Files in the Easyfly folder
As an example we take the Bell Jet Ranger Helicopter.
belljr.bmp
Bitmap file with the colouring of the model.
belljr.cfg:
Configurations file with many interesting parameters.
belljr.obj:
Object file; contains data for the mode geometry and the movable parts like rudder etc. In addition a bitmap as texture is allocated to each object.
belljr.dns:
Contains data for the physical model
belljr.tms:
Text file, contains the model description for the menu
belljr:preview.tmt:
Modified bitmap for the preview in the menu.
menubelljr.tmt
Icon for the splash screen
menubelljr.high.tmt
Icon for the splash screen in high resolution
Colouring of a model:
Please backup your files before doing any changes!!
For the colouring there are one or more bitmaps used. At first you can try to just change the colour of the model. Therefore take any graphics program like “Paintshop Pro” etc. or any other program that can process .bmp files.
You can change anything in the bitmap; just keep the size in pixels and the colour depth from the original. Unfortunately not all parts of the model can be seen in the bitmap exactly. The only way is to try and see how you colour looks on the model. It is also a good idea to write numbers all over the bitmap. Then it is easy to find out where your colour on the model will appear.
To see your work in Easyfly you select your model, like normally. The number of models hasn’t changed. If you, for example, have painted the Cap232 completely red, the original coloured one will not be available anymore.
Luckily there is also a possibility to add new models:
Add a new model in Easyfly:
ATTENTION: At the moment we are only allowed by the supplier of Easyfly to publish complete sets of 4 models. These are:
Cap232
Christen Eagle
Discus
Bell Jet Ranger
If you build a model on the basis of the P51, the ThreeDee or any add-on aircraft please do not publish the DNS-File. The owners of the add-ons can than copy their DNS-File and use your model. We think this is a fair deal with the software developers, because we do not write this workshop for software pirates!!!
Here the process as an example of the Cap232:
1 – Copy all files of the original Cap232 in the folder “easyflyaircraft”
cap232.bmp
cap232.cfg
cap232.dns
cap232.obj
cap232.tms
cap232_preview.tmt
2 – Rename the copied file to your
cap232red.bmp
cap232red.cfg
cap232red.dns
cap232red.obj
cap232red.tms
cap232red_preview.tmt
3 – Modify the colouring in the bitmap file as you like (see chapter above)
cap232red.bmp
4 – Open the .obj file with a text editor and modify it like this:
Take a look at the objects. There is a bitmap allocated to each of them. You must now change the name of each object. In other words, change each entry “cap232.bmp” to your new BMP “cap232red.bmp). You can use the search and replace function of the editor.
# Object Elevator
# g Elevator
mt cap232.bmp 1 1
change to:
# Object Elevator
# g Elevator
mt cap232red.bmp 1 1
5 – Save the .obj file and start Easyfly. Now you should find a new entry “cap232.red” in the menu to choose an aircraft.
6 – Enjoy your new model
In some downloads there is already an .obj file included. This means, someone has done the work for you already.
Use of more than one .bmp file per aircraft:
If you make your first steps with aircraft colouring you might recognize a very undesirable feature: Some areas of the .bmp file are used on different parts of the aircraft. Let’s assume that you intend to colour the wing red. Suddenly you recognize that also some parts of the fuselage or the empennage are red. Of course you like to have fuselage and stabilizer in different colours. We have to find a solution.
Fortunately it is possible to use more than one .bmp. You only have to make a copy of your file, rename and repaint it. This name will then be listed in the .obj file at the according model part. In the example we use different .bmp files fore fuselage and aileron:
# Object Fuselage
# g Fuselage
mt p51yeager.bmp 1 1
# Object Leftaileron
# g Leftaileron
mt p51yeagerwing.bmp 1 1
Remove parts from the model:
We can make parts of the model invisible. This function can be used to make bombs or carriages disappear (a real retractable landing gear does not exist at the P51, but it looks much better without). You only need to delete all lines of an object in the .obj file or to put a comment mark at the beginning of each line.
Comment mark in the .obj file: #
Congratulation, if you have reached this point you are now owner of a new model for Easyfly!
Modifying the model data:
The DNS file contains the complete physical model. This means all the aerodynamic data. Unfortunately we understand only a few of them:
vario: ?
puregraphic:
Such data blocks do not contain aerodynamic data.
Propeller and engine:
All information about the engine.
Tip:
Everything about collision detecting.
Fuselage, wings ...:
Important parts for aerodynamics
Wheel:
Necessary parts to land an aircraft (also gliders without wheels)
Dummy:
What is dummy?
Flap:
The movable parts of the model
Change of sound:
The sound can be modified by changing the settings in “Soundfile”, “frequencybase” and “shift”. These entries can be found in the chapter “Propeller":
strcpy( Propeller.SoundFile, "g10" );
Propeller.SoundFrequencyBase = 5000;
Propeller.SoundFrequencyShift = 10000;
Modifying “Performance”:
Just change the value in chapter “engine”:
Engine.Cm0 = 6.0;
Modifying Aerodynamics:
The lift can be changed with the .Ca0 - .Ca6 and Ca.00 values
Rightwing.Ca0 = 0.98;
Higher values create higher lift.
Modifying drag:
The drag can be changed with the .Cw0 - .Cw6 and .Cw00 values
Rightwing.Cw0 = 0.1600;
Higher values create higher drag and make the aircraft slower.
Modifying collision sensitivity:
By raising the .Kz value in chapter “tip” the aircraft can be made more rugged against ground contacts.
Ruddertip.Kz = 5057.4111;
If you remove all „tip“ chapters, the aircraft becomes indestructible and can fly through mountains. The only exception is a water surface. Here everything ends.
Interception of touch down impulses:
The .Kz value in chapter “Wheel” defines the limit for the vertical touch down speed.
Rightwheel.Kz = 3000.0000;
With raising this value higher touch down forces can be intercepted.
Creating a model preview:
The menu to select a model consists of two parts:
A small picture of the model and some text.
1. Create a picture for the preview:
Make a snapshot of you model. This can be done with a program like “Hypersnap” or with the “print screen” function of window. It is recommended to run Easyfly in window mode for this. Fly your model to the desired place, press “P” to pause the progam and make a snapshot. Close Easyfly.
2. Open any graphics program and paste your screenshot. In most programs the frame can be cut.
3. Create an empty BMP file. The size must be 256x256px at 24bit colour depth.
4. Copy your reworked snapshot into the empty file, but keep an eye on not changing the size. Your picture must be resized to 256x256px.
5. Save you file with the following addition in the name:
“_preview.tmt”
For our example the complete name would be “cap232red_preview.tmt”
Changing the text of the model selection:
This is nearly too easy to be explained: Open the TMS file (cap232red.tms) with a text editor and write something.
