Align BMS Center of Screen with Cockpit and Screen
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Hi there,
it’s a rather special question, but it might still fit into the Technical Support forum, I suppose:
Let me give you some background:
I’ve got a setup with a replica F-16 Cockpit and a projector screen.
I’m trying to align the physical features of the cockpit (e.g. the HUD, Indexers, etc.) with the image that is projected onto the screen.
Currently parts for the HUD image is projected on the front of my cockpit
Of course one might argue, quite rightly, that I’ll have to sort that out by adjusting the parameters on the hardware side (raising the screen, raising the seat position, lowering the cockpit, restrict the projection area).
Those are valid options, but still, currently I can’t raise the screen much higher (as the structure that holds the projectors would then touch the ceiling) without a major reconstruction.So much for the background - now to my original request:
Does BMS offer any way (be it configuration-wise, with a keybinding, that I didn’t notice yet) to raise and lower the Center of Screen?
Would this even make sense? I’m sure that doing that might have consequences that I didn’t think about yet…
I’d imagine, that the user could choose an offset to the center of the screen, which would, in level flight, for example, show a larger portion of the sky or the ground respectively.
The only things I’ve found so far, is the possibility to raise or lower the seat (in game) or to run OpenTrack with a pre-defined Center Offset.
Both things work to the extent, that I can, for example align the in game HUD Frame, with my real HUD Frame, but the projectected HUD image stays where it is.Do you have an idea?
Or is it possible to implement this (if it’s not possible yet)?I’d be happy with any workaround or hack, too!
Thanks in advance!
SP -
@Sneakpeek here are the steps I use.
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Set the FOV parameters in your Falcon BMS User.cfg file
Mine is set like this (I know the max FOV is 140, but I still set it to 270):
set g_fDefaultFOV 90
set g_fMaximumFOV 270
set g_fMinimumFOV 20
set g_fNarrowFOV 20
set g_fFOVIncrement 1 -
In game with your HUD on use the empty shell (Shift 2) and then use the right mouse button to position the HUD where you want it and use the mouse wheel to get the FOV to fill the HUD in your HUD view.
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Open the chat and put in .gvd and press enter. This will export your current FOV and position settings to a file called Guidedview.txt in your User/Logs folder.
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You then need to edit the 3dckpit.dat file for the aircraft you are flying. You can follow these steps in the BMS Technical Manual in section 4.3.
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Once you have the file modified, you can get the view up by using the custom view cycle shortcut. (If you delete the other custom views so you only have the one, you can map a couple of joystick button which is always on to the custom view and empty shell shortcuts and when you enter the cockpit, the view and empty shell will automatically be setup for you)
Let me know if you have any questions. This works great for me as I have a similar setup.
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@Sneakpeek Did you try adjusting the seat’s height in BMS ? There is a switch for that.
The SEAT ADJ switch is located on the right cockpit sidewall outboard of the stick. Center position is spring-loaded off. The up position raises the seat, while the down position lowers the seat. The seat adjustment motor is protected by a thermal relay which interrupts electrical power when overheated. After a 1-minute cooling period, the motor should operate normally. The motor is powered by nonessential ac bus No. 1. -
@Flow32 said in Align BMS Center of View with Cockpit and Screen:
@Sneakpeek Did you try adjusting the seat’s height in BMS ? There is a switch for that.
Hi there Flow!
Thanks for your quick response.
Yes - I’ve tried that - I’ve also tried to solve via OpenTrack (you can define an offset to the center position). Both options work to the extent, that I can actually align my physical HUD frame with the in-game HUD frame.
But the HUD image stays where it is.In other words: This will change my pilot’s point of view, but not the Center Of the screen.
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@Sneakpeek Hmm… Then I have no idea, but you very well might be out of luck.
I was thinking about making a custom resolution in height in Windows, and then telling the projector to only project on the upper part of the screen, but I guess it will just be stretched to the entire height. -
@Flow32 I guess so. Of course, I can still raise the whole projection screen, which I’ll probably do. Thanks for your efforts…
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@Sneakpeek Why do you need the in-game HUD frame to be visible when you have a real cockpit?
There is a specific view for those who have a real life full cockpit, called “Empty Cockpit Shell” and can be toggled with “Shift 2”.
It is mentioned on page 105 of the User Manual.Wouldn’t that work for you? Or am I not fully understanding the problem?
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I’m building a cockpit and will end up having to do the same thing, so your question is very relevant. If you are using a software package to “warp” the projection to your screen it should have some ability to rotate/translate the projection. I’ll probably end up going this route but I haven’t really chosen the software yet.
OTOH - you also need a reference to align things to. I plan to use the Flight Path Marker for this, starting on-deck and adjusting the projection to my eye/POV from the seat. At this point, you probably need to set the seat adjustment in BMS to some nominal position and fix it there, and then set your actual seat to be able to adjust based on that. I also plan to have a working HUD, so I need to find a way to remove the HUD from the OTW projection…but I think that exists? But to start I’ll adjust the projection such that the FPM in my working HUD and the projected FPM overlay each other, and call that good.
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@unkindled said in Align BMS Center of Screen with Cockpit and Screen:
@Sneakpeek Why do you need the in-game HUD frame to be visible when you have a real cockpit?
There is a specific view for those who have a real life full cockpit, called “Empty Cockpit Shell” and can be toggled with “Shift 2”.
It is mentioned on page 105 of the User Manual.Wouldn’t that work for you? Or am I not fully understanding the problem?
@unkindled Hi there! Thanks for your suggestion. Yeah, I already know that one - It’s great, but in the end, the HUD image itself will stay where it is. I’d like to be able to define an offset value, for which the HUD along with the whole screen center would move to (in the vertical).
@Stevie Yes, you feel my pain
(it’s not really painful, when sitting inside that pit )! I’m currently using Fly.Elise Immersive Display Pro (the trial version as of now) to warp my screen. I think that I’ll also try to go down that path you outlined, to match my HUD projection (using a LCD and a Beamsplitter glass) using the calibration software. In the end, I’ll be able to at least compensate for some mismatches with it. But currently my HUD is about 13cm off and being projected on the front of my pit instead of the screen.I think without a real solution within BMS it’s hard to compensate for that 13 cm, at least. But that would really, really be neat!
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Yes @Sneakpeek @Stevie agreed, a move HUD area could be nice. When I was running my 3x55" TV format with a decent generic home cockpit with an MFD/RWR monitor, I wanted a similar view. HUD at the bottom of the screen when centered. I could recenter TIR for there but then if using HMCS, it would be visible 100% of the time this way if not blanking it with the DMS. I also made a saved snapview of this that meant no HMCS but then had to bounce out of it anytime I wanted to use TIR (which was still a lot with that setup). Having a 3d cockpit view center with the HUD at the bottom, no HMCS activated until you move the view slightly up but then still in the center of the screen cooul be handy.
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@Sneakpeek - that’s great to know…though I have to wonder if you toggle the HUD off within BMS, can it still be extracted? I want to get rid of that nose model too - I’ve never had a seat in a RL fighter where I could see any of the nose at all - this depends on how tall you are, really.
Here’s a pointer for you on getting hold of teleprompter glass cut to a trapezoidal shape -
https://telepromptermirror.com/trapezoid-teleprompter-mirror/
Seen some people get great results using prompter glass - these people will cut you a shape very close to a HUD reflector, except for the round top edge. One can cut that using a stained glass grinder and save some further expense. That’s also one of my plans!
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@Stevie said in Align BMS Center of Screen with Cockpit and Screen:
@Sneakpeek - that’s great to know…though I have to wonder if you toggle the HUD off within BMS, can it still be extracted? I want to get rid of that nose model too - I’ve never had a seat in a RL fighter where I could see any of the nose at all - this depends on how tall you are, really.
Here’s a pointer for you on getting hold of teleprompter glass cut to a trapezoidal shape -
https://telepromptermirror.com/trapezoid-teleprompter-mirror/
Seen some people get great results using prompter glass - these people will cut you a shape very close to a HUD reflector, except for the round top edge. One can cut that using a stained glass grinder and save some further expense. That’s also one of my plans!
@Snake122 Yep - I think it has to be the whole center that has to be moved, as the HUD (e.g. FPM, Gun Cross, TD Box) are coupled to so many aspects of the actual direction of flight / direction where the aircraft points.
@Stevie You can turn off the with ALT-C H (at least in the FULL Keymap). The projection will still appear anyway. Works great in that regard. Good info about the issue with the nose. I’m rather small, so I’m happy if I can just see the HUD.
Thanks for your suggestion about the shop. I’ve bought my Beamsplitter glass here: https://black-fish-items.com/collections/all - the shop’s located in Germany so, It’s way more convenient for me. They also offer custom cuts. They made a trapzoid glass for me and added some chamfers in the corners.
Works great with an LCD screen and a small diameter lens that I’ve incorporated in the HUD box. Just need some software, to flip the image, though:
I hope that I can make it work and sync it to the in game HUD somehow. Would be great!
@Devs: Do you have an idea, if that is possible to implement such a tool (to align the in game HUD, with a projection as in the photo)?
Cheers,
SP -
@Sneakpeek - thanks for the parts pointer…they look like they have stuff I can use!
And I forgot to mention - another thing about the Viper is that you’re also sitting back at 30 degrees off-vertical in the seat, so that’s even less of the nose you should be able to see…
Right now I’m using USB 3.0 to VGA adapters to run my MFDs. It’s a convenient hookup, and also it allows me being able to re-orient the display as I require - had to do that initially to get them not to be flipped. I’m planning to do the same for my HUD, or possibly use a pico projector, depending on how much brightness I need to have.
Anyway, it all has to fit inside my replica HUD, which shouldn’t be a problem.
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@Sneakpeek here are the steps I use.
-
Set the FOV parameters in your Falcon BMS User.cfg file
Mine is set like this (I know the max FOV is 140, but I still set it to 270):
set g_fDefaultFOV 90
set g_fMaximumFOV 270
set g_fMinimumFOV 20
set g_fNarrowFOV 20
set g_fFOVIncrement 1 -
In game with your HUD on use the empty shell (Shift 2) and then use the right mouse button to position the HUD where you want it and use the mouse wheel to get the FOV to fill the HUD in your HUD view.
-
Open the chat and put in .gvd and press enter. This will export your current FOV and position settings to a file called Guidedview.txt in your User/Logs folder.
-
You then need to edit the 3dckpit.dat file for the aircraft you are flying. You can follow these steps in the BMS Technical Manual in section 4.3.
-
Once you have the file modified, you can get the view up by using the custom view cycle shortcut. (If you delete the other custom views so you only have the one, you can map a couple of joystick button which is always on to the custom view and empty shell shortcuts and when you enter the cockpit, the view and empty shell will automatically be setup for you)
Let me know if you have any questions. This works great for me as I have a similar setup.
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@JJbravo-BMS said in Align BMS Center of Screen with Cockpit and Screen:
@Sneakpeek here are the steps I use.
-
Set the FOV parameters in your Falcon BMS User.cfg file
Mine is set like this (I know the max FOV is 140, but I still set it to 270):
set g_fDefaultFOV 90
set g_fMaximumFOV 270
set g_fMinimumFOV 20
set g_fNarrowFOV 20
set g_fFOVIncrement 1 -
In game with your HUD on use the empty shell (Shift 2) and then use the right mouse button to position the HUD where you want it and use the mouse wheel to get the FOV to fill the HUD in your HUD view.
-
Open the chat and put in .gvd and press enter. This will export your current FOV and position settings to a file called Guidedview.txt in your User/Logs folder.
-
You then need to edit the 3dckpit.dat file for the aircraft you are flying. You can follow these steps in the BMS Technical Manual in section 4.3.
-
Once you have the file modified, you can get the view up by using the custom view cycle shortcut. (If you delete the other custom views so you only have the one, you can map a couple of joystick button which is always on to the custom view and empty shell shortcuts and when you enter the cockpit, the view and empty shell will automatically be setup for you)
Let me know if you have any questions. This works great for me as I have a similar setup.
Good morning JJ,
thanks for your advice!
I’ve managed to raise my screen by 13 cm and now the BMS and my projected HUD images align almost perfectly. It came with a lot of hassle, but now I’m really satisfied with the result. I think, that in a real jet, the result wouldn’t be so much better.
I’ll use your instructions to fine-tune the image, of course.
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