FS2004 DC-3 Bare Metal Aircraft, IFR Panel, 4-Tank Full Package
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This standalone package based on the default DC-3 restored as a 4-tank ship includes the latest edition of Mark Beaumont's 'IFR' panel. It also incorporates Beaumont and Bitzer's 4-tank "no ALL tanks" and automixture modifications for the stock airfiles. Supplied with one bare metal livery in a new aircraft folder to which you can add other texture sets in the usual way. Easy to install, this may appeal to those who would like a more contemporary panel for the DC-3 and who have not previously installed Beaumont and Bitzer's various modifications for the default aircraft.
By Mark Beaumont and Dave Bitzer.
File name: DC3_4TKF.ZIP
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INSTALLATION:
1. Download and unzip DC3_4TKF.ZIP to a temporary directory. You should see four folders and README files.
2. Move the folder 'Douglas_DC3_IFR_4TK' within the AIRCRAFT folder to ..../Flight Simulator 9/AIRCRAFT/ (the main FS2004 aircraft folder) or simply move the AIRCRAFT folder itself to your FS root directory. The new aircraft within it will overwrite no others.
3. Move the contents of the GAUGES folder to ..../Flight Simulator 9/GAUGES/ (the main FS2004 gauges folder) or simply move this entire GAUGES folder to your FS root directory. You can move the gauges individually if you prefer. If you are asked to overwrite, please check that you are overwriting with more recent files, otherwise discard mine. No default gauges will be overwritten.
4. Move the file in the SOUND folder to ..../Flight Simulator 9/SOUND/. You may have this file already.
5. Move the FSSound.dll file in the folder MODULES to ..../Flight Simulator 9/MODULES/ if you do not have it installed already. If you do not, you should then proceed as follows:
Find the FS9.CFG file. It is located in your personal "Application Data" folder. On Windows 2000/XP systems, this is located in "...\Documents and Settings\\Application Data\Microsoft\FS9\FS9.cfg". For Windows 9x users the path is "...\Windows\Application Data\Microsoft\FS9\fs9.cfg". The Application Data folder is hidden, so you will need to enable viewing of hidden files/folders under the Folder Options in your Explorer.
Back up your FS9.CFG file. Then open the file and add the following section, somewhere near the top:
[OLDMODULES]
FSSound.dll=1
Save the file.
6. IMPORTANT TO COMPLETE INSTALLATION: COPY (or move) the default gauge file DOUGLAS_DC3.CAB from your default DC-3 PANEL folder to the main Flight Simulator 9/GAUGES folder (do NOT unzip it). If you do not do this, default gauges will not show in your new panel.
If you have followed these instructions correctly, you should find your new aircraft in the FS2004 aircraft selection menu under manufacturer: "Douglas", model: "DC-3", variation: "Bare metal, IFR panel, 4TK 4MX". Its folder name under ..../Flight Simulator 9/AIRCRAFT/ is 'Douglas_DC3_IFR_4TK'. Should you by chance have already installed any of Mark Beaumont's panel work or Beaumont and Bitzer's fuel work, please note that there are no conflicts or confusing overwrites as this is a new folder.
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PANEL FEATURES:
- An improved main bitmap 'cleaning up' Microsoft's default.
- Bigger windows giving greatly improved but realistic perspective and better synergy with the VC
- In basic state, a clean, uncluttered facia with all necessary gauges
- VOR1, RMI (VOR2/ADF) and a separate VOR2 gauge on a toggle switch.
- Bendix King radios with standby frequencies enabled
- Digital readouts for all key instruments in an optional overlay
- Two in-cockpit timers, as a pop-up overlay
- Enlarged radio panel pop-up window
- Modification of the pop-up throttle panel first released by Bruno Mulken which keep the essential RPM and MAP gauges in view and lifts the minipanel gauges (W key) to the top of the screen.
- Revised engine fuel tank selector switches and 4-tank fuel gauge selector
- NAV/GPS switch for those who wish to fly with Autopilot/GPS combination. Yes, there's an autopilot; those who point out that very few DC-3s flying today have autopilots should remember that all those birds have co-pilots!
- 'Gear Up' Annunciator Light goes off when gear is fully retracted. The default light remained on, which is incorrect. Many thanks go to Tim Cook DCA-813 of 'DC-3 Airways' for this amendment.
- A plaque on the glareshield that shows your aircraft's registration number once this is set in FS.
- The default Garmin GPS has been replaced by the more versatile Garmin 530 by Don Kuhn. Instructions for use included. NOTE: during operation, open your ECU pop-up panel BEFORE opening the GPS if you want to be able to see your RPM and MAP gauges whilst using it.
- Electrical panel extended to include two Ammeters, Voltmeter and Outside Air Temperature Gauge. The OAT is moved from the main panel but the other three gauges are only available in the VC by default.
- ATC Control Panel - Bill Morad's excellent panel, visually modified slightly to fit, sits neatly under the centre of the overhead in main panel view and enables control of all FS ATC functions using the mouse, rather than having to use the keyboard.
- Radio CD player - an indulgence, but for those of you who enjoy long flights, this is a wonderful add-on. The original README is included. You can play CDs from within the sim and select up to 12 presets (MP3s, WAV files or MIDI files) from your computer's harddrive.
- Simicons on a pop-up panel, toggled from the left of the main panel.
- OMI lights; thanks are due to Dragonflight Design for the use of these.
- 'docs' folder within the panel folder, together with some screenshots of the panel's features.
Many DC-3 fans have voiced their annoyance that the panel supplied with the sim looks inappropriately battered. Andy Hatcher, Fleet Manager of DC-3 Airways, did a marvellous job of cleaning the panel up without making things look overdone, and it is on his excellent bitmap that this work is based.
The panel is darkened slightly for more realism and has modified night lighting.
You can toggle digital readouts on and off for all primary instruments, which is very useful for precise flying or for testing. The altimeter reading is a RADIO ALTIMETER reading i.e. AGL, with colour changes at signficant height transitions. A windgauge will appear at the bottom of the panel showing true and magnetic wind direction and windspeed in knots.
Many replacement gauges as found on the the 2D panel will also be seen in virtual cockpit mode.
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4-TANK "NO ALL TANKS" MODIFICATION
The default FS2004 DC-3 is configured for three fuel tanks, whereas by design the C-47/DC-3 had four from which to draw. Many airlines using the DC-3 blanked off, removed or never installed one tank in order to maximize payload; they were usually operating shorter routes than were typical of the C-47 in military service,
This conversion kit gives the option of restoring the aircraft to four-tank configuration, giving greater range for long duration flights. Offering realistic fuel management, this option can replace your default configuration or, alternatively, add one or more four-tank aircraft to your DC-3 collection.
Note that this file is only of use to those pilots who like to set up fuel and payload properly before a flight; pilots using default FS settings of maximum fuel and full payload will find that the aircraft is over maximum takeoff weight in this revised configuration.
The main thing to remember is that, as with the real DC-3, there is now no "all tanks" option (Microsoft's default DOES have this easy-fly option). You must manually switch the fuel selector switch on the ECU panel to supply fuel from that tank to the engine. It is important to keep the fuel level "balanced" in the aux. tanks as well as in the main tanks. Control+E engine starts, plus any saved flights configured for default "all" tanks should work properly. The fuel select valves will now default to left engine on left main tank, right engine on right main tank.
A few known bugs exist in this release. The aircraft pull-down menu lists a "center" tank (for left aux.) and "center2" (for right aux.). The tooltips list "aux" (left aux.) and "other" (right aux.) over the fuel tank selector levers on the ECU panel. The fuel gauge on the main panel reads correctly, but the tooltip hover will not display digitally the quantity for the right aux. tank. These captions and tooltips seem to be in the aircraft model itself and we are not at liberty, therefore, to change these.
Although the four-tank engine fuel selectors will show visually in virtual cockpit mode should you choose to install the included texture file, you should NOT alter tank configuration while in VC view. Firstly, the MS default is flawed in that the selectors will move anticlockwise only and must travel through OFF to go from aux. to right main, thereby cutting the respective engine dead; secondly, the VC engine fuel selectors are also in the model, not in the panel and so it has been impossible to alter these for four-tank use. Make all adjustments while in 2D panel mode, using the ECU pop-up which is toggled by the relevant simicon.
Trevor Morson on DC-3 Fuel Management (first printed in the 'DC-3 Airways' Newsletter):
"Be sure that fuel levels are balanced in each of the main tanks. Always take off drawing fuel from the main tanks, left main tank/left engine, right main tank/right engine. Only switch to aux. tanks (or single aux. tank) when desired cruising altitude is reached. The minimum limit of fuel in each main tank when landing should be 40 gallons and 10 gallons in the aux.
Never take off with less than 60 gallons of fuel in each main tank.
Always burn fuel from the right tank (preferably right engine) for approximately 20 minutes to allow for carburetor return air flow (the left main tank is equippped with a by-pass to the aux. tank so no need to do the same for the left).
5 gallons of fuel in each of the tanks (including aux.) are unusable; this is because there is a standpipe arrangement in each tank incoporated to prevent sedimentation into strainers and carburetors.
A DC-3's fuel capacity is actually 210 gallons in each of the main tanks and 201 gallons in the left aux. tank. A C-47 would have 202 gallons in each of the main tanks and 200 in each of the aux. tanks.
Maximum oil capacity is 2 x 29 gallons. Never take off with less than 22 gallons oil in each tank. Do not begin to taxi until oil temp is 40 degrees."
trev@douglasdc3.com
Visit "The DC-3 Hangar"
www.douglasdc3.com
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4-TANK AUTOMIXTURE GAUGE OPERATION:
For four-tank operation, this gauge is for those pilots who like to fly without checking the "Enable automixture" function in the "Aircraft/Realism Settings" pull-down menu, but want more DC-3 realism than can be achieved with FS2004's simulation of mixture control.
This gauge replaces the ECU gauge on the Throttles Panel. Its purpose is to replicate the auto-rich and auto-lean settings on the mixture controls, including a fully functional mixture control. Its calibrated range of operation is from 3000 to 12000ft. density altitude. In the auto-rich position, it approximates the checked "Enable automixture" setting on the "Aircraft/Realism Settings" menu. In the auto-lean position, the mixture is leaned to increase the exhaust gas temperature about 30 degrees K. from auto-rich, and will increase achieved miles per gallon.
The "Aircraft" pull-down menu's "Realism Settings" for "Enable automixture" must be unchecked.
Note the new (realistic) labels to the right of the mixture levers on the pop-up ECU, and the little green light/switch, attached to the label bar on a small bracket, that glows when the unit is under automatic control. Default starting conditions are full up mixture levers, and green light off. If it is on, you may click it to turn it off. (You cannot turn it on by clicking it).
We should point out that there is no "little green light" on the real aircraft, but we have added this to replicate selection of the detents on the mixture levers travel that are not present in FS2004. It seems that there are no little green men on Mars, either, but since you believed in those for so long perhaps you'll believe in this!
After completing the DC-3 checklist, start, take-off and land full rich under manual control (except at high altitude airports, where auto-rich is appropriate). On achieving 3,000 ft ASL, you may engage AUTO RICH for climb by clicking on the label to the right of the mixture control, and then click AUTO LEAN for cruise (or final climb). Auto-lean normally gives 5 to 10 % more mpg than auto-rich for a given TAS, but the engine will run hotter. Note that on climb, you won't have to adjust the mixture, but you will still have to increase the throttle as you climb to maintain MP, and reduce throttle to maintain MP as you descend. On approach, you may return to AUTO RICH, or shut off the auto control by clicking the green light, and then move the levers to full up.
Click the CUTOFF label to cut the engines by leaning them out.
For this first release there are not separate auto controls for the left and right engines. If you have an emergency and need to control the mixture levers separately, you must turn off the auto control and move the levers individually, or click the EMER RICH label. Doing so will disable auto control, and move the levers to EMER RICH. This label is sometimes hidden behind the mixture control lever, so it is marked with a "_+_" sign on the tooltip hand.
In AUTO RICH, the mixture levers move to approximately 80% of full rich, and in AUTO LEAN, the levers move to approximately 20% of full rich. This simulates them going to a "detent" position.
Note that in the AUTO modes, although the mixture levers do not move, the tooltip hovering on each lever will show the percentage mixture lever setting corresponding to the controlled level for that environmental condition.
The gauge was calibrated to work best with the "stock" .air and aircraft.cfg files. Any changes to flight dynamics, (power, thrust, lift, drag, engine cooling, etc.) may require recalibration of the gauge for satisfactory performance. Specific versions for modified flight dynamics may be released in due course.
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These new additions work for me and others, but should you have installation issues, please feel free to be in touch. That said, I take no responsibility for what you may do, or think you may have done, to your own system by installing these freeware files.
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CREDITS:
Several good men are to be thanked for helping a rank amateur strut his stuff. Listed here in no particular order:
Dave Bitzer for his wonderful programming of the fuel and automixture gauges
Andy Hatcher of DC-3 Airways for his base bitmap, itself modified from default
Ike Slack for his Coyote Avionics Design gauges
Bruno Mulken for his throttle panel modification
Charles Woods, ex-President and Founder of DC-3 Airways, for his friendly help
Trevor Morson of www.douglasdc3.com fame for his knowledge and friendship
Roman from the Avsim forums for his new windspeed gauge XML code and gauge idea which I modified
Robert Guy for his wonderful Fuel Status and Airspeed/Groundspeed gauges
R.L. Clark for his excellent Radio CD player
Don Kuhn for his sophisticated Garmin 530
Bill Morad for his very user-friendly ATC Control Panel
Tim Cook of DC-3 Airways for his realistic "gear up" light modification
Jorge Salas for his camaraderie and his excellent CPT.ICONS gauge which I have modified for this project
HGHB Virtual Instruments, KK Technology Inc., Dome Fliteware, DragonFlight Design
Anybody whose gauges might have slipped in here that I have not recognised and should thank. Please let me know if I have goofed and I will replace any disputed inclusions.
The team at Microsoft for a fantastic simulation on which to base all this.
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LEGAL BIT:
All parts or the whole of these files/folders/package are freeware and must remain so. So there. Should I find you peddling them on Ebay for fantastic sums of money, I shall attempt to whack you over the head with a large wet fish and then demand a considerable percentage.
Not. Please bear in mind that many of these files are reworked from Microsoft orginals, and thus are only of any use to users who have purchased FS2004; they must not, under any circumstances, be bundled in commercial products of any kind or included in any package that is charged for or sold.
Please contact me if you would like to use any of this work in other projects - this is freeware, I will encourage not block you - and include original READMEs if you upload any other authors' freeware work that you find here. Thank you.
