Upgraded PIT for FC3 (and other sims)

[OverDhill]

After my 24" touchscreen monitor used for Helios bit the dust I decided to upgrade my pit using real push buttons and second 19" monitor. I also devised a button template system so I can quickly change all the labels for any particular sim I want to play. I trimmed down my Helios profile for FC3 to display just the gauges.

 

 

 

I am now in the process of turning my attention on making up the button templates and HOTAS configuration for FC3. I figured I would focus on the F-15 right now. Being new to DCS FC3 if anyone has any suggestions for which key binds are the most important and a HOTAS layout for the Warthog I would appreciate hearing what you have to say (I really do like to get other peoples ideas while making my decisions).

 

 

 

Here is the pit running DCS FC3 F15 while using Helios to extract a number of gauges to a second monitor.

 

[Ashstomper]

Very nice! I'll be building something similar and using Helios too.

[Trubshaw]

Looks like a really neat set up and very immersive. I too have tried to have templates to change from one plane to another. However I use a Saitek switch panel and Thrustmaster MFDs.

 

Well done and thanks for sharing.

[OverDhill]

Some have asked how the gauges were done. I have zipped up some files and info

 

It has the export file done by Loophole and my Helios profile for a second monitor.

fc2-helios.zip

[OverDhill]

Here is the pit running IL-2 Cliffs of Dover with the button templates in place for that game

 

[cichlidfan]

Cool. I did not know you could export IL2 instruments.

[OverDhill]

Actually you can export IL-2 1946 using UDPSpeed and IL-2 Cliffs of Dover using VirtualCockpit. DCS products use Helios

[OverDhill]

Do you have to edit the binding for each aircraft individually or can you clone them from another?

[OverDhill]

Well here are the draft assignments for my HOTAS and panels

 

 

 

 

 

Edited October 25, 2014 by OverDhill

[OverDhill]

I redid my 19" monitor to display the gauges as well as the radar. So far no one seems to have exported the RWR to a second monitor for the F-15C

 

Also thanks to a tip from LiveBait I was able to put back my HOTAS popup help screen on the 19" monitor.

 

 

 

Edited November 6, 2014 by OverDhill

[SDsc0rch]

excellent!!

[OverDhill]

I now have the kneeboard working on my second monitor

 

[sobe]

OverDhill

Nice job. Would you consider sharing the code for the second screen. I have so far only been able to assign the radar to a second screen. Thanks.

Sobe

[OverDhill]

Well the kneeboard can be positioned and sized by

 

Edit this file: Scripts\Aircrafts\_Common\Cockpit\ViewportHandling.lua

 

Edit these lines (about line 29-30) to move and resize the kneeboard. H

 

 

-- ----- MOVE & RESIZE THE KNEEBOARD ----------------------------------------------------------------

-- ORIGINAL CODE: dedicated_viewport = {default_x,default_y,default_width,default_height}

dedicated_viewport = {1342,10,562,750}

 

 

As for the gauges they are from Helios and I have shared those with the zip file I attached earlier. You will have to move things around to fit your monitor setup.

[OverDhill]

Well since I don't use a touchscreen monitor anymore for the second screen I still can do popup panels for other help screens by using a game controllers button after assigning the controller to monitor 2 in Helios and use toggle hidden when a button is pressed.

[sobe]

If you wouldn't mind, please post your Helios profile and TM WH profile for the F15.

[OverDhill]

Well I had posted the Helios profile already in this thread. Here is a later one with the gauges moved around making room for the radar. The radar is exported from DCS using the TwoMonitorConfig.lua file.

 

Also included is the Export.lua script that was done by Loophole.

 

http://forums.eagle.ru/showthread.php?t=97222&highlight=SendData

 

As for the Thrustmaser I do not use Target so don't have a profile for it. I use Xpadder for all button assignments and the Axises are directly bound in DCS.

 

 

Fixed zip

fc2-helios.zip

Edited November 15, 2014 by OverDhill

[sobe]

file not working

 

Your text file on how to run Helios for FC3 would not load. thanks for the profile.

[OverDhill]

Not sure what happened. Here is what was in the text file. It is not a tutorial on Helios. There are Youtube videos to help with Helios.

 

Run a second monitor in extended mode at 1024X768 resolution as shown in JPG screenshot

 

get Helios at http://www.gadrocsworkshop.com/ and install

 

drop the files in the Profile folder to <your user folder>\My Documents\Helios\Profiles

 

Drop the Export.lua file into <your user folder>\Saved Games\DCS\Scripts

 

Run Helios Control Center and choose the fc3-gauges profile

 

Run FC3 and the gauges should be updating

[OverDhill]

Well DCS had another sale so I picked up A-10

 

They were not kidding with the high learning curve but hey got to keep the old brain working in my old age.

 

I have my second monitor working with exported instruments and Helios gauges. It will take awhile to decide which functions to assign to the button panels.

 

 

[OverDhill]

Well here is the latest addition to my pit. A pair of Thrustmaster MFD's. They work well for the A-10 and soon for the Flaming Cliffs 3 F15C (left side).

 

[OverDhill]

Thanks to the work Capt_Zeen did on exporting more items in DCS and the new MFCD_FC3_v1.1 used with the Thustmaster MFD here is my updated FC3 F15C pit

 

 

 

 

Edited February 3, 2015 by OverDhill

[Chipwich]

Man, I'd really like to know how you exported the RWR from the F-15C. Care to detail the process? Thanks.

[OverDhill]

The RWR does not work yet. I was told someone is working on a way to get it to work.

[OverDhill]

Well I have reworked my F15C profile again this time with LEAVU. Thanks to all that helped with getting that to work. I now have a working RWR

 

 

 

 

I also added a tactile transducer to my chair and have to say it adds a lot of immersion to the sim