Newbie VC Gauges Don't Show

[VF2_Tim]

Newbie, again, working in FSDS v2 on a biplane for CFS2.

Can't get any guages to show in my VC.  I looked at all the tutorials and have followed them to the letter.  Still not getting it.

I've created the guages plane and given it a file name starting with "$".  This placeholder file is showing up ( I know because I'm doing David Lyons tutorial from the abacus website and it has the inverted "G" on the placeholder file--this is showing up on my mdl in the sim).   However, no matter what I do to the panel cfg, no gauges will show.

I've even copied vc info from stock and addon aircraft to the panel cfg in my new plane.  I knew these would not show up in the right places, but at least something should have shown up on the guages plane.   No Dice, just  that inverted red "G" laughing at me.  

To really drag out this post, let me say that I'm a bit confused by the naming structure of the gauges.  I don't understand what the "!" is doing in the file name.

Also, instead of being listed separately, there is only one entry for the stock plane gauges in the "gauges" folder.  (if that is even where the guages come from)  

The what and where of the files in CFS2 are still a bit of a mystery to me.  

Here are the file names of the gauges (from my gauges foler) that I want on my very simple VC panel:

sopwith.compass.gau
sopwith.airspeed.gau
sopwith.altimeter.gau
sopwith.fuel.gau

Based on everything I've read and researched, I would assume that the following addition to the panel cfg would get the job done:

[VCockpit01]
size_mm=256,256
pixel_size=512,512s
texture=$pan1
background_color=0,0,0
visible=0
gauge00=sopwith!compass,0,0,128,128
gauge01=sopwith!airpseed,128,128,128,128
gauge02=sopwith!altimeter,128,0,128,128
gauge03=sopwith!fuel,0,128,128,128

But I just tried the above again (for about the tenth time) and it isn't working.

What am I not getting on this?

Can anyone help?

Thanks

VF2_Tim

[HABU]

Do you have a separate model for the VC? Not sure if that makes any difference?

[VF2_Tim]

Hello Habu,

Thanks for helping.

Yes, I created a separate model for my vc.  Actually, I just copied the main model and deleted everything that doesn't show from pilot POV.

VF2_Tim

[VF2_Tim]

Hello Habu,

Thanks for helping.

Yes, I created a separate model for my vc.  Actually, I just copied the main model and deleted everything that doesn't show from pilot POV.

VF2_Tim

[HABU]

Is the model set as a CFS2 model when you export it, ready for the sim?

If you have followed the tutorial there isn't much else it could be....?

Have you tried your model in fs2002/2004?

[VF2_Tim]

Unfortunately, I don't own fs2002 or 2004.  All I have is CFS2 and CFS.

Thanks for trying.

I'll give it another shot.

[VF2_Tim]

 Eureka!

The panel was borrowed from a sopwith camel.  The Panel CFG had this line in it:

[fltsim]
alias=sopcamel\panel

When I put a couple backslashes in front of the second  line to disable it, my gauges started to show.

So, the good news is, my vc is finished.  The bad news is that now the main panel and it's accompanying up/right/left/back views are gone.  This is not a big deal as I intended to rework them anyway.

One challenge after another but I'm determined to finish this sucker off.

Just wanted to post what I found in case some other newbie can use the info.

Thanks all.
VF2_Tim

[HABU]

Well done! Something so simple!!!! (as unfortunately is always the case!!)  ;D