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Hi everyone. After a day of search I've finally found a way to change the FSX default ground vehicles with my own model.
So I wanted to share it with you guys. First of all you need to find the file named LWcfg.spb. It should be in:
C:\Users\Username\AppData\Roaming\Microsoft\FSX
Then you will need to convert that file to an xml format by using the spb to xml tool (search it on the net). After you have converted it to xml open it with notepad++ (best choice for me). There you will find many settings you can change including changing the speed of the vehicles, boats etc. But what is important is to know that all the ground vehicles are defined in that file.
I've notice that some are defined by their guids others by their names.
For example if you want to change the default pushback tugs you will have to change the model (mdl) that you'll find in fsx simobjects\groundvehicles and the guid in the file LWcfg.spb.
If you want to change the default fuel truck which is what I tested. I have created a file in 3ds max with a simple box representing the fuel truck. I then created a guid and a friendly name. Export the x file. Then used xtomdl to convert it to an fsx aircraft mdl. I didn't create any animation either.
I then change the name of the mdl to match the fuel truck mdl name which is "VEH_air_fueltruck01_sm". After that I opened the original VEH_air_fueltruck01_sm.mdl with modelconverter of Arno to lookup the guid that I copied. I Opened the model I made with modelconverter and pasted the original fuel truck model's guid.
So basically what you need to do is create a model in gmax/3ds max export the x file (xanime) as you would do for aircrafts and replace the original's model you want to change. But you'll need to make sure your mdl name and guid correspond to the originals.
It worked for me. I guess that you'll be able to do it in an easier way, by maybe changing the guid directly in the LWcfg.sbp file but I didn't find any guid to change for the fuel truck just their name was there.
Anyway I hope you'll try this if you haven't yet and and improve it.
Also to convert the LWcfg.xml back to LWcfg.spb you have to copy the xml file in:
C:\Program Files (x86)\Microsoft Games\Microsoft Flight Simulator X SDK\SDK\Core Utilities Kit\SimProp
Open a command prompt and type in the following in respects of your own "paths":
C:\Program Files (x86)\Microsoft Games\Microsoft Flight Simulator X SDK\SDK\Core Utilities Kit\SimProp>simpropcompiler 2spb -symbols "A:\Microsoft Games\Microsoft Flight Simulator X\propdefs\*.xml" LWcfg.xml LWcfg.spb
Do not forget the "quotes"
After just copy the LWcfg.spb file to its original place as said on the top.
As you can see the blue boxes are the custom fuel trucks.
Also have a look at the SDK "Configuring Surface Vehicle Traffic" article.
Happy modeling
So I wanted to share it with you guys. First of all you need to find the file named LWcfg.spb. It should be in:
C:\Users\Username\AppData\Roaming\Microsoft\FSX
Then you will need to convert that file to an xml format by using the spb to xml tool (search it on the net). After you have converted it to xml open it with notepad++ (best choice for me). There you will find many settings you can change including changing the speed of the vehicles, boats etc. But what is important is to know that all the ground vehicles are defined in that file.
I've notice that some are defined by their guids others by their names.
For example if you want to change the default pushback tugs you will have to change the model (mdl) that you'll find in fsx simobjects\groundvehicles and the guid in the file LWcfg.spb.
If you want to change the default fuel truck which is what I tested. I have created a file in 3ds max with a simple box representing the fuel truck. I then created a guid and a friendly name. Export the x file. Then used xtomdl to convert it to an fsx aircraft mdl. I didn't create any animation either.
I then change the name of the mdl to match the fuel truck mdl name which is "VEH_air_fueltruck01_sm". After that I opened the original VEH_air_fueltruck01_sm.mdl with modelconverter of Arno to lookup the guid that I copied. I Opened the model I made with modelconverter and pasted the original fuel truck model's guid.
So basically what you need to do is create a model in gmax/3ds max export the x file (xanime) as you would do for aircrafts and replace the original's model you want to change. But you'll need to make sure your mdl name and guid correspond to the originals.
It worked for me. I guess that you'll be able to do it in an easier way, by maybe changing the guid directly in the LWcfg.sbp file but I didn't find any guid to change for the fuel truck just their name was there.
Anyway I hope you'll try this if you haven't yet and and improve it.
Also to convert the LWcfg.xml back to LWcfg.spb you have to copy the xml file in:
C:\Program Files (x86)\Microsoft Games\Microsoft Flight Simulator X SDK\SDK\Core Utilities Kit\SimProp
Open a command prompt and type in the following in respects of your own "paths":
C:\Program Files (x86)\Microsoft Games\Microsoft Flight Simulator X SDK\SDK\Core Utilities Kit\SimProp>simpropcompiler 2spb -symbols "A:\Microsoft Games\Microsoft Flight Simulator X\propdefs\*.xml" LWcfg.xml LWcfg.spb
Do not forget the "quotes"
After just copy the LWcfg.spb file to its original place as said on the top.
As you can see the blue boxes are the custom fuel trucks.
Also have a look at the SDK "Configuring Surface Vehicle Traffic" article.
Happy modeling
Last edited:
