Hello:
I
really like this windsock, and I'm very grateful to the team that created and made it available to the FS Community via FSDeveloper.
When I recently checked the file dates, it seems the models in "
Windsock Animated" have not been updated for either FS9 or FSX since originally posted here in 2006, so I would like to respectfully offer some feedback, and inquire if perhaps it is possible to post an updated version, as I had discovered what I believe to be an
error when I first worked with this windsock model in 2009.
I believe that
it may be appropriate for the developers to issue an update which corrects for apparent internal 3D model "face" or "Heading" rotation approximately by adding +8.5 degrees from the desired "0" reference point heading in the 3-D World.
IMHO, that would make for less confusion on the part of end users, and would bring this windsock into compliance with what I believe is an existing FS SDK standard:
"0" degrees XML placement heading is used with the default FS windsock object for it to work correctly. 
The result when using the existing 'Windsock' and 'Windsock_Lighted' models posted as "Windsock Animated" in the FSDeveloper Downloads area, is that
when a heading in XML placement of "0" degrees is used, the object rendered in FS at run time does not precisely follow the FS "Wind Direction" ('Wind
Direction' is always expressed in degrees Magnetic).
This can, of course, be compensated for by the end user when writing the XML placement code prior to compilation via an adjustment of the "Heading" value by
+8.5 degrees.
Alternatively, if the compiled into a FS XML-place-able scenery object library, one can compensate via an adjustment of the "Heading" value by
+8.5 degrees in a live-preview placement tool such as Instant Scenery, FSX SDK "OPT", Whisplacer etc..
AFAIK, there have been very few 3rd party Windsocks made available to the FS Community as an alternative to the rather ugly (but adaptable and functional) XML-place-able one available via internal FS object code.
Although some may like the option to choose colors offered by the FS default windsock object, IMHO the visual model and texturing offered by the "
Windsock Animated" in the FSDeveloper Downloads area is vastly superior to the FS default object.
IIUC, it is usually considered desirable for 3-D scenery objects to be modeled with their "face" at a "3-D World" heading of 0 degrees in GMAX or FSDS, yet we see a wide variety of resulting orientations and headings for models out in the wild that we try to remember to correct for when we place and test objects in scenery.
However, most of us don't routinely fly with ambient or fixed winds in FS, so it is understandable that an atypical Windsock 3-D model heading might evade the Authors' and Beta testers discovery that can benefit from a quick, simple, 3D re-positioning and re-export.
But since the original
"Windsock Animated" was released in 2006, I believe many of us would be even more grateful to see an updated FS9
and FSX compatible version made available in the FSDeveloper downloads area.... perhaps even including version pre-compiled inside a FS XML-place-able scenery object library for both FS9 and FSX.
[
EDITED]
NOTE: I observed the presumed "error" in 3D world "heading" of the Windsock Animated in question via this process:
1.) XML-place this windsock with a Heading of "0" degrees (
activate object and placement BGL in FS scenery library)
2.) In FSX, set a 16 kt. Wind Direction of 180 degrees Magnetic
3.) In FSX set display of flight parameters so that
Heading ("
HDG") is on-screen by pressing {SHIFT+Z} on the keyboard 3 times
4.) Enter Slew Mode by pressing "Y" on the keyboard 1 time
5.) Set FSX aircraft Heading North/Attitude Level by pressing {CTRL+SPACEBAR} on the keyboard 1 time
6.) Observe windsock orientation in a zoomed Top-Down view {F12}
7.) In zoomed Virtual Cockpit view {F9}, Slew aircraft up/down/around ...into exact alignment with opening(s) of windsock
8.) Observe aircraft "Heading" on-axis with windsock opening(s) via on-screen parameters displayed in Red at top of the screen
[
END_EDIT]
PS: The
FS2004 BGLCompiler SDK can be downloaded in the FSDeveloper downloads area:
http://www.fsdeveloper.com/forum/downloads.php?do=file&id=29
FYI: Use of Arno's excellent "Compile Helper" utility can make the manual compilation process with FS-related compilers much easier:
https://www.fsdeveloper.com/forum/resources/compilehelper.121/
Again, many thanks for making this superb Windsock visual model available as an alternative to the FS default windsock.
Hope this helps !
GaryGB
