Blackhawk project - revival

The original thread for this project is here ---> Blackhawk project - original

I'm picking up work on this again, getting it to work in the latest code version. The original thread was getting quite long, and a lot of the screenshots and links had been lost.

So I'm starting a new thread to keep track of progress on this.

No longer available

Work in Progress
=============

Views

• Add co-pilot view
• Add co-pilot MFDs
• Fix MFD views (F3/F4)
• Update action camera cockpit views

Central Display

• Add digital readout
• Split fuel gauge between 2 tanks (pseudo real)
• Add Oil pressure and Temp (pseudo real)
• Add Transmission Oil Pressure and Temp (XMSN) (pseudo real)

Pilot / Co-Pilot Display

• Add digital readout
• Add Rotor Overspeed warning - not going to do this, as they'll never get activated in the game.

Chronometer

• Add GMT/UTC - can't do as campaigns don't have time zones for each map to work out UTC.
• Add Local Time
• Add mission elapsed time

Radar Altimeter

• Add digital readout

Countermeasures (ALE-47)

• Add chaff readout
• Add flares readout
• Add damaged states - needs properly play tested
  
  No damage - total amounts for chaff/flare
  Left chaff damaged - show right chaff
  Right chaff damaged - show left chaff
  Both chaff damaged show XX
  
  Left flare damaged - show right flare
  Right flare damaged - show left flare
  Both flare damaged show XX

MFDs

• Update flight display
• Update engine display
• Update FLIR
• Update navigation display
• Update weapon display
• Update TSD
• Update ASE
• Update mission display
• Add MFD buttons - descoped

Radar Warning Receiver

• Implement RWR

Lower Console

• Add caution/warning panel
• Work out layout of instruments

Texturing

• Resize all textures to acceptable sizes
• Texture upper console
• Fix texture shimmering

Check scales for all instrument needle movement

Add cockpit lights - implemented in 1.16.1

Animate switches and levers - descoped

Add wiper animation

Add rain effect

Animate controls

Add stabilator gauge

Add co-pilot instrument needles

Fix weapon selection speech

Update sounds

Update keyguide for MFDs

Add cockpit rotors

Add weapon pylons

Animate cargo doors

Export small MFDs

Are you going to put it on the new 1.16.1? It will be fantastic

with what you learned in ka50 and mi28 now you will do everything you want

It'll be updated to use the latest code, but won't be part of that release. It'll be an add on mod.



That's what I'm hoping. The digital number displays were the last thing I was working on. So now I've done them in the ka50, I should be able to get them done in the Blackhawk.

And they look fantastic. I did not expect such a good effect.

Back in the game! Up and running in the latest 1.16.1.

Now the work begins.


If anyone wants to have a look at this just now, let me know and I'll send you a link. But be aware. It is very. VERY, unfinished. Use at your own risk

So don't post about things not work or needing fixed, or textures needing resized etc. I know!

Hi messyhead, I want it please!

Ok. I'm just going to make a few changes to make it a bit more playable, then I'll PM you a link.

Mt only one dream that you steal flir symbology from clickable cockpits and add to blackhawk and apache

I might add it to the Blackhawk, as I'd like to use some of those MFDs, but I won't add it to the Apache in this mod.

Check your PM's.

Hi messyhead, i'd like to have a look at your blackhawk cockpit as i have some freetime for 1.16.1 testing.

Check your PM's.

Did some work on the digital readouts and got them working now for the Central, Pilot, and Co-Pilot displays.

Wow, so much going on here!!! Great news that the Blackhawk will come!

Had not much time to look in the forum the last months, cause I'm working very hard on my homepit project.

I was really surprised to see that 1.16.1 is out now. Great work!!!

Chaff and Flare numbers are now shown on the control panel.

Also, how cool does it look with the cockpit lights off


It's a seemingly small update for having worked on it all week. But I had to rework a lot of things. The model in the scene for some reason was tilted, so I straightened it as it'll make adding things easier later on. But it meant I had to re-position all of the objects in the scene again. I also changed all of the digital readouts to use a single texture for each display. They were using separate ones for left/right before. But there's a finite number of textures that can be used for displays, and I was running out.

Radar altimeter digital display added. It only goes up to 1500 feet.

Will be looks much better when you do lighting for mfd buttons, something like that

Don't set your expectations too high

I think it's possible to do that with DDS textures, and different layers, but I think the graphics engine needs to support it. I've see multi-layered DDS textures from DCS like that, but EECH seems to just use luminosity. Texturing is a bit of an unknown for me, so I need to sort that all out once everything is functional.

Is that video from Combat Helo?

ARMA 3.
without problem it can be done with the luminosity in eech.
another idea is a separate texture day and ngt as in mi 28.

Chrono working now, but only for local time. And I need to make it look less like a clock radio!

Finished off the digital clock. It's not the same as the real thing, but it's functional in the game. The real one has GMT (or UTC) at the top, and then Local or Mission time at the bottom.

This one just has Mission Time at the top and Local Time at the bottom.

If there's no mission, it just shows --:--:--

Fuel gauge now split between two tanks. I also realised the LEDs weren't showing the correct fuel level, and were always 100%, so have fixed that too.

I think it's time I started tackling some of the texture issues. On the central display unit, the textures look fine close up. But when you zoom out, they "shimmer" and become unclear. Can anyone explain why that is, and how to solve it?

I'm going to try a few things that i think might help, but I don't really know, and texturing isn't my strong point. The texture files are just BMP at the moment, so I'm going to try with TGA, and DDS to see if it helps.

sounds like mipmaps issue - for BMP and TGA, mipmaps should be genereated manually in separate files, like
1_BUTTON.TGA
1_BUTTON@1.TGA
1_BUTTON@2.TGA
1_BUTTON@3.TGA

for DDS, they are generated automatically (if checkbox checked), so it's preferable file format for any purpose

I thought it might be something to do with mipmapping. I changed the single BMP to a TGA, and it already has improved it. Almost like it mipmaps it by itself. In the images below, the central display and countermeasures (to the left of it) use TGA. When zoomed out, they look softer. Compare that to the RPM/TRQ display that still uses a single BMP.

How do you create the different mipmap levels in the texture? Is it the texture file size, or the resolution that gets reduced? E.g. close up 512x512, then 256x256 etc. Or is it the pixels/per inch size in photoshop? I tried looking on the wiki as I think this has been mentioned before, but couldn't find anything.

I tried using the Nvidia tool to create DDS, but it won't launch in photoshop or using the standalone tool. Photoshop doesn't support DDS, but I've read that Gimp does, so I'll try that.

Actually, DDS plugin for Photoshop (can be found on nVidia website somewhere) create mipmaps without manual adjustments - usually it's 1/4 of original image, 1/4 of previous mipmap and so on.

Thanks. I downloaded Nvidia Texture Tools Exporter as a plugin and standalone, but they won't launch. I'll have another look for it. I'll also try the plugin in an older photoshop version, as it just updated to the 2020 version.

However, I was able to use Gimp to export as a DDS with mipmaps, and it seems to work. I just need to play with the export settings to see what effect they have. I think the textures look a bit too soft now, even when zoomed in, and have lost some of their sharpness.

What are the limits on texture sizes?

I've noticed that as well, may happen because of low anisotropic filtration level, or just because the way how current DX version render textures. you can decide to use textures without mipmaps for cockpit - sometimes it's worth it.


it was 2048x2048 but not sure about now - after latest D3D changes, maybe it was increased. had to be tested.

Does having bigger texture sizes help with the in game texture quality? I tried some different sizes and couldn't see much change, but all of my textures need optimised.

I don't think it may help - at some point image is large enough and does not look blurry, but further resolution increase will not change anything

You can do 4096x4096 texture.

I'm going to leave the texturing again for now, and work on more functional things. I'm going to need to combine textures into less files and redo the UV maps. Also the sizes all need to be power of 2 e.g. 256x256, 512x512 etc, so that'll mean redoing to the model parts with the new textures. I'll probably use DDS due to the mipmapping, and also in future it means if the DX version is updated, more texture features can be added like different layers etc. D3D9 only supports a few mipmap filters, so I need to experiment with which gives the best results, and also the compression used.

I started work on updating the MFDs. I'm borrowing the ones from the Apache in 1.15.4 that have never been in a release. They match with what I've seen of some of the MFD screens in the MH60L, and it'd be a shame to never use them as they're pretty good. I've almost got the engine screen working.

Engine MFD page now working. Images show manual engine startup, flight, and overtorque. I need to make some tweaks to the font used, but it's all functioning. I'm going to add the MFD buttons too.

I've been out of action for a few while due to needing a new laptop, that got delivered today. I got myself an Asus Tuf A17, Ryzen 5 4600H, with a nvidia GTX 1650ti. So I can now also run Falcon BMS at a decent speed, so I might defect to fixed wing sims

I'm hoping to get everything reinstalled and get back to work on the Blackhawk asap.

Congrats!

Finally found my backup drives, so managed to get Lightwave reinstalled. Maybe I'll do some work on it over the Christmas break, if I can remember what I was doing last.

Good luck!
https://streamable.com/pm60e0

May the force be with you, but I don't understand why all the flyable side-by-side-seating helos in EECH that don't have authentic pits of their own right now in the meantime just don't use either the Kiowa or Hokum cockpits, with like the HUDs disabled or something if they don't have that. Why do they use the original Apache cockpit by default?

The original Apache cockpit is the default cockpit. So when fly any helo was added, they made it use that cockpit. It's not meant to be realistic, and I don't think making a 2 seat cockpit the default for those types would be any better.

Well, there's only one aircraft that should have the Apache A pit: the Apache A, obviously. Why couldn't all the side-by-side flyable helos get one of the already-finished cockpits of that type prior to them getting their own unique, authentic cockpits? Are there any other helos besides the Apache A that's using the Apache A cockpit currently that's a tandem helo? Maybe put the Kiowa pit on the US side-by-sides that are still needing unique pits like the Blackhawk & Osprey and the Hokum pit on the Russian ones like the Helix?

Edit: I guess the Super Cobra is the only tandem helo that has the old Apache pit. I can imagine the Zulu pit working fine with that, and maybe with the side stick removed.

The one advantage I can think of off the top of my head to NOT do any of this would be that some people might want half the helos to have a simple, low-framerate pit like the Apache A if they have too much of a framerate drop on the more advanced cockpits.

I suppose the real reason it's not been done, is because no-one's bothered to do it yet. Changing the cockpit isn't a trivial task, even just replacing the default with another one takes changing in lots of code, and also renaming the 3D model. The default cockpit draw methods are all different from the 3D cockpit methods as well.

Making a bit more progress with this today. I had to redo the engine display, and get the FLIR/DTV screen working, which it now is. I also added the flight display, and I'm working on the compass. I took the compass from Arneh's apache avionics code, so now trying to get it to show the waypoint info instead of radio navigation that he had added. (side note - it would be great if all of Arneh's code made it into the sim one day. Every time I look back at what he had done, it would such a great update to the Apache -> https://simhq.com/forum/ubbthreads....s-modernization-program-work-in-progress)


I think in a few more days, I'll have something flyable that people could test.

Flight display and Compass showing navigation info now working. There's space on the compass for more info, so I might add some later. I'm sure this should now be flyable as is, although I need to add the co-pilot and fix a couple of known issues.

Messy is there anyway i can help you?? i'm somewhat good with 3d modeling and photoshop

Thanks. I'm good at the modelling, but not so good with textures. A lot of the textures need resized, and possibly combined to less uv files. I also need to fix the shimmering issue, which I think is down to mip mapping. Using DDS might help.

Please do not hesitate to call for help with textures, uv, dds, etc. Yes, shimmering is a mipmap issue.

I've been leaving the texturing till the end, and trying to get all the model and coding done. But If I could sort out the shimmering on the main cockpit panel and instruments, it would make it a lot more flyable just now.

Take your time please but call me if you need anything for textures.

I started this mod 10 years ago. Taking my time is the one consistent thing about it

i'm actually thinking of enrolling into some online classes to learn how to code in C just so i can help mod this game because i freaking love it

For the same reason I started to learn 3d modeling, programming too difficult for me. If you know other languages, switching to C won't be a problem.

No need to enroll in a course, YouTube is your friend

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Bz4MxDeEM6k

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KJgsSFOSQv0

Knocked a few more items of the to-do list.

Almost ready to fly...

The cockpit looks GREAT!
Awesome work.
Time permitting give us some pointers or tutorials on how to program the avionics and instruments.
It would be double awesome.

I'll try and put some pages on the wiki later.

Release now available for testing.

https://simhq.com/forum/ubbthreads.php/topics/4515777/re-blackhawk-project-revival#Post4515777

I think I've fixed the keys for the MFDs now when using the cohokum-BH.exe. I've also amended the keys slightly. The reason it worked in the debug.exe, was that when making a debug build Left CTRL/ALT/SHIFT and Right CTRL/ALT/SHIFT can be mapped to different keys. But when making a non-debug build (e.g. cohokum.exe) the left and right keys are effectively the same so it doesn't matter if you press left or right CTRL/ALT/SHIFT (with one small caveat noted below).

• [ - main MFD next display
• ] - main MFD previous display
• CTRL + ] - toggle main MFD on/off
• ALT + [ - top MFD next display
• Left ALT+ ] - bottom MFD next display (see note below)
• SHIFT + [ - top MFD on/off
• SHIFT + ] - bottom MFD on/off

(Note: whether you use left or right ALT shouldn't matter. However there seems to be a bug where Right ALT is acting as CTRL. Left ALT acts as it should, so use that instead. This happens in all cockpits, not just Blackhawk)


The latest update also includes Rapota's Blackhawk model, which is a huge improvement. Just see the rotor head detail to see how much better it looks.

It also includes the rotor blades and weapons visible from the cockpit - Note however these are in the wrong position. I'm looking into working out how to reposition them. But like everything in this code, it's buried somewhere.

The same download link works, just download it again to get the update files.

Small update made, and the download link in the first page will get you the latest files.

This just changes the MFD keys to keep them inline with the existing keys. I've updated the keymapping in the 2nd post.

I've created a new post for reporting issues, and I've moved all of the posts so far about issues into it. Please use that from now on to report or discuss any issues.

https://simhq.com/forum/ubbthreads.php/topics/4565804/blackhawk-cockpit-mod-issue-reports

Another update available at the link on the first page.

The archive changed slightly, so you should be able to unzip this directly over your game folder and replace the files.

Updated items:

• Weapons and rotors now visible from cockpit
• Controls animated
• Pilot and co-pilot models added
• Cargo doors animate from inside and outside cockpit
• Changed the position of the red beacon light on the lower tail to match the light position on the model
• Changed the beacon light on the top of the tail to white
• Limited the FLIR/DTV view range. It was possible to look 190 degrees and take a selfie

Another update available from the download link.

• Animated wipers added for the pilot and co-pilot. Ignore the slightly wonky animation. Animating things in Lightwave isn't easy, or I don't know enough about how to do it (I wish I could use Blender instead). But if you're staring at the wipers in flight, you've got bigger problems
• The pilots hand and controls are no longer visible in wideview mode.

I'm working on getting the rain to show on the windows. But as with everything in this game, it's proving to be more difficult than it should.

Nothing to see here, move along...

Tell me Blackhawks aren't the most awesome helo
😁

https://youtu.be/1b1LMFihSWs

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2GfBkC3qs78

Giddy up and lets rock...

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PvYkfQcf7AA&t=69s

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WLAsNzYA8gk

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZekEoRSlPtE&t=8s

God dam it all but i do love my eggs over easy when i wake up...

Uncle charlie and and uncle henry take no messing,,,

Woot Woot.

Hi folks. Is anyone requesting the original files for this?

I keep getting a request to share them on my Google drive, but not sure where it’s coming from or if it’s genuine