Cockpit instruments

[nooby52]

I wish the numbers and tic-marks on the instruments were a bit sharper, and, at least on the Corsairs F4U-1A model, the dials seem to be a bit off-center (some more-so than others).

And no wise-cracks about me needing to get better spectacles (which I do need). 

[Randy1]

Best I can tell the instrument panel is meant to be viewed at the default 80 FOV.  Beyond 80 they get blurry.  It has been reported many times.

[bustr]

They might crisp up if you disable AA under the Post Lighting effects check boxes in the graphics controls.

[Randy1]

They might crisp up if you disable AA under the Post Lighting effects check boxes in the graphics controls.

I tried that Bustr.  Made little or no difference to the instrument panel but did seem to help on air to ground views.


My best advice is to play with the FOV to find a compromise.  100 FOV on my setup is a good compromise.

[bustr]

I'm letting other guys suggest the FOV be reduced, I'm not sure how much of this is subjective.

If you sit on the runway looking forward in the default head position at just about any FOV from about 105 and up. You will notice the primary instruments just below the gunsight don't pinch as much until past about 120. While the next row down look pinched until you change your PoV to them and they round out. Another aspect of this is in the Yaks. In the default PoV, the round blue handle knobs for the canopy latches change shape as you change your PoV. One might wonder if our undistorted PoV is a circle with a radius from the gunsight to just above the second row of gauges. So as you reduce your FoV below 105 you are hiding that from your self.

[Ack-Ack]

My problem with the cockpit in the P-38J is the elevator trim indicator needle is very difficult to see compared to AH2.  Makes it difficult to adjust elevator trim.

[bustr]

Almost makes it a candidate for it's own movable HUD position.

[Chilli]

Ack-Ack,

HiTech, as well as many others (maybe including yourself) with real world cockpit experiences, have a better grasp on realistic as opposed to convenient, than I do.  I would imagine however, that a real pilot would be able to focus his attention from instruments to environment quite easily.  For our cartoon pilots, this has to be done with buttons and dials instead of 

When, adjusting the trim is it possible for you to map a button to look directly at the guage?  I did so using the "Look Front Down" command and mapped it to an un-used joystick button.  The flight yoke did present a problem, so I used the "new" function that enable you to save head tilt.  I moved the view to its lowest position and farthest left.  With the head tilt I was able to save a position looking about 30 degrees and was able to view that portion of the instrument panel very well.  I hope this is something that you would feel comfortable with.  I have always admired your abilities in the P38, and wish to someday be able to follow your example in conquering it. 

This is what I was able to capture with a flick of a button.  Even with heavy shadows and antialias, I can still make out the needle positioned full up.

[FLS]

My problem with the cockpit in the P-38J is the elevator trim indicator needle is very difficult to see compared to AH2.  Makes it difficult to adjust elevator trim.

Try moving your head position forward to get a better view over the yoke. The default position I set for the P-38J shows the trim indicators when the yoke is trimmed to center.

[Chilli]

FLS,

I should let Ack-Ack answer this, however I believe that his problem is not so much as not being able to view them as it is, to be able to "read" them.  In my example, although I have a FOV of 106, by looking forward (using the up arrow) it decreases the FOV to something nearer to the original FOV 80 with a much easier read aileron trim needle.  Also in my example you can see that the cross bar shadow in the P38J has made the aileron trim needle partially obscured (which is part of his complaint).  This was my intention with the screenshot to show the worst case scenario from that "point of view".

I agree that your default "point of view" would show the panel when the yoke is not in view.  For someone that is depending on reading that needle position in a maneuver, hit or miss due to yoke movement, does present a problem. 

Edit:  Scratch everything    Even with the extra point of view setting, the yoke DOES obscure the trim gauge view at anything past neutral > down.

[Randy1]

Chili, I think we are talking apples and oranges.  Clarity and or focus of the panel instrument is more in question than an instrument that has its view blocked.

Many patches back, the instrument panel was clear at AH2 FOVs settings.  As i remember it anyway.

I understand the reason the lower FOV is being used in Beta but the lower FOV has some negative aspects in a game where "View" is a big part of the play.

[FLS]

This is the default view. The elevator trim indicator is clearly seen but it's not quite as visible as the rudder and aileron trim indicators.

[bustr]

My problem with the cockpit in the P-38J is the elevator trim indicator needle is very difficult to see compared to AH2.  Makes it difficult to adjust elevator trim.

Is a darkness in the cockpit issue for you Ack Ack?

[Randy1]

When i go to AH2, the in cockpit views are very realistic.  In Beta, the same views remind me some what of Sunday newspaper cartoons albeit that comparison is greatly exaggerated.

In order of best instrument panel graphics view.
The best cockpit views were the older versions of the future AH3.
Next best, and close second AH2.
A distant third, the current beta.

When AH3 goes live I will still play and enjoy the game but I will miss the clean lines in AH2.

Now from a tree stand point, the trees in beta are much much better than ah2.

[bustr]

I'm confused?

Cockpit view like saved by F10 or, cockpit 3D graphics and effects due to post lighting? If the latter disabling post lighting pretty much gives you back AH2. The former, you can spend the time adjusting your views how you want them.