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!
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