Add-Onaholism: am I drying out ?

[Paul K]

I've just started getting to grips with P3Dv3, and other than a few aircraft ( the A2A Comanche and Uhu, PMDG's 737 NGX and Virtavia's F-105 ) it is completely add-on free. No scenery, no weather engine, no replacement cloud or water texturess, no FSUIPC, nothing. The other day, after installing the Comanche, I took it for a flight along the Florida coast, just to check for problems. I flew along for about 40 minutes with lovely frame rates, nice weather effects, going from VOR to VOR, everything was fine. And it occurred to me that not only was this was the longest flight I'd done in ages, but also I had just jumped in, looked at the default map, picked out some nav aids, and taken off. No preparation, no setting up, no getting this add-on and that utility loaded - just straight into the air. No compatibility worries, no baffling options, no trying to find which colour of seawater looked best. Just flying in a flight simulator.

So today, I took off from McChord AFB in the PMDG 737NGX. Didn't do a flight plan, just got into the air, spent a few minutes setting up the autopilot and sat back. Still no add-ons; just the stock P3Dv3 sim. And it was lovely to look at. Now, don't get me wroing - of course I need to do flight planning and all that in order to simulate the actual operation of this aircraft. But looking round the wonderful flight deck, and then looking outside at the default scenery and weather effects, I started to wonder whether I really need anything more. Looking at these pictures, I ask myself whether the improvements provided by Rex and Orbx are worth the bother of downloading, installing, configuring, updating and on and on. They say P3Dv3 installers will be along soon, but I'm just starting to wonder whether I'll bother with them. Add-on aircraft yes, and possibly a flight planner such as Plan G - but do I really need anything else to simply enjoy flying ?

The NGX flight deck. A wonderful place to be, even without anything entered in the FMC






Outside...is it Orbx ? Is it Rex Soft Clouds ? Nope, it's bog-standard Lockheed Martin. And very nice too.




Blimey, all this money I'm going to save on add-ons, I can buy more alcohol !!

[Airspeed]

Hi Paul,
Is it just that particular shot, or does P3D use two layers of cloud to give depth?
It looks like duplicate semi transparent images one above the other, to my eye.

[Paul K]

Hi Paul,
Is it just that particular shot, or does P3D use two layers of cloud to give depth?
It looks like duplicate semi transparent images one above the other, to my eye.

Mike, I loaded one of the default weather themes that come with the sim. Can't remember which one it is, ( Storm front maybe ? ) but it's just a single click and you're done. It has various layers and types ( cumulus, nimbus, etc. ) at different altitudes, which you can change, add to or delete, but I just wanted default as much as possible.

Here's another couple of shots, same default scenery, same default weather theme:

[Vancouver]

I have to agree, it does seem there is so much bolted onto (FSX) that the sim itself takes secondary importance. Then often as not it crashes. Lets see, when I boot up FSX I click
1) FTX Central for the correct region
2) SimLauncher by Martin Belgianperson
3) PFPX
4) SPAD for my Saitek controls
5) Plan-G
6) FS Commander sometimes too
7) Opus for Wx
Snapper for screenshots

This is into the basic sim which already has the following enhancements

1) FS Global for Mesh
2) MyTraffic
3) ORBX - oodles of stuff
4) UK2000 sceneries
5) Many many freeware and payware aircraft
6) Many many freeware & some payware sceneries

I'm sure there must be other things I have forgotten
9) Fraps sometimes, there's one.

And I wonder why I run out of VAS

[Paul K]

I couldn't have put it any better Alex. By the time you get it all switched on, it's time to switch it all off and go to bed. I've just installed FSUIPC, but I really do need that for Wide Server. I doubt I'll use it for much else this time round.

[Vancouver]

Totally forgot FSUIPC the single most useful thing in there

And

NV Inspector
Pseudo Full Screen
FS Recorder
EditVoicepack
DX10 Scenery Fixer
Ai Smooth

& REX - How could I forget REX

I think I'm done now.

[Airspeed]

Do you chaps REALLY need to fire up all that stuff?
Pseudo full screen? For what is that Alex?
I agree that we are mugs to buy FSX then pay more for the add-ons than for the whole sim., but the default scenery is pretty ordinary.
I guess it's because of my flying habits, all local VFR, but I don't adjust anything unless I want rain or crosswind.
I don't have system crashes or memory issues.

[Vancouver]

Pseudo full screen - it allows FSX to run in a window but faking full screen (Alt & Enter) without the blue menu band at top. I run multiple screens (2 sometimes 3) but with a moving map and other things on the side screen - when in 2 screen mode. Alt & Enter is not friendly to that setup. Plus running in what is effectively a window I find smoother and lacks the stutters.

[Paul K]

I think I'm done now.

Surely PrecipitFX if you've loaded a new plane ? What about Ezdok, TrackIR and Remote Flight apps ? Got to have them on, too.

[airboatr]

I heard a little insanity in that laugh PK.

I've, personally, decided a long time ago not to deal with all those knobs and dials programs. But did I ever need them puttering around in GA and helicopters.? .... lately it's been exclusively helicopter. .... I love rotor flop -

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hLpk8rW ... detailpage