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Starting development...

A

arod291

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unitedstates
So I'm a nubie around here and would like to start making some changes to an existing AC VC panel. The VC panel in question has the yoke blocking some gauges and there is currently no ways that I know how to hide it so i thought this can be a great way for me to get my feet wet in developing for FS. I am a developer by trade and have worked with many different languages before so hopefully this won't be toooooo painful. So can anyone please point me in the right direction? which development envireonment do i need?, is there a free one i can download? how do i go about making changes to a VC panel?

thank you in advance!

Ariel
 
Assuming the yoke is a 3D object, there is no way to directly edit it (it is in the compiled MDL file). Of course you would need the permission of the original author to release any modification (and it would be easier if you could get the source GMAX file from the original author). If the GMAX file is not available (but you do have permission), you could import the plane (or the VC if for FSX) into ModelConverterX and then export as a 3DS object. That can be loaded into GMAX (freeware). But you would then need to reanimate the entire plane/VC, and you would also need to recover any custom animation code, using a hex editor. Not an easy process...
 
Wow! definetly not Tom! Actually it sounds like a very complex task just for hiding the yoke. would it be easy then to just assign a different panel to this AC? Perhaps I can just move the gauges that are being blocked to a different location but there will always be some gauges being blocked.

thanks for the reply!

Ariel
 
Ariel, the virtual cockpit is not just a 2d panel that could be easily replaced with another bitmap.
While in theory you could develope your own VC from scratch and replace the existing one (assumed it's a native FSX mdl) be aware that it's a very complex and time consuming task that requires a fair amount of skill, knowledge in 3d modelling and other areas plus patience that definitely blows the limits of a single forum thread.
Believe me, if you go down that road you don't want to take that burden just to remove a stick in another guy's mesh, you rather will want to join the ranks of us developers and make your own aircraft. ;) :D
 
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Ariel, do you own a car? How easy would it be to replace the dashboard with one from another car?

Same principle applies to 3d modeled aircraft.
 
If you want to get your feet wet. We can get you to build planes. Then we can push you in the right direction. hehe

I like how Bill put it....:D But the truth is you can't change a VC model.

Even a simple biplane takes a good developer 1 to 3 months. So if you like we can get you started. After a year or so you can develop nice planes. i started out with scenery first. That way i would not make any crappy plane first. But we all have to start somewhere!:)
 
Despite the words of caution, modeling is a very enjoyable pastime. :D And the wife won't need to wonder where you are of an evening, you'll be that figure hunched over the PC in the corner, muttering to yourself!
 
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