It’s been a while since I last played on a flight sim - likely the original version of FS and Flight Unlimited 2!
I’m doing the training exercises, specifically the traffic pattern one where you have to fly it on your own.
The one with the instructor marks out the altitude and headings for the pattern so you know when to turn etc. but on the solo one there are of course no markings.
Where can you see the details of the pattern? in the VFR map?
Thanks!
There isnt technically an exact course or altitude or anything you can just follow.
A standard pattern is an upwind leg, then a 90 degree turn to a crosswind leg, then a 90 degree turn to a downwind leg, then a 90 degree turn onto base leg, then a 90 degree turn onto final.
Generally, the pattern alititude for props is 1000 feet.
The distance away from the runway on the downwind leg (again for props) can be anywhere from half a mile to 3mile, certain airports have their own procedures.
So, generally, You will take off, climb to 500 feet AGL (above ground level), and make your left 90 degree turn onto crosswind, continue to climb and fly approx half a mile or so, and then make another 90 degree left turn onto downwind. By this time you should be levelling out at 1000 feet AGL. As you pass the landing end of the runway (straihgt off your left wing) you would usually reduce power and lower the flaps to the first notch and start your descent. Make your 90 degree left turn onto base once the runway is 45 degree behind you, continue to descend, and continue lowering flaps through base leg and your 90 degree turn to final.
Google it online, and go to images. A pattern is just a basic rectangle shape around the runway.
To answer your question, there is no exact vector, course or marking for the traffic pattern. Its a visual pattern around the airport. The legs can differ in length etc depending on other visual traffic to keep spacing or due to ATC instructions
A good tip I was given was to line up the heading bug with the runway when lined up for take off, then as above, just fly in 90 degree sections
I know how to fly a traffic pattern; that ‘tutorial’ is abysmal.
Bring back Rod Machado? (FSX joke for those who are purely new to FS and are starting here).
It is. Neither one with guides nor solo correctly tracks pattern. It basically skips crosswind and base, so you actually make long U turn instead of two 90-degree turns there. The best way to complete solo is to redo previous lesson with markers and remember where you turned, then repeat solo turning at the same points.
I followed it once, , and did exactly the same as you; made a huge U turn. I then got back on track and completed the pattern, with a delicious landing only to be told, ‘YOU FAILED, landed on incorrect runway…’ Lol, what other runway is there to land on? 
Did you fly full circle around airport? Or did you land before ‘Objective’ told you to land?
Yeah, I’ve done a couple of reasonably decent patterns now, but in that solo mission, the downwind entry point never is being sequenced. I will keep trying until that smug instructor is finally satisfied - forget about the landing challenges for now!
Yes, I did 13 full circuits of the airport, disappeared up my own a**, reappeared, and landed - I think I may have missed an instruction at some point 
Exactly. When you reach requested altitude, it already checks you in for crosswind, and you have to make U-turn into downwind. Similar thing happens when you reach point of turning to base, it basically skips most of the base leg and directs you toward runway for landing
This might be helpful?
One other thing that might help you visualize the approach (although not a full circuit) is to pick an airport from the world map, and turn on “landing path” in Assistance/Navigation aids. Take off, turn left until you’re roughly parallel with the runway going the opposite direction you took off from (check heading!). It will show you a set of brackets to fly through starting on the downwind leg, that will be red to indicate if you’re “too fast” (which normally means you should have some flaps down at that point, or you ARE too fast!!), and will be blue if things are good. It’s at least one other thing outside the lessons that might help you see what the downwind, base, and final legs should look like! Regards
Also, there’s a modified view you can call up from either the Toolbar at the top In-Flight under camera or assign to your controller. The view shifts slightly upward, almost as if you’ve raised the seat to see over the nose better - this is slightly more helpful in final approach as you can visually determine if your sight picture is steady - meaning you’re on track aiming for the runway threshold just right on or after the numbers.
You can “raise your seat” by toggling the SPACE BAR too.
Experienced real-world pilot here, I’ve flown the pattern thousands of times. For fun, I tried the training portion of the sim. Impression is that it’s generally ok, but the 152 is horribly under-powered. In trying to do the pattern portion of the training i cannot get the plane to climb the required 5400 ft without first stalling. Either it’s something I am doing wrong (and I’ve checked) or the plane is an inaccurate model of the 152 lycoming engine. Has anyone else had success at running the training pattern?
Look on the web for a local field.
The cottage to the SE, on MSFS is a block of flats.
I use the clock for clues. 1.5 min turn to cross wind. Another 1.5 min turn to down wind. When abeam of the touch down another 1.5 minutes. And if you did good turns and steady speed you should be able to turn to base in another 1.5. but in real practice that usually doesn’t happen. Although can be used to get a good feel. and of course that would mean different distances as speeds change.
Plenty of people completed it
I figured it out. I wasnt leaning before take off, AZ density altitude and no leaning is not smart. But now the problem is that the CFI does not think I am supposed to land there everytime I do the pattern and land. Oh well.