Propellers appearing as black discs

I've installed the file awvatr42.zip, which is an Air Wales FS2004 repaint of the Germanwings ATR42.

 

I had this installed about 8 years ago and had no problems. However, now, after reinstalling the propellers are showing merely as black discs when running. Any idea why this should be?

 

Many thanks.

 

Allan

I've installed the file awvatr42.zip, which is an Air Wales FS2004 repaint of the Germanwings ATR42.

 

I had this installed about 8 years ago and had no problems. However, now, after reinstalling the propellers are showing merely as black discs when running. Any idea why this should be?

 

Many thanks.

 

Allan

 

Not using DX10, by any chance?

You shouldn't.... Or change the texture to one that works.

Sounds like a need to find some new prop_disk or prop_spin textures.

I've installed the file awvatr42.zip, which is an Air Wales FS2004 repaint of the Germanwings ATR42.

 

I had this installed about 8 years ago and had no problems. However, now, after reinstalling the propellers are showing merely as black discs when running. Any idea why this should be?

If it is an FS2004 model, there isn't a lot you can do.

 

If it is an FSX model, copy the "propdisk" textures from a FSX livery of the same aircraft across. Or just delete the offending ones if the texture folder has a texture.cfg file that links to a common folder with proper FSX disc textures.

 

John

Looks like I have DX12 installed, and DX10 preview is unchecked in the sim.

 

There are no other Air Wales ATR42 aircraft

 

Yes, it's an FS2004 aircraft. BUT, I used to run it between 2009 and 2012 with no problems.

 

 

Allan

I used to run it between 2009 and 2012 with no problems.

Can be, meanwhile you have no doubt installed FSX SP2 or Acc.Pack.

Do as MrZippy suggests, change the propdisk texture.

 

Wim

Try here

https://flyawaysimulation.com/downloads/files/18002/fsx-correcting-prop-issues/

 

Here is a good thread as well

 

https://www.flightsim.com/vbfs/showthread.php?264116-How-to-modify-the-propdisk-of-FS9-A-C-to-look-right-in-FSX

Hi USB.

 

I've downloaded those files but not yet looked at them.

 

Thank you.

 

Allan

Hi USB.

 

I've downloaded those files but not yet looked at them.

 

Thank you.

 

Allan

 

 

You can fix the prop texture yourself to. Just use the DXT1 Maniputator utility and send the file over to I use paint.net and change the color from the white or grey to black. I have a set of instructions somewhere when I find them pm me and I will send you a copy. It's pretty easy once someone walks you through it.

OK, thank you. I'll wait for your message.

I can't find my instructions but if you Google FSX prop fixes you will find all kinds of instructions or as I do sometimes find a prop texure from another airplane that works and rename it to the one you want to fix.

Here is the text from the document. For some reason, the images are not copying into this post. The PDF is too large, and when I tried to ZIP it, the file was not allowed. I use these steps for both FS2004 and FSX prop textures. I hope this helps.

 

===========================

 

Correcting Propeller Displays

on FS2004 aircraft used in FSX with Service Pack 2

an Illustrated Tutorial (Sorry)

 

This is a well known issue which has been addressed in several forum posts. As a “picture is worth a thousand words”, I thought an illustrated tutorial outlining the correction procedure might be useful.

 

The Problem:

 

(Dark circle props)

 

The Solution:

 

(Textured props)

 

This tutorial outlines the procedures I used to correct the propeller issues with the Douglas A-26 Invader aircraft from Sim-Outhouse: (a26soh.zip). There are corrections available for the fuselage issues also and those are noted in the appendix of this tutorial.

 

While this tutorial use the A-26 as an example, the concept will work on any FS2004 aircraft which exhibits the same propeller problem.

 

-- Tools needed

 

Martin Wright's DXTBMP program:

 

http://www.mnwright.btinternet.co.uk/programs/dxtbmp.htm

 

You may also need mwgfx.dll from his site in order for the DXTBMP program to funtion properly:

 

http://www.mnwright.btinternet.co.uk/graphix.htm#dlls

 

-- The Procedure

 

1. In the texture folder of the offending aircraft, locate the .bmp file

which displays the propeller. In the case of the A-26, that file is

named spinprop.bmp. Open that .bmp file in the DXTBMP program.

 

2. Assign an Alpha editor to the DXTBMP program. MS Paint works just

fine for our purposes. This can be automatically set as follows:

 

3. Send the Alpha Channel to the editor:

 

4. MSPaint will be opened to view. (Or the editor you choose)

 

Double left click on any color – see the position of the cursor in this screenshot.

 

5. The color selector will now display. Select "Define Custom Colors". Drag the slider on the right down so a value of 30 is shown in the

Lum: column. That is my preference - the lower the number, the more transparent the alpha channel will be.

 

Hit OK. Then use the “fill bucket” to fill the white Alpha area with the revised color.

 

After it has filled with the revised color, select "Save" (not "Save As"). Then Exit MSPaint.

 

6. DXTBMP should now be on your screen. From the Alpha menu, select "Refresh Alpha"

 

The Alpha window in the upper-right corner will change from white to the revised color you created - that's the transparency value (the darker, the more transparent).

 

From the File menu, select "Save as" -> "Extended Bitmap".

 

Then in the “Type” dialogue, choose "DXT3". Save it using the original filename. The screenshot below shows that I saved it to my Desktop.

 

The result will be a revised .bmp file with the alpha channel made quite transparent allowing the propellers to display properly in FSX with Service pack 2.

 

7. To complete the process, simply replace the original .bmp file with the one you have just created.

 

-- This process will work on other .bmp files when you wish to make an area transparent. Experimentation is half the fun!

 

Appendix

 

The corrections to the A-26 fuselage can be downloaded as follows:

 

A26B with guns: http://www.flightsimonline.com/downloads/a26bx.zip

 

A26B without guns: http://www.flightsimonline.com/downloads/a26bngx.zip

 

A26C with guns: http://www.flightsimonline.com/downloads/a26cx.zip

 

A26c without guns: http://www.flightsimonline.com/downloads/a26cngx.zip

Credits

 

Martin Wright for his excellent DXTBMP program.

 

The various forum members who have outlined this procedure in several different postings.

This is the one I used. Thank you for sharing

Sounds good to me. Got another little project going at the moment but will get on it straight afterwards.