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FSXA Light effect for helipad

mhlarsen

mhlarsen

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176
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denmark
I think effects in FSX are really confusing :confused:

I need a single red flashing light around a heliport to show approaches.

Can anyone point to the best standard effect for this purpose.

I have been told not to use the fx_navred effect, because its performance heavy.

I will be placing this effect with ADE.


Thanks
Michael
 
Hi Michael:

If you wish, you could simply place the FSX default gen_radio01 {5137C384-3C55-4346-A368-B0270A08FD11} "Hazards" scenery library object, and set the size to its absolute minimum ...so that the 3D model barely renders in FSX at run time (if at all).

http://lc0277.gratisim.fr/sceneobjects/hazards/index.html



This is best done with a FS scenery library object placement utility such as Instant Scenery version-2 (aka "IS2") from Flight1, which offers a live, interactive preview at run time in FS.

[EDITED]

FYI: ADE certainly can place a Effect object or the default gen_radio01 Hazards scenery library object; but when one adjusts the size of the gen_radio01 Hazards scenery library object, the Effect position (as a result of the displayed gen_radio01 tower height adjustment when scaled down in size) will also change, so some tinkering will be required to set into the final position AGL that you'll want it to be seen at, thus the recommendation to use IS2 for this particular task.

But I appreciate the value of all available FS utilites; I wouldn't want to be without either ADE or IS2 (...or AFX, or SBuilder, or VFXTool, or Arno's FX Editor... etc ! :D )


The attached flashing red light effect will still show, but the 3D tower model will either be invisible, or be seen with a minimal detail LOD and minimal expanse of texels. :wizard:



Of course, if you do wish to have a visible pole which supports the red hazard light near your helipad, you could also just place the FSX default Hazards "gen_pole01 {A134EAA9-11F-42AA-BA09-C34C29A03BC4}" object and scale it up/down as desired.

http://lc0277.gratisim.fr/sceneobjects/hazards/index.html

[END_EDIT]



Alternatively, use the FSX SDK Visual Effect Tool to play the various types of effect *.Fx files available in the [FSX install path]\Effects folder until you find one which looks and performs to your liking.

If you find an Effect which performs best, but is not the red color you desire, make a copy of that effect *.Fx file, then load it up in the FSX SDK Visual Effect Tool and play with the color settings for R,G,B, using either of these sites as guide for color selection to achieve your desired red color:

http://www.color-hex.com/

http://www.yellowpipe.com/yis/tools/hex-to-rgb/color-converter.php


PS: Arno's FX Editor (IMHO, also OK for those who wish to learn Effects coding without the convenience of a table-type, multi-tabbed GUI) ...is available here:

http://www.fsdeveloper.com/forum/showthread.php?t=79358


Hope this helps ! :)
 
Last edited:
Thanks Gary.

The solution with the gen_radio01 object sounds interesting and I will try that using IS2.

Does this object follow a Day-Night cycle?


Michael
 
Hi Michael:

I don't recall if the gen_radio01 hazard light is also visible in both Day and Night.

You could load the object into MCX and see which default FSX Effect is attached, then check the *.Fx file code for the Effect in Visual Effects Tool / Windows NotePad, or Arno's Fx Editor ...to see how it has the display parameters set.


PS: Unless there are MANY Emitters and Particles coded into an Effect light, the performance impact of multiple, much less 1 single flashing red hazard light Effect in a scenery is minimal ...if even detectable, regardless of whether it is attached to a 3D scenery object, or 'directly' placed as a stand-alone Effect via XML / BGLComp, so no worries ! :idea:


BTW: Have you seen the excellent Finney Chopper World Helipad and Finney Ground Misc. scenery object libraries ? < Highly Recommended... (Thanks, GMAN !) > ;)

http://www.hovercontrol.com/cgi-bin/ifolio/imageFolio.cgi?search=chopper&img=0&cat=&bool=phrase

GaryGB
 
Last edited:
Thanks again.

Yep, I know Finneys great helicopter tools and objects, which are useful most of the time.

I think the guy that warned me about performance was using effect lights on an oil platform, which had 100's of such lights attached.

I just need 2 so you are right, it should not be a problem.


Michael
 
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