MY PROBLEM WITH PANELS

[dhalpern]

When I use the default B737, I shrink the windshield and panel so that they meet halfway up my monitor. However there are many other panels that can be downloaded that look 10 times better than the default. I like having a semi-overhead and a vertical support panel from the main panel to the overhead that most downloadable panels have. The problem is that the windshields are very small and I'm looking out a window that might be 1/4 of my screen. This makes final approach and landing very diffacult as I can't see the runway. I use the 1024*768 resolution so get the best detail. Has anyone else found this a problem and is there a way to make it more managable? I have FS2002 standard not Pro.

[Jeff S KDTW]

Considering this has been and will be a problem for the forseeable future, we're stuck with it. It is a matter of real estate. No, not the land, but the computer monitor size. You can only do so much to balance the trade off of gauge readability, pilot position, functionality, outside view, overall perspectives, etc.

Many designers have gone to an "approach" view which limits the number of panel guages that are displayed, typically eliminating those guages that are set and forgot about. ;-)

Here is an example of what DF has done in their to-be-release Archer--note the full panel view and the approach view/cruise view.

I've posted more pics here: http://www.flightsim.com/dcforum/DCForumID3/5901.html

[hr color=gray]http://home.earthlink.net/~snyders2000/deb.jpg

http://www.flightsim.com/dcforum/User_files/3cbe32f13723894c.jpg

http://www.flightsim.com/dcforum/User_files/3cbe340837eae13d.jpg

http://www.flightsim.com/dcforum/User_files/3cbe343038042b23.jpg

http://www.flightsim.com/dcforum/User_files/3cbe3457381327ae.jpg

http://www.flightsim.com/dcforum/User_files/3cbe347c382fa9a8.jpg

http://www.flightsim.com/dcforum/User_files/3cbe34ad383b8f40.jpg

http://www.flightsim.com/dcforum/User_files/3cbe34d43853dd3c.jpg

[mdklatt]

I've noticed that problem with most of the panels I've downloaded. They all try to cram everything into one panel, including the radio stack, instead of having multiple windows like the default panels. When you do that you either get gauges that are very small and difficult to read (we don't all have 21" monitors, folks) or a panel that's so large you can only see the ground in a steep descent. You can adjust the "seat height" using Shift+Enter, but that's not permanant unless you change the panel.cfg file. I think the MS panels are a good compromise of readability and outside view, and I wish more panel designers would mimic them (espcecially the small plane panels).