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Fast Strobe Light

biggard

biggard

Messages
180
Country
us-california
Can anyone help me with this...I have no idea how to make effects (slowly trying to figure them out), and I need an effect. :banghead:

I am working on an airport that has elevated approach strobes at the end of one of its runways. They are fast, probaby about 1-2 flashes a second, each being very short lived (like an aircraft strobe). I thought that I might be able to use the default approach strobes (as in the ones that FS places at airports depending on the AFCAD file) but I am not sure which effect it is. Thanks in advance.


David Biggar :yellowfla
david.biggar@gmail.com
 
Look in your fs9/ effects folder and there should be an effect called fx_strobe. Im pretty sure thats a default one that came with the game. If not let me know as i made so many of them, i lost track of what i made and what came originally with the game.

Dave
 
Okay, I added the strobe, perfect it works...but there is a new problem now. The strobe is only clearly visible about 10-20ft away, and that isnt very good for approaching aircraft. In the distance, it is so dim, it may not even be there.

Do you think you can share one of your effects with me?

David Biggar
david.biggar@gmail.com
 
Hey,

This is the same effect with some adjustments. This will make the lights a little bigger and for see them at a better distance. To see them at a greater distance you need to create LOD for the effect which is explained in the Wiki section of this forum.

[Library Effect]
Lifetime=5
Version=2.00
Radius=-1
Priority=0

[Properties]
Spot=1
Tower=1
Map=1

[Emitter.0]
Lifetime=0.00, 0.00
Delay=0.00, 0.00
Bounce=0.00
No Interpolate=1
Rate=5.00, 5.00
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 Rotation=0.00, 0.00
Y Rotation=0.00, 0.00
Z Rotation=0.00, 0.00
X Offset=0.00, 0.00
Y Offset=0.00, 0.00
Z Offset=0.00, 0.00
Pitch=0.00, 0.00
Bank=0.00, 0.00
Heading=0.00, 0.00

[Particle.0]
Lifetime=0.01, 0.01
Type=19
X Scale=3.00, 3.00
Y Scale=3.00, 3.00
Z Scale=0.00, 0.00
X Scale Rate=0.00, 0.00
Y Scale Rate=0.00, 0.00
Z Scale Rate=0.00, 0.00
Drag=0.00, 0.00
Color Rate=0.00, 0.00
X Offset=0.00, 0.00
Y Offset=0.00, 0.00
Z Offset=0.00, 0.00
Fade In=0.00, 0.00
Fade Out=0.00, 0.00
Rotation=0.00, 0.00
Static=1
Face=1, 1, 1

[ParticleAttributes.0]
Blend Mode=2
Texture=fx_2.bmp
Bounce=0.00
Color Start=100, 100, 150, 200
Color End=100, 100, 150, 0
Jitter Distance=0.00
Jitter Time=0.00
uv1=0.00, 0.00
uv2=0.50, 0.50
X Scale Goal=0.00
Y Scale Goal=0.00
Z Scale Goal=0.00
Extrude Length=0.00
Extrude Pitch Max=0.00
Extrude Heading Max=0.00

[Emitter.1]
Lifetime=0.00, 0.00
Delay=0.00, 0.00
Bounce=0.00
No Interpolate=1
Rate=5.00, 5.00
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 Rotation=0.00, 0.00
Y Rotation=0.00, 0.00
Z Rotation=0.00, 0.00
X Offset=0.00, 0.00
Y Offset=0.00, 0.00
Z Offset=0.00, 0.00
Pitch=0.00, 0.00
Bank=0.00, 0.00
Heading=0.00, 0.00

[Particle.1]
Lifetime=0.01, 0.01
Type=19
X Scale=0.50, 0.50
Y Scale=0.50, 0.50
Z Scale=0.00, 0.00
X Scale Rate=0.00, 0.00
Y Scale Rate=0.00, 0.00
Z Scale Rate=0.00, 0.00
Drag=0.00, 0.00
Color Rate=0.00, 0.00
X Offset=0.00, 0.00
Y Offset=0.00, 0.00
Z Offset=0.00, 0.00
Fade In=0.00, 0.00
Fade Out=0.00, 0.00
Rotation=0.00, 0.00
Static=1
Face=1, 1, 1

[ParticleAttributes.1]
Blend Mode=2
Texture=fx_2.bmp
Bounce=0.00
Color Start=200, 200, 255, 255
Color End=200, 200, 255, 0
Jitter Distance=0.00
Jitter Time=0.00
uv1=0.00, 0.00
uv2=0.50, 0.50
X Scale Goal=0.00
Y Scale Goal=0.00
Z Scale Goal=0.00
Extrude Length=0.00
Extrude Pitch Max=0.00
Extrude Heading Max=0.00

All i did was increase the value of the X and Y scale above in each particle section will increase the size. You can copy and paste this effect and rename since any change you make in the fx_strobe file will alter each strobe light that is used in the game.

Dave
 
Wow! :D Thanks alot!!! The strobe is nice and bright from a distance, and is even better than the the runway strobe (tested in 1/16 visibility). So a simple modification in particle scale will allow for a larger light? Thanks again.

David Biggar :greenflag
david.biggar@gmail.com
 
Oh, another quick question...is there a way in XML to get the light to turn on during IFR weather like the rest of the airport lights, or is this included under DAY,NIGHT,DUSK,and DAWN? Thanks.

David Biggar
david.biggar@gmail.com
 
Hey Dave,

Unfortunatly, their is no way of now to turn lights on or off during low visibilty or during certain weather conditions as those lights are hardcoded into the sim. The only adjustments are like you said for day, night, dusk, and dawn and to turn on or turn off effects at a certain distance with a controller. That would be a nice thing to have with the next version of FS...guess we'll see.

Dave
 
Hey Dave,

Well just thinking, there is a way of turning on lights when you want which would involve as of right now using bgl. lights and tweaking the mdl file to have them turn on by using a nav frequency. Its kind of a round about way, but only way i can think of.

Dave
 
Thanks for your help...maybe FS will have it in the next version. For the mean time, the airport looks great with the lights. And on the IFR note, the airport never experiences visibility below 3/4 - 1 mile so a good pilot using ILS will still be able to find the runway. Thanks again.

BTW, just in case people go searching the forums for how to attach a light that will display in the night, dawn, and dusk times, but not day, here is how I did it. Since night and day must be paired, and the same with dawn and dusk, I created 2 attachpoints in the same spot, had one be the DAWN=1;DUSK=1 and the other was NIGHT=1;DAY=1. It isnt anything special, im sure other people have done it in the past, but im sure this will save some a lot of time without having to search this huge, and helpful, site.

David Biggar :wizard:
david.biggar@gmail.com
 
ok I have read everything in this post and I am still having problems getting the lights to flash quicker and a little brighter.

this is the effects file
[Library Effect]
Lifetime=5
Version=2.00
Radius=5
Priority=0

[Properties]
Cockpit=1
VirtualCockpit=1
Spot=1
Tower=1
Map=1

[Emitter.0]
Lifetime=0.00, 0.00
Delay=0.01, 0.02
Bounce=0.00
Light=1
No Interpolate=1
Rate=5.00, 5.00
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 Rotation=0.00, 0.00
Y Rotation=0.00, 0.00
Z Rotation=0.00, 0.00
X Offset=0.00, 0.00
Y Offset=0.00, 0.00
Z Offset=0.00, 0.00
Pitch=0.00, 0.00
Bank=0.00, 0.00
Heading=0.00, 0.00

[Particle.0]
Lifetime=0.01, 0.01
Type=19
X Scale=1.00, 1.00
Y Scale=1.00, 1.00
Z Scale=0.00, 0.00
X Scale Rate=0.00, 0.00
Y Scale Rate=0.00, 0.00
Z Scale Rate=0.00, 0.00
Drag=0.00, 0.00
Color Rate=0.00, 0.00
X Offset=0.00, 0.00
Y Offset=0.00, 0.00
Z Offset=0.00, 0.00
Fade In=0.00, 0.00
Fade Out=0.00, 0.00
Rotation=0.00, 0.00
Static=1
Face=1, 1, 1

[ParticleAttributes.0]
Blend Mode=2
Texture=fx_2.bmp
Bounce=0.00
Color Start=50, 50, 50, 1
Color End=84,73,222, 0
Jitter Distance=0.00
Jitter Time=0.00
uv1=0.00, 0.00
uv2=0.50, 0.50
X Scale Goal=0.00
Y Scale Goal=0.00
Z Scale Goal=0.00
Extrude Length=0.00
Extrude Pitch Max=0.00
Extrude Heading Max=0.00

i would also love to have the wig wag as well.

this is the lights for a ground vehicle that has a light bar on top, i am trying to make the lights a little brighter and wig wag just like emergency lights. and and all help would be great. here is the aircraft config file as well.

[fltsim.0]
title=Deer_Valley_Fire
sim=Deer_VAlley_Fire
model=
panel=
sound=
texture=
checklists=
checklists=F100
atc_id=DV_Fire
atc_id_color=ffffcc00
atc_airline=DVFD
atc_flight_number=DVFD_1
ui_manufacturer=Deer_Valley_Fire
ui_type=Deer_Valley_Fire
ui_variation=Deer_Valley_Fire
description=Fire Chief Command Vehicle with working siren.

[General]
performance=drive along taxiways and runways to check them. They are considered

as aircrafts by ATCs.Chief Smith's Command Vehicle. With working sirens.
.
[WEIGHT_AND_BALANCE]
reference_datum_position=0.000000,0.000000,0.000000
empty_weight_CG_position=0.000000,0.000000,0.000000
max_number_of_stations=50
station_load.0=0.000000,0.000000,0.000000,0.000000
empty_weight=2762.000000
empty_weight_roll_MOI=2131.000000
empty_weight_pitch_MOI=2706.000000
empty_weight_yaw_MOI=3932.000000
empty_weight_coupled_MOI=0.000000
max_gross_weight=4143.000000

[fuel]
LeftMain=-0.200000,-7.900000,-0.800000,25.000000,3.000000
RightMain=-0.200000,7.900000,-0.800000,25.000000,3.000000
fuel_type=1.000000
number_of_tank_selectors=1
electric_pump=1

[airplane_geometry]
wing_area=175.000000
wing_span=36.083333
wing_root_chord=5.083333
wing_dihedral=5.498657
wing_incidence=0.000000
wing_twist=-1.801758
oswald_efficiency_factor=0.600782
wing_winglets_flag=0
wing_sweep=0.000000
wing_pos_apex_lon=0.000000
wing_pos_apex_vert=0.000000
htail_area=34.000000
htail_span=11.750000
htail_pos_lon=-14.666667
htail_pos_vert=0.000000
htail_incidence=0.999756
htail_sweep=0.000000
vtail_area=12.000000
vtail_span=3.949684
vtail_sweep=0.000000
vtail_pos_lon=-12.583333
vtail_pos_vert=1.666667
elevator_area=16.610000
aileron_area=18.300000
rudder_area=6.650000
elevator_up_limit=28.000447
elevator_down_limit=20.998903
aileron_up_limit=19.996227
aileron_down_limit=15.000035
rudder_limit=40.000000
elevator_trim_limit=19.497754
spoiler_limit=89.954374
spoilerons_available=0
aileron_to_spoileron_gain=0.000000
min_ailerons_for_spoilerons=0.000000
min_flaps_for_spoilerons=0.000000

[contact_points]
point.0=1.000000,6.666667,0.000000,-3.60,1181.102362,0.000000,2.362204,40.800000

,0.273788,2.500000,0.843141,3.500000,3.500000,0.000000,0.000000,0.000000
point.1=1.000000,-2.166667,-4.500000,-3.60,1574.803150,1.000000,2.3622047,0.0000

00,0.262474,2.500000,0.804898,4.700000,4.700000,2.000000,0.000000,0.000000
point.2=1.000000,-2.166667,4.500000,-3.60,1574.803150,2.000000,2.362204,0.000000

,0.262474,2.500000,0.804898,5.200000,5.200000,3.000000,0.000000,0.000000
point.3=2.000000,0.000000,-18.000000,-0.666667,1574.803150,0.000000,0.000000,0.0

00000,0.000000,0.000000,0.000000,0.000000,0.000000,5.000000,0.000000,0.000000
point.4=2.000000,0.000000,18.000000,-0.666667,1574.803150,0.000000,0.000000,0.00

0000,0.000000,0.000000,0.000000,0.000000,0.000000,6.000000,0.000000,0.000000
point.5=2.000000,-16.333333,0.000000,0.833333,1574.803150,0.000000,0.000000,0.00

0000,0.000000,0.000000,0.000000,0.000000,0.000000,9.000000,0.000000,0.000000
point.6=2.000000,2.416667,0.000000,-2.166667,1574.803150,0.000000,0.000000,0.000

000,0.000000,0.000000,0.000000,0.000000,0.000000,4.000000,0.000000,0.000000
point.7=2.000000,-16.333333,0.000000,6.833333,1574.803150,0.000000,0.000000,0.00

0000,0.000000,0.000000,0.000000,0.000000,0.000000,7.000000,0.000000,0.000000
point.8=2.000000,-1.000000,0.000000,-1.833333,1574.803150,0.000000,0.000000,0.00

0000,0.000000,0.000000,0.000000,0.000000,0.000000,8.000000,0.000000,0.000000
static_pitch=1.840210
static_cg_height=3.539863
gear_system_type=0

[Flaps.0]
type=1
span-outboard=0.500000
extending-time=7.000000
system_type=0
flaps-position.0=0.000000,0.000000
flaps-position.1=33.002369,0.000000
//flaps-position.1=16.501184,0.000000
//flaps-position.2=33.002369,0.000000

[GeneralEngineData]
engine_type=0
Engine.0=5.416667,0.000000,0.000000
fuel_flow_scalar=1.000000
min_throttle_limit=0.000000

[piston_engine]
cylinder_displacement=90.250000
compression_ratio=8.000000
number_of_cylinders=6
max_rated_rpm=3775.000000
max_rated_hp=230.000000
fuel_metering_type=0
cooling_type=0
normalized_starter_torque=0.300000
turbocharged=1
max_design_mp=37.999999
min_design_mp=1.000000
critical_altitude=18000.000000
emergency_boost_type=0
emergency_boost_mp_offset=0.000000
emergency_boost_gain_offset=0.000000
fuel_air_auto_mixture=0
auto_ignition=0
max_rpm_mechanical_efficiency_scalar=1.000000
idle_rpm_mechanical_efficiency_scalar=1.000000
max_rpm_friction_scalar=1.000000
idle_rpm_friction_scalar=1.000000

[propeller]
propeller_type=0
propeller_diameter=6.250000
propeller_blades=4
propeller_moi=8.000000
beta_max=43.000000
beta_min=15.000000
min_gov_rpm=1100.000000
prop_tc=0.100000
gear_reduction_ratio=1.000000
fixed_pitch_beta=0.000000
low_speed_theory_limit=80.000000
prop_sync_available=0
prop_deice_available=0
prop_feathering_available=0
prop_auto_feathering_available=0
min_rpm_for_feather=0.000000
beta_feather=0.000000
power_absorbed_cf=0.000000
defeathering_accumulators_available=0
prop_reverse_available=0
minimum_on_ground_beta=0.000000
minimum_reverse_beta=0.000000

[Reference Speeds]
flaps_up_stall_speed=66.000000
full_flaps_stall_speed=52.800000
cruise_speed=144.593117
max_indicated_speed=195.000000

[LIGHTS]
//Types: 1=beacon, 2=strobe, 3=navigation, 4=cockpit
light.0 = 3, 0.50, 0.00, 0.90, fx_strobe2
light.1 = 4, -4.50, 0.00, 0.20, fx_vclightflyco

[keyboard_response]
elevator=100.000000,180.000000
aileron=200.000000,1000.000000
rudder=200.000000,1000.000000

[Views]
eyepoint=-1.95, -0.85, 1.6

[autopilot]
autopilot_available=0
flight_director_available=1
default_vertical_speed=700.000000
autothrottle_available=0
pitch_takeoff_ga=8.000000
max_pitch=10.000000
max_pitch_acceleration=1.000000
max_pitch_velocity_lo_alt=2.000000
max_pitch_velocity_hi_alt=1.500000
max_pitch_velocity_lo_alt_breakpoint=20000.000000
max_pitch_velocity_hi_alt_breakpoint=28000.000000
max_bank=25.000000
max_bank_acceleration=1.800000
max_bank_velocity=3.000000
max_throttle_rate=0.100000
nav_proportional_control=9.000000
nav_integrator_control=0.250000
nav_derivative_control=0.000000
nav_integrator_boundary=2.500000
nav_derivative_boundary=0.000000
gs_proportional_control=9.520000
gs_integrator_control=0.260000
gs_derivative_control=0.000000
gs_integrator_boundary=0.700000
gs_derivative_boundary=0.000000
yaw_damper_gain=0.000000

[direction_indicators]
direction_indicator.0=1,0

[brakes]
toe_brakes_scale=2.0
parking_brake=1
toe_brakes_scale = 0.3
differential_braking_scale = 1.0

[gear_warning_system]
gear_warning_available=1
pct_throttle_limit=0.099976
flap_limit_power=15.996982
flap_limit_idle=0.000000

[hydraulic_system]
normal_pressure=0.000000

[stall_warning]
type=0

[attitude_indicators]
attitude_indicator.0=1

[turn_indicators]
turn_indicator.0=1,0
 
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