Widescreen Panel for the default Microsoft FSX 747-400.
USING THIS PANEL:-
- I use this panel at 1920x1080 resolution. I started making popup windows for use in the VC and ended up with this entire panel.
- From the VC (or the main panel) click the engine EICAS display to toggle the autopilot window on and off.
This makes it easier to use the autopilot while in the VC (due to the VC movement and the AP on/off button in the VC not working). All the buttons are now functional and I also added a course selector knob. (this used to be on the original default 747-400 MFD). I didnt know where to put it so its just above the course readout on the MFD of the main panel and also on the autopilot window for use while in the VC.
- The panel has altitude callout by Stefan Liebe. I have included files for this. (original download callv1.zip)
- The panel is set up for the flightdeck sound effects sub-panel by Marcus Thompson. It needs to be downloaded and installed separately for the gauge and sound files. File name fdsfxpnl.zip
Click on the clock on the main panel or VC to open it up.
- The panel is already set up for the ground handling pushback gauge by Rob Barendregt (I included only the pushback feature) File name rcbgh-50.zip Download and install separately
Click the compass in either the main panel or VC to toggle it on/off.
- The overhead, fuel display and FMC is mainly the work of Ken Mitchell from his FS2004 Panel. I replaced the start switches, added an avionics switch and altered the overhead light switches to move in the same direction as the ones modelled in the VC.
Click the upper left of the main or lower left of the overhead to toggle it on and off.
In the VC you can toggle it on and off by by clicking the standby attitude indicator.
- From the VC (or main) click the standby airpseed indicator to open the fsx garmin gps and the standby altimeter to bring up the radio stack.
- The EFIS control is borrowed from the default FSX 737-800. It works the same. The arc/rose switch on the default 747 panel is no longer needed as its now a push button on the effis control. This also makes it accessible from the VC on the autopilot popup. (It has always been modelled in the VC but not the default main panel, so now its there).
- The PDF Primary flight display is also borrowed from the fsx B737-800 and changed so now the orange/red line shows stall at 140 knots, which is the no-flap stall airpeed stated in the 747 aircraft.cfg file.
- There is a cargo door switch on the lower left to open cargo doors from this panel.
- I included a standby RMI borrowed from the 737-800
INSTALLATION:-
-copy the 'panel.wide' folder to the 747-400 folder in FSX\SimObjects\Airplanes\b747_400
- Open the aircraft.cfg file with notepad and add 'wide' to the panel line for each aircraft listed you wish to use it with so it reads ' Panel=wide '
OR, Alternatively, you can rename the original panel folder to panel.original (as a backup) and rename 'panel.wide' to 'panel'.
-copy and paste the gauges file ' Boeing747-400.cab ' from the original Boeing 747-400 panel folder to mine.
OR, alternatively, copy it the main ' Gauges ' folder in FSX (this makes it accessible to any panel without having to copy it over and over)
- Copy the ' CALLOUT ' Folder from the sound folder in this zip to the main SOUND folder in FSX. If you already have it this is not necessary.
- Copy the contents of the GAUGES folder in this zip to the main GAUGES folder in FSX. (Again, not necessary if you already have Stefan Liebe's callout gauge installed)
- For pushback and Crew sub panels to work, install sound and gauge files from fdsfxpnl.zip and rcbgh-50.zip
- I have included some better (I think) wingviews and VC camera definitions in 'wingviews.txt' These are not necessary, I just made them for myself and included them if you wish to try them. In the VC, the right seat, Overhead and Radio views are changed and I added a view from the back of the cockpit.
Remember to Copy and backup the aircraft.cfg in theFSX\SimObjects\Airplanes\b747_400 folder first so you can change back if you dont like these ones. Then copy the camera defintions from wingviews.txt and overwrite the entire '[CameraDefinition.x]' section of the aircraft.cfg
- I prefer an eyepoint in the VC a litlle further back and higher. Also not necessary but here it is. Replace in the Aircraft.cfg
[Views]
//eyepoint = -18.55, -2.0, 11.0 //....... Original
eyepoint = -19.25, -1.95, 11.23 //........ My preference
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS:-
Thanks to...
Ken mitchell for the overhead panel, fuel and FMC gauges from his B747 FS2004 Panel.
Thomas Scholz, Cargo door gauge
Stefan Liebe, Altitude Callout
Marcus Thompson, flightdeck sound effects sub-panel
Rob Barendregt, Ground handling
DISCLAIMER/KNOWN ISSUES:-
- This is freeware and I cannot take responsibility for any issues that arise nor am I able to solve them. Use as is.
- The PFD max airspeed redline operated properly for the 747, with but I was surprised to find the stall speed bar fixed to 120 knots. I found a way to modify this so now the orange/red stall speed line shows stall at 140 knots, which is the no-flap stall airpeed stated in the default 747 aircraft.cfg file. However, when at rest it sits in the middle of the display, I dont know how to change this but its a minor issue compared with having the correct stall speed now showing y on the airspeed display of the PFD.
- The overhead is hard to read...but at least there is one.
- The autopilot disengage button will also disengage the autothrottle. It works OK but toggles the A/T switch rather than just turning it off which means if it is off, it will toggle it on. Not really a problem. I couldnt find a way to just switch it off as my xml knowledge is limited.
- because of the size of the main panel bitmap it may be possible to encounter texture issues. I dont experience any although I did during the process of making the panel that I was able to eliminate. Other widescreen panels have instructed users to alter the fsx.cfg file graphics section from TEXTURE_MAX_LOAD=1024 to 2048. It made no difference one way or the other for me so I have not done this.
I also find it runs best in windowed mode. This might just be my system.
- PFD/MFD positions are in the correct places on the right side of the my main panel but I could not change this in the VC.
Please forgive me if I included any gauges or parts of bitmaps without proper credit and consider their inclusion a compliment!
This panel works well for me, as I hope it will for you.
Please feel free to modify it as you please as long as it remains freeware and you respect the fact the callout, cargo door, fuel, FMC and most overhead gauges are made by other authors.
If this Panel can be improved and released again by someone else I am more than happy. Please do!
