New Customer :)

[Aharon]

Shalom and greetings!!

Just bought Godzone Dunedin and Nelson airport sceneries!!!

Dunedin airport scenery looks easy for me to install this weekend or this week but Nelson airport scenery looks more tougher for me to install because of its requirement for VC stuff or whatever it is called.

Good thing there is nice tech support forum here

Wish me good luck for installation of two airport sceneries!

Regards,

Aharon

[toprob]

Glad to have you onboard! Just one tip -- if you install Dunedin first, Nelson should be easy, as most of the support tools will already be installed. Dunedin is trickier, as it includes SODE, so please read the manual and make sure you know what to do when the SODE installer runs. Most problems are caused by not activating SODE during installation.
Good luck, I'll keep an eye out for your progress.
-Robin

[Aharon]

Toprob,

Thanks for valuable installation tips. Will install this weekend or this week. Cannot wait to create cool screenshots out of your Dunedin and Nelson airport sceneries!

Regards,

Aharon

[Aharon]

Shalom and greetings Toprob,

Finished successful installation of NZDN scenery!! WHEW!!!! It looked little bit difficult but thank God to my 10 years of airport scenery installation experience, I managed to do lots of lucky guessing to accomplish the installation success!!

You will be amused to hear my experience of installing your NZDN scenery to the point you will laugh. I started the installation and everything looked cool and smooth while watching the progress of installation on my screen. Then something hit my mind and set me in panic mode as I realize my FSX is in hard disk drive D and my laptop has two hard disks' drives C and D making me wonder how can the automatic installation can tell it should go to drive D. I kept praying that everything worked until I see the window asking me to install libraries with check mark yes. I wonder what libraries what libraries was the installation talking about and I realize maybe libraries means VC class vector ground textures so I clicked ok to install and hope everything works!! Then it asked me to install configuration stuff to drive C and I changed to drive D in hope I was correct!! Then it finished all installations including SODE stuff which went to drive C because that is where 12bpilot folder containing SODE is located from previous scenery installations of few airports using SODE.

Then I fired up FSX and selected NZDN to start flight only to see many FSX default buildings with one Godzone NZDN jetway. Another panic mode for me and I had to scramble my brain trying to figure out what wrong things I did. So I went to look at scenery airport only to be surprised that NZDN was not there but NZIT (spelling) and VC class stuff were there. So I went to addon scenery list to add NZDN to the scenery library and move NZDN to top of NZIT (spelling) in hope you are telling me I am correct to place NZDN above NZIT (spelling) and started FSX. Sure enough the NZDN airport scenery is there along with beautiful mountains that were not there in FSX default NZDN scenery!!!

Whew!!!!!!!

Next tomorrow or this week is installation of NZNS scenery!!!

Regards,

Aharon

[Aharon]

And any special advice for installation of NZNS please?

Regards,

Aharon

[toprob]

I'm surprised that the Dunedin installer didn't take care of priority between the two folders (NZDN and NZTI), I'll have to look at that. (Getting it wrong would result in some excluded scenery at Dunedin.) It looks like you have it sorted though.
Nelson should be easy enough, it shouldn't need to install the VLC Libraries, for instance, as they are already there from Dunedin.
Do you use the boxed FSX or FSX se? It shouldn't make a difference, but I'm just keeping an eye on things....

[Aharon]

I'm surprised that the Dunedin installer didn't take care of priority between the two folders (NZDN and NZTI)

Yep me too I thought the automatic installation would automatically add NZDN to scenery library list but it didn't. However no harm done no foul done as I manually added NZDN from scenery add on folder to scenery library and placed it above NZTI. Glad you said I was correct to guess that.

Do you use the boxed FSX or FSX se? It shouldn't make a difference, but I'm just keeping an eye on things....

I am using purchased download version of payware NZDN and NZNS. And I am using FSX Deluxe with SP1 and SP2 set in Windows 10.

I'll have to look at that..

If it is not too much trouble, can you add the word VLC to Libraries in the window of the installation process asking people if they want to install it or not because when I saw Libraries with check mark yes, I had no idea what libraries the installation was talking about and I am afraid your future customers would think same way. If I had seen the word VLC before Libraries, I would have instantly said yes to installation as I knew it was required and must and imperative.

Smiling

Regards,

Aharon

[toprob]

I'll take a look at that.
However I do tend to rely on the manual to explain the install, so that people know what to expect. I know that some people don't like to read manuals, so I've put this on page one:

Before you run the installer...

You really should read this manual, but if you don’t normally read manuals, then please just be aware of these few points:

 There are three third-party installers which are called during the Real NZ Dunedin install process, and these are all required!
 The Vector LandClass libraries need to be installed or updated separately for each different simulator than you use;
 The Vector LandClass Libraries installer will now install the Autogen Configuration Merger tool if required.
 SODE (SimObject Display Engine) needs to be installed or updated just once, and you can activate it in any compatible simulators at once;
 Each has its own installation process, so please follow the prompts and refer to this manual if you are unsure how to proceed.


[Aharon]

Yep I actually read the manuals first before I proceeded with installation of NZDN although you are right some people like me tend to skip reading manuals before installing the airport sceneries. LOL I usually skip reading manuals except to check for minimum system requirements.

Even though I actualy read your manuals carefully before installation as I realized that your sceneries were unique and high quality, I still did NOT realize Libraries meant VCL Libraries. Smiling Took me time to realize what Libraries meant. LOL

Now wish me good luck for installation of NZNS Nelson airport!!!! When I finish that, next would be your NZWN Welllington airport scenery!

Regards,

Aharon

[Aharon]

Shalom Toprob,

Finished the installation of NZNS Nelson and the funny thing is that the installation of NZNS Nelson was much smoother than the installation of NZDN!!

The installation did automatically added TWO NZNS sceneries to scenery library list meaning I did not have to manually add NZNS from addon scenery folder into the scenery library BUT HOWEVER, it did NOT put RealNZNelson and RealNZ Aerial in order in the scenery library as specifically described and required by NZNS mnaual book. The installation moved NZDN to below RealNZ Aerial and NZTI and put RealNZNelson below NZDN.

So what I did was to correct the arrangement of the scenery library by manually moving NZDN back to original location above NZTI but below VCL Libraries. Then I moved RealNZ Nelson past few other airport sceneries upward to just below RealNZ Aerial as required by the manual book.

And everything works well!!! FIRST TIME I have weird real green water next to NZNS!!!!

Can anybody please explain to me weird placement of B,A,F, and E taxi signs in NZDN Duniden scenery?? I doublechecked with youtube videos of NZDN and the taxiway sign placements are correct but what are they for?????

And NOW any special advice for NZWN airport scenery please?

Thanks,

Aharon

[toprob]

If people buy both Nelson and Dunedin together, I normally would recommend that they install Dunedin first -- this is a more recent scenery, so the Nelson installer knows not to worry about updating the libraries and tools etc if they are already installed.
At some stage I will look at your problems with priority, at the moment I'm not sure what is going on there.
Real NZ Wellington is really old now, and I must admit I haven't had it installed for a long time. I think it is quite a simple process, though, compared to the 'modern' scenery.

[Aharon]

At some stage I will look at your problems with priority, at the moment I'm not sure what is going on there.

It is NOT big problem for me as I managed to solve the installation process and succeeded into having 2 perfect sceneries with amazing realistic green waters!! I am just lucky to be able to figure out and correct some minor problems.

I just wanted to keep you informed and abreast of information on how the installations of 2 sceneries went.

Since I have VCL Libraries, does it mean I have realistic looking mountains in North and South islands of New Zealand or what do I need to do to achieve that, please?

Thanks,

Aharon

[toprob]

The VLC Libraries are just a few objects which are shared around airports etc -- vehicles, hangars, clutter, trees and other bits and pieces. They also hold the custom autogen which I use now and then.

To improve the overall NZ scenery, there are not many choices at the moment. My own photoscenery is not available now, as it really needs some work to get it more complete, and my original plan that it support itself during development didn't really work out.

As a 'base' NZ, there's Vector Land Class, but I'm not sure where you'd get that from. There's also Orbx NZ, which is probably the best solution these days. I really think that if Orbx ever do a TrueEarth(?) NZ, we'll have something worth building on for a long time.

[Aharon]

Okay thanks for all kind help, Toprob and happy New Year to you! I am off to make first landings on your two airport sceneries NZDN and NZNS soon this week to be sure everything goes smooth (I finished successful ground testing of two airports and it passed the ground tests with flying colors showing nice touches such as flightboards showing flights inside the airport terminal and waters showing photoreal realistic green color.

Regards,

Aharon

[Aharon]

Made first successful daylight landing on NZDN and everything worked well!! FPS averaged 35 fps in that scenery! I parked at gate 3

Will try night landing on NZDN and then daylight landing on NZNS

Regards,

Aharon

[ZK-LGD]

Bit late to the party, but if you're looking for Timmo's VectorLandClass as a NZ base pack, well, I can help ... have all 16 files zipped into 1 file (total 740Mb) and can post it via DropBox. Just let me know.

[Aharon]

Bit late to the party, but if you're looking for Timmo's VectorLandClass as a NZ base pack, well, I can help ... have all 16 files zipped into 1 file (total 740Mb) and can post it via DropBox. Just let me know.

ZK-LGD,

Thanks for your kind and generous offer for this freeware photoreal NZ ground textures. The problem is (NOT NOT YOU) is me because I am afraid to screw up the installation of your generous offer for the photoreal ground scenery as you can see from my previous posts above I did run in difficulty in installing the VLC, NZDN, NZNS, and NZTI sceneries although I was very very very lucky to figure out the problems and solved them.

Moreover, I do not want to bother Toprob or you with my request for help or technical support in installing photoreal NZ ground textures to get realistic looking mountains of New Zealand as Toprob and you are probably too busy with real lives.

Also, I am afraid too to screw up my successful installation of NZDN, NZNS, and NZTI sceneries.

Regards,

Aharon

[ZK-LGD]

Shabbat Shalom,

Errr ... no, VectorLandClass (VLC) is/are not photoreal ground textures ... VLC calls the default FSX textures, but arranges them with a finer degree of detail than the coarser default arrangement (default is 1.2 square km. if memory serves me correct). VLC acts as the base platform upon which you then add Robin's (toprob) photoreal airports/scenery.

The only way to get photoreal Southern Alps would be to find one of the old 2017 Godzone subscription files, otherwise VLC gives a pretty good representation of the area (I happen to live a stone's toss away from the Torless Ranges so I have some idea of what I'm lookin' at ).

And, no, never too busy to help fellow simmers appreciate the beauty that is NZ.

Shalom

[Aharon]

ZK-LGD,

Thanks for Sabbath greetings First time I got Sabbath greetings from New Zealand!! Wonderiing how many Jewish people are in New Zealand and how many temples there.

Ohhhh you want to send me VLC libararies. I think I already installed VLC libraries too as they were required for payware NZDN, NZNS, and NZTI sceneries. I believe I do have in my new laptop the VLC libraries that came along with those purchased sceneries.

That is unless you and Toprob tell me I am wrong and I do not know what I am talking about........

Regards,

Aharon

[toprob]

Aharon, Vector Land Class was a complete landclass/mesh update for FSX, the libraries are just a set of NZ objects for use in any NZ scenery. VLC was payware, and the libraries were freeware to encourage people to make NZ airports etc. VLC is now freeware, I understand.

It included an updated landclass, and added vector landclass polys to increase the 'resolution' of the landclass. It added a 20 metre elevation mesh, plus an improved set of roads, coastline, rivers, lakes etc. It relied on default textures, although it did 'remap' them a bit to match the NZ colouring and seasons.

By the way, there are just a few Jewish people in NZ, it has been estimated at 10,000, and only the larger cities have temples -- including, apparently, the world's southern-most temple in Dunedin. NZ has a very poor history of accepting non-English speaking people, so it wasn't easy for Eastern Europeans to get in. My father's family were Romanian jews, who came to NZ in 1907, via the UK. By the time they arrived here they had 'anglicised' their name (from Cornescu to Corn), and by the time my father was born, they has all but given up their religion.

Here's some of the screenshots we used to promote VLC: