Paraparaumu for FSX

[toprob]

This'll be released on Avsim within a few days -- think of it as a Christmas present from Godzone...
The freeware scenery will include the immediate airport area only, although these screenshots show the updated Wellington photoreal in the distance, which won't be included.
There will be a FS2004 version early next year.

[Alex]

Really nice work there Robin, looks awesome.

Just a quick Q; what is depicted in that last shot?

Alex

[toprob]

QUOTE (Alex @ Dec 13 2007, 11:29 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Just a quick Q; what is depicted in that last shot?

Alex

I think that's the NZ Meteorological Service Paraparaumu Observatory.

[Alex]

QUOTE (toprob @ Dec 13 2007, 11:32 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>

I think that's the NZ Meteorological Service Paraparaumu Observatory.

Okido, thanks.

Alex

[Ian Warren]

Looking WICKED ... Rob

[NZ255]

For FS2004 as well?

EDIT: Oh right, earlier next year, can't wait!

[NZ255]

Hate to be a pain (and don't know how hard it is to change) but runway 11/29 doesn't actually take up the whole width of the apron. Half of it is taxiway. See here (the upper right "Caution" box on the first page)

[AlisterC]

Wow can't believe this is going to be free Looks great!

[Kelburn]

Dang. As soon as I stop being lazy and get round to doing NZPP you come up with one that is (obviously) going to be better.
Oh well. Mine can be a temporary replacement while we all wait for the FS2004 version next year.

[ronindanbo]

really nice Robin, I love Prm Airport and am looking forward to seeing what kind of domestic services end up there. Tell me is it going to be possible to put the roadside banks in as in rl?

By the way let me know if you need any help in the modelling work I would luv to get into some scenery on the side

[Mattnz]

Looks brilliant Robin - looking forward to the FS2004 version

[Kelburn]

Will the AFCAD be needed or are there runway satellite textures below (if so are they included or do those come with RealNZ NZWN - By this I mean the phototextures for the ground within the airport boundaries).
By the way there are no centre lines but just one long centre line

[toprob]

QUOTE (Kelburn @ Dec 14 2007, 09:41 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Will the AFCAD be needed or are there runway satellite textures below (if so are they included or do those come with RealNZ NZWN - By this I mean the phototextures for the ground within the airport boundaries).
By the way there are no centre lines but just one long centre line

The base for Paraparaumu is a high resolution (about 12cm/pixel) aerial image, which defines most of the airport. There are some 'features' with this technique: (for 'features', read limitations....)

One of these is that where possible the facilities are defined by the aerial photo only, rather than an AFCAD-type layer. Runways are an exception -- they are default FSX runways, as there is no official way to define photoreal runways.

One result is that none of the taxiways or parking areas are 'hard' -- they'll kick up dust when you taxi over them. Another is that the runways can't be realistic.

I was very tempted to use old FS2002-style ground polygons to cover the AFCAD elements (which you normally can't make disappear) with photoreal elements, but in this particular scenery I'm trying to keep away from any obsolete techniques. That's not to say that I'll always work this way -- I've been using FS2002 ground polys for NZAA, for example.

P.S. there are three things which contribute to the freeware status of this:
1) It was meant to be included with Real NZ Wellington, but was not completed in time;
2) The aerial image of the airport is used on the condition that it won't be sold;
3) The whole thing is an experiment in full FSX compatibility, which limits it a bit.

[Snowman]

Definately looking forward to this Rob,........... another peice of your beautiful NZ magic !!
Even abandoned the FS2004 version i was building, to wait for yours....................

Lawrie.

[greaneyr]

QUOTE (toprob @ Dec 14 2007, 10:34 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>

I was very tempted to use old FS2002-style ground polygons to cover the AFCAD elements (which you normally can't make disappear) with photoreal elements, but in this particular scenery I'm trying to keep away from any obsolete techniques. That's not to say that I'll always work this way -- I've been using FS2002 ground polys for NZAA, for example.

I assume you're talking about GMAX textured ground polys? Is that way of doing things obsolete now? What are developers using it it's place to do 'solid' custom ground textures? I'd like to be able to extend a little on the generic AFCAD runway textures and was going to go down the GMAX/FS2002 SDK road, but if there's something better I'll use that instead.

Just curious.

[toprob]

QUOTE (greaneyr @ Dec 14 2007, 06:40 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>

I assume you're talking about GMAX textured ground polys? Is that way of doing things obsolete now? What are developers using it it's place to do 'solid' custom ground textures? I'd like to be able to extend a little on the generic AFCAD runway textures and was going to go down the GMAX/FS2002 SDK road, but if there's something better I'll use that instead.

Just curious.

The 'new' way is to use the same system which produces large-scale ground textures -- the same type of textures which are displayed at 4.8m/px in FS2004, but at a much higher resolution. This is good in some ways -- for instance, it is mesh-hugging -- but it doesn't allow any way to place photoreal elements over the top of AFCAD-style elements.
The FS2002-style polys are still useable, although not with the nice blending which worked in FS2004. However I don't think they work in DX10, and the objective here was to create full FSX compatibility.

QUOTE (NZ255 @ Dec 14 2007, 01:13 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Hate to be a pain (and don't know how hard it is to change) but runway 11/29 doesn't actually take up the whole width of the apron. Half of it is taxiway. See here (the upper right "Caution" box on the first page)

Thanks, the AFCAD certainly needs some tidying up -- I always put that off till the last.

[greaneyr]

QUOTE (toprob @ Dec 14 2007, 07:41 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>

The 'new' way is to use the same system which produces large-scale ground textures -- the same type of textures which are displayed at 4.8m/px in FS2004, but at a much higher resolution. This is good in some ways -- for instance, it is mesh-hugging -- but it doesn't allow any way to place photoreal elements over the top of AFCAD-style elements.

So what does that mean as far as simming goes? That an aircraft bumps around like it does on grass, and kicks up dust?

[toprob]

QUOTE (greaneyr @ Dec 14 2007, 07:51 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>

So what does that mean as far as simming goes? That an aircraft bumps around like it does on grass, and kicks up dust?

In the case of Paraparaumu, yes, but normally you'd put down taxiways and aprons over the top of the photo. That's way MS did with the new Acceleration scenery, and it looks ok on huge areas like Edwards AFB, but because it covers up much of the interesting photo at NZPP, I decided not to do that.

[victor_alpha_charlie]

Looks awesome Robin, I know where my Xmas money's going now.. Tauranga/Wellington/Marlborough all look good..

[Kelburn]

just to reassure you I wasn't being critical (I have found that it sounded that way)

Just a heads up that there is one long center line (that looks like a piece of string from the air )

Looks really good.