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Military Ops

MCDesigns

MCDesigns

Charter Member
"I own an island, leased it from the government, spared no expense........."(in the words of John Hammond(Jurassic Park), LOL)

I really enjoy military flying, even if it is a civilian flightsim. I also enjoy designing scenery, especially military ones. One of the main issues with designing scenery is there are too many variables around your scenery that take the fun out of developing, different meshes, different textures, compatibility with other addons, etc and it just gets worse daily. So I found an island and started a fictional scenery where I don't have to worry about compatibility and can focus on design.

(BACK STORY)The island is leased from the country of Yemen and falls under United Nations jurisdiction. A covert segment of the U.N has a special forces base and an all nations training facility on the island with it's primary function focused on dealing with the piracy threat from Somalia.

FEATURES so far - the whole island is done in .50 cm per pixel photoreal with autogen, water masking and night textures. FSGenesis mesh brings out the mountains, but I have asked someone to see if they can do a higher def mesh, so we shall see.

The airfield is all custom ground poly with hires textures, including a runway for smaller jets, cargo aircraft. There is a heli area with eight landing pads. I have a quality static C-130 and Harrier II with the possibility of a Hind or Apache, haven't decided. I am also working on a drone or two with the possibility of having them be AI, but that would mean adding an AFCAD and I suck at those, LOL.

Quite a few custom objects, including several Humvees, watch tower, hangers, cargo, palm trees, camo netting, an APC, an MTVR truck, tents and various people, some animated. With all the detailed objects having LODS.

There are also 2 different landable destroyers around the island, static for now, but want to make them work in AICarriers.

I also have a drivable Bradley APC and a working armed zodiac for water patrols.

Thinking about a civilian area at the other end of the island for non military simmers and a place for R and R , we'll see.

Still lots to do, but wanted to put this out there to see if anyone was interested. I am open to any suggestions, but can't guarantee anything. Here are a few images to get an idea.

u0q4.jpg

9d93.jpg

fj18.jpg

fnr2.jpg
 
Whilst scenery development is certainly a fine art, that is just creativity at its best... Great work :)
 
Very interesting indeed.

If you are into the military side of FSX, I suggest you have a look at VRS Tacpack.
Current public release only works with the VRS Hornet, but this will change in the near future.

I have been given access to the SDK and I am integrating my F-14D and the F-35 to support it.
It is a wonderful implementation, and it is much more realistic than what most people believe.
Other devs are integrating their projects too... only jet fighters at the moment, afaik, but there is no reason why the SDK it cannot be applied (at least partially) to helicopters or other vehicles.
 
...I just realized I forgot saying that I totally envision this scenery to be a multiplayer arena for Tacpack multiplayer matches!
 
Thanks all, appreciate the replies!!


Dino Cattaneo said:
...I just realized I forgot saying that I totally envision this scenery to be a multiplayer arena for Tacpack multiplayer matches!
Click to expand...

Hi Dino, good to know about the TacPack, been interested in it myself. Would LOVE for it to work with helis and other objects. With the location of the Island I can envision this also. I had a few MP flights with a friend and we did just that, few times in the F-35, LOL
 
At the moment I am writing, the F-35 can already fire the cannon and launch/drop sidewinders, slammers and dumb bombs (Mk82,83 & 84). GBU-10; -12 -32, AGM-154 and AGM65 (although no guidance yet...) and they are already working and can damage SimObjects (too bad this works only in the developer's version!!!)

Tacpack is great IMHO - once the "non-Superbug only" version is out, given the quantity and quality of aicrafts available in FSX it will be a big thing (if a little too late).
If anything is, obviously, a little USN oriented... European or Russian weapons are not supported, as of today, but I am sure this will change soon.
 
What I meant is that the Tacpack weapons list can be expanded only by the VRS team, which in turn grants a quite realistic and balanced behavior (much more realistic than what people may think).
But at the moment, only USN weapons are supported - but this is because the Tacpack is originally designed fro the Superbug. So, for example, no proper weapons for a Su-27 - for the moment.
 
Nice scenery. Very crisp and laid out well. Just needs a Reaper/Predator UAV tucked away under a shelter or two.

-Jeff
 
Wonderful stuff Michael, please keep us posted as to progress. It will definitely be a sticky when finished. I would love to see your Africa scenery also. Thanks for what you do.
 
Very nice work! :applause:
Suggestion: how about placing a weapon test range with targets for shot practice with air/ground weapons? :icon31:
 
Looks amazing!:applause: Just one suggestion would be some sort of town/city in "Mogadishu style" on the coast with harbor, a place where some helo flying would fit nicely.
 
TheGrunt said:
Looks amazing!:applause: Just one suggestion would be some sort of town/city in "Mogadishu style" on the coast with harbor, a place where some helo flying would fit nicely.
Click to expand...

Sorry, no cities exist on the island in real life so it would look odd to add any on top of the photoreal, but I want to create some FOBs around areas of conflict in that area and Somalia is right next door.. I picked this island because it has lots of different landscapes for both rotary and fixed wing. There is one area where you can come in low from the water, thru a tropical valley with mountains towering right in front of you, pretty cool.

Mark just sent me the mesh he did and WOW, it is amazing, check it out.

3b96.jpg

rwzy.jpg
 
That looks great! I always thought if I was to do something similar, it would be to create one of those floating airfields the military has been talking about made from the base sections of oil rigs linked together. Then, I could just position them anywhere where the water isn't too deep. Edit: Something I just happened to think of that you could add to the island. A Target/Bombing Range. Obviously placed as far from the airfield on the island that you can get it, but they're going to need to train. You might also consider adding a port for the Navy. You know, in all of your spare time. ;)
 
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