Author: Tom Tsui

147: Wing Leveler Fix for FBW Aircrafts

| Tom Tsui

A fan reported that my earlier Post 123 regarding Disable Unintended Auto-Pilot Wing Leveler doesn’t work on FSX’s default Airbus A321 and requested help for a fix.

The issue is caused by the activation of Fly-by-Wire (FBW) function on the aircraft and  followings are two solutions:

FIX 1:

Open aircraft.cfg of A321 and modify the parameter of  fly_by_wire from 1 to 0 under the [airplane_geometry] section

fly_by_wire=0

This will disable the fly-by-wire function simulated on the aircraft and allows the Auto-Pilot Wing Leveler (Ctrl-V) to work.

FIX 2:

Continue reading →

146: Shade Shifter Version 2.1 Released

| Tom Tsui

The minor updated version of Shade Shifter has been sent to all subscribers who own version 2.0.

The new version allows the loading of current (or last used) Shade Preset directly without going to the Preset selection screen.

The next update being planned will include some sort of randomized Shade Preset selection feature.

News: Shade Shifter Version 2 Update

| Tom Tsui

Quite busy these days and I don’t even have time to fly.   Anyway, a minor update to version 2 of Shade Shifter will be coming soon.

It will allow the loading of last chosen Preset automatically without going to the Preset selection screen.   This feature was requested by Riccardo.

News: Shade Shifter Version 2 Released

| Tom Tsui

To all subscribers who requested a copy of Shade Shifter Version 2, it has been sent to your mailbox.

BTW, thanks to Clement Wu who helped beta testing this new version.    Have fun!

145: Shade Shifter Version 2

| Tom Tsui

Version 2 of my Shade Shifter program will be released in the next few days.   The code has been rewritten completely for better efficiency.   Other changes include:

1.  Improved program interface;
2.  All presets now grouped under a specific sub-directory; and
3.  All buttons could be renamed by users.

However, I am not going to send this update out to all subscribers as I did for the first version because obviously not all simmers have Shade for FSX.    So any subscriber who has Shade for FSX and would like to get a copy of this update, please jot a note in the Comments section below.    Download link will be emailed later once the testing of the new version is completed.

Again, only subscriber requests will be entertained.

144: Remove Burn-In Marks on FIPs

| Tom Tsui

During the installation of Saitek’s Flight Instrument Panels (FIPs), a few images of the company’s other products will also be copied to the device’s driver directory.    These product shots, since they are useless, can be  removed or replaced easily (see my Post 28: Flight Instrument Panel Tweak – Part 1).   However, by doing so, the FIP will show the serial number screen all the time when FSX is not engaged.

Saitek’s official states in the company’s product forum that because the intensity of the LCD is so mild that the screen of FIP won’t get hurt even it is left on for a long period of time.

Above situation stayed true for more than two years for my first three FIPs until I bought two more FIPs for my system recently. Continue reading →

143: Notes about the Shade Shifter

| Tom Tsui

Got some emails from subscribers asking about the ShadeShifter.    Here’s the note:

My ShadeShifter is an additional utility written for the pay utility “Shade for FSX“, which allows the changing of atmospheric effect in FSX.   Many information about it could be found from the sub-category of Tools in my blog or on the internet.

“Shade for FSX” comes with a number of presets, and each of them brings a different effect.   However, switching from one preset to another through the interface of the program itself is a bit clumsy.   Therefore, I wrote this ShadeShifter to make the switching more easily and user-friendly.

I can make up somethings to render similar shade effects without the program itself, but that’s not fair to the developer.   So, if any of you don’t have “Shade for FSX”, I am sorry that my ShadeShifter is of no use to you.   That’s why I just sent out a link instead of the ShadeShifter itself in order to give you a choice to decide if you really need it.

To me, “Shade for FSX” is a necessity for my FSX setup.    But note that I am in no way associated to the developer of “Shade for FSX”.    I just found the program a good one and there are many “conveniences” I can do about it to serve my own needs.    And this ShadeShifter is my newest addition if you read my previous posts about Shade.

142: The Shade Shifter

| Tom Tsui

UPDATE (21-JAN-2012):
Download link for this ShadeShifter has just been sent out to all subscribers.  If you are a subscriber but didn’t get my email, plesae let me know.   Hope you all like it.

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Haven’t written any post these days since I am still deeply submerged in holiday mood as Chinese New Year is coming the next Monday.   Even my FlyZone Switcher project which is waiting for refinements and there are zones to complete, I put them aside as well.

Anyway, I have just created another utility for the SHADE for FSX — seems like I should claim for some commissions from the developer for all the assisting utilities I have developed……just kidding.

Back to the utility.  I call it the Shade Shifter — the name is inspired by the shape-shifter, a goblin in the TV drama series, Supernatural.   I found the name quite amusing.

From Post 124: Break the 10 Day Shade Cycle Limit, I wrote a utility to call up a Shade Preset according to 1) the day within the Shade cycle and 2) the actually date within a calendar month, so as to allocate a different Shade for each day in any month, and in particular, to create a randomized effect.

Continue reading →

News: Friday Harbor Photoreal & Project R22

| Tom Tsui

San Juan Island’s Friday Harbor (KFHR) and its surrounding areas have always been my favorite locations to fly in since I started playing FSX.    Therefore, when I found the Friday Harbor Photoreal by George Keogh just published at AVSIM, I feel particularly excited even though the scenery doesn’t quite fit into my current setup.   For anyone who has an affection to Friday Harbor like I do, here’s the link: KFHR Friday Harbor Photoreal.

Also, a friend, Roma No in France, is developing enhanced textures and 3D cockpits for Robinson R22.   They look pretty good to me.   Worth a visit to his Project R22 even you are not a helicopter fan.

In addition, AMD yesterday released its HD7970.  Virtually all reviews from techy websites gave it a very high score.  It’s now certainly a real temptation to me.

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News is a new category in my blog, which I will list some interesting developments within the FSX circle.