Saturday, 20 June 2015
And here it is....the hand carved wooden model of a standard VC10 I mentioned in an earlier post. The photographs don't do it justice, so when there is a sunny day I will take it outside to photograph. Unfortunately, there has been an error with the registration (its ended up as G-AVRN instead of G-ARVN), but I won't tell if you won't!
Monday, 15 June 2015
I made a statement on my site that I would explain why I was using FS2000 as the simulator software for my VC10 simulator (instead of FS2004, FSX or XPlane). The reasons are varied, but all revolve around the fact that FS98 and FS2000 are the two variants of Flight Simulator I have used most.
As a consequence of this (and also because I wanted to use 'retired' computer hardware that I had lying around) I opted to use FS2000 because I had created several add-ins that allowed voice ATC on flights, voice response to certain ATC requests, real world weather (via internet METAR data), I had lots of photo-realistic scenery and a few good VC10 models. I have created an 'authentic' 1960's VC10 co-pilot flight panel for FS2000 - obviously the Captain's position is being built up of real avionics so no need to simulate that, particularly as the sim will only be flown from the right hand seat. Also, FS2000 is somewhat less demanding in terms of hardware resource which means that I can get good video frame rates even with scenery density and complexity set at a high level.
All the computer hardware & software has been set up & configured ready for installation - interfacing of the controls will have to wait until the construction and installation work starts.
As a consequence of this (and also because I wanted to use 'retired' computer hardware that I had lying around) I opted to use FS2000 because I had created several add-ins that allowed voice ATC on flights, voice response to certain ATC requests, real world weather (via internet METAR data), I had lots of photo-realistic scenery and a few good VC10 models. I have created an 'authentic' 1960's VC10 co-pilot flight panel for FS2000 - obviously the Captain's position is being built up of real avionics so no need to simulate that, particularly as the sim will only be flown from the right hand seat. Also, FS2000 is somewhat less demanding in terms of hardware resource which means that I can get good video frame rates even with scenery density and complexity set at a high level.
All the computer hardware & software has been set up & configured ready for installation - interfacing of the controls will have to wait until the construction and installation work starts.
Still adding photographs and scans of items from my collection - slow going but it will be worth it once I have everything on there. Restoration of the VC10 overhead panel is ongoing - the whole assembly is stable now thanks to some heavy duty epoxy adhesive and some fibre glass matting. Still more restoration to do, but it's coming along nicely - and an added bonus was discovering that there was still an original oxygen mask & tube in the dropdown panel!
I'm ever hopeful of having space cleared to start the simulator flight deck build in the next few weeks - the lack of progress at the moment is frustrating but other commitments and circumstances beyond my control are delaying the start of the build. As soon as the build starts I will post an update (& pictures) on the site.
I'm ever hopeful of having space cleared to start the simulator flight deck build in the next few weeks - the lack of progress at the moment is frustrating but other commitments and circumstances beyond my control are delaying the start of the build. As soon as the build starts I will post an update (& pictures) on the site.
Monday, 8 June 2015
Saturday, 30 May 2015
Thursday, 21 May 2015
I've decided to give my simulator the registration G-ARVN : this would have been the next Standard VC10 off the production line had BOAC not cancelled the order; using this registration also gives me a little bit of latitude in how the final cockpit layout looks - as it was never built I don't have to make it look 'identical' to any existing or previous aircraft!
I'm still updating the photographic gallery on the site, and have just added some fantastic pictures of G-ARTA taken in the early 1960s.
I'm still updating the photographic gallery on the site, and have just added some fantastic pictures of G-ARTA taken in the early 1960s.
Monday, 18 May 2015
This post could be called 'The Trouble with Tribbles'.....except I don't own any Tribbles, and the problem should more correctly be called 'The Trouble with PHP (when you don't understand it!)'.
I've had all sorts of problems getting the image galleries to work as I wanted, and I have expended much effort (and some money) trying to come up with a solution I liked....and I failed. Having said that, I've learnt something along the way about configuring PHP on a web server (specifically ImageMagick & PHP GD), and after much searching found a PHP script that does exactly what I want - SFPG (Single File PHP Gallery, https://sye.dk/sfpg/). Free for personal use, it really is an impressive piece of scripting.
I'm still tweaking the configuration, but I can now continue photographing my collection and adding to the galleries.
I've had all sorts of problems getting the image galleries to work as I wanted, and I have expended much effort (and some money) trying to come up with a solution I liked....and I failed. Having said that, I've learnt something along the way about configuring PHP on a web server (specifically ImageMagick & PHP GD), and after much searching found a PHP script that does exactly what I want - SFPG (Single File PHP Gallery, https://sye.dk/sfpg/). Free for personal use, it really is an impressive piece of scripting.
I'm still tweaking the configuration, but I can now continue photographing my collection and adding to the galleries.
Sunday, 10 May 2015
OK, so a little background on why I am building this VC10 flight simulator....
When I was about 6 years old (so that would be around 1969), my Father took me to Manchester Airport. The very first aircraft I saw landing and taxiing to the stand was a BOAC standard VC10 - I can't recall the registration, but there are still some photographs around somewhere that my Father took that day. I was totally in awe of the appearance of the VC10 (as well as the sound of those Conway engines), and a year or so later, the first Airfix model kit I built was of.....a VC10! Alas, the model didn't survive, but since then I have manged to find a complete and un-assembled example of the kit, along with many original parts from actual VC10s.
As I have been a keen Microsoft Flight Simulator user since the early 1990s (in the days of FS5 and MSDos), it seemed a logical progression to translate this love of flight simulation into creating a life-sized simulator. I could have stuck with creating a Cessna or maybe a B737.....but I wanted to create something more original and unique - so my VC10 project was born.
I have written several add-ons to FS2000 to allow me to achieve my goal (the reason for FS2000 will be explained in future blog posts), and as soon as I clear the space in my garden summerhouse, construction will start in earnest. In the meantime, check back soon for some updates!
When I was about 6 years old (so that would be around 1969), my Father took me to Manchester Airport. The very first aircraft I saw landing and taxiing to the stand was a BOAC standard VC10 - I can't recall the registration, but there are still some photographs around somewhere that my Father took that day. I was totally in awe of the appearance of the VC10 (as well as the sound of those Conway engines), and a year or so later, the first Airfix model kit I built was of.....a VC10! Alas, the model didn't survive, but since then I have manged to find a complete and un-assembled example of the kit, along with many original parts from actual VC10s.
As I have been a keen Microsoft Flight Simulator user since the early 1990s (in the days of FS5 and MSDos), it seemed a logical progression to translate this love of flight simulation into creating a life-sized simulator. I could have stuck with creating a Cessna or maybe a B737.....but I wanted to create something more original and unique - so my VC10 project was born.
I have written several add-ons to FS2000 to allow me to achieve my goal (the reason for FS2000 will be explained in future blog posts), and as soon as I clear the space in my garden summerhouse, construction will start in earnest. In the meantime, check back soon for some updates!
Saturday, 2 May 2015
Wednesday, 8 April 2015
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