P-40 'Civilianized' Mods

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pilottj
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P-40 'Civilianized' Mods

Post by pilottj »

Hey guys, I finished wrapping up the civil Autopilot mod for the P-40. This process should work for the Spit and Mil P-51 as well. Got permission from the author to upload the mod.

screenshot
http://fsfiles.org/flightsimshotsv2/ima ... /XNhxv.jpg

Download here;
https://docs.google.com/uc?export=downl ... 01iZzRLZ3c

****************
Readme info

A2A Autopilot Mod.

Original autopilot gauge by Jim Robinson.
Modification by TJ Stanley

This Mod was intended to 'civilianize' the A2A WOP3 P-40. It should also work for the Spitfire and Military P-51, or any other plane for that matter.

Install:
Navigate to your WOP3_P40 folder and open the aircraft.cfg. You may wish to make a backup of this file.

Locate the [Radios] section.
Replace with;

[Radios] // available, standby frequency, has glide slope
Audio.1=1
Com.1=1
Com.2=0
Nav.1=1,0,1
Nav.2=0
Adf.1=0
Transponder.1=1
Marker.1=0


Locate the [autopilot] section.
Replace with;

[autopilot]
autopilot_available=1
flight_director_available=0
default_vertical_speed=700.000
autothrottle_available=0
pitch_takeoff_ga=8.000
max_pitch= 10.000
max_pitch_acceleration= 1.000
max_pitch_velocity_lo_alt= 2.000
max_pitch_velocity_hi_alt= 1.500
max_pitch_velocity_lo_alt_breakpoint= 20000.000
max_pitch_velocity_hi_alt_breakpoint= 28000.000
max_bank= 25.000
max_bank_acceleration= 1.800
max_bank_velocity= 3.000
max_throttle_rate= 0.100
nav_proportional_control= 9.000
nav_integrator_control= 0.250
nav_derivative_control= 0.000
nav_integrator_boundary= 2.500
nav_derivative_boundary= 0.000
gs_proportional_control= 9.520
gs_integrator_control= 0.260
gs_derivative_control= 0.000
gs_integrator_boundary= 0.700
gs_derivative_boundary= 0.000
yaw_damper_gain= 0.000
default_bank_mode=1
default_pitch_mode=1


Next, open the panel folder and extract dh89a_autopilot.cab to here. Open panel.cfg. Again you may wish to make a backup of this file. I chose to add in the default handheld GPS. You can add it in if you wish as well.

Look at the following [window] sections, and choose which 2 you would like to replace (1 for GPS, 1 for AP) I personally chose [window00] (shift-1 in sim) for the GPS because I did not need to use the cowlflaps indicator popup. I chose [window07] (shift-8 in sim) for the Autopilot. Again you may need to choose different ones if you are installing this to the Spitfire or P-51. You might also wish to rearrange these to your liking. How ever you arrange it, just make sure the [window#] matches to the corresponding [Window Titles] entry.

In this case, replace the [window titles] section with this;
[Window Titles]
Window00=GPS
Window01=Clipboard
Window02=Mini Controls
Window03=Payload and Fuel Manager
Window04=Map
Window05=Radios
Window06=Maintenance Hangar
Window07=autopilot
Window08=none1
Window09=none2
Window10=dbg
Window11=none3
Window12=none4

Locate [window00] section and replace with;

[Window00]
Background_color=0,0,0
size_mm=456,378
pixel_size=456,378
window_size_ratio=1.000
position=2
visible=0
ident=GPS_PANEL
zorder=4

gauge00=gps!gps,0,0,150,250


Locate [Window07] section and replace with;

[Window07]
Background_color=0,0,0
size_mm=462,202
pixel_size=462,202
position=0
visible=0
ident=104
nomenu=1

gauge00=Dh89a_autopilot!nav1_radio, 0,0
gauge01=Dh89a_autopilot!Dh89a_autopilot_hdg, 154,0
gauge02=Dh89a_autopilot!Dh89a_ils, 154,141
gauge03=Dh89a_autopilot!Dh89a_autopilot_main, 306,0


YOu are finished!...go test it out and enjoy.


Copyright stuff. Don't sell the mod and please respect the intentions of the original author.

Questions & Comments
[email protected]

***********************

I will post a strobe light mod when I get a chance to wrap it up.

Cheers
TJ
"The knack of flying is learning how to throw yourself at the ground and miss." - Douglas Adams
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pilottj
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Location: KAPC

Re: P-40 'Civilianized' Mods

Post by pilottj »

Here is the strobelights mod
Screenshots
http://fsfiles.org/flightsimshotsv2/ima ... /NpDXs.jpg
http://fsfiles.org/flightsimshotsv2/ima ... 0/arqh.jpg

Download
https://docs.google.com/uc?export=downl ... FI1djJoZUk

From readme
**********************
A2A P-40 Strobe mod

Modification by TJ Stanley

This Mod was intended to 'civilianize' the A2A WOP3 P-40.

Install:
Navigate to your WOP3_P40 folder and open the aircraft.cfg. You may wish to make a backup of this file.

Locate the [Lights] section.
Replace with;

[LIGHTS]
//Types: 1=beacon, 2=strobe, 3=navigation, 4=cockpit
light.0 = 4, -2.92, 0, 2.6, fx_WOP3_p40_vclight
light.1 = 9, 1.45, 1.55, 2.22, fx_WOP3_p40_Overheat
light.2 = 2, -17.4 , .40, 5.3, fx_shockwave_strobe_sm_2
light.3 = 2, -17.4 , -.40, 5.3, fx_shockwave_strobe_sm_2

The strobes used in this example are Shockwave strobe lights. If you wish to use different lights, simply change the reference in light.2 and light.3 to your desired strobe effects file.


For the panel, I created a switch for me, based on the default Baron strobe switch. If would like a different switch, open the panel.cfg of either the Baron, Mooney, Kingair, or another plane with strobe switch and replace my strobe switch gauge entry in the P-40's panel.cfg. You may not wish to have a switch at all and simply have your strobe light set to a keyboard command.

For my switch, extract the strobeswitch.cab to the panel folder.
open panel.cfg...back up if you wish.

locate [vcockpit00] section and replace with;
[Vcockpit00]
Background_color=0,0,0
size_mm=256,256
visible=1
pixel_size=256,256
texture=$gauges

gauge01=WoP3_P40!code_m, 1,1,1,1
gauge02=WoP3_P40!status1, 2,2,2,2
gauge03=WoP3_P40!damage, 3,3,3,3
gauge04=accusim_xml!code_s, 4,4,4,4
gauge05=A2A_Accusim!lua, 5,5,5,5
gauge06=A2A_Accusim!AVS, 6,6,6,6
gauge07=A2A_Accusim!events, 7,7,7,7
gauge08=A2A_Accusim!random, 8,8,8,8
gauge09=A2A_Accusim!storage, 9,9,9,9
gauge10=WoP3_P40!number, 0,0,216,256
gauge11=strobeswitch!Strobe Lights, 216,0,40,45


The switch will be located on the bottom corner of the ID placard...the only place I could put it.

Questions & comments
[email protected]
"The knack of flying is learning how to throw yourself at the ground and miss." - Douglas Adams
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blackhawks
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Re: P-40 'Civilianized' Mods

Post by blackhawks »

Thanks TJ, much appreciated!
-mike

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Driver
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Re: P-40 'Civilianized' Mods

Post by Driver »

Very much appreciated.

Wonderful vintage AP/radio panel!

It also serves to illustrate how to change and A2A panel and still have all the Shift-1, Shift-2, ...Shift-x 2D panels show up!

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Paul K
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Re: P-40 'Civilianized' Mods

Post by Paul K »

Pilottj ( or anyone else who uses it ), does the autopilot mod work on any aircraft ? I'm thinking of installing it in the Aerosoft PBY-5A, but if it's a non-starter, I wont waste my time trying.

FlushDraw
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Re: P-40 'Civilianized' Mods

Post by FlushDraw »

Does anyone know if this still works in 2020? I can get the GPS 2D window working but the autopilot one does not.

Zacke
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Re: P-40 'Civilianized' Mods

Post by Zacke »

And could somebody post a screenshot of the autopilot panel? The original link seems to be broken.

K5083
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Re: P-40 'Civilianized' Mods

Post by K5083 »

Flashdraw, yes, it still works fine.

I found the mod described above to be a bit overkill if all you want is to implement basic, vintage-looking autopilot controls in the P-40. For one thing, like most P3D planes, the P-40 already comes with autopilot functionality, presumably tuned by A2A to the performance of this plane, so you don't need to paste a new [autopilot] section into your aircraft.cfg or touch your aircraft.cfg at all.

What I recommend is to download the mod from the above google docs link (it still works) and stick the dh89a_autopilot.cab file into your flight sim's main gauges directory, e.g., [path]\Prepar3d v4\gauges\. Then it will be available to any airplane you have that you want to install this in.

Open your panel.cfg file and add the line in the [Window Titles] section:

Window14=Autopilot

Where "14" is replaced with the window number you want to use. I did not want to mess with the existing A2A window structure, which goes up to window 12, and I had already added a window 13 for another gauge, so my autopilot is window 14.

I found the autopilot controls in the mod as posted to be a bit small on my 1440p screen, so I scaled it up 1.5x. The text I used in my panel.cfg is:

[Window14]
Background_color=0,0,0
size_mm=693,303
pixel_size=693,303
position=6
visible=0
ident=10004
gauge00=Dh89a_autopilot!nav1_radio, 0,0,231,303
gauge01=Dh89a_autopilot!Dh89a_autopilot_hdg, 231,0,228,212
gauge02=Dh89a_autopilot!Dh89a_ils, 231,212,228,91
gauge03=Dh89a_autopilot!Dh89a_autopilot_main, 459,0,235,303

Besides being larger, my window entry doesn't have the "nomenu=1" line, so mine can be pulled up using the Vehicles/Instrument Panel menu. That's handy because there's no hot key to pull up window 14.

If you don't want the GPS or the strobe, that's all you need to do! Mine is tested and working in the P-40 and P-51 with no other changes. I'll probably do it with all of my warbirds that don't have an autopilot panel already.

Zacko, below is a screen shot of how this autopilot panel looks the way I have implemented it, enlarged 1.5x.

Image

If you want an actual-size close up of the gauge, here it is.

Image

There are actually four gauges in the panel. The left-hand one is just a handy way to operate the NAV radio. The upper middle one sets the heading hold value, the lower one is for the NAV/GPS selector and course values, and the right-hand one sets the altitude hold values, climb rate limit, and which autopilot functions are active. It all works well and has a nice analog look.

August

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bladerunner900
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Re: P-40 'Civilianized' Mods

Post by bladerunner900 »

What an excellent find. How'd I miss this for so long. If you are still here thanks for this TJ.

Window00 seemed to be doing nothing in the Spitfire so I used that for the autopilot.

I too found it a bit small on a 1440 screen so I also increased its size. In fact I used your edits K5083, as a starting point. Looks good and will probably leave it at that so thanks buddy. :)

Steve.

mrjp990
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Re: P-40 'Civilianized' Mods

Post by mrjp990 »

How do I find the Aircraft. CFG file? Is it in the folder labled BACKUP?
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bladerunner900
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Re: P-40 'Civilianized' Mods

Post by bladerunner900 »

mrjp990 wrote: 13 Jul 2021, 17:08 How do I find the Aircraft. CFG file? Is it in the folder labled BACKUP?
For P3D v5, the default location for aircraft.cfg is in...

Prepar3D v5 Add-ons\A2A\SimObjects\Airplanes\WoP3_P40

For FSX:Steam, it would be...

Steam\steamapps\common\FSX\SimObjects\Airplanes\WoP3_P40

mrjp990
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Re: P-40 'Civilianized' Mods

Post by mrjp990 »

bladerunner900 wrote: 13 Jul 2021, 17:39
mrjp990 wrote: 13 Jul 2021, 17:08 How do I find the Aircraft. CFG file? Is it in the folder labled BACKUP?
For P3D v5, the default location for aircraft.cfg is in...

Prepar3D v5 Add-ons\A2A\SimObjects\Airplanes\WoP3_P40

For FSX:Steam, it would be...

Steam\steamapps\common\FSX\SimObjects\Airplanes\WoP3_P40
THANK YOU!! Now, whenever I try to load a flight ive used with my flight planner, the aircraft spawns with every part damaged and I cant fix it, but if I just spawn in at an airport with no planned flight, its fine.
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bladerunner900
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Re: P-40 'Civilianized' Mods

Post by bladerunner900 »

mrjp990 wrote: 13 Jul 2021, 19:09THANK YOU!! Now, whenever I try to load a flight ive used with my flight planner, the aircraft spawns with every part damaged and I cant fix it, but if I just spawn in at an airport with no planned flight, its fine.
All I can suggest is that maybe you have introduced a syntax or logic error in the panel or aircraft config files.

Here are my entries for [Window07]...

[Window Titles]
Window00=Peripheral vision
Window01=Clipboard
Window02=Mini Controls
Window03=Payload and Fuel Manager
Window04=Map
Window05=Radios
Window06=Maintenance Hangar
Window07=autopilot
Window08=none1
Window09=none2
Window10=dbg
Window11=none3
Window12=none4
.
.
[Window07]
Background_color=0,0,0
size_mm=462,202
window_size = 0.35,0.25
window_size_ratio = 1.0
position=0
visible=0
ident=104
nomenu=1

gauge00=Dh89a_autopilot!nav1_radio, 0,0
gauge01=Dh89a_autopilot!Dh89a_autopilot_hdg, 154,0
gauge02=Dh89a_autopilot!Dh89a_ils, 154,141
gauge03=Dh89a_autopilot!Dh89a_autopilot_main, 306,0

Image

Because I use 1440 resolution, I have scaled it up slightly to compensate.

Steve.

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