Prop Disc Rendering Issue in Precipitation – Transparent Nose Cone / See-Through Geometry

[MSFS 2024] Bug Reports SDK: Tools/Samples/Documentation
1

Version: 1.6.34.0

Frequency: Consistently

Severity: High

Bug description: Using the newer prop disc system, enabling precipitation causes geometry behind the prop to become transparent, allowing the nose cone to be seen through.

Notes:

  • Reproduced on both our aircraft and the default Cessna 152

  • Only occurs with precipitation enabled

  • Disabling precipitation resolves the issue

Expected: Nose cone remains fully opaque
Actual: Nose cone becomes see-through when viewed through spinning prop

Attachments:

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2

Hey @Flysimware

We’ve reviewed your report. This behavior is an engine constraint related to how shadow casting is handled on high-speed rotating surfaces.

The workaround is to duplicate the nose to fix this issue as you can see in the documentation : https://docs.flightsimulator.com/msfs2024/html/3_Models_And_Textures/Modeling/Aircraft/Airframe/Propellers_Turbines_And_Blades.htm?rhhlterm=propellers%20propeller%20blurred%20blurring%20blur#flickering
(Under shadow Flickering)

Best regard,
Romain

3

Clarification on Rain-Related Propeller Transparency

Hi Power Gekko,

First off, we are aware of the SDK guidance regarding propeller setup, including using a still version with shadows enabled and a blurred version with shadows disabled. We already have this configured as recommended, and it does not resolve the issue.

The behavior being reported is not related to shadow flickering or shadow casting. The issue is that during rain, when the propeller is spinning, the spinner/nose cone becomes transparent and the scenery behind it can be seen through the cone. This only occurs under precipitation and does not happen in dry conditions.

I also tested this on default aircraft (for example, the C152), and the same behavior is present there as well. Based on this, it does not appear to be specific to our setup.

Given that the SDK workaround is focused on shadow behavior, and since this issue is related to transparency during rain, I do not believe this is the same case. At the moment, this appears more likely to be a rendering limitation or bug rather than intended behavior.

Can you confirm whether this transparency effect during rain is expected, or if this should be treated as a separate issue?

Thanks.

4

Hey @Flysimware ,

This solution is not only for the shadow flickering, it is also used for this problem.
Have you put the correct material (it should be a black material) on the duplicate cone ?

Best regard,
Romain

1 Like
5

Okay, I understand the workaround now — duplicate the nose cone, scale it slightly smaller inside the original, and assign a black material so the transparency issue does not show through.

For our setup, we used a separate rain-compatible fake nose cone instead, since the modern prop material does not support the rain effect we need, and we sync that node through the engine config like a bone-animated prop part. Works like a charm. I would add this to the SDK.

1 Like