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Eye position and view angles for scenery generators

Started by Takayoshi Sasano, Wed, 8 Mar 2023 14:17

Takayoshi Sasano

Hi,

I recently had a chat with Iadbound about setting up visuals using MSFS with PSX. Since I wanted to ensure to spread somewhat decent information I assume this is the best place to invite everyone with some real knowledge to correct/improve my approach.

The first thing I looked into was the eye position in relation to the main instrument panel/glareshield. There is a document published by Airbus - the basic principle should apply to any aircraft though I guess:
"Are You Properly Seated?"

The second bit was to ensure the view angle is somewhat correct - I loaded a flight and took some rough guesses wether the closest visible point on the runway was realistic or not.
To have a basic orientation I looked at the "747 Airport Planning Document" provided by Boeing.
On page 105 are the exact numbers what to expect in terms of visual angles from the cockpit.

This led to the following approach:
I loaded the Asobo default 748 as well as the Salty 748 and shifted the eye position up until I could look straight along the glareshield down to the runway. Then I tilted the view down until the horizon was at eyelevel for me sitting in front of my display (which turned out to be just shy of one third of the display height from the top). Finally I zoomed in and out until the PFD, ND and MFD were completely visible. This should be the exact picture in PSX as well.
I pulled my hairs trying to find out how to get down to the exact numbers in some configuration file - I gave up because the rising blood pressure began producing funny whistling noises in my head.
So I took note where the horizon should be, what significant landmarks/buildings should be where on the screen and finally how wide the visible picture should be.
Still in the Asobo/Salty 748 I loaded PSX and began editing the layout to meet the exact height of the visible instrument panel.

Back in the PSX.NET.WASM I adjusted the view accordingly and loaded my Aerowinx PSX layout on top. This is what I'm using at the moment - so far without any other experience it feels like a good mix between outside field of view, view angle down to the ground and feel of height above the ground.

This approach should work in any other sim as well, I did set up X-Plane 11 and X-Plane 12 similarly.

Please feel free to suggest and correct, I'd love to improve my setup :)

Cheers

Yoshi

Britjet


That all sounds very sensible to me. I use a similar method.
The zoom level is really important. With the wrong setting the flying feels unnatural on approach, causing Pilot over or under-control depending on the zoom setting. Zoom level of 1 doesn't necessarily work. I changed mine from the WASM aircraft setting of 1 to 0.35 which is the same as used in the MSFS default 747-8. Seems to work ok..

Peter

Captain_Crow

Hi, I did lots of tries about this, but I never found a Keystroke or Yoke button assignment in beloved MSFS for storing this position and lock it for ever. Did you ?
Best
Steff

Jeroen Hoppenbrouwers

Real aircraft also has no such button. You need to fumble with your seat every time.   :-)


--- runs away ---

Iadbound

For Captain Crow, in MSFS I assign CTRL+NumPad 1 as the key combination to set custom camera 1 in the cockpit view.  Then I assign the custom view itself as Numpad 1.  That way, I just hit Numpad 1 anytime I want to restore my preferred captain view.

And thanks Takayoshi.

cavaricooper

Quote from: Iadbound on Wed,  8 Mar 2023 21:25For Captain Crow, in MSFS I assign CTRL+NumPad 1 as the key combination to set custom camera 1 in the cockpit view.  Then I assign the custom view itself as Numpad 1.  That way, I just hit Numpad 1 anytime I want to restore my preferred captain view.

And thanks Takayoshi.

This can be assigned to a button to make things even easier.

C
Carl Avari-Cooper, KTPA

Captain_Crow

Yes I think so either, but I can not find a key binding to lock the view... do you have a hint ?
Best
steff

cavaricooper

Quote from: Captain_Crow on Thu,  9 Mar 2023 11:22Yes I think so either, but I can not find a key binding to lock the view... do you have a hint ?
Best
steff

It is in the MSFS VIEW menu area... will check and try to put a screenshot up tonight.
Carl Avari-Cooper, KTPA

Captain_Crow

Thx Carl, i gave up searching in MSFS...
Steff

cavaricooper

Carl Avari-Cooper, KTPA

Antonio T.

Hi Takayoshi Sasano,

Can you post some screenshots , so we can see how it looks ?

I´m still trying to finetune the MSFS and Aerowinx.

Thanks you !

Takayoshi Sasano

Quote from: Antonio T. on Wed, 15 Mar 2023 19:48Hi Takayoshi Sasano,

Can you post some screenshots , so we can see how it looks ?

I´m still trying to finetune the MSFS and Aerowinx.

Thanks you !

Hi Antonio,
of course, here we go:
https://youtu.be/4vV42NQ_bAU

Cheers

Yoshi

cavaricooper

#12
Yoshi-

I have tailored my view after watching your video.  If you are able, would you mind sharing your layout here or at https://aerowinx.com/board/index.php/topic,7076.0.html

Here is my view on a taxiway


and here is my view on the runway


I would love to ensure I am doing this correctly (Peter- are you reading this)?

Would a few more degrees nose down (just the eye point) be ok?

Thanks!

Carl
Carl Avari-Cooper, KTPA