How to create an airfield?

[Zyme]

If I want to create a simple airfield like Mistys using default objects and the downloadable objects for RTMM without creating any unique objects from scratch.

What tools do you need to get started?

Is FSXPlanner a good choice?

[corbu1]

This is a good question! I´m also interested.
I was thinking about purchasing Instant scenery?
Is this a good choice?

[Fireball]

Instant Scenery 2 is a great tool.
ADE is what I use to create Airstrips http://www.airportdesigneditor.co.uk/

[corbu1]

Thanks Fireball!
....downloading ADE.
and Instant scenery 2 will be my next purchase!

[Bradallen43]

I use Instant Scenery 1.04. I tried out version 2 and didn't like the new way that you do things with the mouse. Just hated it. I have no experience with ADE but I know that Kim Gowney, who's worked with us here at RTMM in the past and Xavier Carre' who develops scenery and other things for us now, both have experience with ADE.

Just remember that we'd love to add anybody's projects to RTMM, if they are interested in contributing, but they will need to follow our rules which can be found here:

http://return.mistymoorings.com/about/index.php#r

Please give them a good read and then bring on those new locations I say!!

Brad

[Zyme]

Thanks will look into it.

I wanted to do what Xavier did with Sewall Lodge. Which I think was perfect and exactly what I was after.

But the location he picked was not the best IMO (I want more mountains in my area).

[Fishbone]

Hi Zyme,

Sorry for this late reply, but i'm not at home.

To do a photoreal scenery, the best tool (IMHO) is SbuilderX by Luis Sa, easy to find it .
You need to catch a photo from satellite, using Sbuilder, to correct it (you cannot use it without many corrections) with pictures editors such as : paint.net and The Gimp (freeware) or Paintshop Pro and Photoshop (payware). I use a 7 years old version of Photoshop.

You can find help at SbuilderX forums and FS developpers forums.
SbuilderX allow you to do flattens, excludes...

After that, you need to do an airfield with an unknown surface with ADE.


I'll try to write a short howto.

It is not difficult to do, but after a few time, you will land at your airfield.

NOTAM : seasons textures and OrbX.
In FSX, you have 5 seasons textures, and a night one. In many cases, you will not have to draw all the 5 textures, but only 3 or 4, and the night one
You must have to test your scenery, in the 12 months of the year.
OrbX is very close to the real world. Sometimes, with Sbuilder, you will find differences between your seasons and orbX seasons, I use the resampler from FSX SDK to match OrbX seasonal textures.

More news soon,

Xavier

[Doug]

Xavier ... which program allows you to put an NDB at an airport? Just curious ... something simple or something beyond most of us? (excluding you! :-)

D

[Fishbone]

Hi Doug,

I use Airport Design Editor in FS9 format to do the airfield, and to add the NDB.
The last version of ADE allows you to choose FSX or FS9 version, The FSX SDK and FS9 SDK files must be installed before ADE installation.

ADE is a very intersting program, easy to use and a well done documentation.

Xavier

[Doug]

OK, I just downloaded the new version a couple of weeks ago (Spud mentioned it).  So I'll take a look at that one. I think SDK is what I'm missing for the "model converter" program. It doesn't "output" to and mdl file ... that's the step I'm missing. I think it is looking for that. So I'll get that downloaded and installed today and see if I can get the "mdl" file. 

Thank you

D