Fuel indicator question

[UllyB 1,206]

I discovered in an old avionics file a fuel indicator section and I remembered that an old Tu-16 cockpit, even if it seems to have on board the fuel indicator, it won't move a bit to show me if it works. How do they work, how are they connected to the cockpit 3D model ? Can I make it work putting them together if I have just a fuel indicator section from another avionics  and a cockpit that shows the fuel ? Can anyone help me please ?

[alexis99 124]

And if you get an answer to that, can you tell me how to put a fuel indicator on the HUD, please?

[UllyB 1,206]

Of course I will, but for now there are things which I don't understand how they work cause I don't have the insight info yet. However some progress, on my own, I already made. The cockpit in question is one modified from a A-6A plane, from WOV. I look into WOV files and  and compared the cockpit.ini I have and the original one for an A-6A. They look identical except the sizes of the cockpit model, the original one is almost  half bigger. I tested the original A-6A in WOV and the fuel indicator works. The puzzling thing is that even if they have the same files, the same configuration (cockpit.ini files I mean) the fuel needle won't move in my cockpit, in WOI game. I checked and overchecked each line in the cockpit.ini and I don't get it why won't work. Maybe someone will give me a hint or a clue.

[UllyB 1,206]

I had an idea and it took me to some serious conclusions. I renamed the Tu-16 cockpit and replaced the one in WOV, for A-6A and, surprise, it WORKED. So either the new engine of WOI doesn't support anymore old cockpits (it doesn't know how to link things in old cockpits) orrr I am still missing something. I could use some help, really.

Edited July 12, 2017 by UllyB

[UllyB 1,206]

I dug further for the last two hours...In A-6A cockpit LOD there are leads to three entries which are readable (LOD file is a binary file) which could give a clue of what's going on between the cockpit.ini file and the cockpit LOD itself, one is the name of the fuel panel bitmap (fuel_quality.bmp), the second is the fuel panel needle node (needle_fuel_quality) and the third is a mistery and is nowhere to be found into the cockpit folder (I looked into original A-6A cockpit's folder, too): it's called "guage_fuel_quantity". I looked into cockpit.ini file, there is no line regarding that either. I looked through other planes cockpit.ini files, some which have a fuelgauge line but I don't know how to fit it into the cockpit file I have. I'm thinking that if I can invent a line/section where to have that "guage_fuel_quantity" wonder word, it will work, but I don't know where and how. Maybe someone will help.

Edited July 12, 2017 by UllyB

[+logan4 847]

The mesh called "guage_fuel_quantity" is the parent component which is the instrument mesh itself.  As you correctly wrote the needle is the "needle_fuel_quantity" which actually makes the movement.

Based on the cockpit.ini the bellow are the related entries

 

Instrument[027]=FuelIndicator

 

 

[FuelIndicator]

Type=INETERNAL_FUEL_QUANTITY_INDICATOR

NodeName=needle_fuel_quality

MovementType=ROTATION_Z

ValueUnit=LB

Set[01].Position=0.0

Set[01].Value=0.0

Set[02].Position=270.0

Set[02].Value=10000.0

 

 

 

I don't have the Tu16 pit so can not give you a hint which mesh you should use to properly show the fuel levels. I do not think you can use instruments from two separate _pit.lods in a single cockpit. You can put in fake items but those will not move/react in any way.

[UllyB 1,206]

Sooo that was the thing with the third... Thanks for explanations, I was getting crazy wondering what is all about. Yes the cockpit lines for fuel are exactly those. Aaaa i think I was in the error in the first place about the origin of the cockpit. The cockpit.ini file for Tu-16 and the one for A-6A are the same, identical, I mistakenly measured the A-6A main  LOD instead of the cockpit LOD and I said that they don't match. So bottom line, it's the same cockpit, but the fuel indicator doesn't work in WOI. In WOV, using the A-6A, it works. Could be the updated engine of WOI which would make fuel indicator to fail ? Or could be the fact that the WOI updated engine won't allow OLD aircraft to show correct the fuel consumption ? It really consumes me that I can't make it work.

 

PS - I already did that, load just 25% to see if it works. And, of course , it doesn't. I even tweaked the 10000lbs to a smaller amount to be easy and I even changed in options fuel to HARD.

Edited July 13, 2017 by UllyB

[UllyB 1,206]

I transferred an A-6A from WOV to WOI. Well, the fuel indicator WORKS. But if I use JUST the cockpit for another plane, which I got in WOI, it doesn't. I really feel frustration.

[UllyB 1,206]

I tried, The needle stays to zero this time, so in WOI it's not changed. Before that I did another thing: I put the cockpit and the cockpit.ini file to a WOI  "native", an A-4E '73 Ahit and it worked. but on this damn Tu-16 plane refuses to work. Grrrr...

So, no matter how improbable is, it must be a relation between the cockpit LOD and the plane's LOD, cause the WOI game engine thing I ruled it out with the A-4E '73 Ahit example. I wish I knew TK phone number....lol

Edited July 13, 2017 by UllyB

[+logan4 847]

I tested with a stock A6 pit and works fine in WOI the only thing you have to do is to adjust the parameters for fuel quantity like this:

 

Set[01].Position=0.0

Set[01].Value=0.0

Set[02].Position=270.0

Set[02].Value=83700.0  <-------

[UllyB 1,206]

wow man you're a life saviour! THANK YOU for your effort and tenacity, I wish I had it! So it's all about proportions....The value of the needle in units correspond to 100% value of the fuel loaded, when fuel is 100%. I guess then you took the easiest route and looked when the clock was "set" for 50% fuel. BRILLIANT!! Thank you once again!

[+logan4 847]

Something similar 

Do not worry, time and practice will bring you there. Yes, values usually set the different conditions and positions that should be manifested in game.

Your welcome and happy flying!

[alexis99 124]

So, is there a way to get a digital fuel quantity readout on the HUD?

[yubba 70]

So, is there a way to get a digital fuel quantity readout on the HUD?

So when are you going to crack the mid air refueling collumdrum ..probably when I learn how to spell.