This is a collection of SimObjects designed to respond to both wind speed and direction. The original objects were created for my Pistol Creek Ranch scenery. But rather than include them in that scenery, I decided to package them up as a separate library in case anyone else might want to use them in their scenery. All I ask is acknowledgement of where you got the object. Even better, I would love it if you would take a few minutes to post a screen shot to the User Gallery of how you used the object in your scene.

This library has three basic objects, but with lots of variations:

6' (2m) windsock on a 15' (5m) pole, fairly typical of small bush strips. This now comes in five color schemes (white, orange, red, orange/white striped, and red/white striped), and three configurations (with lighting, without lighting, and without a pole).
3' (1m) tall flag on a 25' (8m) flag pole. You can now choose from 306 different flags, covering nations of the world and US states, either with or without a flag pole!
Decorative 6' tall windmill that you might put in a garden or park.

To assist you in locating a particular flag, the download file includes a full list of the object names by location.

The download file also includes a tool that you can use to generate a library of flag repaints from a set of flag images of your own (in case 306 flags is still not enough to choose from). The files generated by this tool rely on the models in this library, but you can distribute your custom flag library and the custom flags in your scenery will work as long as the Windy Things library is also installed. Along with the repainter script are instructions on its use.

Finally, the download file includes instructions on how I created the animated flag in Blender and a link to a great discussion of this topic on fsdeveloper.com.

Important Notes

Unlike the default Asobo windsock, all of the objects in this library have been designed so that they will remain properly oriented to the wind, regardless of how you rotate them in your scene.

I am still interested in creating internal windsock lighting in addition to the external windsock lighting included in this library, but the lighting system in MSFS 2020 does not seem to work well for that application. If anyone has had success in creating a working lighting effect INSIDE an object in MSFS, please PM me here with your ideas.

Credits

Flag images are public domain from commons.wikimedia.org. Custom PBR textures were created using materials released under the CC0 license on cc0textures.com.

Version

1.08.1

File Size

40.05 MB

Downloads

35,575

This file has been scanned for viruses and is safe to download.

About

trfsto

14,455 | IX Senior Captain

Compatibility	Sim Update 9
Subscribers	837
Category	Libraries
Initial Release	May 06, 2021
Last Updated	1.08.1 — September 19, 2021
Rating	4.94/5.0 — Superb!
Status	Not Downloaded yet
Today's Downloads	42

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© trfsto - All rights reserved. Any reupload or redistribution of this file without the author's prior written consent is forbidden. This Microsoft Flight Simulator add-on was created by trfsto and shared in Scenery Enhancements » Libraries for Microsoft Flight Simulator.

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118 Comments

Xpress690

4 month(s) ago

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Could you please include the "AZORES" flag..

Thank you

trfsto 4 month(s) ago

I will put it on the list, but I am unlikely to have free time to add more flags in the near future. If you want to, you can add your own Azores flag by "repainting" the standard 2:3 flag in the library. Instructions on how to do this are included in the download, and you should be able to get high-quality artwork for the Azores flag at https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Flag_of_the_Azores.

Xpress690 4 month(s) ago

thank you

lawlegge

4 month(s) ago

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Hi trfsto,

Excellent work...

Just a reminder to update the version number in the 'manifest.json' as it shows in the sim and Addons Linker and will be of primary importance in programs such as MFS AddOn Collector, for example, as developers produce auto-updating programs...

Here it shows the version number as 1.08.1, but shows 1.8.0 in the 'manifest.json'

Thanks for your efforts...

trfsto 4 month(s) ago

I will fix the version numbering on the next release.

laserjet34

4 month(s) ago

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Thank you very much for all this work

CHACO_042

4 month(s) ago

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how do i install and add a windsock in my sdk project?

laserjet34 4 month(s) ago

Hello in the sdk you have to open the SimObjects they are in and not in Scenery! good work

Fury

6 month(s) ago

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Thank you, very nice.

GunStrauss

7 month(s) ago

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Can we expect SU7 compatibility for this add on?

elgalopino

7 month(s) ago

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This is really amazing, such collection of flags. Thank you very much for your work and share this with us.

Rafael

qqwertzde

8 month(s) ago

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Thank you so much for this package. I just submitted a new version of my CYYQ scenery that uses your flags 😊

https://images.flightsim.to/images/20/cyyq-churchill-airport-MaDdn.jpg?width=1400&auto_optimize=medium

JDLinn

8 month(s) ago

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Hi, per your suggestion, I put up pics of how we are using Windy Things at Return to Misty Moorings (Freeware). We have put it in at all 48 BC lighthouses, all 18 Alaska Lighthouses, and all of our 28 Seaplane bases. What is great for a developer like us, we tell people they should download the Windy Things Mod ...recommended. If they do, they will see all of the windsocks and flags. If they do not, nothing in the scenery is impaired, they simply don't see the great Windy Things eye candy. So you can safely add this mod (as a developer) and your result will not be adversely affected if the user doesn't have Windy Things. (But you should always remind them to get it to see what they are missing). We have had NO PROBLEMS with this wonderful mod and it is standard anytime we put in a location that needs a flag or windsock. Thank you for the mod, it makes our many locations come alive!

trfsto 8 month(s) ago

I am so glad to hear that the library is working for you. Thanks for the kind words.

trfsto 8 month(s) ago

And thanks for posting the screenshots to the User Gallery!

caniky

8 month(s) ago

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For the flags lighting.. you might be able to assign an emissive texture with a very small amount of emission. So they are not completely black in the dark. Something like a moonlight effect.

trfsto 8 month(s) ago

Interesting idea. Thanks for the suggestion.

kychungdotcom

9 month(s) ago

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Thank you for your beautiful works, I've used them on the most recent version of my Hedlanda Airport addon:

https://flightsim.to/file/7214/hedlanda-airport-esnc

FreakyD

10 month(s) ago

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I was able to add the animated flag to my scenery package. However, at some wind speeds and directions, the animation is janky. The direction of the wave will jump plus/minus 20 degrees. Any thoughts? SU6 issue perhaps?

trfsto 9 month(s) ago

Could be. I noticed that SU6 changed a whole bunch of my display settings in the Sim. I had to go through and reset things to my preferred settings (Ultra of course). You might want to review your settings after any update and make sure nothing changed.

Ken3801

10 month(s) ago

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Does this work with Sim update 6?

trfsto 9 month(s) ago

Yes, just tested with SU6 and it seems to work fine.

Crash_Murdock

10 month(s) ago

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@trfsto - Just wanted to say thanks for the great flags and windsocks! 👍👍 I'm using the Thai national flag and also substituted the blue Queen Sirikit version in an array to sort of replicate the real situation. I've posted a screenshot in your gallery. Sad that we can't scale SimObjects as they're a bit oversized for my purpose, but they still add so much to the scenery. Luckily, I was able to significantly downsize the install folder by deleting all the unused flags and related entries. I didn't rename anything so the package is still wholly attributed to you. Thanks again!

barrodoy

11 month(s) ago

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Hey,

I am trying to create a custom flag and I follow all the instructions but when the folder in community is created the DDS wont be there. Any ideas?

trfsto 11 month(s) ago

Are you trying to repaint an existing flag from the library or create your own flag from scratch? In other words, are you following the instructions from "Creating an animated flag.pdf" or from "Using the flag repainter.pdf'?

barrodoy 11 month(s) ago

I followed the "Using the flag repainter.pdf" file

trfsto 11 month(s) ago

Sent you a PM.

jgplarnold

11 month(s) ago

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There seems to be a problem with the windy things sim objects as when I add them to airport (scenery) in Airport Design Editor they do not display in FS2020 yet other sim objects (assume standard FS2020 sim objects) when added do display. Is this a result of the latest FS2020 update (6)?

trfsto 11 month(s) ago

I have not had time to install the latest MSFS update yet. Once I do, I will see if I can replicate the problems that you are seeing.

gryper 9 month(s) ago

It doesnt display when downloading other files on this website either. I am always given a list of libraries required when downloading files here. Even though I have Windy Things installed, this website will not recognize it and it always tells me I have to download Windy Things. Kinda weird.

trfsto 9 month(s) ago

My apologies, gryper, but I don't understand what problem you are experiencing. The original question was about the use of the library with Airport Design Editor. As noted in the FAQs, using additional library objects with ADE requires some manual editing of the configuration files for ADE. In your question, you say that "this website will not recognize" Windy Things. What website? Can you provide a bit more information on the problem that you are experiencing? Does it have anything to do with ADE?

jgplarnold

11 month(s) ago

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Excellent.

A BIG TIP for users of ADE. Be careful when copying the 'objects' from the .TXT file to teh adeSimObjectList.dat file. If you accidentally add a new line after the last character of the last object name, ADE will crash when loading. When you paste the contents of the .txt file ENSURE the cursor is 'flashing' to the right side of the last object name and NOT on the next line.

trfsto 11 month(s) ago

And please make a backup of your ADE data file before you make any edits.

PilotChris

12 month(s) ago

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Hey, i got an issue with changing the height of your windsocks in my scenery. I can increase the height, but when i build the package it goes back to the standard height. Any idea how to fix this in my case?

trfsto 12 month(s) ago

As noted in the FAQ, this is a known limitation of all SimObjects in MSFS. You cannot rescale them or change their altitude.

PilotChris 12 month(s) ago

This is sad, would you mind to create a slightly bigger windsock for maybe not only me but also other users? I am talking about a windsock with a pole height of around 8 - 9 meters.

On my airfield in germany this seems to be the standard size.

Thank you very much, i really appreciate your work. Keep on going!

CapKirk88

12 month(s) ago

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Just to confirm, since I'm relatively new to msfs mods; is this mod just for people creating scenery? or does this actually place flags and whatnot to existing airports, in game? I find the amount of windsocks in the game are lacking. At some airfields/airports I cant even find one to see wind direction... Thanks!

trfsto 12 month(s) ago

This is a library of objects that people can place in their custom sceneries. It does nothing for existing sceneries.

CapKirk88 11 month(s) ago

Thank you!

PILOTscientist

1 year(s) ago

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Hey there Windy !

I want to confirm the version available for upload is in fact 0.1.8 - because the latest change in even the single byte on both the manifest and layout date back to he 12th of July - and the manifest states it's the version 0.1.6.

It is not unusual when sometimes latest version just doesn't appear, or appears as the old one, I see it seldom happen to the others.

So I always ask if I notice that.

Thanks for some cool and seriously windy libraries ! 😉

trfsto 1 year(s) ago

Apologies for the confusion. I forget sometimes to update the version number that gets written to the manifest file. The file currently available for download here is version 1.08 (or 0.1.8; I need to clean up my version numbering). The objects are unchanged from version 1.07. This new version includes some extra files for folks wanting to use the objects in ADE. Otherwise, the main purpose of the "new" version was to confirm compatibility with SU5.

I just uploaded a replacement file that has the correct version number and has been recompiled with SU5. There are no changes to the models, so not a new version.

PILOTscientist 1 year(s) ago

Appreciate, thank you!

Roadmap
These items are currently on the list and will be processed soon!

Backlog
Suggestion, bugs and ideas for the future.

Version 1.08.1 September 19, 2021

* Fixed bug in data file for use with ADE
* No changes to library itself
Version 1.08 August 12, 2021

- Confirmed compatibility with SU5
- Included instructions on using Windy Things objects with Airport Design Editor
Version 1.07 July 13, 2021

- Bug fix for 1:1 ratio flags (Switzerland, Nepal, and Vatican City)
- Fix related typos in the flag-making tutorial
Version 1.06 May 31, 2021

- Improve animations on 5:3 ratio flags
- When using multiple flags of the same type, animations now start at a random offset so that movement of flags is no longer synchronized
- Flag creation tutorial revised and expanded
Version 1.05 May 28, 2021

- Added six new flags (United Nations, European Union, NATO, Olympics, International Red Cross, and International Red Crescent)
Version 1.04 May 26, 2021

- Updated animation code to deal with windsock "fix" in MSFS 1.16; objects now align to the wind regardless of object heading
- Added flag repainter tool to the download

Frequently Asked

Questions? Find your solution here.

Why can't I resize or change the elevation of these objects in MSFS?

This is a known (and quite irritating) limitation in MSFS for all SimObjects, not just those in this library. SimObjects can be placed and rotated in a scene. But they cannot be resized, and they don't respect changes to altitude either.

Can I get a flag with different artwork on it?

Included in the Windy Things download is a Flag Repainter tool. Just follow the instructions included in the zip file to create your own custom flags.

Can I use the Windy Things objects in scenery created with Airport Design Editor for MSFS 2020?

Yes. Instructions on "Using Windy Things in ADE" are included in the download.