Something I can't explain. Whatever the a/c the SHIFT+8 key combination opens the Weapon Control Panel. It works fine for every a/c where Weapon is installed except just one  the A2A P47 + AccuSim (all others A2A models + AccuSim are OK).

The window titles list seems to be correct :
[Window Titles]
Window00=Main Panel
Window01=Pilot's Notes
Window02=Mini Controls
Window03=Payload and Fuel Manager
Window04=Map
Window05=Radios
Window06=Maintenance Hangar
Window07=Weapon Control Panel
Window08=HUD
Window09=HUD Glass
Window10=none1
window11=none2
Window12=none3

an each of the [WindowXX] matches the corresponding title XX including the one that makes trouble :
[Window07]
Background_color=0,0,0
no_luminous=1
size_mm=1024, 170
position=7
visible=0
window_size=1.000, 0.170
ident=10901
zorder=2
gauge00=CSWeapon_panel!CSWeapon_panel, 0, 0, 1024, 170

The WCP is present in the FSX views menu/instrument panel list at the position 8th and I can of course open it from there but I can't with SHF+8, the key combi that is mapped to my joystick.

Any idea ?

By default, it works like this:

SHIFT+1 opens Window00
SHIFT+2 opens Window01
SHIFT+3 opens Window02
SHIFT+4 opens Window03
SHIFT+5 opens Window04
SHIFT+6 opens Window05
SHIFT+7 opens Window06
SHIFT+8 opens Window07
SHIFT+9 opens Window08

This is because panel Window00 is the first one, making it window #1. Window08 is the ninth, therefore it is window #9.

You can change in Settings > Controls > Buttons / Keys

---

thanks a lot but it does not explain why shift 8 works fine to open window 7, that is WCP dedicated, for each a/c except the P47 ??

Just checked I've got the default key-assignement in FSX Settings > Controls > Buttons / Keys :

Panel window 1 (display/hide) : SHF+1 (SHF+1= SHF+& with my french keyboard)
and the rest

Ah!!! My bad. I misunderstood what was happening. This is something I find interesting with the CS_F/A-18 panel.cfg! Take a look:

[Window00]
Background_color=0,0,0
no_luminous=1
size_mm=1024, 170
position=7
visible=0
window_size=1.000, 0.170
ident=10901
zorder=2
gauge01=CSWeapon_panel!CSWeapon_panel, 0, 0, 1024, 170

It is NOT gauge00=CSWeapon_panel!CSWeapon_panel, 0, 0, 1024, 170, but
gauge01=CSWeapon_panel!CSWeapon_panel, 0, 0, 1024, 170.

That and it being [Window07], are the ONLY differences between the CS_F/A-18 panel.cfg and your panel.cfg.
I never noticed that until just now. So try changing it to gauge01 to see if that helps.

If it isn't that, the only other thing I can think of, is that you have TWO (2) [Window07]'s in you panel.cfg.

"So try changing it to gauge01 to see if that helps." done, doesn't help

"If it isn't that, the only other thing I can think of, is that you have TWO (2) [Window07]'s in you panel.cfg."

just checked I've got one and only one [Window07]

just to mention that shf+9 works fine to open [Window08] (gauge00= CSWeapon!hud2d, 0, 0, 400, 400) with both 2D and Vc cockpits (smaller 2D HUD in Vc)

still mysterious
 

If you want, send the panel.cfg to me and I'll take a look at it to see if I can find out why. My email link is at the bottom of this post. ;)