NZFF

Ok... so onto a pet subject of mine: lighting.

Default FS9 XML allows us to have the following lighting systems installed on an airport:

• Approach Lighting (various different intensities and configurations)
• Approach light strobes
• VASI, T-VASIS, PAPI etc
  
• REILs (dual flashing strobes at runway threshold)
  
• Runway Centreline lights (L,M,H intensity)
• Red centreline lights (in touchdown zone limit at opposite end of runway)
• Runway Edge Lights (L,M,H intensity, including green/red wing bars at runway threshold)
• Green Light end row (row of green lights at runway threshold)
• Precision runway lights (yellow runway edge lights most the way down the touchdown zone)
• Touchdown Zone Lights (flush-mounted in runway pavement)
  
• Taxiway edge lights (blue)
• Taxiway Centreline lights (green)
• Apron edge lighting (blue)

In New Zealand, the following additional lights can also be found:

• RLLS (runway lead-in lighting system)
• CGL (circling guidance lighting)
• Touchdown Zone Wing Bars
• Taxiway hold point lighting

I think if we're modelling New Zealand, the lighting should mimic the airports as best they can. How do people think we should tackle these extra lights? Perhaps someone knows of some good objects already out there that we can use. If not, does someone have the expertise to make lights that only shine at night or under daytime IFR conditions?

What would be really cool would have actual 3D models placed for lighting and then small lightmaps on the ground around them (like X-Plane does).

Not sure where to go with this though. I have lot's of cool modelling ideas, but I fear we're getting ahead of ourselves. Maybe what we need to do is to decide onto an airport which we'd like to improve and take it from there? Ie - not decide as a group, but if a subgroup of designers decides onto a project that would be a first step into some collaboration...

Christian

Christian wrote:

QUOTE (Christian @ Feb 6 2008, 02:04 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>

What would be really cool would have actual 3D models placed for lighting and then small lightmaps on the ground around them (like X-Plane does).

Not sure where to go with this though. I have lot's of cool modelling ideas, but I fear we're getting ahead of ourselves. Maybe what we need to do is to decide onto an airport which we'd like to improve and take it from there? Ie - not decide as a group, but if a subgroup of designers decides onto a project that would be a first step into some collaboration...

Christian

Well the idea behind this 'library' is what has been suggested in other topics really. Perhaps start by building a library of generic lights to cover all the different systems in use around NZ that aren't provided by the default XML airports, then look at customising to suit an indiviual airport later? The list of 'extras' isn't huge, and would at least enable all airports to be modelled to something a little closer to the real thing than we can do at present.