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Bray-Dunes...and MB tools

Blood_Hawk23

Blood_Hawk23

Charter Member
I've been working on a WWI Airbase list for missions. Well, while search for new locations to add to my scenery. I decided to Plot all of the Aerocrate's Airfields, as well as my own, into google earth.

I started Ploting every base by hand. That Took alot of time and I was nearly finished, when I goofed. I deleted the file containing all of the data. So i had to start from scratch. While tring to add them I noticed that some were not in the same place that i had in CFS2. I then Figured that the coords were in the wrong format for google earth. so i went digging.

I found this site:
http://www.earthpoint.us/Default.aspx

It has a couple of neat tools for converting Coordinates for use in google earth, adding them to Google earth and Making a shareable KMZ file. Here are a few:

•Excel To Google Earth
•Convert Coordinates
•Batch Convert

Not sure how many know about the site so i wanted to pass it along.

I just Did a KMZ File in less than 30mins with every base that i wanted to have plotted. If you make an excel format spreadsheet you can take the CFS2 coordinates (Change them from the Nxx xx.xx Exx xx.xx format to Nxx xx'xx Exx xx'xx note the " ' " replaces the " . "). You can do a batch convert Or do the excel to google earth and add all of them at once. if you know your way around notepad and a spreadsheet you it wont take long.

This would be great for those wishing to make missions as they can plan them out in Google earth. You can seperate the bases by theater or era. Endless possiblities realy. Just another tool that has uses in all of our flight sims.

If you want an example or a step by step, just let me know. Now if only they had good map of the trenches that i could use as an overlay. Oh Well.


Till Later
John
 
Hi Blood_Hawk23,

I would like an article on this for the magazine if you have time to do one. It is interesting.

RJ
 
John,

Thanks for that most interesting post. I've also run into issues when using geo-coordinates and flight sims. Not huge, but when making missions irksome none the less.

Simonu made some nice land class files for the WWI trench system. You have a choice of systems depending on the year of the war you are replicating.

Look for: western_front_landclass_scenery_cfs2

Here is a link to some maps of the trenches in Wikipedia: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Western_Front_(World_War_I)

Here is a shot of Simonu's trenchs in CFS 2.
 
Hey Jagdflieger,

Yup i use simonu's trenches along with a some other scenery. check out my readme for my WWI scenery. It lists all that i'm using.

Thank you very much for that link to that map. somehow i missed that one. I've added it to my KMZ file. It looks nice. I have a few others that i'm going to add. These are Ypres, Vimy, Somme and Verdun battle maps. now that i've figured out how to add them, it will go rather fast.

This is realy turning out to be quite the project. so much for "K.I.S.S.". but i'm enjoying it.

seeing how I seem to have three different things going on here, I'm going to cover each seperately.

I'll start with the coords and why I started doing what i'm doing. then go on from there.

RJ check you PMs. Let me know what you need.

I'll get screenshot If anyone wants them.

OH! one last thing i thought about doing. adding the airbase.dat and a overhead screenshot of each base to the KMZ.
 
Robert,

We're definitely short of WW I library objects. I've been pretty happy with the Aerocrate offerings of a few years ago, but more artillery would be very nice.

I often make my own airfields for WW I by just placing tents and other structures to the lay of the land (landclass textures), much as the temporary airfields were made during WW I.
 
Here is what can be done with the KMZ files in a short period of time.
View attachment 77740

This is still a work in progress. I have alot more to add. All points are where they are in relation to Mission Builder. Please note that these locations are not 100% historicaly accurate. Though they are close. Although in some cases they are mearly a best guess.

I agree. We need more objects.
 
I have goofed on my Les Moeres Location it seems. So i've made a new airfield and placed it in the correct-ish location.

if you look at my placement in Google earth, you'll see that i'm in France and not Belgium. My new field is called De Moeren and is a little farther east in Moeren Belgium. You'll notice that my original Les Moeres field is in the same location as a Current Field called Les Moeres.

I've been doing alot with my Belgian campaigns as of late. I've add another field, Koksijde (Coxyde) in Belgium. My plan is to add Hondschoote, Bray-Dunes, Verune and maybe one other. Those will be used for my WWI Belgian Front Campaign.

All of this is the reason i started using Google earth in the first place. even for airfields from WWII and Korea, the exact locations can be a trick to find. First off the Names that were used by US air and ground units tend to be different that what was used by the locals. I learned this when i wanted to track down the bases for the No77 sqd RAAF in korea. Trying to match a few with The FF scenery had me scratching my head quite alot. Some day I'll have to get back to that campaign.

Well I'll get back to work. I'll have more info on making a KMZ file for google earth in a bit.

Till Later,
John
 
Bray-Dunes

Here is a one of my new WWI airfields. Its going to be used with my WWI Belgian Front Campaign. Its not 100% historicaly accurate, but as you can see from the pics, she is close.

Here are 2 pics i started with
View attachment 78591View attachment 78592

From these i found the location in google earth and did a few overlays.
View attachment 78593View attachment 78594View attachment 78595

From the info i gathered with google earth and mission builder i started the fun part.View attachment 78596View attachment 78597

And here is the end result.
 
The rest of the story

Once everything was added i started with the GSL.
View attachment 78600View attachment 78601

Here is the top view in CFS2 as compaired to the google earth overlay.
View attachment 78603View attachment 78602

not too bad. sadly i tried to do more but it just didn't look right. also the item selection is a little limited. Here are some screen shots of me flying about in my Belgium Nieuport 23.
View attachment 78604View attachment 78605View attachment 78606View attachment 78607

I'm working on a few others. I have Koksijde(Coxyde) completed. I just have to fix the GSL. I also remade Les Moeres, which will be called De Moeren. and added it to its proper place in Belgium. More to come i hope.

Till Later
John
 
Lookin' good! It's hard to find good WWI airfield infrastructure, but the tents and vehicles from the old Aerocrate site sure help.
 
Hi Blood_Hawk23,

Will you be doing seasonal ground textures i.e. hard winter?

In the magazine I produce, I have added to Gary20s British airfields seasonal textures, that are included in the download.

Robert John
 
Reply...

Blood_Hawk23,

This is very impressive! I can't say we've had an enthusiast for World War I in a while...but we have plenty of aircraft, and I also have a ten-pack of German missions that date back to World War I if you want something to fool around with! :salute:
 
didn't realy want them merged, but i'll run with it.

ty for the files. i'll look at them in a few.

RJ, i'm not sure i'm going to go that far. i'm going to cover the late spring to early fall of 1917. basicly april to october-ish. it would be an idea.

CFS2 wont change the gound textures with the seasons will it. maybe i'll make a few or try to repurpose some. great more to do. LOL :icon_lol::icon_lol::icon_lol:
 
Reply...

Blood_Hawk23,

I try to keep like-themed threads together, that way it saves a little space and is easier for people to find. I'll rename the thread somewhat so people know where to look.
 
LOL
are you bored Rami

np. after looking at the google earth bit it makes sense. that is basicly why i did the batch convert into google earth. i've added the bray-dunes portion to my original KMZ. i do more as i'm able.

the only problem is i started the KMZ portion for Bray-Dunes after i made the airfield. once i saw the layout, I had to change/remake it. that will teach me.
 
Hey Rami,
Where are the other aircraft for those missions.
CA Airco DH.4
CA RAF RE.8
CA Junkers D1
CA Sopwith Camel
CA Pfalz D.IIIa
CA RAF BE.2c
CA Zeppelin Staaken R6 AI
CA Spad VII
CA Albatros DVa
CA Sopwith Triplane
CA Halberstadt CL.II
CA Fokker D VIII

Are these a mix of SG's and Aerocrate's aircraft?
if so, where can i get the Junkers D1
 
More Aerodromes in Belgium

I've just finished Houtem.

I have Proven and Veurne-Furne left to do in Belgium. I'm also going to add some German aerodromes. These are Halluin, Ghestelles, Rumbeke, and Ichtegem-Engel (Vijver). Then all I'll have left is Hondschoote and my WWI Belgian Front scenery will be complete. so thats 7 aerodromes left.

If your wanted to know what Jastas were in the area, Well here is a quick little list. Jasta 2, 3, 8, 17, 18, 27 and 35. just to name a few. There were alot more but those seem to be the ones around the most during 1917.

So if your looking for some painting ideas, well there you go. Jasta 17 had a couple nice Albatros DIIIs and DVs.

I'll post some screen shots real soon.

Till Later
John
 
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