Hey guys! I´m trying to give you some step by step information on CSWeapon installation on 3rd party aircraft. Most of the information is taken from the SDK with some hints.

Step 1: Start CSWeapon loader and modify your favourite aircraft.

Step 2: Fix the panel.cfg from your new "panel.csweapon"-folder. Compare it with the original panel.cfg of the aircraft and adjust the 2d windows and structure. Most of the aircraft have a HUD under this section so you might want to delete that and use the csweapon´s pack 2dHUD only.
I also delete the HUD glass since I don´t use my 2d panel, except for the calibration.
>>>Insert the CSWeapon!hud3d under the [VCockpitXX] section, were the original HUD is installed!!!<<<
Example:
[VCockpit06]
size_mm=512,512
pixel_size=512,512
texture=$vpanel4
background_color=0,0,0
visible=0

//gauge00=fa-18!hud_2d,  57,35,400,430, 4
gauge00=CSWeapon!hud3d, 50, -16, 430, 430

Notice the changed position!!!

Step 3: Open the "CSWeapon.xml" and insert the eyepoint data from the aircraft.cfg section (here -> eyepoint=16.2 ,0.0 ,4.55) under the following section
<CollimationData>0.0,16.2,4.55,0.300</CollimationData>
                                ^^^^^^
Switch collimation off and testframe on:
       <Collimate>0</Collimate>
       <!-- VC HUD collimation. 1-yes, 0-no (1). -->
       <TestFrame>1</TestFrame>
       <!-- HUD test pattern. 1-yes, 0-no (0). -->
Step 4: Start FSX, load that aircraft and put it on the centerline of an airport.
Step 5: Adjust the 3D HUD in your panel.cfg on order to see it "on centerline" and if possible on horizont. Caution do not strech the gauge with different values! Check example (430,430 not 430, 400 etc) Reload your aircraft after every change untill your satisfied with the result.
Step 6: Load a DIFFERENT AIRCRAFT and switch collimation on again. You need to switch to another aircraft every time you make changes in the csweapon.xml since it is updated by FSX each time you close the plane.
Step 7: Reload the armed aircraft and switch to VC (Track IR should be off or paused!)
The 3D HUD is there! It might just be too small or to big to see it!!! (Sometimes the CS HUD doesn´t reload anymore! You can check that by loading the armed F-18: No HUD there? Restart FSX!)
To correct that error, you have to switch to another aircraft again and change the following line of your aircrafts csweapon.xml:
<CollimationData>0.0,18.5,4.55,0.300</CollimationData>
                                ^^^
Increase or decrease that value in small steps until the HUD-size matches the old HUD. Don´t worry about the horizontal position, you´ll do that later! If the HUD is inverted, you must adjust the values in the other direction until the size is right again. Remember to switch to another aircraft PRIOR each change!!!!
Now we have a centered HUD in VC with the right size on centerline.
Step 8: Switch testframe off
Step 9: Open panel.cfg and adjust horzontal position of the 3dHUD until the green circle matches the red calibration circle. Now some information of your HUD might be gone since it´s out of view (like the Heading, Heading scale or Weapon fire mode string) in that case you must resize the whole HUD or you have the live without that information (I´ll be very happy if CS developes an additional HUD with HDG,HDG Band etc in the lower section or even a basic HUD with Gunsight only :-))
Step 10: Adjust the weapons position, angle and ammo in the csweapon.xml (did you switch the aircraft?!?)
I use the hydras or zunies for position adjustment since they can be fired on the ground without targets.
Remove unwanted weapons.
(Step 11: Fix the gun sound problem)
This procedure takes me about one hour for each plane so take your time.
If you find a quicker way, let me know.

Have a bandit day,


Marc