231: AffinityMask for P3D V2

| Tom Tsui

Although I said that FSX is still my preferred simulator platform, it doesn’t mean that I am totally giving up on P3D V2.   The two main issues that stop me from swtiching to this highly expected simulator are third-party addon compatibility and lagging FIP gauges.

For the first one, I couldn’t do anything but to wait for updates and fixes from either Lockheed Martin or related developers or we users ourselves.  For the second, after weeks of on-and-off trials and errors, I am glad to say that the lagging issue my FIPs encountered has been generally reduced to a minimum level that is now fully playable under P3D environment.

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230: C172M Cockpit Measurements

| Tom Tsui

Brian McMullan who lives in Louisville, USA earlier sent me his measurements of a real C172M cockpit, from which he replicates his virtual one at home.

The sketch on the left below is the measurements (in centimeter; no distance of pedals from front to back) that he climbed in and measured it out from a real C172M that he usually flies.   The one on the right is how he put the Saitek parts on the table top of his virtual cockpit.  Even though no FIPs, Brian says that they should fit between instrument LCD and Saitek radio panel, if installed.

14-0104_Brian-McMullan-C172M  14-0104_Brian-McMullan-Cockpit

You can see the photo Continue reading →

Cockpit: Brian McMullan (KLOU, USA)

| Tom Tsui

Here’s the beta cockpit from Brian McMullan, who uses the middle seats out of his wife’s Honda Odyssey van that he thinks it’s a much nicer seat than what’s in the C172M he actually flies in.

Builder: Brian McMullan
Location: Louisville, USA
ICAO: KLOU, Bowman Field Airport


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229: Piper PA28 Instrument Panel

| Tom Tsui

Van Vangyver, a member of the “Swedish Home Cockpit Builders” group, recently sent me some CAD files that he drew for the “Piper PA28 181 Archer II Simulator Project” run by Esko Haanpää on facebook.
PA28-PanelDimensions of the drawings are based on a real Cherokee PA28-140 and Esko’s project requirements.  The files, in .dwg, .dxf and .pdf format, can be printed on 25 standard sheets of paper with cut marks so that they could taped together for a full-scale template.

For those Piper PA28 lovers wanting to build their own cockpits, the instrument panel files are great references.

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228: FSX with Windows 8.1

| Tom Tsui

FSX is prone to crash under Windows 8 — a lot of people reported that on the Internet, even though there are still many positive feedbacks about the combination.  Windows8Frankly speaking, I was really a bit nervous about my bold decision of upgrading to the new OS.  And I was prepared to encounter all sorts of unexpected FSX problems plus the notorious crash-to-desktop (CTD) issue.

To my surprise, in the first few days after FSX with Acceleration was installed under Windows 8.1 on my new computer, the simulator not only performed smoothly without the need of any tweaks but also ran sturdily.   It didn’t crash at all, not even once during those days, UNTIL … Continue reading →

227: FSX is still my Preferred Simulator

| Tom Tsui

After switching back and forth between Windows 7 and Windows 8, and FSX and Prepar3D, for over a dozen of times within the past seven days, I have to say that FSX is still my preferred simulator.

Over the week’s testing under Windows 7 and Windows 8, the new P3D performed satisfactorily, especially it off-loaded quite a bit of CPU processing work to the graphics card. However, FSX is still functioning better than the P3D in general.  Moreover, P3D, as I mentioned in earlier posts, has some issues with the Saitek hardware — in particular the FIPs, which also stops me from choosing it as my new platform.

My 7 FIPs have no problem connecting to P3D but Continue reading →

226: Prepar3D is Good but…

| Tom Tsui

After testing P3D for a few days, I have to say that it still hasn’t convince me to switch away from FSX.   One of the most devastating reasons is the program couldn’t work with my Saitek hardware seamlessly.   For example, the yoke and rudders are intermittently losing connections during a flight.  And in particular the gauge displays on FIPs, most of the time, are stuttering.

I must admit that I am amazed by P3D’s stunning image and lighting renditions even though the high-quality effect does come with a performance hit.   I am still exploring solutions to the issues I encountered.

So for now, Continue reading →

Misc: P3D V2 and Saitek FIP

| Tom Tsui

Installation so far so good but tried for a few hours and still unable to add Saitek’s FIPs to the P3D system. P3DInstall

Appreciate suggestions from anyone who has installed FIPs successfully with P3D.

Update 1:
Was wondering where to put those Saitek drivrs.  Now I see the exe.xml file doesn’t exist by default and I have to create it or copy it from FSX manually.  Big thanks to John, Dave and HBE66 for your quick advices.  Will do it and try it later.

Update 2:
Just copied the exe.xml file from FSX and the FIPs now work in P3D.