How Difficult is it to Create Scenery and Add it to FS2004?

[Devildog73]

But hey! Time doesn't mean anything to a hog on its way to Chicago....

Lost me! But that is not difficult these days!

I have seen some sceneries that authors say were created from images from Google Earth and such.

Do they really mean that they looked, saved an image and then created the scenery by modeling the image, OR, is there a program that converts images into bgl files?

 

[nigel richards]

Yep!....and Yep!

Lost me! But that is not difficult these days!

I have seen some sceneries that authors say were created from images from Google Earth and such.

Do they really mean that they looked, saved an image and then created the scenery by modeling the image, OR, is there a program that converts images into bgl files?

They probably mean both Sir. :salute:

It's very, very easy to download photoreal tiles directly from Google earth for fs9 and X and have them automatically installed in one go.

'FSEarthTiles' is the excellent freeware tool you'll need to download. Set it up, choose any area of the globe and how much of it that you wan't and press the button. Resolution ranges from mind boggling to ..____, depending on the material they supply for the particular location. You get a preview so you'll know beforehand.

I've often used textures directly from the snapshot capability within Google earth, then used them, after retouching, to replace fs textures I wasn't happy with. Particularly for jungle, forested, and tropical crop textures. The difference in fs can be stunning.

The same 'snapshot' method can bring life to airport textures - parking areas, grass, even runway texes.

Warning: There is a catch! You can legally download and use as much of this stuff your pc, freetime and patience can take, BUT; You may NOT legally share with others, publically at least.
Failure to heed this is at your own risk...folk do it all the time.

Personally, I'd hate to be googled for breakfast!

 

[Matt Wynn]

another medthod that can be employed is to make a poly in GMAX or 3DS max and texture it using Google Earth images, give the areas you don't want a black alpha and those testure pieces wil be omitted out, but as Nigel says if you want super crisp you end up with a lot of polies to cover an area, same method can be used for HD aprons, say.... concrete, do it right and you can tile photoreal textures onto that area.... one day i'll do a tutorial.... pretty simple to get to grips with, placing is rarely a headache.... creating can be a nightmare, i'm currently working on a representation of an RAF C-type (1934) 45m 'square' Hangar, still gotta add the doors but this has been a thorn in my backside a few times.... still working on the textures as you'll see....

 

[rdaniell]

DangerousDave, Here's a screen shot of a Lima Strip I placed somewhere in Laos. As you can see the "Green Hootch" is right there. I did this with RW12.
Thanks for taking on the project. I'm sure there will be a lot of Outhousers who will benefit from your labor.

Romeo-Delta

 

[Matt Wynn]

ok here's my T2 and Early C-Type side by side in sim for testing....

 

[rdaniell]

ok here's my T2 and Early C-Type side by side in sim for testing....

Looking good there Mike Whiskey. (See what you started )(Calling me Romeo-Delta I mean)

When that potatoe gets baked, I'm ready to put some sour cream and butter on it.

BTW now that I've got a Lima strip in the mountains of Laos, I am looking for a FS9 Pilatus Porter. I have a 60 inch wingspan RC model.

Romeo-Delta

 

[Matt Wynn]

i've just given the library containing those 2 to Nigel for some 'Beta' (pronounced correctly by myself and him and most certainly not as 'beater' or 'bay-tuh') Testing, my plan is over time to create items and add them to the pack... won't take days, nor weeks, it'll be an ongoing thing...

 

[rdaniell]

i've just given the library containing those 2 to Nigel for some 'Beta' (pronounced correctly by myself and him and most certainly not as 'beater' or 'bay-tuh') Testing, my plan is over time to create items and add them to the pack... won't take days, nor weeks, it'll be an ongoing thing...

I'm looking forward to plugging these in somewhere. In the part of the state where I live, there are a lot of airports that were auxilary airfields for the primary pilot training bases. Some haven't changed much. One is over in Douglas, GA, USA. They have a museum featuring some of the original buildings. They also do restoration projects there.

Well, I have downloaded just the right aircraft for my Lima Site. FSD's Porter. Don't she look purty!!!

Romeo-Delta