This looks really great Vin!! Will you be able to see the moving parts or will the wing views be real and thereby static photos?Speeking about views I put in another question here earlier if it's possible to have the photoreal 2D cockpit views together with the virtual cabin model?I think both wing views and a virtual cabin are great, but what I don't like is the 2D views you get in the cockpit when using a model with virtual cockpit/cabin. The photoreal views used in the pure 2D model are far more realistic.My absolute dreamplane would be your 737 with:- a cockpit with photorealistic 2D views in all directions- wing views with moving part so you can see the flaps move etc- a virtual cabin so you can take a rest as a passenger once in a while during long flights ;-)Would really appreciate your answer to this Vin and hopefully a "solution" how to accomplish this because part from this "views combination problem" I love this plane!!All the best,Richard in Sweden

Richard, you'd need one heck of a computer to run your dream 737! :-hah

Maybe so ;-), but what would be my dreams 737 would in fact be the original one with 3D cockpit/cabin that's already included in the package but with the photoreal 2D views in the cockpit instead of the virtual cockpit and views which I think would actually increase the framrate since I belive that photoreal static views eats less FPS than the virtual cabin does.I know there's a lot of people who couldn't live without the virtual cockpit, but personally I never use it since I think that photoreal views within the cockpit adds lots more realism to the flying experience than a virtual cockpit does. Therefore, maybe the best solution would be different models so you can choose the model you prefer.Just my thoughts...All the best,Richard

Richard, Let me see if I understand what exactly you are asking here, first, you do not use the virtual cockpit right? Are you saying that you only use the 2D cockpit, but only have the virtual cockpit when you switch to the sideviews? Please correct me if I have it wrong. [h4]Best Wishes,Randy J. Smithhttp://img.villagephotos.com/p/2003-5/196432/winglets_lg.jpg

Hello Randy,My problem is as follows:Either I can use a model which has a virtual cockpit and cabin. Then I can walk into the cabin and I can also access these wing views I have defined by putting the following lines in the panel.cfg. I access them by pressing SHIFT+CTRL+1,3,7,9 on the numeric keypad when in 2D mode in the cockpit.VIEW_REAR_RIGHT_UP_WINDOWS=39 // RIGHT WING VIEWVIEW_REAR_RIGHT_UP_DIR=0.0, 0.0, 105VIEW_REAR_RIGHT_UP_EYE=2.92, -0.25,-15.00 VIEW_REAR_LEFT_UP_WINDOWS=40 // LEFT WING VIEWVIEW_REAR_LEFT_UP_DIR=0.0, 0.0, 255VIEW_REAR_LEFT_UP_EYE=-0.60, -0.25, -15.00VIEW_FORWARD_LEFT_UP_WINDOWS=41 // LEFT SEAT VIEWVIEW_FORWARD_LEFT_UP_DIR=10.0, 0.0, 225VIEW_FORWARD_LEFT_UP_EYE=-2.85, -0.10, -10.00 VIEW_FORWARD_RIGHT_UP_WINDOWS=42 // RIGHT SEAT VIEWVIEW_FORWARD_RIGHT_UP_DIR=10.0, 0.0, 135VIEW_FORWARD_RIGHT_UP_EYE=5.05, -0.10, -10.00But when using this model I don't have the photorealistic 2D views in the cockpit when looking to the left, right and so on. Instead I see the same kind of "cartoonish" graphics in 2D mode as I do in 3D/virtual mode.My other option is to use a model with no virtual cockpit and cabin and then I get the photoreal 2D views in the cockpit I want based on the 737NG_*.BMP files but then again I can no longer walk into the cabin since it's not included in the 2D model and my wing views don't work either when using the 2D model.So...what I would like is a model with:- photoreal 2D views in the cockpit when in 2D mode- a virtual cabin that you can access when in 3D/virtual mode- wing views that you can easily access from the 2D modeI hope this will clearify what I'm looking for and I doubt I'm the only one here who would appreciate this kind of model. It would make an already amazing product even better and more realistic in my opinion.All the best,Richard

Ah got you now. Vin would be the man in the know here. I might be wrong but I think the VC bitmap you see while switching to the side views is hard coded and cannot be changed through the VC panel cfg. [h4]Best Wishes,Randy J. Smithhttp://img.villagephotos.com/p/2003-5/196432/winglets_lg.jpg

I'm afraid you're right Randy, that's why I said in one of my previous posts that a possible solution to this might be to have another separate model for this view combination the same way you already have separate models today for stairs/no stair, virtual cabin/no virtual cabin and so on.Cheers,Richard

Hi all.The combinations are endless, and it is nearly impossible to please everyone without having 50 different model/panel combinations. (but we are trying!) That being said, we've added 3D fully animated wingviews as pictured above (as requested), in addition to the wingviews included with the virtual cabin. Although many items are not at the top of our list, we are (and will continue) to squeeze in as much as possible to fulfill the desires of as many customers as we can.Vin ScimonePMDGwww.precisionmanuals.comhttp://www.vinscimone.com/dancnkid.gif

Hello Vin,First of all I would like to thankyou for all the time you put into this great product and it's future development! The new animated wingviews sound really great!! Looking forward to see them in the upcoming patch.Just realized after sending all my posts on this subject that maybe I made what might be a fairly simple question sound far too complicated.Let me instead put it this way. We already have the following models:- 2D cockpit only- Virtual cockpit- Virtual cockpit & cabinWhat i would like is a model with only the virtual cabin and no virtual cockpit just the way we already have a model with only the virtual cockpit and no virtual cabin. Would that be much work? I'm absolutely no developer, but it's tempting to belive that it would be a rather simple thing to accomplish - you would just have to remove the virtual cockpit from the model that already have both the virtual cockpit & cabin? No new developmet needed other than removing the virtual cockpit and replace it with the same photorealistic 2D views already in the 2D model(?)I can see your point about endless numbers of combinations and that it's not possible to please everyone. But since the virtual cockpit eats quite a lot of FPS compared to using static photorealistic 2D views in the cockpit and the fact that I'm sure I'm not the only one never using the virtual cockpit I think that maybe might justify this new model combination?In a game where we all fight all the time for getting better FPS to further increase the joy of the simulation, it feels a bit frustrating when you have to "pay" FPS for something you never use. A model without the virtual cockpit would make your product even more enjoyable for me and everyone else who never use the virtual cockpit.All the best and keep up your great work,Richard

Hi Richard,>>but it's tempting to belive that it would be a rather simple thing to accomplish<http://www.vinscimone.com/dancnkid.gif

Hello again Vin,OK, thanks for the tips about how to increase the FPS. But by going this way, I will still not have the photorealistic 2D views in the cockpit and even if the FPS impact may decrease it will still steal FPS to something I never use. You obviously came to the conclusion that maybe not everyone would like a virtual cabin that steals FPS and therefore you included a model without it. For that reason I find it a little bit strange you didn't think likewise when it comes to the virtual cockpit?Personally, I would be happy with the detail you have in the cabin at this moment...but of course I wouldn't say 'no thanks' to an even more detailed one in the future ;-)But to end this discussion now, would it be possible for me to remove the virtual cockpit and replace it with the 2D views myself until another "official" option is available?I would gladly do the work myself if you could just give me the instructions how to do it...if it's possible? I guess you realized by now that I REALLY want those photoreal 2D views together with wingviews and a virtual cabin ;-)All the best,Richard

Hi Richard,It is PMDG policy that we do not support user modifications, so I am afraid I can't help you here.However, I am sure there are plenty of crafty individuals here that can point you in the right direction.You may want to wait for SU2 however. It will make it a lot easier to do what you want to do, since there are now 3D wings visible from the 2D cockpit.Vin ScimonePMDGwww.precisionmanuals.com

OK Vin, thanks anyway for taking your time answering all my questions. Really looking forward to the next update and I guess it's no point in asking you when it will arrive...;-)?Maybe I at least have given you some thoughts you can take with you for your next models/products or maybe I'm the only one wanting this kind of a model after all considering no one else has contributed to this thread...If there is anyone out there that could tell me how to get rid of the virtual cockpit and replace it with the photoreal 2D views but still keep the virtual cabin, please let me know.Take care Vin and happy developing ;-)//Richard