FS2004 Douglas DC-3 'DC-3 Airways' Splashscreens
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A collection of thirty splashscreens specifically created for the virtual airline 'DC-3 Airways' (www.dc3airways.com) from screenshots taken by Mark Beaumont, VP Fleet. Shots feature the default DC-3, the MAAM-SIM DC-3 (www.maam.org) and the XC-47C float plane in 'DC-3 Airways' colour schemes. Includes an application by Christopher Trew which will select an opening screen at random when starting FS2004. By Mark Beaumont.

File name: DCA_SSCR.ZIP

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INSTALLATION:

1. Unzip DCA_SSCR.ZIP to a temporary location, ensuring that you retain folder names when unzipping.

2. From the download, move the folder 'SplashScreens' to your main '....\Program Files\Microsoft Games\Flight Simulator 9\' folder.

3. Also move the file 'SSC.exe' to your main '....\Program Files\Microsoft Games\Flight Simulator 9\' folder.

4. If you have a standard install of FS (i.e. 'C:\Program Files\Microsoft Games\Flight Simulator 9\'), move or copy the shortcut file 'FS2004 (DCA)' to your desktop.  If your install was non-standard and FS2004 is located elsewhere, you will need to create your own desktop link to 'SSC.exe' or modify the properties (i.e. the path) of the 'FS2004 (DCA)' shortcut file provided.

5. There is a backup of the original FS2004 splashscreen in the enclosed 'Uires' folder.  Should you wish to keep this file for record, move this to the folder '....\Program Files\Microsoft Games\Flight Simulator 9\Uires\'

6. Do what you will with this README and the other files in this download, but please do not litter.


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OPERATION:

To start FS2004 with random 'DC-3 Airways' splashscreens, simply click on your new 'FS2004 (DCA)' shortcut on your desktop. FS will start. You should see a different start-up splashscreen each time you boot FS using this shortcut icon.  

Should you wish to, you can still use your original desktop shortcut to start FS at any time, as that is unaffected.  If, for example, after using the 'FS2004 (DCA)' start-up icon, you come across a splashscreen that you would like to see for a while on every start-up, using the regular shortcut icon thereafter will retain that splashscreen as your start-up image until you use the 'FS2004 (DCA)' shortcut icon once more.

Note that the file 'SSC.exe' does NOT replace your 'FS9.exe' file in your main FS2004 folder; do NOT remove or back up that file.  Whether you have installed the MS FS2004 patch 9.1 or not, this new starting method will recognise your existing file and, indeed, needs it to complete start-up of the simulator.  All 'SSC.exe' adds is the random choice of start-up screen.


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UNINSTALL: 

Should you for any reason wish to permanently revert to the default situation, firstly go to your '....\Program Files\Microsoft Games\Flight Simulator 9\' folder.  Delete the 'SSC.exe' file, delete the folder 'SplashScreens' and delete the file 'dlgsplash.bmp' from the 'Uires' folder.  In this 'Uires' folder, rename 'dlgsplash_orig_2004.bmp' file as 'dlgsplash.bmp' and finally, delete your desktop shortcut link to SSC.exe.


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CREATING YOUR OWN SPLASHSCREENS:

If you are familiar with using a graphics editor such as Photoshop or Paint Shop Pro, you can create your own splashscreens of your favourite 'DC-3 Airways' screenshots and add them to your new 'SplashScreens' folder.  There is no limit to how may images you may keep there. Download one of the following suggestions from major simulation sites, which files include templates for this purpose:

ssr25.zip     Geoffrey Schreiber
SP2004_5.ZIP  Robert Hedgelon

The best package for FS2002 is probably ssc3.zip by Arik Hohmeyer (FS Design Berlin)

The above is provided as information only.  Please do not email me about creating splashscreens, thanks.  


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CREDITS:

Screenshots were taken using my state-of-the-ark GeForce 2 64MB video card and 1024x768 resolution.  Some shots have been sharpened slightly where reducing their size has caused blurring, but otherwise are unedited captures from FS2004.

The file 'SSC.exe' is taken from a freeware package by Christopher Trew, whose original README is supplied for record as 'doc_orig'. Please do not sell or include it with any commercial product or otherwise charge money for it without his written permission.  His original file name was SplashScreenChanger.zip.

Thanks also to fellow 'DC-3 Airways' pilots for testing this package in FS2004!

Enjoy these 'DC-3 Airways' enhancements.  Look out for more DC-3 developments in due course! 


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November 4th 2004


Mark "Dark Moment" Beaumont

Vice President, Fleet, DC-3 Airways
DCA-1054
www.dc3airways.com

Team member, MAAM-SIM
www.maam.org

MABeaumont@aol.com
www.swiremariners.com/dc3.html

