FS2002 Panel for Scottish Aviation Twin Pioneer
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By Mark Beaumont
A simple but workable panel for the Scottish Aviation Twin Pioneer, based on an original photograph by Arnold Begeman. Suitable for use with the excellent "Twin Pin" models by Mike Stone and Vladimir Zhyhulskiy. Incorporates drag-down landing view.
Just as with my LET L-410 panel released recently, I became frustrated that there are two wonderful Twin Pioneer models out there (to date) but that no panel was to be found, excepting Mike Stone's rudimentary offering. Mike does not pretend to be a panel designer, and simply (and kindly) provides something to fly with rather than defaulting to Ye Olde Cessna. Hence, I drew up this little work for myself and would now like to share it with you.
Both the 'Twin Pins' I mention fly beautifully and so I hope this enhances your experience with them. Anyone who saw the 'Air Atlantique' Twin Pioneer in action at the Coventry Classic Airshow this year - she took off like a helicopter, and landed like a high diver - will know what an awe-inspiring STOL aircraft this wee lass is. I have never been aboard one, and could trace only one cockpit photograph to work from, but I hope that this is a reasonable representation that will function sensibly for you in FS2002 and can be manipulated without too much trouble.
Vladimir's aircraft can be found at major sites. The file name is stp.zip. Mike Stone's craft is at www.pmstone.com. Repaints of the latter are available at major flightsim sites.
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INSTALLATION:
Unzip TWINPAN.ZIP to a temporary folder if you have not done so already. The folder TWINPAN will be created. Within it, you'll find the following folders and files:
GAUGES/
Install contents to FS2002/GAUGES/
PANEL/
In the case of Vladimir's aircraft, you can just drop the folder within FS2002/AIRCRAFT/STP/ (his default folder name, you may have changed it) and overwrite as prompted as his aircraft shipped with only an 'alias' to the default C182 panel. In the case of Mike's 'plane, back up his original panel folder if you think you might like to revert to that panel; or overwrite it, as desired.
AIRCRAFT.CFG
This is a replacement AIRCRAFT.CFG file for Vladimir's aircraft that adds a necessary section for radios. I have also changed the manufacturer/type from STP/STP to Scottish Aviation/Twin Pioneer. Those are the only changes I have made to his original. Drop this into his aircraft folder and overwrite the original if you use my panel. YOU NEED TO MAKE NO CHANGE to Mike Stone's AIRCRAFT.CFG.
TWIN PIONEER PANEL.TXT
This document
FILE_ID
File description
TWINPINS.JPG
PINPANEL.JPG
PINPANEL.GIF
Screenshots. Do with them what you will.
You can then delete the empty folder TWINPAN.
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LANDING VIEW:
By way of it's design, the Twin Pin sits well back on its haunches on the ground as a real taildragger, so visibility forward is compromised by default. If you want to see better when taking off and landing, you have the option of either switching to VC view or dragging down the cockpit bitmap using your mouse, if you have enabled that option within FS2002. The latter move enables you to position your 'seat' exactly as you want it, whereas the default key strokes for that action make more extreme changes which I find too dramatic.
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This is very much a working panel and, although it is laid out much like the real animal, I have installed a standard Bendix King radio stack and one or two other goodies to help you get about without having to study a manual. There's a throttle window and a GPS toggle. On the left side of the co-pilot's panel, there is a VOR2 gauge; VOR1 and the ADF are to the left of the Captain's position. All else is pretty obvious to most, I think. Shout if not.
If anyone would like to take the time to model the panel more authentically or add cockpit views, basing your work on this bitmap or a modification of it, you have my and Arnold's permission without further consultation; as long as we are credited accordingly.
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CREDITS:
Arnold Begeman for the photograph, found at airliners.net; Arnold is a flightimmer too, so he's going to try this modification! Any gauge designer whose gauge is to be found here; I went through them all carefully and found no references to individual designers except Dragonflight who made the OMI lights. So thanks, Dai, and Microsoft, of course.
Mike Stone and Vladimir Zhyhulskiy for the fantastic models that inspired this feeble effort.
Have fun! Let me know if you find anything that doesn't work, or better still, fix it! Just don't moan at me, this is freeware. Oh yes ... this panel may not be uploaded in any commercial package or used in any shape or form where nasty grubby money changes hands. If I find it on a disk anywhere or skulking around on Ebay for a fiver I shall hit the culprit on the head with a large, wet and very old Scottish Salmon.
