Harley

You know, I haven't found where the specs are listed for this map. Surely they are quite significant. I know I'm near EOL for my current setup as VRAM requirements are beginning to pass my current allocation. I'm running an AMD 2700X, 32GB 3200MHZ RAM, 2x Vega 64s, and DCS is on a 2TB SSD. This machine is almost 6 years old, but I have 2x 8GB cards in my setup. I wish DCS could use the other one for at least caching some stuff, rather than really demanding that we keep upgrading. Granted it's been a while, but a new PC is hardly an investment. It's always a liability, because the life cycle seems to be getting shorter and shorter, and the equipment is always resold at a loss. Not to at all mention that a new top-of-the-line GPU is now well over $2k, even approaching $2500! I once bought an entire CAR for less. A CAR. Not even that long ago. This hobby is expensive, and I'm into it enough to be building a sim pit for this purpose. As close to 1:1 to an F/A-18C tha a former concrete worker and current aviation mechanic can make with skills that one needs a hammer and tape measure for. It's not perfect, but as close as needs to be for me, and it's always a WIP. That said, I've still built the whole structure and even some of the tools to build with for so much less than it would cost for some of these new PC parts, it seems very lopsided. It's crazy. But still fun. It seems the direction that everything is going now is that thesse maps are going to start needing massive amounts of RAM and VRAM and M.2 drives eating into the PCIe lanes to supply the bandwidth anymore. It's getting so real, but at the cost of maintaining the latest hardware to get good use from it. Looks great, but dang.

Same for me. I can't be sure, but it almost looks like the scenery is quite large for VRAM, and I don't think my GPU is up to this task. I'll look at the recommended specs, but I would have thought I'd be safe for a bit.

I just checked out a review from the GrimmReapers about those screens. That looks to be a very simple solution to making the RWR and HSI displays work for simpit builders! Thank you for posting that! Another component issue solved! Now if it works for MP, I suppose we'll need to see if ED addresses it. Seems another comment up the thread had a pretty simple solution.

I definitely need to dig deeper into the file structure to understand more of what's happening and how to edit/restore some of these files. I'm building a simpit, and I want to use it without the keyboard altogether, if possible. So, having every screen, knob, button, gauge, lever, valve, noisy thing, "boop sound generator" and cup holder must be accounted for. It's an exciting time to have DCS! We have so many parts and options available, and it seems that the only real issue is incorporating it into a sim that otherwise seems really ready and primed for just such a venture. Adding a couple lines of code isn't a big deal. Not everything is drag and drop, or plug and play. But, it should at least be legal. Look at all these hardware manufacturers putting so much faith into the platform! Yikes! LockOn 20+ years ago couldn't accommodate this, but here we are now, right? I wish the dev team were more supportive of this venture, because it's an exciting process. But, so far, they are making good decisions to keep the right elements intact. But the logical question still does remain. If I can export all the MFDs and their controllers, why must something like the RWR put up such a fuss? It doesn't seem to me that this could be exploited, but I'm also not looking to cheat. Just my late night's ramblings. I hope some progress can be made with the difficult parts. The hardware is becoming available faster than the ability to implement it.

I will try this. I've been looking for how to keep the UFC active in the HUD only view also. Winwing has really simplified building a sim pit with their offerings. Not a perfect fit, but close enough by anyone other than perhaps the purists. Any info about also exporting the HUD? Like if someone were going to chase down the rabbit hole of building their own with a projector? It also wouldn't be a 100% match since we wouldn't need to worry about splitting beams, but that would be just one more step forward in realism.

I've noticed that. Ok, so there is an association, and it's not just my machine. Handy to know that someone knows about this, and thank you for sharing!

I think there are fairly universal problems. Something is happening. I really like what they're doing with making the deck crew more alive, but I think the inherent complications are tricky. One can get stuck right after touchdown if we don't pick up the wing fold command, and then sometimes the parking breaks when someone tells you to stop and never lets you finish whatever it is they want you to do. It has problems, and I hope it's solved soon. I also get stuck sometimes waiting for a crew member to Marshall me out. It's delicate.I think if there were some sort of reset feature that starts it over would hhelp, even if it breaks the immersion. It's not just you. I'll continue looking for explanations so I can avoid becoming the bone head that breaks it.

I just ended up buying it. Turns out, it's really a work in progress. Afghanistan has a lot left to work on, so as for battle planning, there just aren't enough finished bases yet. But what is completed, or close enough, looks very good! They are really making it look "lived in" and active. Something for everyone. But it's still pretty early, so I don't expect to see it being used just yet. Also, I moved all of DCS into a new 2TB SSD, so there's a healthy amount of space to add to. It seems almost surreal how much data that programs of any kind are consuming these days. I'm old enough to remember playing Oregon Trail on a green monochrome Apple 2E computer. That was likely KBs in total size. How far we've come.

So, I started the trial for the Afghanistan map, downloaded as much as I could, and right at the end, I got the warning of "Not enough hard drive space". I hadn't checked to assure I had the space for it, because I had no idea my little 500GB SSD was filling up with all the other modules and maps I'd also bought. It's the first time I'd even used the trial feature, 2 weeks have expired, and I just got a new 2TB drive yesterday. Is there any hope that support can restart my trial period? I'd really like to try it, albeit I'm likely just going to buy it anyway. I hope that isn't an odd request. I'm just trying to see if any of my favorite online servers will host one for this map before I commit. I also see that Iraq is now also available. If you all keep up with doing this, we're gonna need an option for storing maps in a separate SSD! I absolutely love how busy this world is with coming out with new things all the time.

I wish we could stop pretending that the difference between a good landing and one that breaks the gear is between 3° and 4° AOA. These hornets are made to hit the deck hard, and limitations are not exceeded by real world pilots, but 4° AOA folds the gear up on impact and 3° is smooth as glass? I don't buy it. Not to be difficult, but it really isn't that thin of a margin. There must be some data somewhere that shows what the G-limitations/speed/AOA/weight limits are on this gear. It was quite excessively nerfed when the Hornet was originally released, but it's so tight now that if the carrier deck pitches just at the wrong time, you can explode on touchdown. It seems a little overly-delicate now. I'm going to test in some weather and see what the limits are, and I'll report. I'm not sure about how to save and upload track files, but I suppose I'll have to figure that out, also.

Reviving this thread after the newest update. Are the ST and MT versions of DCS separate programs? If ST is now gone, can we uninstall it without damaging the MT version?

Oh no. How prohibitive is this to building a sim pit, with thie intent of having all that realistically displayed in other screens? Is it something that perhaps DCS BIOS could do? I need to learn more about DCS BIOS, because the plan overall is to eliminate the whole VC. I think I have some more omework to do.

All the other panels are still active. The three displays and MFD controllers still update, it's only the display for the UFC that doesn't update from that view. Also, thank you for responding. I'm not frustrated or angry, just wondering if there is a plan to address that. It's the last part of anything really that doesn't work correctly. Initially, there was an issue where after being splashed and respawning, the combat ready panel and takeoff panel lighting stopped updating. One simple entry into a file somewhere fixed that. It almost seems like this issue could just as easily be addressed. Hoping some clever code minded person can figure that out.

I see that winwing is creating new updates constantly for other Sims, and it seems that they are busy lately. I am hoping someone from winwing support actually looks at this and fixes it. Over a year now. I enjoy the equipment quite a lot, but the support is hit and miss sometimes. The response to these forums is non-existent, from what I've seen. I have the top gun MIP, and all other panels offered for the F/A-18C, and most of the point to doing that is to eliminate the virtual cockpit. If a person does all these panels, the virtual cockpit really isn't needed anymore. So, the alt+F1 view, or HUD only view, would be preferred. When switching to that view, the display for the UFC stops updating. If a pilot can remember the navigation menus that appear with each button press, it still accepts data, but the display doesn't update as you enter data. There is no way to know what is being selected or input without the display being updated while using that view. Is there a plan to address this? Is there already a fix for that and I missed it somewhere?

Same. It appears to be a default when the chosen font is not loaded. It may not be a serious issue, but it may be an issue that has been caused by something else, like unrecognized code for font style.

Is there a planned update for the UFC to still be operative when in the ALT+F1 view? Everything else works, and for folks using it, they don't necessarily need the VC view. I'm sure it would be a simple fix to some code somewhere. All other panels and controls still work fine in this view, and the buttons still work on the UFC, but the screen doesn't display what options/settings are active. Only the display stops updating when in this view.

Eh, yeah, so not to be a jerk at all, you're well below the glideslope there. That was a greased landing on the boat for sure, but even the meatball shows you well below glidepath. It seems a little unfortunate that we went from having to be on speed at 5° AOA to grab the wire at all to breaking the trunnions at just over 3°. It is much less forgiving than before, but more realistic? I don't know. There are reasons that most of us aren't real naval aviators, perhaps this is one of them, but we've all seen some pretty rough landings without damaging the gear reliably. Maybe make it a randomizer with an average chance of breaking the gear until being obviously outside the envelope? It's a pretty stark contrast and a bit of a shock. But, it made me have to learn the ACLS and maintain glideslope. It's still difficult to land on the carrier, and fine tuning is essential, but wow. If this is more realistic, then I've got a lot more airplane to manage. I suppose I accept that challenge.

I've completed the basic structure of the simpit, and can fly in it now. It does make a world of difference, but modifications will be made. The building has only just started, really. I'm flying exclusively the F/A-18C and love it. The method you've mentioned earlier is really unnecessary if someone simply turns on the IFF. Sad that someone wouldn't want to experience it, and instead make it into a shooter game. But, I'm enjoying it. I hope one day that we can figure out how to beam the HUD onto something, and perhaps integrate the HMD with trackIR and fly with all the systems behaving as they should. That will be the day that it will be indistinguishable from real combat, spare the G-forces and actual death.

The basic structure is now complete. There will be modifications, but I can at least fly now!

It's not finished yet. I had that in mind, I'm just not sure if I'll need to. It's not really tall, and I'll be able to step into it rather easily. I left that option available with the way I built it, but I also need it to be secure as I'm likely to secure the seat to the consoles. I don't know yet.

Well, there it is with all the panels I have mounted where they will live until some of them are replaced with more authentic assemblies from Tek. Now to setup the monitor I'll use for the time being, and then paint at some point. I've got to fly soon. It's bugging me.

I still need to mount the winwing takeoff panel and the combat ready panels, but it's almost cleared for test flight. Eventually, I'll source all the TekCreations panels for all the right reasons. I want to have every control that the DCS F/A-18C has in its cockpit. There's only one way to have a sim pit, and it's to have all the controls you need to stop using the VC. I don't plan to build the cockpit bow, but I've left room to add the other exterior bows and structure for the "DISP" countermeasures button on the left sill, but a windshield? Probably not necessary. It's inside. But, I would like to go far enough to make the fwd vents between the MIP and the side consoles, and perhaps install a fan and duct it to there, just for accuracy. That may take some effort, but a great addition for accuracy. Who knows.

I wanted to be totally pure, and even considered the openhornet plans, but the more I got into it, it seemed like I could build for months, and still not be finished. So, although it is close enough for me, it may not be for some, and that's fine, also. It's not for everyone else! I am still building, and suffering while missing DCS at this stage, it's nearly as done as I need to begin flying in it. I am getting impatient, and will likely fab a seat from the remaining wood until I can do or find something more authentic. I've made sure to leave room in critical areas for the addition of other things, such as a HUD from Coutronics (because it seems the most likely candidate to make into an operational unit) and the right side is pretty bare without all those TekCreations panels I will inevitably install, but this is how it's progressing so far. I'll also paint the structure because I can't bear the raw look of all this MDF, which will require another disassembly of all this work, but it will always be something to tinker with, I suppose.

This is how far I've come over the past 3 weeks or so. The biggest parts of the structure are close to completion. Now I'm trying to find ways to keep it pure. I don't want a keyboard shelf because I'm hoping to have all the essential controls (and eventually all of the accurate panels) on board, so I won't need to break the immersion using one. I'll likely build a seat for it from similar materials, but with decent padding, because of simplicity. So far, quite a challenge. There are very few square angles on this thing. Almost every flat surface has an odd angle, including a downhill slope on the side consoles front to back at (best I could measure) of about 1 1/4" over their length of nearly 30". I've obsessed over drawings and many other diagrams that came from these forums and other sources. It turns out that the diagrams in the back of the NATOPS manual is actually very close when blown up 400%, but not exact. I used the drawings as a template laid out on the sheets of 3/4" MDF that I would cut up to build the structure, measuring angles instead of just trusting the drawings and assuming their scale would be 100% accurate. So far, off to the races! I'll post some pictures of the reference material I used, and then what it's turned into so far.

Does anybody have any ideas at all? Has this been asked before? I can surely get into the code and try some things, I just want to see if I'm asking something that has already been solved. Is this a known issue?