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Where to find a light object in the scenery editor?

J

jt23

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102
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us-california
Hello, sorry to bother you guys again but I want to place some lights outside my airport to sort of use as a guide to show where the airport is. I can find certain types of lights but not the kind I want. I was reading the manual for SDK here, and there was a section that showed you can place a light source without any model attached to it, but when in the editor I cannot find this object type. I was thinking of making beams of light that go straight up in the sky, like on the Luxor Casino in the FlyTampa Las Vegas Scenery. If I can't do that, is there somewhere I can find some bright strobe or rotating beacon lights I can use? I found a bunch of different light models like taxiway lights or parking lights, but I want something that has better visibility from higher up.

Thanks
 
GaryGB said:
If you do not have the FlyTampa addon payware, check this out in a MSFS default scenery ModelLib BGL via Arno's MCX:

https://www.flightsimulator.com/city-update-8/

GaryGB
Click to expand...
Thanks, I will have a look at that. Do you know where to find it in the editor or what it's called? Also, what about the light object in the SDK manual? Do you know where I can find it? I don't see it in the list of object types I can place. And lastly if I can do any of that do you at least know where I can find some bright strobe or rotating beacpn ty;e lights? Are there any in the various object packs?

Also, I'm not sure if you can help with this., but I found a free 3D model of a house on sketchfab that I would like to use for the airport (only for personal use) and the file format I downloaded it in was glTF, which, from what I understand is the format MSFS uses. However, when I downloaded the file, it was a zip folder with a bunch of PNG and JPEG file types. Is that supposed to be correct?
 
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There is a number of things to be learned about MSFS scenery design methods before attempting to do what you apparently intend.


'Some' MSFS 2020 Las Vegas scenery objects may be viewed in Arno's ModelConverterX (aka "MCX") by importing:

C:\Users\[user_name]\AppData\Local\Packages\Microsoft.FlightSimulator_8wekyb3d8bbwe\LocalCache\Packages\Official\OneStore\microsoft-scenery-lasvegas\scenery\Microsoft\CU8_ModelLib

IIUC, the Las Vegas Luxor Sky Beam object is "B-White" (#16 of 41 in that BGL) when imported to MCX; it uses attached 'Light' Visual Effects.


If you have MSFS 2024, you may access 'only' a limited set of Las Vegas scenery objects by using a special feature in MSFS DevMode menu.


It may be a better idea to first study how to utilize MSFS default airport lighting for your project:

https://docs.flightsimulator.com/msfs2024/html/2_DevMode/Scenery_Editor/Objects/Airport_Objects.htm

https://docs.flightsimulator.com/ms...ghtRow_Objects.htm?rhsearch=approach&rhpgno=4

NOTE: See also the section in SDK Docs on Light Presets.


Regarding how to use a SketchFab 3D model in MSFS, you can learn more about that via a Google search using this query string:

Code: 
MSFS SDK use Sketchfab models


PS:

Because there are (still) some differences in MSFS 2020 and 2024, it is important to distinguish the requirements for each.

To distinguish those requirements, I recommend in the future to always identify which version of MSFS your posts pertain to.


To help FSDev index, and forum participants to follow / contribute posts to- your thread(s), it will be important for you to:


* Please state which version of FS this thread pertains to; edit your first post (aka "Opening Post" aka "OP") to insert this info.


Choose a FS version that is subject of a thread by clicking the 'down arrow' next to "(No prefix)" ...when starting new threads.
:pushpin:



It is a good idea to go back and edit your recent posts to add the MSFS version prefix while you only have a few MSFS posts here so far. ;)

Thanks.

GaryGB
 
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jt23 said:
Thanks, I will have a look at that. Do you know where to find it in the editor or what it's called? Also, what about the light object in the SDK manual? Do you know where I can find it? I don't see it in the list of object types I can place. And lastly if I can do any of that do you at least know where I can find some bright strobe or rotating beacpn ty;e lights? Are there any in the various object packs?
Click to expand...

GaryGB said:
There is a number of things to be learned about MSFS scenery design methods before attempting to do what you apparently intend.


'Some' MSFS 2020 Las Vegas scenery objects may be viewed in Arno's ModelConverterX (aka "MCX") by importing:

C:\Users\[user_name]\AppData\Local\Packages\Microsoft.FlightSimulator_8wekyb3d8bbwe\LocalCache\Packages\Official\OneStore\microsoft-scenery-lasvegas\scenery\Microsoft\CU8_ModelLib

IIUC, the Las Vegas Luxor Sky Beam object is "B-White" (#16 of 41 in that BGL) when imported to MCX; it uses attached 'Light' Visual Effects.


If you have MSFS 2024, you may access 'only' a limited set of Las Vegas scenery objects by using a special feature in MSFS DevMode menu.


It may be a better idea to first study how to utilize MSFS default airport lighting for your project:

https://docs.flightsimulator.com/msfs2024/html/2_DevMode/Scenery_Editor/Objects/Airport_Objects.htm

https://docs.flightsimulator.com/ms...ghtRow_Objects.htm?rhsearch=approach&rhpgno=4


Regarding how to use a SketchFab 3D model in MSFS, you can learn more about that via a Google search using this query string:

Code: 
MSFS SDK use Sketchfab models


PS:

Because there are (still) some differences in MSFS 2020 and 2024, it is important to distinguish the requirements for each.

To distinguish those requirements, I recommend in the future to always identify which version of MSFS your posts pertain to.


To help FSDev index, and forum participants to follow / contribute posts to- your thread(s), it will be important for you to:


* Please state which version of FS this thread pertains to; edit your first post (aka "Opening Post" aka "OP") to insert this info.


Choose a FS version that is subject of a thread by clicking the 'down arrow' next to "(No prefix)" ...when starting new threads.
:pushpin:



It is a good idea to go back and edit your recent posts to add the MSFS version prefix while you only have a few MSFS posts here so far. ;)

Thanks.

GaryGB
Click to expand...
Thank you for the help. I normally try to be as detailed as possible, but I forgot to mention which SIM I am working in, which is 2024.

Regarding the lighting, I had a quick look at the links you posted, and from what I understand, I can use a light row to make a set of strobe lights, and I can use the Add Light tool to create the illumination for the lights. The only thing is I'm still not sure if I can use that to create what I want. I was thinking of having something that looks like two laser beams of light shooting up towards the sky, except it won't be at the airport itself; the lights would be about 10-20nm away at the entrance of the bay. I can try playing around with the tools, but don't know if it's possible to make exactly what I want.

Also, I am wondering if it would be possibe to have an AI aircraft that patrols the airport? For example, say a fighter jet that is set to always fly a specific flight path and altitude around the airport whenever I load the sim. I'm not asking how do it. I am just wondering if it can be done and how easy ot would be to set up.

Thanks again.
 
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There is a maximum light intensity setting for objects in MSFS 2024.

Beyond that, visibility may be controlled by MSFS 2024-required use of LODs, and of course Airport 'Object' Test Radius extent from the ARP for objects on light supports in (Kilo- ) Meters.

Use of variable-sized invisible Faces / objects welded to 3D models may be required to enable visibility of those 3D mmodels at greater than normal distances away in user aircraft.

AI Traffic aircraft can be coded to fly routes whether or not we are in a user aircraft local to the route flown by AI Traffic aircraft.

AI Traffic aircraft marker name plates can be seen at quite far distances; but local visibility of AI Traffic aircraft 3D models is a function of LODs.


Living World only flies when AFAIK, we are in a user aircraft local to the route flown by AI Traffic aircraft using Living World code.

GaryGB
 
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GaryGB said:
There is a maximum light intensity setting for objects in MSFS 2024.

Beyond that, visibility may be controlled by MSFS 2024-required use of LODs, and of course Airport Test Radius extent from the ARP for objects on light supports in (Kilo- ) Meters.

Use of variable-sized invisible Faces / objects welded to 3D models may be required to enable visibility of those 3D mmodels at greater than normal distances away in user aircraft.

AI Traffic aircraft can be coded to fly routes whether we are in a user aircraft local to the route flown by AI Traffic aircraft.

Living World only flies when AFAIK, we are in a user aircraft local to the route flown by AI Traffic aircraft using Living World code.

GaryGB
Click to expand...
Thanks. Regarding the AI plane it's ok if it only appears when I am flying near the flight plan I just want something that will already appear in the air when I load into the airport or get close to it when flying vs something that you have to wait for it to takeoff first.
 
GaryGB said:
MSFS SDK use Sketchfab models
Click to expand...
Hello, sorry to bother you again, but I am having trouble installing the Blender plugin to export to MSFS. I have tried adding a zipped version of the Blender tool to the SDK folder in Blender by following the tutorial below. Also, I tried pointing Blender to the file path for the tool, but whatever I do, it doesn't come up in the list of addons. Also about the light I was able to create a light preset and create a light row, and apply the preset to it, but I don't see any lights show up in the editor as they show in the picture. The only thing I can think of Is I didn't make the row long enough. It's kind of challenging because I am placing the lights on top of a small mountain and the side of another.

Any suggestions?

Thanks


The Blender Plugins

docs.flightsimulator.com docs.flightsimulator.com
 
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I recommend starting a new thread regarding the SketchFab object conversion and Asobo MSFS SDK Exporter here:

https://www.fsdeveloper.com/forum/forums/blender.136/


Be certain to state the numeric version of Blender you are currently using.

Also, be prepared to use a numeric version of Blender that actually works with a current build of Asobo's MSFS Exporter.


PS: I have not worked with Light Row objects in MSFS 2024 yet.

So I do not know if Visual Effect 'lights' show live via SDK Scenery Editor mode.


Perhaps someone else here is more up-to-date on using the MSFS 2024 SDK Light Row objects than I am so far ?

GaryGB
 
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GaryGB said:
I recommend starting a new thread regarding the SketchFab object conversion and Asobo MSFS SDK Exporter here:

https://www.fsdeveloper.com/forum/forums/blender.136/


Be certain to state the numeric version of Blender you are currently using.

Also, be prepared to use a numeric version of Blender that actually works with a current build of Asobo's MSFS Exporter.


PS: I have not worked with Light Row objects in MSFS 2024 yet.

So I do not know if Visual Effect 'lights' show live via SDK Scenery Editor mode.


Perhaps someone else here is more up-to-date on using the MSFS 2024 SDK Light Row objects than I am so far ?

GaryGB
Click to expand...
Thanks. And sorry, but one last question: is there a way to prevent AI traffic from using the airport? I see the option to make the airport closed in the properties window, but I think that also removes it from the map. I want to be able to land or take off from there without issue, but since it's supposed to be a private airport, I don't want the AI using it.
 
I do not work with A.I. Traffic in any version of FS.

Perhaps someone else here works with A.I. Traffic in MSFS 2024 ?

GaryGB
 
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