Waiting for update - cockpit - get the most out of the current one

[Bucic]

================

TO DO:

clean canopy - part of the refurbished mod by Bummer, can be used separately

SSAO on vs off - VERY small difference, barely noticeable!

cockpit texture mods:

shadows med vs high - performance hit, how big?

Bummer - F-5E TIGER II refurbished 1.0 — https://www.digitalcombatsimulator.com/en/files/3316694/

Lee1hy - F-5E3 HD Cockpit — https://www.digitalcombatsimulator.com/en/files/3314481/

yemet - F-5E Tiger II Recovered Cockpit — https://www.digitalcombatsimulator.com/en/files/3305829/

 

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Altough crisp as hell and best looking, I don't use Bummer's mod because of shimmering on labels. They seem to have too high contrast/sharpness/

update from Bummer: https://www.digitalcombatsimulator.com/en/files/3329459/

This is the MipMap version. This is for when you have a shimmering problem with my other F-5E TIGER II mods.

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to have them easily selectable in DCS Options - Special - F-5E put the mods in:
C:\Users\<username>\Saved Games\DCS.openbeta\Liveries\Cockpit_F-5E

 

Minimum required settings:

shadows Medium/High

textures High

 

Highly recommended:

Cockpit Global Illumination (CGI)

 

Not required at all:

any other shadows

SSAO

SSLR reflections

================

 

So, I've been watching this video by Bogey Dope, a popular YouTube DCS-er https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dWsMoOgYMYM
The takeaway? Any cockpit will look like crap with gamma too high. F-5E is just more prone to suffer from excessive "lighting" than some other aircraft. That's first. Second, for the lowspec crowd, while disabling SSAO (ambient occlusion) is understandable, disabling shadows is a no go! It cause the sunlight to literally pass through the entire cockpit, illuminating flight instrument frames and even the cockpit floor deep underneath and behind the rudder pedals.

Summary:

1. Do a quick rudimentary display calibration, at least Contrast and Gamma http://www.lagom.nl/lcd-test/ It's mostly about contrast because (citation needed) Windows games don't respect the system gamma calibration anyway.

2. Lower the DCS gamma setting. On my system 1.6-1.7 is the way to go. EDIT 2024-05-17 DCS lighting implementation changes every few months so just aim at the lowest gamma you're comfortable with.

3. Download the F-5E cockpit fix https://www.digitalcombatsimulator.com/en/files/3305829/
4. Enable shadows at least medium.

5. Optional: stop using fisheye FOV, the realistic FOV for a typical single 22-24" display is below 70 degrees. Hit RCtrl+Pause to see the current FOV value.

6. Optional: Use cockpit texture mods

 

more

https://forum.dcs.world/topic/314204-how-to-disable-excessive-bloom-glow-hdr/

https://forum.dcs.world/topic/311776-gamaluminosity-issues/

 

 

Cockpit texture mods:
Video showcases of the 3 main texture mods + the default texture set
https://youtu.be/QhspEwVsPFM

https://youtu.be/hvU4PiR888M

https://youtu.be/87Qh-hemajg

https://youtu.be/JzUN2IrLm0o

 

how about we put this image as a ground texture somewhere in the Caucasus!

 

Edited May 17, 2024 by Bucic

[Major Corvus]

Will this fix the terribly dirty canopy glass?

[Bucic]

On 12/28/2022 at 5:12 PM, Major Corvus said:

Will this fix the terribly dirty canopy glass?

No, it won't.

EDIT:

Clear canopy is achievable by switching a texture.

https://forum.dcs.world/topic/315918-waiting-for-update-cockpit-get-the-most-out-of-the-current-one/?do=findComment&comment=5296026

 

Edited February 11, 2024 by Bucic

[Bucic]

Updated OP, cockpit mods tested with the latest OB.

[Bucic]

A video showcase of the current texture mod and settings I use

 

[Hiob]

Good content. Very interesting to see - apart from texture mods - what proper lighting and gamma can do.

Really doesn't need much to polish the "legacy" modules a bit.

[Bucic]

Yeah, that was my point - to stress the importance of DCS shadow settings and gamma and the vides should be convincing enough. Some polishing by ED wouldn't hurt either. There are 4 videos in total, for anyone reading this comment.

I really like what @Yemet did. I too intended to just make the stock textures a bit less washed out and luckily the fixes incorporated by @Yemet result in exactly that, plus some bonuses in the form of improved reflectivness, especially on the gauges. I dismissed the @Bummer 's mod initially due to shimmering so I'm eager to try out his recent fix. Lee1hy 's ... as Bummer's mod is heavy on sharpness and added noise, Lee1hy's mod has a bit odd color palette, I'd say.

 

The screenshot below compares the default vs Recovered

https://forum.dcs.world/uploads/monthly_2023_07/irfan_20230726_140316.jpg.be4ba92e7ae900626dbc08d1f18538f1.jpg

Edited July 27, 2023 by Bucic

[USA_Recon]

I think ED now makes clean canopy not ic compliant, so stuck with very unrealistic canopy reflections 

[Bucic]

3 minutes ago, USA_Recon said:

I think ED now makes clean canopy not ic compliant, so stuck with very unrealistic canopy reflections 

How is using a years old floor mop to clean fighter aircraft canopies not realistic?

[MAXsenna]

4 hours ago, USA_Recon said:

I think ED now makes clean canopy not ic compliant, so stuck with very unrealistic canopy reflections 

Only if it's not stored in Saved Games, which is not checked by IC.

[Bucic]

20 minutes ago, MAXsenna said:

Only if it's not stored in Saved Games, which is not checked by IC.

Have you located a texture file for the HUD glass? I tried painting over several entire files and nothing showed on the HUD.

[MAXsenna]

Have you located a texture file for the HUD glass? I tried painting over several entire files and nothing showed on the HUD.

What do you mean? I've never tried locating it.

Sent from my MAR-LX1A using Tapatalk

[VZ_342]

Quote

These MODs can be downloaded from the user files section, and after unpacking/unzipping, the DDS and LUA files can be copied in :

              ...../users/[pc name]/saved games/DCS.openbeta/Liveries/Cockpit_F-5E/F-5E TIGER II pit

Then in DCS, go to options (settings), select the SPECIAL tab, select F-5E and in customized Cockpit select F-5E TIGER II pit.

 

[Bucic]

@MAXsenna Somehow I evaluated there's a high chance you'd know it

 

@VZ_342 I've been using mods by @Bummer for months. I think his HUDs are not clear but dimmed rather.

[MAXsenna]

@MAXsenna Somehow I evaluated there's a high chance you'd know it
 
@VZ_342 I've been using mods by @Bummer for months. I think his HUDs are not clear but dimmed rather.

Ah, I see! Unfortunately, I have not had the time, if I ever will, to dabber into modding yet.

Sent from my MAR-LX1A using Tapatalk

[Bucic]

Getting close

 

[Bucic]

OK, I think I got it. With the F5E-CPT-INSTR-02_COLORC clear canopy in place I think the only thing left is the exagerrated HUD glass tint in F5E-CPT-INSTR-02_COLOR , 100% white is 0% tint. I left a little bit of tint. Modified file attached.

F5E-CPT-INSTR-02_COLOR - Copy no tint hud mod.7z

 

The F5E-CPT-INSTR-02 you see above, violated with starred pattern, is an odd one. You can put a texture on the HUD using that file, but erasing it doesn't affect the HUD glass in any significant way.

Edited September 25, 2023 by Bucic

[Bucic]

Another one to the bunch

 

[ST0RM]

I miss the scratches and glimmers in the upper canopy, that the F-5 had upon release. It actually felt like being in the jet. Now it's too clear. 

[IvanK]

I have tried to use the "F-5E Tiger II Recovered Cockpit" mod but cannot get it displayed in Settings F5E Special Customized cockpit. I think its a Folder issue this is where I have placed it:

Any help would be appreciated.

 

[Dauntless]

That folder should be in an F5E folder.

F5E > F5E Recovered

[IvanK]

Thanks Dauntless tried two variations but still wont display in the Specials F5E options.

[Bummer]

I thought DCS.openbeta does not exist anymore.

But try ..../ Liveries / Cockpit_F-5E / F-5E Recovered 

Correct capital letters are important.

[IvanK]

Thanks Bummer that worked

Also Grabbed your version now using that.

Ref Open Beta its just that I had the Open Beta installed on SSD C drive in a small install. The Stock version (fully loaded) on HD. I have kept both as they both update concurrently with each update.

Edited May 17, 2024 by IvanK

[Bucic]

6 hours ago, Bummer said:

I thought DCS.openbeta does not exist anymore.

But try ..../ Liveries / Cockpit_F-5E / F-5E Recovered 

Correct capital letters are important.

For DCS?! Certainly not for Windows.

My path is ...\SavedGames\DCS.openbeta\Liveries\Cockpit_F-5E\Yemet F-5E Recovered

I'm using the cockpits by @Yemet and @Bummer interchangeably and I'd like to thank you again, guys! You make flying the '5 bearable!

 

 

Edited point 2 of the OP guide to mention the problem with giving precise gamma guidelines.

Edited May 17, 2024 by Bucic