Justflite Spitfire Add on/Hurricane Download Query

By: Stieglitz - 20th August 2006 at 10:19 Permalink - Edited 1st January 1970 at 01:00

Mostly they work great. However, when switching views, I find that it takes a couple of seconds or so for the markings/textures to load, so for a few seconds you have a 'blank'/'white' aeroplane/textures. T

Does anyone know any possible solutions for this?

The texturefiles made by AH are quite heavy to load. This is mostely the case with AH planes. Some poeple could convert them so that they are easier to load, but I haven't found a download of this kind. Maybe someone else has a link?

Also, does anyone know if it is possible to close the canopies on the Spits and Hurricanes?

You need to take a look at your keyboard assignments. Start an FS flight. Go to options/Controls/assignments. Select Buttons/Keys and then select General aircraft commands. Then look for the function Select Exit. There you will find out which key you need to use to open/close the canopy. If there isn't a key assigned yet, you can choose one yourself or change the one which Microsoft set up as the default key.

Greets,
Stieglitz

By: 'lectra - 20th August 2006 at 21:31 Permalink - Edited 1st January 1970 at 01:00

Shift + E is the default key press for opening/closing doors in FS2004. It works to open/close canopies on the majority of aircraft.

The slow texture loading is just that, larger textures take longer to load, I have a few aircraft that load this way.

Bruce

By: adamdowley - 21st August 2006 at 17:33 Permalink - Edited 1st January 1970 at 01:00

the textures are most likely going to be in 32 bit format, which always take a couple of seconds to load. one way to reduce loading times is to reduce the file size, but this would mean sacraficing on texture quality.

this can be done yourself, by downloading a program called DXTbmp - http://www.mnwright.btinternet.co.uk/programs/dxtbmp.htm - widely used by texture painters in flight sim - i think it is the only program that is available that does what it does. its free, and under 1MB in size.

the program allows you to open the textures and export them into an image editing program like Paintshop or Photoshop, where you can then edit the textures. you then save your work, import the texture back into DXTbmp and save the file.

to do what you want to do, open the main fuselage textures in DXTbmp, and simply resave them in a different smaller-file format. be sure to back up the original textures so that you can go back to them if you dont like the changes. play around with the file formats to see which work and which don't.

try converting the fuselage textures from 32-bit BMPs (or whatever they are in) to a 'DXT1' or 'DXT3' format, which is a more efficient format = smaller file sizes.

i think that should work.

I Hope that helps :)

By: pimpernel - 21st September 2006 at 12:57 Permalink - Edited 1st January 1970 at 01:00

I have “Spitfire” as an add-on from Just Flight for FS2004 and I am wondering if anyone can help with these small problems.

The demo’s in the introduction show that you can open/close the cockpit door and open/close the canopy too.
What are the keyboard commands for these actions please, if it can be done?

The tail wheel lock. Is there a cockpit aid to inform you that the wheel is indeed locked/unlocked?
When in spot plane mode and look from behind the aircraft, I lock the tail wheel but when I twist the rudder the wheel turns also, or does this not work in this mode?
Trying to take off in this mode makes the Spit dance well and difficult to control.

Thanks in advance.

Brian.

By: 'lectra - 23rd September 2006 at 10:07 Permalink - Edited 1st January 1970 at 01:00

I can't help with the tail wheel issue but you should find that SHIFT+E opens the canopy and possible SHIFT+E+1 or SHIFT+E+2 opens the door ?

Another option might be to click on the door handle inside the virtual cockpit.

Bruce

By: pimpernel - 25th September 2006 at 17:15 Permalink - Edited 1st January 1970 at 01:00

Thanks Lectra.

The canopy opens and closes by using "shift + E".

Cannot open close door by using "shift + E+1 or 2 or by clicking on the door handle.

Never mind.

Brian.

By: taylorman - 25th September 2006 at 17:21 Permalink - Edited 1st January 1970 at 01:00

Maybe you could try the spoiler key (this one: / )