Heat Shimmer Effect

[Voodoo]

Someone asked some time back on the board about a heat shimmer effect for the F-18's jet wash. I've never found a good one for jet engines so I have been trying for a while to create something passable myself.

I'm not going to claim it's brilliant (although it looks a bit better in motion than these stills show...but I'm useless at making videos...LOL). Nevertheless, if anyone feels they can put the effect to good use I have made it available as a download at the following link. (It includes some aircraft.cfg settings to attach it to the Hornet)

http://voodoo.wikispaces.com/Heat+Shimmer

[EDIT] there is now a short VIDEO CLIP at the following link
http://voodoo.mediashare.com?selectedalbum=voodoo429038

[skimmer]

Thanks Voodoo. I dwnlded and Im installing on f-18. I'll get a pic to you.

[skimmer]

Darn,I was hopeing it would work in FSX ,F-18 but it already has smoke sys . As follows=[SMOKESYSTEM]
smoke.0=-53.00, 0, -0.0, fx_smoke_w.   I have the mod for the sonic boom effect as well. Do you think I should maybe just delete current smoke sys and add your heat shimmer?

                                                                     Thanks again

[JamesChams]

Mr. "Voodoo,"

  Another excellent Fix!
I'm going to try this one, too. 

Thanks again and do have a Merry Christmas and a very Happy New Year!

[Voodoo]

@Skimmer

Do you think I should maybe just delete current smoke sys and add your heat shimmer

What I'd do Skimmer is just comment out your existing [smokesystem] entries and then insert the heat shimmer entries. That way, you can check out if you like it or not, and easily and quickly revert back to using your regular [smokesystem] if you wish.

If my memory serves me correctly, I think the sonic boom effect is all handled in the [lights] section, so you shou;dn't have anything clashing with that (I think).

NOTE: There is a way to have multiple independent [smokesystem] effects. I used the concept to good effect with the Blue Angels C130 that I posted a few weeks back. If I can find the time to work on it I can maybe try to work a series for the Hornet.

If you want to try experimenting with the concept yourself...here is a link that shows how it's done...
http://www.fsdeveloper.com/forum/showthread.php?t=14592

[skimmer]

Hey Voodoo it works fine right out of the box. I just deleted FSX f-18 smoke config and followed your instruction for install. It looks better from distance. Thanks for another great keeper. Thats two on my system including the suntweak. Heres a couple pics. Nice xmas to you.

[Voodoo]

Glad it worked for you Skimmer, and have a very good Festive Season, sir.

I've posted a video clip at the following link, showing the Heat Shimmer effect attached to an F/A-18 of the Aggressor Squadron.

http://voodoo.mediashare.com?selectedalbum=voodoo429038

(Best viewed at 200% or Full Screen with looping turned on)

[Intrepid]

That  clip looks Great VooDoo ,,On full screen you can really see the way a shimmer affects the sun in the background,,, Sweeeet 
Two thumbs up buddy
Randy