The filename you'll be working with is tds_b737max8_base_package.zip which can be downloaded here:

https://www.flightsim.com/vbfs/fslib.php?do=search&fname=tds_b737max8_base_package.zip

When I refer to "the download" I'm talking about tds_b737max8_base_package.zip and I'm talking about accessing it in it's extracted state so extract the download to a temporary folder now keeping the folder structure intact. You'll be instructed to get things out of this package throughout the assembly into FSX so just leave the temporary folder in place until you're done.

Start by moving the inner TDS 737 MAX 8 folder from the download into SimObjects/Airplanes

<-- Panel -->

Delete the panel folder and copy over the panel folder from the default B737-800 instead.

Copy the 4 TDS supplied gauge folders from the FSX\panel folder in the download into the new panel folder.

EXT_TEXTURE_ANIM

FDEHelper

Tds737ADVCONTROL

Tds_util

DO NOT copy the TDS supplied panel.cfg, you'll use the one from the default B737-800 instead but you'll need to add stuff to it from the TDS supplied panel.cfg:

Add the 3 Posky_Debug, Utility, and FDEHelper windows to the panel.cfg. Move them up so they're between the Trim panel window and the MFD, PFD, and EICAS windows, re-number them accordingly (then you can use Shift+8 to open the utility window, you don't need a shift+n option for the MFD, PFD, or EICAS, you can just click the panel gauges to open them) .

[Window Titles]

window00=Main Panel

window01=Radio Stack

Window02=GPS

Window03=Throttle Panel

Window04=Overhead Panel

Window05=Trim Panel

Window06=Posky_Debug

Window07=Utility

Window08=FDEHelper

Window09=PFD

Window10=MFD

Window11=EICAS

Window12=Mini Panel

Add the windows themselves down below pay attention to the numbers you gave them:

[Window05]

size_mm=194,154

position=1

visible=0

BACKGROUND_COLOR=0,0,0

ident=MISC_POPUP_1

gauge00=B737_800!trim_popup, 0, 0

[Window06]

VISIBLE=0

position=2

size_mm=450,200

child_3d=0

background_color=0,0,0

ident=TDSDEBUG

gauge00=Tds737ADVCONTROL!Tdsdebug, 0, 0

gauge01=Tds737ADVCONTROL!Tdsdebug2, 0, 50

gauge02=Tds737ADVCONTROL!Tdsdebug3, 0, 100

[Window07]

VISIBLE=0

position=2

size_mm=298,104

child_3d=0

background_color=0,0,0

ident=Utility

gauge00=Tds_util!Tds_Init, 0, 0

gauge01=Tds_util!Tds_Timer, 0, 0

gauge02=Tds_util!Tds_Util, 0, 0

[Window08]

VISIBLE=0

position=2

size_mm=450,200

child_3d=0

background_color=0,0,0

ident=FDEHelper

gauge00=FDEHelper!FDEInfo, 0, 0

//--------------------------------------------------------

// Full Size PFD

[Window09]

Background_color=0,0,0

size_mm=341,341

position=6

visible=0

ident=500

gauge01=B737_800!pfd_screen, 0,0, 341,341

gauge02=B737_800!pfd, 30,27, 280,280

//--------------------------------------------------------

// Full Size MFD

[Window10]

Background_color=0,0,0

size_mm=341,341

position=7

visible=0

ident=501

gauge01=B737_800!mfd_screen, 0,0, 341,341

gauge02=B737_800!mfd, 30,27, 280,280

//--------------------------------------------------------

// Full Size EICAS

[Window11]

Background_color=0,0,0

size_mm=341,341

position=8

visible=0

ident=502

gauge01=B737_800!eicas_screen, 0,0, 341,341

gauge02=B737_800!eicas, 30,27, 280,280

[Window12]

position=6

size_mm=221,211

child_3d=1

background_color=0,0,0

ident=MINIPANEL

gauge00=B737_800!pfd_screen, 0, 0

gauge01=B737_800!pfd, 21,19,179,179

You'll need to add the 2 extra [VCockpit0X] sections that have all the Tds737ADVCONTROL gauges in it, those control the gear animations. Re-number them as well (I added them after the default B737-800 VC entry and used [VCockpit02] and [VCockpit03]):

[VCockpit01]

size_mm=1024,1024

pixel_size=1024,1024

texture=$737_1

background_color=23,17,52

gauge01=B737_800!overhead_popup, 4,4,581,529

gauge02=B737_800!pfd, 6,536,260,260

gauge03=B737_800!trim_popup, 6,801,194,154

...

...

...

gauge27=B737_800!alti_and_asi_backup, 641,909,103,103

gauge28=B737_800!efis_control_panel, 672,815,143,76

[VCockpit02]

size_mm=512,512

pixel_size=512,512

texture=$Posky_ACU

background_color=0,0,0

gauge00=Tds737ADVCONTROL!Tds_AdvInit, 140,80,140,80

gauge01=Tds737ADVCONTROL!TdsAUX, 140,80,140,80

gauge02=Tds737ADVCONTROL!TdsRudder_Elev, 140,80,140,80

gauge03=Tds737ADVCONTROL!TdsEngRev, 140,80,140,80

gauge04=Tds737ADVCONTROL!TdsWingflex, 140,80,140,80

gauge05=Tds737ADVCONTROL!TdsNosegearsteerling, 140,80,140,80

gauge06=Tds737ADVCONTROL!Tds_Spoiler, 140,80,140,80

gauge07=Tds737ADVCONTROL!Tdsflasher, 140,80,140,80

gauge08=Tds737ADVCONTROL!TdsSEA, 140,80,140,80

gauge09=Tds737ADVCONTROL!Tdsgearheight, 140,80,140,80

[VCockpit03]

size_mm=512,512

pixel_size=512,512

texture=$EXTANIMBASE

background_color=0,0,0

gauge00=EXT_TEXTURE_ANIM!EXTTEST, 0, 0, 512, 512

[Default View]

X=0

Y=0

SIZE_X=8192

SIZE_Y=3600

<-- Model -->

Delete everything from the model folder and copy the default B737-800 interior model into it (B737_800_interior.mdl). Add the supplied FSX model from FSX\model folder in the download (TDSX738MAX_LEAPX1B--P2WM.mdl). Make sure you're using the supplied FSX model, the FS9 model won't work.

Make a model.cfg that looks like this:

[models]

normal=TDSX738MAX_LEAPX1B--P2WM

interior=B737_800_interior

<-- Textures -->

Make an additional Texture folder, copy the default B737-800 files listed below into it, these are your VC textures:

737_Refection.dds

B737_800_1_C.dds

B737_800_1_night_C.dds

B737_800_2_C.dds

B737_800_2_night_C.dds

B737_800_3_C.dds

B737_800_3_night_C.dds

B737_800_4_C.dds

B737_800_4_night_C.dds

B737_800_5_C.dds

B737_800_5_night_C.dds

Fresnel_Ramp.dds

Copy the texture.cfg from one of the default B737-800 texture folders into Texture.BOE and also add a copy to any other TDS livery folders you may add later. Find "Max8.jpg" in the download, copy it into the Texture.BOE folder, rename the copy "thumbnail.jpg".

<-- Sound -->

Delete the Sound folder and replace it with the TDS supplied one from the FSX folder in the download. If you plan to use this in P3D replace it with a copy of the entire default B737-800 Sound folder because P3D doesn't have a B737-800 to alias the sounds from.

(continued in part 2)

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------