Well I've been considering this product for quite awhile now Watching your vid has made my mind up I will wait awhile longer till it gets sorted out How they can get away with charging the prices for what I consider to be an unfinished product is beyond me Thanks again for a well constructed video
I have to say as long as they keep on developing it things are encouraging. 2.4 is a lot better than 2.3. I just worry that effort is spread too thinly - AFAIK it's one developer working on X-Plane, P3D, FSX, DCS and probably the guage add-ons too. I think it would be a GREAT move if they would publish a guage SDK and let third parties do that bit.
To Jan Erik Ernst: Not sure what you're referring to so maybe you can elaborate. As I said, the backgrounds don't work properly on multi-screens (or didn't in v2.4), and the instruments are not anti-aliased to the backgound you select, but instead to am arbitrary (and apparently light-coloured) background. (Sorry I can't reply properly, Google-minus won't let me.)
Thanks...highly educational! One question - sorry if it's a stupid one (I'm only starting out) - can you turn off/ disable the virtual instrument panel which hovers over your built panel?
With each update of simplugins the improvements are significant. I can't say enough about how well these guages work and how good they look. Your description of significant bugs seemed a bit over the top as I have used many third party addons and few have ever worked as well as the simplugins modules right from the start. Cheers Shawn
Well perhaps you are using a newer version that works better than the one I had, but version 2.4 was pretty shoddy as I think I have amply demonstrated.
Hi Almost Aviation, Is there any way of setting it up so I can use a single machine but a primary and secondary monitor instead? I'd like to use the primary screen for the field of view and a much smaller secondary monitor just for the dials. Thanks!
Yes, that is its purpose. They will even try to sell you plastic bezels for your instruments to make them look more realistic. But be warned, if you use complex add-on aircraft you may not be successful in putting all of your instruments on the panel, as I have discussed in the video.
Hey I really like your reviews and this one in particular. I was tossing up over this product or FSXpand or SimAvio2 and although I see they have made some improvements (funnily enough all based around the problems you found) I think I'll hold off. I also find the gauges a little cartoon like. Keep up the good work, I've subscribed to see what other goodies you bring.
Hi.. thank you for the review, pretty good. I'm starting my Seneca 5 panel and I'm bit stuck where to go with the panel. I've see quite a few options and this one seems to be the most reasonable, but wanted to hear from you if you'd suggest panel builder or not! All of them are pretty expensive for something very limited. From my point of view at least the gauges could be totally customized... etc. your thoughts?
+Filipe Bessa Hi there. I have not played with recent version of PB so it may have come on since this review. However, recommend you take a look at Air Manager from Siminnovations (formerly Air Rietveld). In my view this is a superior product to Panel Builder. The architecture is completely open, so you can design your own gauges from the ground up. You can also customise existing gauges without limit, which you cannot do with PB (or could not when I played with it).
+Almost Aviation hi there... thanks for you quick reply. Weird that this Air Manager din't come up on my google searches.. price looks good and seems like it will attend my needs.. It looks much more consistent and knowing I can customize each instrument is gonna be awesome.. btw.. just found your review on Air Rietveld Thanks mate.. really appreciated! ;)
Hi, you've done a good job! I'm designing my own Cessna home cockpit and as for the instrument panel, I want to move all the instruments from FSX out to a LCD screen with a holed wooden cover on it. Can Simplugins Panel Builder achieve this?
A very professional review, must of taken sometime to put together. I'm an hour behind fom building you GPS mod because I had to watch the full video. I use Panelbuilder 2.31 and allready applied your VSI fix. Do you know if I upgrade to 2.4, do I have to rebuild my panels after? I fly the Cessna 172, Panelbuilder works well for that, it has been a great programme for a novice like me. I think your review is fair. Would it be ok to send a link to RC Simulations, it's great feedback. A1 Video
+Kevin Davis Yes, I'm sure you could do that. I'm not sure how well the interaction works with the controls, though. Check out Air Manager, which does this kind of thing a whole lot better.
What an excellent review. I watched the whole thing and it was very informative. Want to ask! They have v2.7 out now - have you seen any improvements over the issues you've seen with the version you were using in the video. I am thinking of either buying this or FsXpand but not sure just yet. Many thanks Jim
Hi Jim, I can't say anything about the later updates as I've stopped using this now. Not for any other reason than I prefer the 'pure VC' experience on my current setup. Sorry not to be more help!
Hi Sir! Can u help me. Im from philippines. I already downloaded the panel builder EFIS at xplane store. But when i install it it appears "this program might not have installed correctly". My NET.Frame is 4.5 and running a windows 7 ultimate 64bit.
+Menandro Dalida Jr. I do not have the latest PB or X-Plane, so I can't really help. However, Windows produces that 'error' message pretty much whenever I install anything so I would just ignore it!
Hi Sir, Thanks for the reply. Anyway i just got properly installed awhile ago and it works for the first time. But when i accidentally click the "exit" botton and when i resume again the apps and finishing editing the panels, the "play"botton in the operation section was not working. What can i do now? please help me, i was so dying to play with this. Thanks.
..though old, and I assume by now lot have been change but great review ..shame that unlike AM you can't configure the background & frame of each instrument Cheers Yair
hello..???x plane 10.25 i woud like to add a second monitor to be my six pack panel instrument using panel builder...the poblems is i am current using 32 LCD like main monitor HDMI..and i want to add a 17" vga..??can I buy VDI adaptor beacuse my CPU have only 2 ports hdmi and DVI or buy HDMI splitter and just conect two monitors in one coneccion..if this possible my video card will be slow??? I have alienware x 51 , nvdia GTX 645,1 GB video card, i5 , 3.0 ghz , 64 bit ,8 GB memory
Yes, you can buy a VGA/DVI adapter plug which will allow you to run a VGA monitor on a DVI port. (It is not possible to run two monitors on one port.) I can't predict your performance hit as I don't know X-Plane. Don't forget you could run Panel Builder on a different PC, which would minimise performance issues.
hello i all ready did everything its perfect in my second monitor with the buider panel the free trial version i see the instrument {the 6 pack ) but the instrument never move when i am flying that because its free or something else,, thanks ii am ready to buy the full version after you respond thax again
Yeah, this is getting better slowly but I still think it's way over-pitched (and priced) for something that's basically still 'hobby' quality. I haven't yet installed the latest version, but they should fix the damned bugs before adding new stuff like glass cockpits. Background and multi-screen handling is still broken and many of the gauges still have redraw glitches. I will keep upgrading for now as it's more or less doing the job.
Mario. Rodriguez I think the latest version has thos kind of instruments, although you are limited to what they decide to give you. Have a look at Air Manager from Air Rietveld, which is a similar product. The main difference is that you can implement your own gauges from scratch.
Yes, you can save your panels - you just have to find the appropriate folders and copy them. I think all the data is stored in text files so you can do other things too, for example renaming panels, once you figure it out. There is no official way to share panels unless you have the 'pro' or 'commercial' version (it keeps changing its name!) but I would guess you can exchange copies of the folders and share that way. There are no predefined panels except the standard six.
I just found two programs called FSXpand and General Aviation Panel by PeixSoft. I'd like to hear your opinion on these two (I can't find any comprehensive reviews or video reviews about them).
Well I've been considering this product for quite awhile now Watching your vid has made my mind up I will wait awhile longer till it gets sorted out
How they can get away with charging the prices for what I consider to be an unfinished product is beyond me
Thanks again for a well constructed video
I was interested in the Panel Builder but now I will hang on a few more months till they sort it out
Thanks for another good review
Mike from Scotland
I have to say as long as they keep on developing it things are encouraging. 2.4 is a lot better than 2.3. I just worry that effort is spread too thinly - AFAIK it's one developer working on X-Plane, P3D, FSX, DCS and probably the guage add-ons too. I think it would be a GREAT move if they would publish a guage SDK and let third parties do that bit.
To Jan Erik Ernst: Not sure what you're referring to so maybe you can elaborate. As I said, the backgrounds don't work properly on multi-screens (or didn't in v2.4), and the instruments are not anti-aliased to the backgound you select, but instead to am arbitrary (and apparently light-coloured) background.
(Sorry I can't reply properly, Google-minus won't let me.)
Thanks...highly educational! One question - sorry if it's a stupid one (I'm only starting out) - can you turn off/ disable the virtual instrument panel which hovers over your built panel?
Yes, you can fly without the virtual cockpit. It's problematic if you use a TrackIR, though, as the cockpit reappears when you look left or right.
Thanks for that. I've a lot of fun ahead of me (I hope!!)
With each update of simplugins the improvements are significant. I can't say enough about how well these guages work and how good they look. Your description of significant bugs seemed a bit over the top as I have used many third party addons and few have ever worked as well as the simplugins modules right from the start.
Cheers
Shawn
Well perhaps you are using a newer version that works better than the one I had, but version 2.4 was pretty shoddy as I think I have amply demonstrated.
Almost Aviation I tried out the trial version. It still has the messy alt+tab thing.
Hi Almost Aviation, Is there any way of setting it up so I can use a single machine but a primary and secondary monitor instead?
I'd like to use the primary screen for the field of view and a much smaller secondary monitor just for the dials.
Thanks!
Yes, you can do this, but only if you run FSX in windowed mode.
Yes, that is its purpose. They will even try to sell you plastic bezels for your instruments to make them look more realistic. But be warned, if you use complex add-on aircraft you may not be successful in putting all of your instruments on the panel, as I have discussed in the video.
Hey I really like your reviews and this one in particular. I was tossing up over this product or FSXpand or SimAvio2 and although I see they have made some improvements (funnily enough all based around the problems you found) I think I'll hold off. I also find the gauges a little cartoon like. Keep up the good work, I've subscribed to see what other goodies you bring.
This is the only panel building app I've tried so that's all I can really comment on.
Hi.. thank you for the review, pretty good. I'm starting my Seneca 5 panel and I'm bit stuck where to go with the panel. I've see quite a few options and this one seems to be the most reasonable, but wanted to hear from you if you'd suggest panel builder or not! All of them are pretty expensive for something very limited. From my point of view at least the gauges could be totally customized... etc. your thoughts?
+Filipe Bessa Hi there. I have not played with recent version of PB so it may have come on since this review. However, recommend you take a look at Air Manager from Siminnovations (formerly Air Rietveld). In my view this is a superior product to Panel Builder. The architecture is completely open, so you can design your own gauges from the ground up. You can also customise existing gauges without limit, which you cannot do with PB (or could not when I played with it).
+Almost Aviation hi there... thanks for you quick reply. Weird that this Air Manager din't come up on my google searches.. price looks good and seems like it will attend my needs.. It looks much more consistent and knowing I can customize each instrument is gonna be awesome.. btw.. just found your review on Air Rietveld
Thanks mate.. really appreciated! ;)
wow, thanks for the extremely thorough review.
That's okay, although it's probably a bit out of date by now!
Has there been improvements since this video was updated? I see that the program now costs 65 euros
Hi, you've done a good job! I'm designing my own Cessna home cockpit and as for the instrument panel, I want to move all the instruments from FSX out to a LCD screen with a holed wooden cover on it. Can Simplugins Panel Builder achieve this?
A very professional review, must of taken sometime to put together.
I'm an hour behind fom building you GPS mod because I had to watch the full video.
I use Panelbuilder 2.31 and allready applied your VSI fix.
Do you know if I upgrade to 2.4, do I have to rebuild my panels after?
I fly the Cessna 172, Panelbuilder works well for that,
it has been a great programme for a novice like me.
I think your review is fair.
Would it be ok to send a link to RC Simulations, it's great feedback.
A1 Video
can't start up panel. have picked my instruments. do i have to save panel first
finally got it.
Could you put panels on a separate touch screen monitor??
+Kevin Davis Yes, I'm sure you could do that. I'm not sure how well the interaction works with the controls, though. Check out Air Manager, which does this kind of thing a whole lot better.
ya it works i used for fms
What an excellent review. I watched the whole thing and it was very informative. Want to ask! They have v2.7 out now - have you seen any improvements over the issues you've seen with the version you were using in the video. I am thinking of either buying this or FsXpand but not sure just yet. Many thanks
Jim
Hi Jim, I can't say anything about the later updates as I've stopped using this now. Not for any other reason than I prefer the 'pure VC' experience on my current setup. Sorry not to be more help!
Almost Aviation Cool - no worries mate. Thanks and good luck.
Cheers
Jim
Hi Sir! Can u help me. Im from philippines. I already downloaded
the panel builder EFIS at xplane store. But when i install it it
appears "this program might not have installed correctly". My NET.Frame
is 4.5 and running a windows 7 ultimate 64bit.
+Menandro Dalida Jr. I do not have the latest PB or X-Plane, so I can't really help. However, Windows produces that 'error' message pretty much whenever I install anything so I would just ignore it!
Hi Sir, Thanks for the reply. Anyway i just got properly installed awhile ago and it works for the first time. But when i accidentally click the "exit" botton and when i resume again the apps and finishing editing the panels, the "play"botton in the operation section was not working. What can i do now? please help me, i was so dying to play with this. Thanks.
Hi sir, i just re-install the apps and it works again. Now how can i link the panel to my xplane 10?
Could you put or chance in side the actual panel?????Like fs panel studio for P3D v4.2
If you mean inside the aircraft model, then no. This is a standalone product that communicates with P3D.
Yes inside all gauges if you go youtube murray ayata DC-3 you will see it how I chance the panel and put it to day standard regards
Hello!! Nice video , I have a cuestión
I’m new whit this , I bought the panel builder but my guages dont move can you help me with this please🙏
Sorry, but I haven't used this for five or six years and no doubt it's moved on since then. You'd be better asking in their support forum on AVSIM.
Any reviews on the latest version, i think it's 2.93 ????
Cheers
Yair
+Ofri Ben-Ad Not from me, sorry :)
Yeah, the mind boggles at the technicalities of that!
..though old, and I assume by now lot have been change but great review ..shame that unlike AM you can't configure the background & frame of each instrument
Cheers
Yair
What addons are you using for scenery? The view when you took off in the end was awesome. It look great.
Thanks, that's New Zealand South Island and Milford Sound from Orbx.
Mike Bee TV: I run FSX in full-screen mode, which means I can't run Panel Builder on the same PC.
hello..???x plane 10.25 i woud like to add a second monitor to be my six pack panel instrument using panel builder...the poblems is i am current using 32 LCD like main monitor HDMI..and i want to add a 17" vga..??can I buy VDI adaptor beacuse my CPU have only 2 ports hdmi and DVI or buy HDMI splitter and just conect two monitors in one coneccion..if this possible my video card will be slow??? I have alienware x 51 , nvdia GTX 645,1 GB video card, i5 , 3.0 ghz , 64 bit ,8 GB memory
Yes, you can buy a VGA/DVI adapter plug which will allow you to run a VGA monitor on a DVI port. (It is not possible to run two monitors on one port.) I can't predict your performance hit as I don't know X-Plane. Don't forget you could run Panel Builder on a different PC, which would minimise performance issues.
Almost Aviation i need to run panel builder on diferent pc.. why??? i have only one pc
I didn't say needed to, just that it may improve your performance.
hello i all ready did everything its perfect in my second monitor with the buider panel the free trial version i see the instrument {the 6 pack ) but the instrument never move when i am flying that because its free or something else,, thanks ii am ready to buy the full version after you respond thax again
You need to be running run the interface program for X-Plane and you need to configure it as described in the manual.
Yeah, this is getting better slowly but I still think it's way over-pitched (and priced) for something that's basically still 'hobby' quality. I haven't yet installed the latest version, but they should fix the damned bugs before adding new stuff like glass cockpits. Background and multi-screen handling is still broken and many of the gauges still have redraw glitches. I will keep upgrading for now as it's more or less doing the job.
Can you set all these instrument on another Monitor from the scenery Monitor I have 5 PFD is monitor on the bottom
Mario. Rodriguez Yes, of course. In the video they aren't even running on the same computer.
What about a full EFIS set up I am trying to sell it up similar to a 767-757
Mario. Rodriguez I think the latest version has thos kind of instruments, although you are limited to what they decide to give you. Have a look at Air Manager from Air Rietveld, which is a similar product. The main difference is that you can implement your own gauges from scratch.
Thanks guys
Your panels should be safe upgrading, but I took no chances and copied the folders somewhere else first!
hi. is this like fs panel builder. if so whats better.
Great job!
Thanks! I don't use this at the moment but may revive it if I ever think about a complete (input/output) version of my cockpit...
Yes, you can save your panels - you just have to find the appropriate folders and copy them. I think all the data is stored in text files so you can do other things too, for example renaming panels, once you figure it out.
There is no official way to share panels unless you have the 'pro' or 'commercial' version (it keeps changing its name!) but I would guess you can exchange copies of the folders and share that way. There are no predefined panels except the standard six.
Shame you cannot create virtual cockpits with this...
You're welcome to do a review on our new software if you're interested. Air Manager release promo
Thanks, but I don't have X-Plane.
Bummer :)
We're bringing out a FSX/Prepar3D version later this year.
Great, then I'll probably give it a go. Not promising a full review, but you never know!
I'll let you know when it's finished. Thanks!
Don't know anything useful about alternatives, sorry.
I just found two programs called FSXpand and General Aviation Panel by PeixSoft. I'd like to hear your opinion on these two (I can't find any comprehensive reviews or video reviews about them).