NZFF

Hi all,

I am contemplating making my first payware purchase ever (probably will be the only one as well).

After getting fed up of not being able to find a decent freeware addon that would give me a decent set of roads/rivers/lakes (Without little roads running all over the water) that would complement the textures and freeware mesh that I am very happy with, I've finally started contemplating buying a payware product to do so.

I've had a look around, and while the Ultimate Terrain USA product also looks like it would be nice, I would rather be flying around New Zealand in all it's glory. I spent 3 months in NZ last summer, and apart from tearing my knee apart in a nasty skiing accident, I loved the place and especially it's scenery.

I found the RBE mesh and topography products, and tried out the freeware landclass and 75m mesh. The landclass really recreates the kind of colors that I remember from my winter trip, and the 75m mesh is much higher quality than the SRTM mesh I was using. However, the lack of decent roads and rivers, and problems with lakes and shorelines mean that this still isn't satisfactory.

Anyway, I've run on more than I should

My question is this, what are the major differences between the 40 and 20m mesh. Will I really notice a big difference? Is it a big enough difference to justify 30 euros and having to get it on CD rather than a direct download from SimMarket?

Also, I've seen that the mesh will be compatible with FSX, and there will probably be a topo upgrade with a coupon for existing users of the current Topo scenery, does this still apply?

Thanks a lot,
Chris

I was in the exact situation myself 2mths ago,and I bought the 20m&topo combo all on one disc from Geographx in Wellington NZ.

If you are not in NZ then I suppose download is the answer. I am in no way connected with RBE. I thoroughly recommend this product.You will not be dissapointed.Although it may seem pricey for a FS addon remember you get what you pay for. I and everyone else who has it rates it as their best addon and nobody has complained about the price either.

I don't know about the 40m mesh,I decided on the 20m one because it obviously is going to be better than the 40m.There is no hit to the frame rates either which was a pleasant surprise.

Hi Chris

As an international customer you can get the combo (20m + topo) for NZD110 from www.geographx.co.nz (paying by paypal).

Personally, I feel the 20m gives you better immersion, it gives you much more of the feeling of actually being there than the 40m.

Also, I've seen that the mesh will be compatible with FSX, and there will probably be a topo upgrade with a coupon for existing users of the current Topo scenery, does this still apply?

Of course! I keep the promises I make

I know it's a considerable investment, but I can promise you that once you have the scenery installed you will thoroughly enjoy it for months and months to come...

If you have any more questions just ask away...

Cheers,
Christian

Thanks Christian,

I've got a couple more questions for you

First, I read on this board that the new airfields in the NZ Topo scenery would follow the terrain. Does this mean that they don't use a flatten switch/area and the runway is actually sloping/curving where appropriate?

Second, I've heard about a few little problems with airports with telegraph phones in runways and runways heading out into the ocean. Is this a fairly limited occurence caused by the faulty default airport locations, or something that happens more often?

Finally, where roads cross the rivers, will there be bridges (if appropriate) and is there any issue with roads appearing on the water?

Thanks a lot, this looks like it will be an incredible upgrade. I've just got to see if I can justify payware to myself after beeing a freeware nut for so long

Thanks again,
Chris

Hi Chris

First, I read on this board that the new airfields in the NZ Topo scenery would follow the terrain. Does this mean that they don't use a flatten switch/area and the runway is actually sloping/curving where appropriate?

Yes indeed, they do not use the flatten switches and follow the terrain. However, they are only done as grass polygons and not selectable from the menu - adding all of those as proper airports would be one insane project that would probably take a decade to do. Having said that, there is a location map on my site to download and personnally I love all these little strips.

Second, I've heard about a few little problems with airports with telegraph phones in runways and runways heading out into the ocean. Is this a fairly limited occurence caused by the faulty default airport locations, or something that happens more often?

To my knowldege this affects only one small airport (and another small one has a pole on the border of the runway, but the runway is usable, you just have to aim well)

Finally, where roads cross the rivers, will there be bridges (if appropriate) and is there any issue with roads appearing on the water?

Yes! The scenery includes thousands of bridges. Roads aren't drawn over water, but I believe FS2004 doesn't allow for this anyway. But you do get the bridges in my scenery (and btw the tunnels as well, there are no roads drawn over mountains when there should be a tunnel).

Thanks a lot, this looks like it will be an incredible upgrade. I've just got to see if I can justify payware to myself after beeing a freeware nut for so long

Well, I guess it's like you get what you pay for (not trying to put down freeware scenery - there is some excellent stuff out there). I need to pay hefty commissions to my data suppliers. The best things in life are never free, unfortunately. There is no way this scenery could be made freeware (unless I'd be happy to make a loss of thousands of dollars).

Cheers,
Christian

Yes, I can definitely appreciate the time and effort and money put into a project like this. I'm working to become a developer myself (not connected with FS) and I know how much of everything you need to put in.

I think you've got me sold, now I've just got to dig up the 70USD

Everything in your scenery looks like it is top-notch quality and I'm really looking forward to flying around NZ!

Thanks for all the effort you've put into it,
Chris

I'm really looking forward to flying around NZ!

And so you should. The scenery is simply a stunner!

Christian

The scenery is simply a stunner!

RGR that, I have recently installed the 20m mesh and topo combo and absoultly love it!!!

I don't understand what the topo is
I know what the mesh is (i have 75m) and land class but what does the topo do?

The mesh is the shape of the land (hills, valleys etc)
The landclass defines what type of texture is on the land (farmland, bush, residential areas etc)
The topo defines the shape of the coastline, lakes, water ways, roads and adds other objects.