Attention all DC-3 fans !

[ncooper]

Such sad news about Hansi. Best wishes for him, and hopes that the problem turns out to be temporary and frustrating, not permanent and painful.

Tried @vonstroheim's instructions, but I get an "unable to display visual model" error followed by CTD, even after restarts. Like Ralf, I spent a lot of time trying to figure out the proper configuration without success, and I'd really like to have a well-used cockpit for our old bird.

Could someone provide step-by-step instructions for those of us among the half of the people in the world that are dumber than the other half?

For starters, in folder "model.C47_1", we change interior=C47R_interior to interior=C47_interior, correct? So it reads

[models]
normal=C47R_1
interior=C47_interior

And "model.C47_2", then, should read:

[models]
normal=C47R_2
interior=C47_interior

Also, I assume, refers to the 2D panel and can be ignored if you never use it, yes?

I'm confused by the statement, We're working in the C-47 V2 folder aren't we? If so, those files are already there.

Thanks in advance for clarifications anyone can offer, and to @vonstroheim for getting us started down the right path.

The VC is contained in the interior model.
To see the default DC3 VC, you need to both copy and paste its model,
Douglas_DC3_Interior.mdl from the default folder to your C 47
model folder and amend the text in the model.cfg file to read

interior=Douglas_DC3_Interior

You will then have a whole new panel and will need the gauges to fit it.
You will need to add the two gauges from the C 47 and the textures.

Transferring models and textures from one aircraft to another is not for
the beginner really and certainly not for the faint hearted.
I have had a lot of practice, some of the results are in my post above,
but I still make mistakes and omissions.
Much concentration and patience is required.
Good luck.

[banjoman1960]

The VC is contained in the interior model.
To see the default DC3 VC, you need to both copy and paste its model,
Douglas_DC3_Interior.mdl from the default folder to your C 47
model folder and amend the text in the model.cfg file to read

interior=Douglas_DC3_Interior

You will then have a whole new panel and will need the gauges to fit it.
You will need to add the two gauges from the C 47 and the textures.

Transferring models and textures from one aircraft to another is not for
the beginner really and certainly not for the faint hearted.
I have had a lot of practice, some of the results are in my post above,
but I still make mistakes and omissions.
Much concentration and patience is required.
Good luck.

can´t get it work

[ncooper]

Fantastic, Nick. Where do we find them, and how do we install them?

I have used and heavily amended all kinds of gauges, textures and other files
some of which are not freeware and most of which I do not have the author's
permission to redistribute.

However, the textures in the first shot and the interior model required can be found
here http://www.sim-outhouse.com/sohforum...he-Lusinov-Li2

The second shot is the default FSX DC3 VC, completely unedited.

The third shot is a slightly amended version of the VC textures included with Hani Michal's superb
American Airlines repaint.
The gauges are another matter altogether.

The fourth shot is the default weathered textures, aged a little more.
The gauges are mostly from the default Dc3 with a few others.

My Douglas_C-47_V2 folder is some 1.86GB in size.

[vonstroheim]

use panel from default dc3 and model from "c47 interior tweak", read again my post, i know i didn't wrote absolutely everything, sorry... really gotta go now... getting ugly here...

[big-mike]

""can´t get it work""

You`re not alone!
Mike

[banjoman1960]

found a way,not as they write here,but for me it work now.......
i put all files wat need in the v2 folder,and change all setings there.copy all textures in in the folders.
so i have the standard dc3 vc in the v2 now,a lot better,only the basler has a better quality.........

[Alan_A]

After a lot of trial and error have got it mostly working. Not bad for a first-timer at VC merging!

The main thing that caught me out on the first attempt was not understanding that we had to use the default DC-3 panel folder and .cfg rather than those from the C-47v2.

The second thing was not realizing that we then had to copy elements from the C-47 panel folder and files to the DC-3 - the two C-47 CAB files, as well as the control panel entries from the C-47v2 panel.cfg.

As to "mostly working" - I'm finding that the switches on the overhead don't always match correctly to the ones on the control panel. The primer switches don't work at all, for example. And for some reason one of the light switches (I think it's the NAV lights) seems to turn off the starter for the left engine and shut it down.

I'm able to get everything to work correctly if I use click on the controls in the control panel window rather than using the switches in the VC.

If anyone has been through these issues and knows how to solve them, that'd be great.

In the meantime, thanks to Vonstroheim and everybody else for this fix and your additional advice. I'm not totally sure I'm going to stick with it, purely for personal reasons (I miss being able to open the windows)... and at such point as Jan can finish his VVC, obviously I'll switch over to it. But in the meantime this is a very nice enhancement. Will spend more time with it and see if I can't settle in.

Thanks again!

EDIT: Oh, one additional note - I should mention that I'm using it in P3D 2.3. The required additional steps is to copy the entire default DC-3 folder from FSX to P3D. Cockpit shadows play very nicely, BTW.

[ncooper]

For anyone struggling, here is what I hope is a simple step by step guide.
This method will allow you to add the default DC 3 panel to any individual repaint,
leaving the original files and all other repaints untouched.
The method is universal and can be applied to any aircraft, subject to its authors
adding code to prevent this as some payware companies (have the perfect right to) do.

1. Go to SimObjects\Airplanes\Douglas_C-47_V2 and create a new folder.
Name it model.DC3.

2. Go to SimObjects\Airplanes\Douglas_C-47_V2\model.
Copy C47R_2.mdl and model.cfg and paste them into your model.DC3 folder.

3. Go to SimObjects\Airplanes\Douglas_DC3\model and copy Douglas_DC3_Interior.mdl.
Paste it into your model.DC3 folder.
It should now look like this.


4. Open model.cfg with Notepad.

Copy this text

[models]
normal=C47R_2
interior=Douglas_DC3_Interior

and paste it over all the text. Save it.

5. Go to SimObjects\Airplanes\Douglas_DC3 and copy the
panel folder to a dummy folder.
Rename it to panel.DC3 then cut it and paste it into your
SimObjects\Airplanes\Douglas_C-47_V2 folder.

6. Go to SimObjects\Airplanes\Douglas_C-47_V2\panel and copy
C47.CAB and Douglas_C47.dll into your new panel.DC3 folder.

7. Go to SimObjects\Airplanes\Douglas_C-47_V2\panel.DC3 and delete
the panel.cfg file.
Unzip the panel.cfg file attached to this post and copy it into
SimObjects\Airplanes\Douglas_C-47_V2\panel.DC3

Your panel.DC3 should now look like this



You now have almost all you need to add the default DC3 VC to any of your
repaints.



8. Go to SimObjects\Airplanes\Douglas_C-47_V2 and open the aircraft.cfg file
with Notepad.

Choose a repaint to add the default DC3 VC.
Copy and paste the whole entry, placing it after the last entry and renumbering
to the next available number.

I will use my Arnarflug repaint as an example.

First, edit the Title line to distinguish it from the existing repaint.
In this case, I have altered C-47 to DC3.

Then edit the lines highlighted in red to read exactly as these do

[fltsim.50]
Title = Douglas DC 3 Eagle Air
Sim = Douglas_DC3_V1.2
Model = DC3
Panel =DC3
Sound =
Texture = arnarflugDC3
kb_checklists = Douglas_DC3_check
kb_reference = Douglas_DC3_ref
atc_id = TF-NIK
ui_manufacturer = DOUGLAS
ui_type = DC 3 Skytrain
ui_variation = TF-NIK
ui_typerole = Twin Engine Prop
ui_createdby = Microsoft Corporation
description = DC3 Eagle Air of Iceland

9. Check your aircraft.cfg Texture= entry and go to
SimObjects\Airplanes\Douglas_C-47_V2\texture.Your choice
In this example, the folder is texture.arnarflugDC3.

Open the texture.cfg file with Notepad.

Copy this text

[fltsim]

fallback.1=..\texture
fallback.2=..\..\Douglas_DC3\Texture
fallback.3=..\..\..\..\Texture
fallback.4=..\..\..\..\Scenery\Global\texture

over all the text and save it.

You should now have a new aircraft in your menu and if you select it,
you should find the default DC3 VC with all the gauges and 2D windows
required to start and operate the aircraft.

The eye point will be too close to the panel.
Editing the aircraft.cfg file will alter all the repaints.
If you want to, eyepoint = -7.0, -1.4, 3.26 thanks to vonstroheim

Regards,
Nick

[Roger]

Great step-by-step there NIck

[big-mike]

WOW----that`s great Nick!
Thank you very much.
Mike

[ncooper]

Thanks Roger, I just hope I haven't left anything out.

Regards,
Nick

[banjoman1960]

For anyone struggling, here is what I hope is a simple step by step guide.
This method will allow you to add the default DC 3 panel to any individual repaint,
leaving the original files and all other repaints untouched.
The method is universal and can be applied to any aircraft, subject to its authors
adding code to prevent this as some payware companies (have the perfect right to) do.

1. Go to SimObjects\Airplanes\Douglas_C-47_V2 and create a new folder.
Name it model.DC3.

2. Go to SimObjects\Airplanes\Douglas_C-47_V2\model.
Copy C47R_2.mdl and model.cfg and paste them into your model.DC3 folder.

3. Go to SimObjects\Airplanes\Douglas_DC3\model and copy Douglas_DC3_Interior.mdl.
Paste it into your model.DC3 folder.
It should now look like this.


4. Open model.cfg with Notepad.

Copy this text

[models]
normal=C47R_2
interior=Douglas_DC3_Interior

and paste it over all the text. Save it.

5. Go to SimObjects\Airplanes\Douglas_DC3 and copy the
panel folder to a dummy folder.
Rename it to panel.DC3 then cut it and paste it into your
SimObjects\Airplanes\Douglas_C-47_V2 folder.

6. Go to SimObjects\Airplanes\Douglas_C-47_V2\panel and copy
C47.CAB and Douglas_C47.dll into your new panel.DC3 folder.

7. Go to SimObjects\Airplanes\Douglas_C-47_V2\panel.DC3 and delete
the panel.cfg file.
Unzip the panel.cfg file attached to this post and copy it into
SimObjects\Airplanes\Douglas_C-47_V2\panel.DC3

Your panel.DC3 should now look like this



You now have almost all you need to add the default DC3 VC to any of your
repaints.



8. Go to SimObjects\Airplanes\Douglas_C-47_V2 and open the aircraft.cfg file
with Notepad.

Choose a repaint to add the default DC3 VC.
Copy and paste the whole entry, placing it after the last entry and renumbering
to the next available number.

I will use my Arnarflug repaint as an example.

First, edit the Title line to distinguish it from the existing repaint.
In this case, I have altered C-47 to DC3.

Then edit the lines highlighted in red to read exactly as these do

[fltsim.50]
Title = Douglas DC 3 Eagle Air
Sim = Douglas_DC3_V1.2
Model = DC3
Panel =DC3
Sound =
Texture = arnarflugDC3
kb_checklists = Douglas_DC3_check
kb_reference = Douglas_DC3_ref
atc_id = TF-NIK
ui_manufacturer = DOUGLAS
ui_type = DC 3 Skytrain
ui_variation = TF-NIK
ui_typerole = Twin Engine Prop
ui_createdby = Microsoft Corporation
description = DC3 Eagle Air of Iceland

9. Check your aircraft.cfg Texture= entry and go to
SimObjects\Airplanes\Douglas_C-47_V2\texture.Your choice
In this example, the folder is texture.arnarflugDC3.

Open the texture.cfg file with Notepad.

Copy this text

[fltsim]

fallback.1=..\texture
fallback.2=..\..\Douglas_DC3\Texture
fallback.3=..\..\..\..\Texture
fallback.4=..\..\..\..\Scenery\Global\texture

over all the text and save it.

You should now have a new aircraft in your menu and if you select it,
you should find the default DC3 VC with all the gauges and 2D windows
required to start and operate the aircraft.

The eye point will be too close to the panel.
Editing the aircraft.cfg file will alter all the repaints.
If you want to, eyepoint = -7.0, -1.4, 3.26 thanks to vonstroheim

Regards,
Nick

thank´s.
i found this way myself now,but that is wat i make,only the folders have other names.........

[banjoman1960]

test the vc now






thank´s for the help,and that great plane

cheers
ralf

[tailspin45]

For anyone struggling, here is what I hope is a simple step by step guide.

Yes it is simple! And it works! Awesome!

Only thing that threw me was

2. Go to SimObjects\Airplanes\Douglas_C-47_V2\model.

I don't have a plain ol' model folder, the file was actually in my model.C47_2 folder. Dunno if that was a typo or mine is just different.

Looks great, with all the gauges in place, and it started first try!

Now all I need to figure out is how to make the outside idle sound actually sound like an Pratt at 700-800 RPM. Not slow enough to lope, but a steady chucka chucka chucka. Now it sounds like it's at about 1200, maybe as much as 1500 RPM. Cockpit is about right. Shall I start a new thread on that, or is it a one sentence answer?

Thank you Nick for your excellent explanation! I owe ya a beer or six!

[Alan_A]

Nick -

Huge thanks for your step-by-step. It resolved nearly all the problems I was having. Just took it for an extended flight - maybe the best DC-3 experience I've had in a flight simulator to date.

There are just a few minor glitches I still have to work out. Some of the switches in the VC - fuel pumps and generators, specifically - work opposite to their orientation in the control panel (that is, off in the VC = on in the control panel). Turning on the panel light in the VC seems to turn off the nav light - but that doesn't happen in the control panel. The obvious fix is to run things from the control panel, which is fine - not really an immersion killer since it's got the switch sounds, and no stranger than using the 2D windows in the A2A Accu-sim aircraft.

The 2D radio panel from the default DC-3 doesn't seem to allow the frequencies to be changed. Am not sure if I have to copy over a gauge from FSX to P3D. Otherwise might opt for a default radio panel just to get the functionality.

Haven't yet decided whether to copy in a GPS. The test flight was a bit longer than expected since my ded reckoning skills aren't exactly what they should be.

All that can be worked out. But the important news is that we've now got a very workable stopgap 'til Jan is able to complete his VVC.

Thanks to you and vonstroheim for getting us squared away!

[Portia911]

Thanks to vonstroheim and Nick for taking the trouble to provide a great 'community service' for this very worthy plane. The VC colour and layout options in the files vonstroheim referenced (post #535) give those of us looking for early DC3/C47 immersion several options to try out while we wait and hope for the best for Jan's vintage VC project and all those involved in it.

[ncooper]

I am pleased that it works.
Attached are some alternative VC textures if you would like to try them.
Simply unzip the folder and copy the four texture files into the repaint folder
for an aircraft you have added the DC 3 VC to.
If you don't like them, just delete the four files and you will see your own textures again.



Regards,
Nick

[banjoman1960]

I am pleased that it works.
Attached are some alternative VC textures if you would like to try them.
Simply unzip the folder and copy the four texture files into the repaint folder
for an aircraft you have added the DC 3 VC to.
If you don't like them, just delete the four files and you will see your own textures again.



Regards,
Nick

Thank´s Nick,
will use them..........

cheers
ralf

[banjoman1960]

for people they use tis plane in p3dv2 or have the fustflight connie in fsx;
ad this red lines in aircraft cfg

[lights]
//new MJ
//Types: 1=beacon, 2=strobe, 3=navigation, 4=cockpit, 5=landing, 6=taxi, 7=recognition, 8=wing, 9=logo, 10=cabin
//light.0 = 1, -57.65, 0.00, 13.6, fx_beacon, //un-comment for c47_2 model
light.1 = 10, -6.05, -0.00, 2.5, fx_c47_vclight ,
light.2 = 10, -20.00, 0.00, 3.28, fx_vclight ,
light.3 = 10, -26.00, 0.00, 3.28, fx_vclight ,
light.4 = 10, -32.00, 0.00, 3.28, fx_vclight ,
light.5 = 10, -38.00, 0.00, 3.28, fx_vclight ,
light.6 = 2
light.7 = 3
light.8 = 5
light.9 = 4
light.10 = 7, 7.395, -10.60, -4.07, Fx_JF_Connie_Smoke ;#2 Left
light.11 = 8, 7.395, 10.60, -4.07, Fx_JF_Connie_Smoke ;#3 Right

then you get the smoke from the connie,look´s like this




when you make all changes as ncooper
tell,you do not need the ms dc3 to copy to p3d,i have only copy all files for the c47v2 over to p3d,work great and loos like this in p3d



thank´s again for all the input i get here,
so the smoke effekt is a little give back.

if you do not have the connie,look in other planes cfg for effekts like Fx_JF_Connie_Smoke effekt,and use this with the entry.

have fun
cheers
ralf

[gastonj]

Hi,

Flying with the old DC3 panel is great and thanks for all folks providing informations to realize this modification. However, i have a problem with "Window05=C47 keys " not working ( "C47.cab" and "Douglas_C47.dll" are in the right directory "panel.DC3"). This is not working neither for the default modern panel nor for the modified. What is wrong? Can you help me?

Regards,
JMC

PS : I think you have to copy the file "FuelControl.bmp " from the default panel to the modified.

[ncooper]

Yes, thanks, you are quite right with your PS.

Regards,
Nick

[tailspin45]

Nick, I've tried to put an ILS gauge from the Jahn's C-47 below the RMI in your DC3 textures, by adding

gauge32=C47_HD!vor_2,  2,111,117,116

to the [VCockpit01] section of panel.cfg in panel.DC3, but the gauge doesn't show up.

I've rummaged through the SDK docs, but have no clue what I'm doing wrong. Indeed, after **** I'm not even sure that simply adding that line and adjusting the position is even the way to go about it.

It's a pity to add a modern instrument to the vintage panel, but I was having fun flying the DC3airways.com training hops that use the ILS, and can't now unless I switch back to the Bassler panel.

Can you shed some light?

[tailspin45]

A PM tip to add the C47 HD CAB file worked, and now, at least, I can see the OBS.

But the coordinates make no sense. In the 2D panel 0,0 is top left, but in VC I'm unable to make any sense of the arrangement. Using coordinates for other instruments (the DG, For example is 0,0), I can place the OBS over it. But I've tried 100,100 and 200,200 and there seems to be no linear relationship. Furthermore, in some locations the gauge appears on copilot side too, in others it doesn't.

I'm baffled. Google hasn't helped, so I guess I have to further impose on the good nature of folks here.

[ncooper]

I don't think you have a choice other than to replace one of the existing gauges.
As far as I can tell, the VC is only "transparent" to gauges where they exist already.
Possibly the best place would be where the gyro compass is now,

[VCockpit01]
gauge15=C47_HD!vor_2, 0, 0, 117, 117

like this?



Not ideal but at least you can see and use it.

Regards,
Nick

[tailspin45]

Possibly the best place would be where the gyro compass is now

Perfect. Looks fine there, and the autopilot gyro is always there if the whiskey compass is bobbing around.

Will check functionality in the morning.

Thanks!