If you have used ModelMaker or files generate by ModelMaker for FSInn only use, then you will need to delete the VUK, CIX and CXD folders from your Aircraft/Airplanes folder and proceed to the new installation process.

CXD update to follow
A 2-4-CIX (CXD) update will follow shortly when all the new textures have been created for some aircraft

CXD FSInn sound set available
A 2-4-CIX (CXD) for FSInn sound set is now available. Extract this FSInnCXDSoundSet.zip file into your Aircraft or Airplanes folder and merge the folders assuming you already have the various CXD folders. In theory, you should now hear correct AI sounds for the various models.

VUK Default Spitfire updates
Spitfire Mk1, Mk9 and Mk14 for Squawkbox
Spitfire Mk1, Mk9 and Mk14 for FSInn

I want to install for Squawkbox only or both Squawkbox and FSInn using ModelMaker
I want to use ModelMaker to install the VUK, CIX and CXD model sets and create my own model set.
I want to install manually for Squawkbox only or both Squawkbox and FSInn
I want to install for FSInn only

What is Model Maker?
Model Maker is a utility which converts standard FS models into model sets that Squawkbox can use, although originally developed with Squawkbox in mind, it has been extended to include FSInn if you use both clients.

Why use Model Maker?
In simple terms, Model Maker allows you to see the correct aircraft model rather than the infamous paper dart or Learjet. You simply spend some time ploughing through various FS freeware sites and download aircraft that you think are suitable as online models. Those with a smaller .mdl file size will perform better.

The models are contained in separate folders within the FS Aircraft/Airplanes folder in a configuration identical to the VIP format, the relevant FSInn cfgs are created which mean both Squawkbox and FSInn can draw on the same models. Model Maker also automatically configures the correct codes for the FSInn Default and Custom databases without the need for manual configuration via Inn Plane.

The VUK/CIX and 2-4-CIX models have been reconfigured for Model Maker, the 2-4-CIX models are now separate and form a model set called 'CXD'.

How do I use Model Maker?
Follow the steps below - once you are familiar with the process, it will only take a matter of minutes before you see a desired model online.

Step 1: Create your online models folder
Create a new folder to store the aircraft you would like to use as online models. This folder can be located anywhere on your computer. For example, I will create a folder called ‘Online Models’.

Step 2: Populate your online models folder
Aircraft created for earlier versions of Flight Sim provide excellent online models as their polygon count is low and they have lower texture file sizes. So, for example, I have downloaded a freeware Beech Duke (for FS2000) and Piper Cub (for FS2000) from simviation.com. I have unzipped and copied them to my ‘Online Models’ folder. I have also deleted the sounds, panel and unnecessary texture folders, I could even reduce the size of the textures using a paint program to help frame rates.

You also need to download the VUK and CXD model sets and unzip them into your folder, they have been already configured for Model Maker.

*CAUTION FSX users*
FSX will not recognise aircraft models that were written as a windows dll library, only MDL8, MDL9, and MDLX models will show. You can check this by opening the .mdl file of you downloaded aircraft in notepad and see if there is a MDL8, MDL9, or MDLX header, if you see ‘This program cannot be run in DOS mode’, then this is a dll based model. To be absolutely sure that your models will show, you must use models created for FS2004 or FSX.

Step 3: Rename the aircraft folders
My downloaded Duke and Cub folders are currently called ‘cdduke’ and ‘Yellow Cub’, I need to rename these folders accordingly. Every model set must have a 3 letter identifier, so I am going to call my model set ‘JMI’, therefore the aircraft folder names will begin with 'JMI'.

An underscore must follow the 3 letter identifier, and the underscore followed by whatever you want to call your aircraft, for example, I tend to use the ICAO codes for the aircraft, so I would rename my folders ‘JMI_BE60’ and ‘JMI_J2’.

Step 4: Change the aircraft.cfg entries
This step is vital in order for Model Maker to extract the correct information about the aircraft. Model Maker requires the title, model ,texture, sound, icao, type and variation lines in the aircraft.cfg file, it will ignore everything else.

Model Maker can account for different liveries, but this example illustrates how to alter the aircraft.cfg to show a default Beech Duke, if the aircraft.cfg has more than one [fltsim] entry, you must delete all apart from [fltsim:0].

TIP: Use the equipment.txt found in the Squawkbox folder to find the correct ICAO code, if no ICAO exists for any aircraft, then please let me know and I will create one for universal use.

Step 5: Run Model Maker
Once you have renamed and configured everything following the steps above, you can run Model Maker.

On the first run, Model Maker will ask you to locate your online models folder, the FS Aircraft/Airplanes folder and Squawkbox folder (if required). You can reset these by clicking on the ‘Reset Folders’ button.

Once the folders have been set, click on the ‘Process Models’ button. This will initially parse all the aircraft.cfg files and search for errors. Once it is happy, it will write the appropriate files.

NOTES
Model Maker installs a much reduced equipment list for Squawkbox which means that one aircraft type is used for one ICAO code, this will help with any confusion when presented with a multitude of variations for a single aircraft. You may need to use the 'complete list' to find you aircraft type and any fictional ICAO codes needed will be displayed under ‘FICTIONAL’ . Backups are made of your existing equipment.txt and fictional.txt.

DOWNLOADS
ModelMakerV2.0.zip
VUKBase.zip (contains default and CIX variations) base set
CXDBase.zip (contains 2-4-CIX display aircraft) base
ICAO codes

The following zip file has been created by ModelMaker for manual installation into Squawkbox or if you are using both Squawkbox and FSInn. A ReadMe is included with installation instructions.

ManualSboxFSInnBaseSet.zip A zip file containing VUK, CIX and CXD base files generated by Model Maker.

Fictional ICAO codes have been issued for the following aircraft:
ASOX Airspeed Oxford
AS28 ASW28 Glider
KA7 KA7 Glider
P28C Piper PA28 180
P28D Piper PA28 235
P28E Piper PA28 236
SP1 Spitfire Mk1
SP9 Spitfire Mk9
SP14 Spitfire Mk14
S43 Sikorsky S43

FSInnDbaser.exe is a simple utility that uses data in a text file (ModelSetData.txt) to populate the FSInn aircraft databases with the correct entries. These entries are the ICAO aircraft codes and the ALine codes for specific liveries. Running FSInnDbaser.exe will mean you do not need to manually configure the FSInn aircraft database via InnPlane.

Download the VUKBase.zip and the CXDBase.zip base model set and unzip the contents into your Aircraft or Airplanes folder, delete any previous CIX, CXD, VUK folders.

Download the FSInnDbaser.zip and extract the FSInnDbaser.exe into a folder of your choice, then download the ModelSetData.txt file into the same folder.

Running FSInnDbaser will use the ModelSetData.txt information and update the FSInn database with the correct aircraft and airline codes. It will clean out any existing VUK installations everytime it is run to ensure a correct installtion.

DOWNLOADS
VUKBase.zip (contains default and CIX variations) base set date:01.08.10
CXDBase.zip (contains 2-4-CIX display aircraft) base set date:01.08.10
FSInnDbaser.zip (A utility that creates the correct entries for the FSInn database)
ModelSetData.txt Version 1 (RIGHT CLICK, SAVE AS..save this file into the same directory as FSInnDbaser.exe)

InnPlane - Config - Edit Current Used Plane

In the example to the right I need to type my specific CIX ALine code in the user column by typing XCX in the ALine ICAO User box and then apply. The Acft ICAO is correctly set as C172 for the Cessna 172, but if you fly certain aircraft you will have to set this code also. When you request an aircraft of yours to be included in the next update, you will be assigned a specific ALine code if you use FSInn.

For Squawkbox users things are much simpler. Go to:

Start - Connect - Aircraft List

You will need to edit any existing aircraft you have set up already or add a new aircraft. By clicking Edit or Add, you will need to choose your aircraft type by selecting from the VUK list of aircraft, for example:

CESSNA 172

You will then need to select your personal CIX airline from the Airline and Livery box, in my case:

CIX VFR G-CXSM James Mindham