Scenery tutorials

[toprob]

I've again been looking at my online tutorials, which are pretty much obsolete and need to be updated. I have always wanted to just remove them, but the demand has continued so I'm stuck with them...
In the past I've documented various projects as the basis of the tutorials, but there are a few reasons why I don't really want to do this now. Instead, I'd like to try something different.
I'd like to document an actual tutorial, where I get to run through the steps required for someone to develop a real scenery. For this to work, someone -- an individual, or better still a group -- would need to commit to developing a complete scenery using the same techniques that I use to build Real NZ scenery.
As with Real NZ scenery, having access to the chosen airfield would be required. Also required:

• a good quality digital camera;
• imaging software;
• GMAX up and running.

Optional:

• Access to an aircraft for an aerial photoshoot;
• FSX installed;
• a working FSX SDK.

If possible both FS2004 and FSX scenery would be developed in tandem. It may be worthwhile choosing a small airfield to start with.
If anyone is interested then let me know here. The final result would be:

• a full functional freeware airport scenery;
• a range of tutorials covering all the steps required to produce the scenery;
• hopefully a lot of new skills for those involved.

[JonARNZ]

Oh yeah baby, I'm in for the FSX version. The challenge will be the airport, Hood in Masterton would be great but limited access for most, Paraparaumu maybe? But hey, we could do a number of sceneries in tandem for different parts of the country, a bit of competition amongst the regions might be fun eh B)

[creator2003]

sounds like a great idea robin the tutorials ive been reading and learning bits from are abit out dated ,but good all the same ,
id be intrested if im aloud ,i have most of the above apart from a great camera only 3m pixels ,but has done me good so far ,and i think im ready to work with max now as its the only way that things are going to move on from now on
if you want to take on a fool like me id be happy to join in ,at the moment im finshing raglan taupo and hamiltoncity again ,as it needs to be better quality for the up and coming hamz airport,but they are really just side projects
mike

[Christian]

Robin, as I'm currently looking for contributions to Sim Pilot Magazine, I could make this a feature if you're ok with that. I could run it as a 'this is how RealNZ airports are made' series. This way, you'd get rid of the responsibility of looking after it, and also get some free advertising in the magazine.

Volunteers would have to have good writing skills though and at this stage magazine issues are quartely, and each submission has a 2000 word limit, so it would be a long ongoing series.

Have a think about if that's something you want to persue...

Cheers,
Christian

[Codge]

What a wonderful idea and a very generous gift of your time and expertise. Personally I am too busy right now to be given tasks as such but would love to follow the tuts and progress.
I've been assigned as the reporter/jounalist for this years annual air race between the three websites so will be quite busy with that from now untill some time after the finish on Feb 21.
Christian I would like to contribute to your mag. I think a quarterly publication is a great idea too as it gives more time to put together quality articles and less 'filler' bits just to make up the numbers. Obviously I would want to report on the 'Round The World' air race between Flightsim.com, Avsim and Sim Outhouse. I also have some other ideas for other articles too.

[Christian]

Obviously I would want to report on the 'Round The World' air race between Flightsim.com, Avsim and Sim Outhouse.

great idea!

I also have some other ideas for other articles too.

please send me a pm to discuss. I'd be interested to listen to your ideas.

sorry, Robin, didn't want to divert from your topic...

Cheers,
Christian

[toprob]

sorry, Robin, didn't want to divert from your topic...

No worries, this is the new, fluid NZFF...
I'm certainly interested in converting this to a Sim Pilot Mag article. I'll add this to the list of expectations.

Natas -- the size of the camera isn't really the main issue (today I've built textures where the original photo has been shrunk to 5% of the original size, so my 8megapix is a bit of an overkill. However I also have some shots where I've had to use the full resolution.)
The quality is more important, as there is nothing more frustrating than trying to extract a workable image from a shoddy original. This mainly applies to aerial shots -- shooting out of an aircraft is tricky enough without throwing away detail. A good test of quality is to drastically underexpose and then to see if a reasonable image can be extracted without 'noise' destroying it.

Cameras which can shoot RAW have a definite advantage.

However this isn't a deal-breaker.

I'd be interested in project ideas -- I admit I was somewhat intrigued by Jon's suggestions. Both Masterton and Paraparaumu are about the right size for this project.

[Christian]

great, I'll reserve some space then

I always wanted a photoreal Paraparaumu, but Masterton also sounds very, very nice. Any Wellingtonians up for a weekend photo-shoot? The weather in both Paraparaumu and Masterton is so much nicer than in Wellington, you know you want to escape the rain. And how to better spend the following rainy weekends building your own airport

Seriously, though, what a great opportunity getting help from Robin and exposing your work to the rest of the world.

Cheers,
Christian

[creator2003]

well are we going to need teamspeak up and working,, and kind of work it through a online project , then write tutorials after each part of what was done and learnt .?

..im on my way to taupo weekend after next to take photos and then going down to naiper for a wedding and more photos of that airport so there will be lots for the future too..
masterton and Paraparaumu would be good but id only be able to work textures and build some stuff for it as i wouldnt be able to get there myself anytime soon
pm me when ya ready ,
mike

ps would i need gmax or is max8 fine aswell ?

[toprob]

It would be a fairly structured exercise, with written online 'lessons'.
GMAX is a definite requirement, as these are basically GMAX tutorials. Also I would suspect that 99% of those who would use the tutorials won't have spent the $6000 on 3DS Max.

[creator2003]

yeah far enough i get my copy from working with my uncle,but ive still got a copy of gmax that i can install ,no matter which one i use they are more or less the same to me ,textures are far ezy to work out in gmax anyway ,
so it will be writen lesson tutorials /then make /and then show the teacher?
anyway cool as ,ill wait and come back to here to see what is happening with it all ...

[G-HEVN]

I'd certainly be up for it. I know diddly squat about scenery design (may be an advantage), but I'm 13000 miles away (a bit less if you go downwards and have a very long ladder), and I don't think even a very long telephoto lens is going to help with that!

Eventually my work permit will arrive, once certain problems get resolved (what is the job equivalent of vapourware? ), and shortly thereafter I'll be based in Welly. So my preference for airport will naturally be Paraparam.

[Charl]

Robin this is a grand gesture on your part.
I'm itching to do a bit of scenery but dare not.
Having come through 6 months of the GNZLAP I know how these things suck up your time.
(Probably due to having an innately obsessive character)
But this summer there are many RW projects demanding No Further Procrastination!
Having got that off my chest, my "home" airfield is North Shore, and I would of course love to see it done justice.
(And for that matter, all the airfields in the RNZ photoreal of Auckland).
So if anyone needs NZNE photos, I can cruise off down the road for some.
I'll also be a keen spectator, and hope one day to benefit from the tutorials as a modeller.
Good show!

[cooldad]

Hi everyone. Just browsing through some old posts and wondering where this idea has got to so far.

I would love to learn scenery design but really can't spare the time it would take to learn! My one goal though is to put my house in the Welly scenery and maybe the surrounding neighbourhood. I think I have the tools required. Looking forward to Robin's updated tutorials though.

Good luck guys,
Paul