Virtualcol DeHavilland of Canada DHC-3 Otter

[Flying Trucker]

Good morning folks...

Okay have downloaded from site the Virtualcol DeHavilland of Canada DHC-3 Otter and the Discs should arrive today by FED EX...

Now Virtualcol only supplied the P & W R1340 version of the Royal Canadian Air Force (RCAF) DHC-3 Otter on wheels and wheel/skis...both very nice.

However most RCAF Squadrons that operated the DHC-3 Otter had at least two (2) of the aircraft on Amphibious Floats, that is not counting the Amphibious Otters with the Search and Rescue Squadrons which operated the DHC-3 Otter with RESCUE painted on their sides.

I tried to take the wheel version of the P & W R1340 RCAF Livery of the DHC-3 Otter and Paste it in the CFG File of the Amphibious Versions of the DHC-3 Otter all of which are civilian and I added what I thought was the proper Line Changes, renumbered the Texture and added it....nothing worked but the addition is still in the CFG File where it should be...

Does Virtualcol have to add a RCAF Amphibious DHC-3 Otter as an upgrade

Secondly I would like to change the HSI (Horizontal Situation Indicator) and add one that has a Heading Bug which will work in the Autopilot...
Also like to add a combined ADF/VOR indicator in place of the single ADF.

Any problems in doing the above Instrument changes and any help would be most appreciated...

[Flying Trucker]

Good morning all...

Have the Amphibious Radial Engine Otter in RCAF Livery and shows good.

Now have taken a shot and resized it to Thumbnail and posted the picture in Texture File where it shows.

Picture does not show when I start FSX...I get some default picture.

Is there something else I should be doing

Have switched the Turbo Otters Horizontal Situation Indicator (HSI) to the Radial Engine Otter.

It works but can't use the Heading Bug as the Panel Hole does not seem large enough for it to display properly...I can only see half of the Heading Bug...the rest of the gauge works fine...

Any help would be most appreciated...

[garymbuska]

If you know what you are doing you can change any instrument in any aircraft. There is a program called FSPANELSTUDIO http://www.fspanelstudio.com/
This is a payware program but does allow a free trail period. If you want a program that will allow you edit and customize any aircraft you have this is the program you want. The only thing it will not do is edit virtual cockpits.
This is a very user friendly program the best feature about this is you see the exact same cockpit that you would see in any version of FS
To change any gauge you need to have the coordinates of that gauge which is a trail and error method.
With the program all you have to do is drag and drop you see exactly where the gauge will be and when you start FS it will be right where you put it.
This is the one program you want if you are serious about custom panels in your aircraft.

[Flying Trucker]

Thanks Gary...just ordered it...should be here in two or three days...

[papituwall]

I see the Simmers much interested in this plane, but IMO it deserves a better development/developer than this one.
Virtualcol products are welcome but very simplistic. They look not expensive, but if you compare this plane at 12,50$ and the aerosoft Beaver at 25,99$... No comment.

[Flying Trucker]

Everything has a beginning papituwall and this kit looks good to me...

[garymbuska]

Thanks Gary...just ordered it...should be here in two or three days...

You will not be dissapointed. I forgot to mention if they upate you can get the updated version free. You just have to download it.

[Flying Trucker]

Yes I clicked the Update Button when I ordered it...

[Flying Trucker]

Hi Gary...

Nice program...

Have added a new Horizontal Situation Indicator which works well with the Auto Pilot in all the DHC-3s... (Otter/wheel) (Flotter/floats/amphibian) (Skotter/ski Otter)

However I could not find a way to add the HSI to the Virtual Cockpit as that choice was not there...

Not sure if there is a way to add an HSI to the Virtual Cockpit or not

[papituwall]

I was so disappointed with the VC of this plane that finally merged it with the default FSX Beaver interior, it is not the same but looks similar it is not "cartoonish" as the original.

[Flying Trucker]

Good morning all...

Just had a look at the cockpit of the X Plane DHC-3 Otter...

Like Virtualcols DHC-3 Otter they left out the Dual ADF Indicator which most Otters I flew had...VORs were just coming into use...

The X Plane DHC-3 Otter has a good HSI (Horizontal Situation Indicator) with Heading Bug that works well with Auto Pilot and Glideslope for ILS.
I used the HSI from the Turbo Otter and installed it in the Radial Engine Otter...works great...

The Carburetor Heat Control is in the proper position, at the bottom of the Engine Control Quadrant on the X Plane Radial Engine Otter and there is lots of room to place the Carburetor Heat Control Lever in the same location on the Virtualcol DHC-3 Radial Engine Otter.

When I first got this simulated aircraft I immediately contacted Virtualcol about several short falls in their design and product...had been in contact with them about different Canadian Liveries and found them great to deal with.
Glad to see a Patch is on it's way just like they said it would be...

We used the Dual ADFs to track to a NDB while listening to music on the second ADF...Dual VORs and a GPS were added as soon as they became available...

Several Points I mentioned to Virtualcol:
-dual ADF Instrument
-dual VOR Instruments
-HSI with Heading Bug and Glide Slope
-Carburetor Heat Control Lever should be in the same location as the DHC-2 Beaver's...bottom of Engine Control Quadrant on radial engine Otter
-Skis should have several settings:
...Full Up
...3/4 Ski
...1/2 Ski
...1/4 Ski
...Full Down Ski
There are different uses for the different settings which I won't go into right now...

Have not seen any simulated aircraft model from any company that add the Ski Settings...seems it is a difficult thing to add to the kit...

I have a Royal Canadian Air Force (RCAF) radial engine Otter in RCAF Livery and on the Amphibious Floats...was easy to do...
The majority if not all RCAF Reg. and Aux. Squadrons which operated the P&W R1340 radial engine Otter had at least two (2) aircraft on amphibious floats during the summer/fall seasons...
The DHC-3 radial engine Otter flew as a Light Utility Aircraft with RCAF Air Transport Command and Mobile Command...with RCAF Search and Rescue the Otter had the word RESCUE along each side in International Orange lettering...

Here is a Link that shows some cockpit shots and liveries of the X Plane Otter...

https://plus.google.com/photos/+Nicolas ... 4452480091

Looking forward to Virtualcol Patch...

[Merlin0859]

Trust me the patch or in my case the updated FDE files make all the difference. It flies like a whole new airplane. I know because they sent me the files early to help test. It has more power on take off, is better behaved during flight and most importantly to me doesn't bounce on landing. Well worth the wait! I still wish the VC was a little, ok a lot more detailed but admittedly the frame rates are great because of it. The solution to the turbine sounds for me was Sonic Solutions PT-6A sound pack off of pilotshop. I already owned it. Now if I could find some piston engine sounds. Anybody know if I could use Aerosoft's Beaver X sound folder? If so that would be nice! And your right their customer support is how everybody's should be.

[Flying Trucker]

Thanks for the update Merlin0859...much appreciated...

Will the Patch or Link to the Patch be posted here