I searched for this one on the forums, but to no avail, although I am sure this must have been addressed somewhere.I have just started doing dome IFR work, and have discovered that no matter how hard I try, I can't seem to set up adequate cloud cover at very low levels (eg 300' AMSL). This is probably associated with the overcast cloud problem, but even broken clouds at these levels would be nice.Any pointers?ThanksRichard

This has been a often discussed (and cussed) issue with FS 2004 on every FS forum I've visited. There has never been a satisfactory solution as far as I can determine. Some say that by using a complicated formula in >World >Weather >User Defined >Advanced options, will provide the 8/8 overcast, ceiling, IFR situation, many disagree.IMO - FS 2002 provided a much better sense of an overcast. It is also intersting to note that while FS 2004 has much more improved clouds than FS 2002 did, it didn't do the same with visibility _within_ the clouds. Visibility all by itself works okay. Sort of.Microsoft giveth and Microsoft taketh away.I personally believe that they (MS) have not successfully integrated visibility in combination with clouds and that is the problem. I have obtained semi-acceptable results by using low visiblility setting at the same levels as clouds.Regards,DonaldS

This problem is worst when using the best FS weather feature: real weather downloads :)Ulisses

Yeah - I've read about the overcast problem, but my main issue is with gettng any decent cloud cover at low levels (eg 300'), even scattered would be appreciated. Has anyone else got this problem?

Low level clouds seem to work pretty good here, as wel as getting a fairly solid overcast layer. It pretty much is all dependent on your cloud density, I run mine 100% 3D clouds at maximum density.

>Low level clouds seem to work pretty good here, as wel as>getting a fairly solid overcast layer. It pretty much is all>dependent on your cloud density, I run mine 100% 3D clouds at>maximum density.I run mine 100% - 3D cloud Percentage set at at maximum density; 100%. Detailed Clouds Cloud coverage density: MaximumSpecial Effects Detai: High Scenery Objects - Scenery Complexity: Extremely Denseetc., etc., etc. I have all of the options, sliders, what ever, set to Maximum, in Scenery, Aircraft Weather and in Hardware I have MIP Mapping quality: 4, Hardware rendered lights: 6I still can see the ground when I have several cloud layers and the clouds set at overcast.I'll say it one more time for emphasis: I can still see the ground when I have several cloud layers and the clouds set at overcast.Could you maybe post a picture here of a solid overcast you are getting? A view out the left side of cockpit maybe? Or, if you do a front view, remove the panel (W key) so we can see what you are saying is a solid overcast?Thanks,DonaldSPentium 4 - 2.8Ghz1024MB SDRAM128MB ATI Radeon 9800G PRO160GB HarddriveWindows XP Home

At the moment I don't have a way to shrink the pics down to within forum regulations, but if you wanna shoot me an e-mail I can send you some pics.

When I was doing my MSFS IFR training, I remember completely overcast skys, i.e. could not see the groud. This is also the case for the checkride. Maybe get in there, pause the lesson/checkride and see how they have the weather set?sj

>Maybe get in there, pause the>lesson/checkride and see how they have the weather set?~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~Okay, I did that. (Good suggestion, by the way, or btw if you prefer)I could see the ground in both the VOR and ILS approach. Looking straight ahead; of course, all you can see is gray. But if you raise your seat (Shift/Enter) or look out the left window, you can see the ground.regards,DonaldS