Smoky Engine Effects

[Gecko6]

Hello all.

 

I have tore apart all of of my known config files in DCS World and cannot find a way to get the smoke effect to work on AI aircraft while under Military power.

 

 

I know the nozzle information and where everything goes just need to figure out where to input the smoke effect and to only have it show up between idle and mil thrust settings.

 

Thank you for the help ahead of time.

[Michelange]

Just an idee to investigate.

 

Search how smoke pods are working

[Gecko6]

Will do. Good call. Any idea what they are called? (Found them) located in \Eagle Dynamics\DCS World\Scripts\Database\db_weapons_data.lua

 

[26]	=	
{
CLSID	=	"{A4BCC903-06C8-47bb-9937-A30FEDB4E744}",
Picture	=	"l005.png",
displayName	=	_("Smoke Generator - white"),
Weight	=	220,
Cx_pil	=	0.00048828125,
attribute	=	{4,	15,	50,	89},
Elements	=	
{
	[1]	=	
{
Position	=	{0,	0,	0},
ShapeName	=	"AIM-9S",
}, -- end of [1]
}, -- end of Elements
}, -- end of [26]

 

Should be no problem getting them to smoke by replacing the ShapeName with the nozzles from the F-4. The tricky part is determine the lua code that can pull turbine RPM for each engine so we can turn on and off the smoke effect.

 

Thanks for the idea.

Edited August 27, 2012 by Gecko6
Answered my own question.

[NRG-Vampire]

I think you derailed a bit. Forget the smoke as a weapon !

Concentrate on Smoke folder, export.lua and DrawInfo.lua

You need to write some scripts: Smoke-RPM-smoke intensity (Alpha channel) and smoke color.

It can be a "simple" linear script: if RPM > 60 % then (Alpha) = 0.1

if RPM > 70 % then (Alpha) = 0.3

and/or color (R, G, B)... smoke is darker

and so on

you should combine with SPD for smoke lenght

and i guess you will need "smoke" connectors in engine nozzles too

 

 

Of yourse nothing is simple so you need a good LUA script writer - maybe Speed

You can ask for help from BeczL also, but hopefully he will come up with a looks-like-full-real smoky Fishbed engine. :thumbup:

Edited August 29, 2012 by NRG-Vampire

[SVKSniper]

Vampire its not bad but now for DCS:W I'm testing a new method.:)

[Gecko6]

Vampire.

 

You confirmed what I suspected was going to be the issue. Connecting smoke intensity and length to rpm. I gave up on thrust connector for when you kick in the power in a high G turn and belching huge dark smoke.

 

True I need to get up to speed on lua and I am willing to do so but I need a good mentor. :)

[Blaze]

Heck yeah, hope somebody figures this out! :)

 

 

I had an auto smoke script for FC2 which I used with my F-104, but it used a smoke pod...

[aaron886]

True I need to get up to speed on lua and I am willing to do so but I need a good mentor. :)

 

But most of all, you'll need to practice and get your hands dirty. Use the examples in this forum, there's actually already a lot of building blocks right here, you just have to use them. There's lots of reference for LUA and programming itself elsewhere on the internet, too, of course.

[BR55Sevas]

This is basic template for autosmoke pod on/off.

function LuaExportBeforeNextFrame()

local engine = LoGetEngineInfo()

if engine.RPM.left > 70 then LoSetCommand(78 )

end

end

One problem is command number is one for both - on and off action, need create something like trigger, that will turn off smoke exactly when it should be off.

I`m not sure if DCS smokepod is good for engine-smoke, I mean visual part, because IRL smoke is pushed out from nozzle. Anyway, good luck.

[NRG-Vampire]

I`m not sure if DCS smokepod is good for engine-smoke, I mean visual part, because IRL smoke is pushed out from nozzle. Anyway, good luck.

 

Positioning is the easiest part of this project, so smoke will come out exactly from nozzles where it should be

but the variable intensity by RPM is the most important and unfortunately probably the most difficult part too, not mentioned a "wet dream" non-linear but on parabolic path smoke (MiG-29), calculated vapour and prolate contrail and smoke effects (B-747)

 

1:08, 1:34, 1:46

 

 

 

 

http://www.airliners.net/photo/Air-France/Boeing-747-428/2114385/L/&sid=2bc49820024aa184fc6d734cf10ddaa9

 

http://www.airliners.net/photo/Virgin-Atlantic-Airways/Airbus-A340-642/1448838/L/&sid=2bc49820024aa184fc6d734cf10ddaa9

 

http://www.airliners.net/photo/Jet-Airways/Boeing-777-35R-ER/1417749/L/&sid=2bc49820024aa184fc6d734cf10ddaa9

[neutryno]

what happened with this project? did anyone manage to activate engine smoke effect?

[Gaanalma]

This project would be great if someone would bring to an end ...

It would be a valuable improvement of the simulation for both the dogfight that for spots made ​​with the Combined Arms. Not to mention the screenshots and videos ... would surely be the most beautiful!

[neutryno]

i found a good script that automatically turns on/off the smoke for FC2,.. regarding to engine RPM. But i dont have the mod that adds the smoke generators into the engines.

[Gaanalma]

In the past there was a Mod for FC1 that allowed you to see the steam engine ... at the moment I do not have but if I remember correctly it was a mod made ​​by some German users of this site!

 

http://lockonforum.de/jgs_db.php?action=show&eintrags_id=14&sid=

 

http://www.lockonforum.de/jgs_db.php?action=showkat&katid=9&sid=

 

 

Beczl certainly knows how to make ... this is his MIG21 for FC2!! (below)

 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=fR1nGPwegCc

Edited September 22, 2012 by Gaanalma

[SVKSniper]

We use script for smoke in FC2. See video from VFAT2011 Biele Albatrosy Fly in:http://www.livestream.com/vfat/video?clipId=pla_b125596e-5de6-4492-b155-a7e62f9e536a

 

Its no bad but i will make new for DCS.....but i need more free time.

[neutryno]

yes ,.. i got the mod, but it's only working for FC1.12a. I tried to install it to FC2, but to no avail!

I will upload the mod on lockonfiles, and maybe someone will make it compatible with FC2

[Gaanalma]

It must be a LUA script...If can you upload, i can see if Taker team of News3D can apply to DCS!

[aaron886]

There's just no way to make this look correct with the current smoke shaders. I'd recommend putting it on hold for the future, unless you're really desperate for something!

[HungaroJET]

You can use exactly the same lua script in DCSW what we used in FC2 (for MiG-21 engine smoke also)

That was an invisible (no model) smokewinder positioned into nozzle.

Was a recoloured to gray and more transparent smoke by Alphachannel in Drawinfo.lua

 

The problem was (...is in DCSW also): smoke was too long and intensity was constant.

As you write in topic earlier (evaporation time, intensity and smoke lenght/diameter needs to control by RPM) however lenght and diameter is editable in Drawinfo.lua also by dx and dy (im not sure coz i forget how we really did in FC2 few years ago :doh: :D )

[KaspeR32]

 

Beczl certainly knows how to make ... this is his MIG21 for FC2!! (below)

 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=fR1nGPwegCc

 

Perfect. I love how this smoke effect looks. Beczl knows his stuff that's for sure.

[Gecko6]

I have been stumped on how to call the effect and which lua script that I attach the effect. My guess was within the PlaneConst.lua. To get color and dispersion rate for the smoke is a tough nut to crack. Good news is that I am getting up to speed on my Lua scripting.

[HiJack]

Now this effect is more of my liking but to get his working will be a challenge I think. The smoke is not constant, it appears when throttling the engine up and disappears (or is less visible) when throttling down. It will be a challenge to pick the moments/moves when smoking and not smoking.

 

(HJ)

[GottHold]

In which lua are the RGB for the smoke pods :D? i want to change some colors :D

[SkateZilla]

/DCS World/Bazar/Effects/

 

Prolly /smoketrail/

[Blaze]

Smoke pods are in DCS World/Config/Weapons/DrawInfo.lua

Edited January 15, 2013 by Blaze