296: Installing FSX from HDD

TechLevel01W
Even though you are probably not one of us who tend to rebuild FSX for this and that reasons from time to time, putting FSX installation contents onto a hard drive and running from there not only FSX Deluxe+Acceleration_400improves convenience but also significantly reduces processing time required.

The conversion is simple.   Just copy everything from the installation discs to any folder (e.g. FSX Deluxe Edition and FSX Acceleration) on your specified hard drive.

But do remember to copy the discs in their installation order, and answer [NO] when prompt to overwrite files already copied to the hard drive earlier.

In addition, Continue reading

295: Windows 10 is Here

Sort of having a break in the last two weeks without touching anything related to the flight simulation.   Windows10Besides it’s summer, I just wanna to wait for the new Windows 10 and reinstall everything from scratch after it.

But oh my dear, it took me two days to do the upgrade due to various hardware issues I had no idea what they’re all about.   After numerous attempts, the upgrade was eventually successful, but onto a new SSD as my last resort yesterday.    Phew. Continue reading

294: C172 Wet Compass

Some friends asked me what would be the next gauges to fill up their “post-11th” FIPs after the C172_CMP_resize10 Standalone plus the one Integrated Fuel Gauges.

Alright, here is the newly done full-size Wet Compass designed to match with the Standalone Gauges, in which the OMI Markers and Signal Sound Indicators are included.

Followings are two videos Continue reading

News: Cockpit Videos and Photos Submitted

I’ve thought about making a video for the new C172 Standalone Gauges as I did for the earlier Integrated Series.   However, I wasn’t sure how to do it because I don’t have enough FIPs myself.

Luckily, Markus Anderson in Sweden just sent me his videos showing the Standalone Gauges with his newly bought BEH Force Feedback Yoke in his cockpit setup.   Looks pretty good to me.

P3DSaitekTest
Click the image to see the video.

Do note that Continue reading

Cockpit: Rick Sheenhan (9A5, USA)

Rick Sheehan in US LaFayette predominantly flied GA aircraft but turned to flight simulation after a heart attack many years ago.  Followings are photos of his home cockpit.

Builder: Rick Sheehan
Location: LaFayette, Georgia, USA
ICAO: 9A5, Barwick Field Airport

Continue reading

293: The Wait is Over

Just completed the installer for the C172 Standalone Gauges.   And it has been added some user-friendly interfaces to the choosing of the different color Attitude versions, plus the inclusion and exclusion of the trim and flaps indicators to and from the RPM and ADF gauges.
StandalonePick01   StandalonePick02

In addition, Continue reading

News: Cockpit Photos Added

Last week, I received some cockpit photos from Dean Carlton in Australia while I was busily changing the diaper for my grandson.  When I finally got a chance to open the email, the photos were not particularly sweet to me since the image quality of them wasn’t really that good (pardon me, Dean).   But what really catched my eyes was the setup and how it was built, which is something I’ve been longing to do for years.

In addition, Dean attached a short story describing how he planned and what he chose for his system.  Plus a little side-info about his life, from the smash of his early dream to become an RAF pilot to what he is and where he is heading now.  I found it interesting as every person is the leading role in his/her own play under of the Almighty director.

Here’s a quick link to Dean’s cockpit photos.   Don’t forget to scroll down if you are interested to read his story.

Send me yours.  People will love to see it, too.

292: Standalone Gauges Status Update

The fine-tuning works for the Standalone C172 Gauges have finally been completed.   All instruments are now centered on the FIP and take up the whole area (320 x 240) without leaving any spaces on the left hand side for the displaying of any button commands.

In addition, none of the extra features found on the previous Integrated Series are added to these gauges, so that they could resemble and function as realistic as possible to the instruments in the real cockpit.

C172-ALL-GaugesC
Click me to Enlarge — Note the Airspeed Indicator is a new redrawn with temperature window on its top

However, Continue reading

291: Standalone Gauges Preview

Here are the preview images of the standalone C172 Gauges.    Although they are, in theory, the extractions from the current Integrated Gauge Series, C172-ALL-Gauges-ANImany of the artworks and layouts are newly drawn.  So do some programming for optimization.

At present, all these standalone gauges are taking up the full footprint (320 x 240) of the Flight Instrument Panel (FIP).   All knobs and buttons work as they should be.

Two things are yet to be decided: Continue reading