Visual System
Projection Screen
The 3 projection screens are mounted on 3 customized
metal frames. The metal frames are fitted with
wheels. This makes it easy to move the screens away
for maintenance purposes, without the danger of
bruising the floor. Each metal frame holds a 163cm x
123cm (5,35ft x 4.04ft) MDF panel, painted with a
special screen-paint.
Projector
/ Screen
System
For the verification of
the proper alignment
of the projector
/ screen system
a grid test pattern is recommended. Some
projectors, like the BQ MX613ST, have an option to
generate pattern internally. If not, you can draw a
simple grid test pattern by yourself with your
favorite graphics program or search for
it in the Internet.
Perfect aligned projector
/ screen system. Essential for a successful image
alignment
My FS9 recommendations for the setup of the views and
image alingment are as follows:
Creating the Cockpit Views
- 1. Create 3 additional cockpit views (in addition to
the spanned view). These
views will become the outside views (forward left, forward, forward right). - 2. Position these views anywhere on the screen. Don't worry about the
size and specific position. -
3. Save this scenario as new flight, name it e.g. 'visualsetup3P'
Image Alignment
The prerequisite for this step is the accurate
geometry
alignment of the projectors / screen system, as
explained above. In doing so, the following steps can be carried out quit
purposeful. The steps are:
- 1. Editing the FLT file for the outside views position and size
- 2. Editing the aircraft panel file for accurate image alignment
- 3. Doing the fine adjustment
Editing the FLT file
Open the FLT file belonging to the saved
flight. This file can be found
in your user document directory (My Documents\Flight
Simulator Files\). For safety reasons make a
backup first and then open the original FLT
file with the notepad. Inside you'll find a list of
entries related to the windows opened when you saved
the flight.
Scroll the content until you find the Window section. Check the following settings for the spanned view [Window.1]:
| Order=3 Active=True ScreenUniCoords=0, 0, 8191, 6143 |
The MS Flight Simulator uses its own internal universal screen co-ordinate system, which make the co-ordinates independent of the of screen resolution. A maximum spanned view is represented by 8192 width and 6144 height.
Next scroll down to set the size and the position for the other outside view windows.
Recommended positions for the 3-window setup are as follows:
- Forward Left window:
ScreenUniCoords= 0, 0, 2731, 6144 - Center window:
ScreenUniCoords= 2731, 0, 2730, 6144 - Forward Right window:
ScreenUniCoords= 5461, 0, 2731, 6144