How to Edit Pilot Faces Both in FSX and FS9

[Guest Jambo]

Hi thereIs there a free tool or can someone talk me through the best way to change the pilot face's that are displayed in some of the aircraft, both default and addon.I have things like photoshop etc for any editing.Thanks in advance RegardsJames Carr

[RFields5421 1]

Look for a .dds with pilot in the name in the main texture folder for each default aircraft.These are DXT1 textures - 256x256 in size for most - some larger.Some aircraft have the pilot included in a main texture file - DC3 -> Douglas_DC3_2_T.dds; Lear -> Lear45_T.dds; Mooney -> mooney_bravo_t.dds; Piper Cub -> Piper_J3Cub_T.ddsDXTBMP is the tool most folks use to open these encoded files. They can be exported from DXTBMP to an editor such as Photoshop and retrieved and converted again after editing. http://fly.to/mwgfx/There is some loss of quality in this process.Also the files are not set for "flat" textures - but for the textures to be mapped to a curving model.

[Guest Jambo]

Thanks for that, I read somewhere, but cant remember where, that there was a tool that had been written that allowed you to select a image to(I.e of yourself) that then automaticaly converted it into the texture format to be used as the face in the cockpit, it took into account that the image needed to be warped to be used then to wrap around a curved model. Anyone know anything about this? I was just interested in Putting my face and daughters in one of the cockpits as a bit of a laugh, as she likes to come and watch sometimes and thought that would amuse her! (Never know keep her interested and she might become a pilot when she grows up and then I can retire early and let her look after me!)James Carr

[Guest my737sim]

I know this is 3 years old...So here is my question. How do you change the model... I spent 2 days learning how to convert the DDS files to bitmap, edit in photoshop, use DTXBmp to convert back, etc. (DDS Converter 2 won't run under my Win7 install) The problem is, I'm editing the default MS 737-800. Everything is good. I just want to make the captain male :) Am I talking using a 3D Modeler to made a new model, save it as the .mdl, etc?If so, any recommendations on software for this? Best,Matt

[raymar 969]

Thanks for that, I read somewhere, but cant remember where, that there was a tool that had been written that allowed you to select a image to(I.e of yourself) that then automaticaly converted it into the texture format to be used as the face in the cockpit, it took into account that the image needed to be warped to be used then to wrap around a curved model. Anyone know anything about this? I was just interested in Putting my face and daughters in one of the cockpits as a bit of a laugh, as she likes to come and watch sometimes and thought that would amuse her! (Never know keep her interested and she might become a pilot when she grows up and then I can retire early and let her look after me!)James Carr

Just flight has a utility to do exactly what you are looking for. Only problem is it is limited to their models. I suspect some nifty cut and paste would move a completed pilot face modication from one .dds to another though. I have it for the "Flying Club" and "Flying Club 2" which is a collection of Cessnas, Pipers, twins, helos, etc.I added a Titleist golf hat to one of the pilots and it worked for me. Kinda time consuming to do this.Cheers,RayM