I know people have been discussing how well overcast conditions are modelled in FSX. I just took off from ESSA going to LMML and this is what it looked like after climbing through the clouds, I think this is pretty good!

 

This is with AS 2012 SP1 and with CloudCoverage=12 in FSX.CFG.

 

For those that don't have ActiveSky and have a powerful enough system, you can get a great overcast in FSX using the following line in the weather section of the fsx.cfg:

 

CLOUD_COVERAGE_DENSITY=8 (Try using values of 10 r 12).

 

IAN

Thanks for correcting me, as Ian writes above the correct parameter in FSX.CFG of course is CLOUD_COVERAGE_DENSITY and nothing else and in the screenshot above I'm using CLOUD_COVERAGE_DENSITY=12 but it does affect performance so if you find a setting of 12 eating too much FPS maybe a value of 10 would be a good compromise. I believe a value of 8 is max if you don't edit this parameter manually in FSX.CFG.

I just looked at my config and my value is set at 8 and evidently by AS2012. I have seen some excellent overcasts when flying in nasty weather but does the weather have to be really bad? I've flown out of DC in a real aircraft with an overcast sky but no rain or other inclement weather and the aircraft comes up out of the clouds. I guess I can test this on my own. I do like the experience flying through and above the overcast skies. Getting ready to apply the new SP1 now. Thanks for the info and the picture. It looks great and I'm envious!

 

Best regards,

Jim

Hi there Jim!

 

I'm not sure what the weather conditions must be but try setting the cloud coverage value in FSX to 12 and you'll see the same kind of overcast as in my screenshot. To me this setting has been the single best thing to get almost the same kind of overcast you see in real life.

Looks gorgeous. I have REX BUT THE weather model in AS sounds excellent, so might try it soon

I've tried both but decided to stay with AS and I'm very happy with it.

try setting the cloud coverage value in FSX to 12 and you'll see the same kind of overcast as in my screenshot.

 

I just finished a flight from KLAX to KSFO with the setting at 12. There were lots of scattered clouds but no overcast like yours. I'll get it figured out. Just nice to know the potential is greater when the cloud density is set to 12.

 

Best regards,

Jim

Maybe because of the actual weather conditions or might also have to do with the settings in AS2012, just let me know if you want me to post my AS2012 settings.

just let me know if you want me to post my AS2012 settings

 

HI WebM could you post you settings please. I have not got a good overcast with AS2012. Are you using real weather or creating you on?

 

Thanks

reece

This is what my FSXOptions.cfg looks like and I also added what my FSUIPC4.ini looks like since I think what you will see in the end is a combination of all these settings affecting the weather conditions in FSX. I have also added what cloud textures I'm using.

 

FSXOptions.cfg

 

[Options]
fsVersion = FSX
AutoRefreshAI = False
DynamicRateofChangePercent = 0
VATSIMDownloads = False
AutomaticDownloadInterval = 15
AutomaticDownloads = True
CAVOKCloudGenerationPercent = 25
NoDataCloudGenerationPercent = 25
CirrusCloudGenerationPercent = 25
MaximumCloudLayers = 5
MinimumCloudTurbulencePercent = 0
MaximumCloudTurbulencePercent = 100
MinimumCloudIcingPercent = 0
MaximumCloudIcingPercent = 100
StratusCloudOccurrencePercent = 0
MinimumVisibilitySM = 0
MaximumVisibilitySM = 49
MaximumUpperVisibilitySM = 59
MaximumSurfaceWindSpeed = 100
MinimumWindTurbulencePercent = 0
MaximumWindTurbulencePercent = 100
MinimumWindShearPercent = 0
MaximumWindShearPercent = 50
DisableWindsAloft = False
WakeTurbulenceStrength = 25
CreateVirtualStations = False
EnhanceRouteCoverage = False
DepictHurricanes = True
EnableSkyScapeMode = False
UseSkyScapeforStratus = False
ForceHighPriority = False
UpdateRange = 500
EnableWindSmoothing = False
EnableVisibilityGraduation = True
EnableFogLayerSimulation = True
LocalSuppression = True
SuppressionRange = 200
StartupWave = False
EnableDirectWindControl = True
ShowSimMessages = False
SupressOnGround = False
ForceDestinationWeatherZone = False
VoiceATIS = False
ThermalGenerationRatePercent = 0
UpandDowndraftGenerationRatePercent = 50
MaximumDowndraftRate = 300
MaximumUpdraftThermalRate = 500
DisableHazeLayer = True
FogLayerGeneration = True
DatFileOverwriteUserEdit = 0
ForceWindLock = False
SuppressionCeiling = 10000
FSXDepictionMode = DWC
PreventFSXCloudRedraws = False
PreventTstormsWithCB = False
GraduationCeiling = 15000
UseStratusForFog = False
StratoCumulus = False
PostPlanGraphicsPrompt = False

 

FSUIPC4.ini

 

[General]
History=PK4GVOIB4QQKKFZNPGAVC
TCASid=Flight
TCASrange=40
AxisCalibration=No
DirectAxesToCalibs=No
ShowMultilineWindow=Yes
SuppressSingleline=No
SuppressMultilineFS=No
AxisIntercepts=No
WeatherReadFactor=2
SimConnectStallTime=1
UpdatedByVersion=4827
MouseWheelTrim=No
MouseWheelTrimSpeed=1
FixControlAccel=No
FixMachSpeedBug=No
VisibilityOptions=No
OneCloudLayer=No
CloudTurbulence=Yes
CloudIcing=Yes
GenerateCirrus=No
SuppressCloudTurbulence=No
MaxIce=-4
MinIce=-4
UpperWindGusts=No
SuppressWindTurbulence=No
SuppressWindVariance=No
WindTurbulence=Yes
TurbulenceRate=1.0,5.0
TurbulenceDivisor=20,20,40,40
SuppressAllGusts=No
MaxSurfaceWind=0
WindLimitLevel=200
WindDiscardLevel=400
WindAjustAltitude=No
WindAjustAltitudeBy=2000
SmoothBySimTime=No
WindSmoothing=No
WindSmoothness=2
WindSmoothAirborneOnly=Yes
PressureSmoothness=0
TemperatureSmoothness=0
DisconnTrimForAP=No
ZeroElevForAPAlt=No
ThrottleSyncAll=No
WhiteMessages=No
ShowPMcontrols=No
SpoilerIncrement=512
MagicBattery=Yes
RudderSpikeRemoval=Yes
ElevatorSpikeRemoval=Yes
AileronSpikeRemoval=Yes
ReversedElevatorTrim=No
ClockSync=Yes
ClockSyncMins=5
ClearWeatherDynamics=No
OwnWeatherChanges=No
TimeForSelect=4
LoadFlightMenu=No
LoadPlanMenu=No
PauseAfterCrash=No
SaveDataWithFlights=No
ZapSound=firework
ShortAircraftNameOk=Substring
UseProfiles=Yes
WeatherRewriteSeconds=1
CustomWeatherModify=No
Console=No
JoystickTimeout=20
PollGFTQ6=Yes
AxesWrongRange=No
BlankDisplays=No
BrakeReleaseThreshold=75
EnableMouseLook=No
DontResetAxes=No
InitDelay=0
GetNearestAirports=Yes
LuaRerunDelay=66
DeleteVehiclesForAES=Yes
MouseWheelMove=No
AutoScanDevices=Yes
FSVersionUsed="Microsoft Flight Simulator X",10.0.61472.0
SimConnectUsed=10.0.61259.0
[WideServer]
WideFSenabled=Yes
[GPSout]
Port=COM0
Speed=4800
Interval=2000
PosTo6Decimal=No
Sentences=
GPSoutEnabled=No
[JoyNames]
AutoAssignLetters=No
0=CH Control Manager Device 1
1=CH Control Manager Device 2
0.GUID={C9BC05C0-A986-11E1-8001-444553540000}
1.GUID={C9BC05C0-A986-11E1-8002-444553540000}
[buttons]
Buttonrepeat=20,10
1=P0,0,C1121,0
[AutoSave]
AutoSaveEnabled=No
Next=10
Interval=60
Files=10
SaveOnGround=No
1=Sun 152901
2=Sun 155150
3=Sun 155249
4=Sun 155349
5=Sun 155448
6=Sun 155548
7=Sun 155647
8=Sun 155747
9=Sun 155847
[GPSout2]
GPSoutEnabled=No
Port=<none set>
Speed=4800
Interval=2000
PosTo6Decimal=No
Sentences=
[sounds]
Path=F:\Program Files (x86)\Microsoft Games\Microsoft Flight Simulator X\Sound\
Device1=Primary Sound Driver
Device2=Speakers (Creative SB X-Fi)
Device3=SAMSUNG (High Definition Audio Device)
Device4=SPDIF Out (Creative SB X-Fi)
[Axes]
0=1X,256,D,7,0,0,0
1=1Y,256,D,8,0,0,0
2=1Z,256,D,3,0,0,0
[JoystickCalibration]
AllowSuppressForPFCquad=Yes
ExcludeThrottleSet=Yes
ExcludeMixtureSet=Yes
ExcludePropPitchSet=Yes
SepRevsJetsOnly=No
ApplyHeloTrim=No
UseAxisControlsForNRZ=No
FlapsSetControl=0
FlapDetents=No
ReverserControl=66292
Reverser1Control=66422
Reverser2Control=66425
Reverser3Control=66428
Reverser4Control=66431
MaxThrottleForReverser=256
AileronTrimControl=66731
RudderTrimControl=66732
CowlFlaps1Control=66162
CowlFlaps2Control=66163
CowlFlaps3Control=66164
CowlFlaps4Control=66165
SteeringTillerControl=0
MaxSteerSpeed=60
Rudder=-16380,-512,512,16380
LeftBrake=-14464,16380/16
RightBrake=-14464,16380/16
[LuaFiles]
1=ipcReady
2=linda
[window.LUA display]
Docked=7338, 2442, 3566, 2533
[Programs]
Run1=HIDE,"D:\Install\MSFS\FSX\FSX windowed vsync fix.bat"

 

Cloud textures

Stratus -> 01 Cinema

Cumulus -> 07 Blast

Cirrus -> 17 Deflected

Wispy -> 04 Wisp

This tweak works, however it gets reset to 8 when the fsx.cfg is modified in some instances.

REX Ess can do it, and very well, giving a very flat 'blanket' of cloud if necessary. No screenshots though, am at work...

I get complete overcast with just the default 8. Must be how you setup AS2012.

That's a nice overcast. I got the same result using AS 2012 SP1 and CLOUD_COVERAGE_DENSITY=8. The downloaded weather had broken cumulus at 2200. I omitted other layers and changed broken to overcast and applied the changes. AS had the thickness as about 2000 ft, but the tops were around 13,000 ft in FSX. I have never had cloud tops occur in FSX as indicated in AS. I havn't studied it since AS 2012 SP1, but always in the past it's as if the clouds rise up with you.