that are always ON configured in the dp file of your aircraft using the EXTRA values.
If these display at the same location as the fx you want to use with this gauge they will have to be removed.
Eg look for entries like :
[EXTRA.0]
location=-2.0,0,1.3
effect=fx_GERMAN_exhaust
and remove these from the DP file.
Delete the .CDP cache file - this will be automatically recreated next time you use the plane in CFS2 with the changes from the dp file.
5.Create your exhaust FX file....
There are quite a few EXTRA exhaust configurations available which have done all the hard work of working out where to place the exhaust effects.
Dilema:
With existing method of creating exhaust FX there is one common FX file (eg fx_GERMAN_exhaust) which is then located at several locations by the EXTRA.0 , EXTRA.1 and so on.
However the panel lights config will only let you use 1 fx location.
Solution:
Modify the FX file with each location specific to your aircraft within it.
It is not hard... just tedious and a little tricky if there are many exhaust stacks on your aircraft.
The included fx_f2g_exhaust_Hellcat.Fx example file was based off a FX file called fx_f2g_exhaust.FX and has settings for 10 EXTRA locations....
It is commented to show how it was modified (which should make it easier to follow what you need to do).
The original FX had 2 Emitters. This is the base for each "EXTRA" location.
A copy is made of these Emitters for each EXTRA and numbered in sequence.
The X Offset, Y Offset, Z Offset are all modified to match the EXTRA settings.
eg
//[EXTRA.0]
//location=0.73, -0.1,1.32
[Emitter.0]
Lifetime=0.00, 0.0
Delay=0.00, 0.00
Bounce=0.00
No Interpolate=1
Rate=80.00, 90.00
X Emitter Velocity=0.00, 0.00
Y Emitter Velocity=0.00, 0.00
Z Emitter Velocity=0.00, 0.00
Drag=0.00, 0.00
X Particle Velocity=0.00, 0.00
Y Particle Velocity=0.00, 0.00
Z Particle Velocity=0.00, 0.00
X Offset=0.73, 0.73
Y Offset=-0.1, -0.1
Z Offset=1.32, 1.32
Other FX bits ... then
[Emitter.1]
Lifetime=0.00, 0.00
Delay=0.10, 0.12
Bounce=0.00
No Interpolate=1
Rate=2.00, 2.01
X Emitter Velocity=0.00, 0.00
Y Emitter Velocity=0.00, 0.00
Z Emitter Velocity=0.00, 0.00
Drag=0.00, 0.01
X Particle Velocity=0.00, 0.00
Y Particle Velocity=0.00, 0.00
Z Particle Velocity=0.00, 0.00
X Offset=0.73, 0.73
Y Offset=-0.1, -0.1
Z Offset=1.32, 1.32
The entire Emitters 0 and 1 are then copied and repeated for each "EXTRA" location....
//[EXTRA.1]
//location=0.5, -0.6,1.32
[Emitter.2]
Lifetime=0.00, 0.0
Delay=0.00, 0.00
Bounce=0.00
No Interpolate=1
Rate=80.00, 90.00
X Emitter Velocity=0.00, 0.00
Y Emitter Velocity=0.00, 0.00
Z Emitter Velocity=0.00, 0.00
Drag=0.00, 0.00
X Particle Velocity=0.00, 0.00
Y Particle Velocity=0.00, 0.00
Z Particle Velocity=0.00, 0.00
X Offset=0.5, 0.5
Y Offset=-0.6, -0.6
Z Offset=1.32, 1.32
Other FX bits ... then
[Emitter.3]
Lifetime=0.00, 0.00
Delay=0.10, 0.12
Bounce=0.00
No Interpolate=1
Rate=2.00, 2.01
X Emitter Velocity=0.00, 0.00
Y Emitter Velocity=0.00, 0.00
Z Emitter Velocity=0.00, 0.00
Drag=0.00, 0.01
X Particle Velocity=0.00, 0.00
Y Particle Velocity=0.00, 0.00
Z Particle Velocity=0.00, 0.00
X Offset=0.5, 0.5
Y Offset=-0.6, -0.6
Z Offset=1.32, 1.32
And So On for each EXTRA....
==============================================================
static_cg_height = 6.87 //(feet) altitude of CG when at rest (altitude when loaded on ground)
static_pitch = 10.31 //degrees (pitch when loaded on ground)
Stefano 'kelticheart' Denti for the original F6f Hellcat EXTRA configs in his exhaust_effects.zip
Jim 'Jimko' Koski for spurring me on with this. Testing the gauge. Checking and correcting the new 'fx_f2g_exhaust_Hellcat'.
Talos2005 - Testing the gauge.
Dai Griffiths for the great Gauge Tutorial.
All other developers for there efforts to make this a better Sim !
DISCLAIMER
Use at your own risk. It is provided "as is" and the author is not liable for any
unlikely damage it may cause.
These gauges were developed for your enjoyment. All care has been taken and there should be no adverse affects from their use.
Apologies if there are.
If you believe they cause problems - remove them.
They have been developed for Combat Flight Simulator 2 - and not tested in any other simulator version.
These Gauges are FREEWARE.
They are NOT to be incorporated in any package or web site that is charged for or requires payment for download without my prior permission.
Enjoy!
Department of Aircraft Production.
15 July 2005
Ken Lee (GreenGhost)
DAPCFS2@tpg.com.au
