Question from rookie to experienced airport designers

[falcon409]

That was a good lead Falcon, I got some that will do well, and also picked up some building models while I was at it. Thanks!
Any idea on that long blade grass object?

You might PM Michael (MCDesigns), I believe he has what you're looking for.

 

[Dimus]

You might PM Michael (MCDesigns), I believe he has what you're looking for.

Thanks for that!

 

[Dimus]

Hey Smoothie!

That looks good! What type of underlying pad texture are you using? I see you have GEX EU installed?

I am done with basic AFCAD design and most of the buildings. I will now have to add static AC and other details and work a bit more on the parking places. I also have to smooth the flatten at the north side to avoid some cliffs that form up as the south end is quite lower than the north end. LGTT is actually a sloped runway but I do not wish to get into that at this time. I also wish to do some landclass editing around the airport to make it look better and perhaps add some landmarks that the GA people are using as reference for pattern flying.

However, I do not have much time at hand and it can still take a few days, maybe next week. Next will be Megara, (LGMG) as we often fly there too. Elefsis (LGEL) is also a good choice as I did my military service there and know the place quite well but it would come third, if I ever do it.

 

[Matt Wynn]

the underlying pad is a simple polygon, closes grassy match i could find for it's surface was cool low grassland or something like that, lots of aprons still to add along with service roads, Hardened Shelters, Hangars and Trees... it was quite a nightmare getting those Curved Taxiways my next job is to create the service roads, easilly done in ADE using the Vector Tool, but before any of that.... Aprons... gotta have somewhere to put a whole lot of aircraft should a virtual Archangel Spring up... trying to locate a chart of the airfield so i can see whats what... oh and did anyone else notice the narrow strips sticking out of the 1 end of the runway... thats where the approach indicator lights sit... and they are placed in ADe's runway configuration about right on spot...

 

[Dimus]

I'll check my Jeppesen books to see if I have a chart for Tanagra. I'll let you know.

 

[falcon409]

. . .the underlying pad is a simple polygon, closes grassy match i could find for it's surface was cool low grassland or something like that, . . .

That's a nice match too. Wouldn't it be great if you could blur the edges of a poly. . .

 

[Matt Wynn]

ok thanks Dimus, be good to get things as close as possible... then Rollus' Mirage 2000 in Ελληνική Πολεμική Αεροπορία scheme will have a place to call home...

 

[Matt Wynn]

That's a nice match too. Wouldn't it be great if you could blur the edges of a poly. . .

oh it would indeed, then again it would be nice if i could use a photoreal base... unfortunately resolution i need is not available... so i took a google earth image, set it as the backdrop, calibrated it and then set to work, default FSX runway doesn't have all the over-run areas and as such wasn't to my liking, going to have to redraw the boundary fence too

 

[Dimus]

ok thanks Dimus, be good to get things as close as possible... then Rollus' Mirage 2000 in Ελληνική Πολεμική Αεροπορία scheme will have a place to call home...

Please pm me your email. I happened to have the charts with me at work. Perhaps thay can be of some help to you.

 

[Matt Wynn]

OK PM headed your way... and many thanks friend, next time i'm in Athens i owe you a drink or two :ernae:

 

[Dimus]

A few early wip shots of the Aeroclub area:

My usual starting point. The taxiway lines are actually white, I have to check my texture set. Also the clubhouse building is white too but I haven't yet found an object that can come close to it. I'll keep searching:

Outside the Athens aeroclub hangar. On the back is the Athens gliding club hangar. Used to do that too twenty years ago. I have to scale down this one as it is actually smaller.

Taxiing out from the hangar towards the parking and refuelling areas:

The hangar of the Dekelia aeroclub. These guys have helos too. A Robinson is inside. However, this one needs to be smaller too:

I am still trying to find the right buildings for the military side of the airfield. The default ones just don't look right. I hope I finish this soon as my wife came looking for me at 2:00 am last night.

 

[Matt Wynn]

yeah i told my girl that you were working on Tatoi and got "Yes i know where you mean I live near there remember!", then i told her i was working on Tanagra and got "You're a glutton for punishment Matt, both of you are nuts", nice to know we're appreciated by our girls working today before i have to disappear at 2000GMT due to 'work'.... anyone any ideas how to draw circular hard standings in ADE and get them looking circular and not straight edged in shape...? help would be much appreciated...:salute:

and Dimus, looking great buddy, to place buildings i use Whisplacer, it lets you scale things around.... i would if i had the time today make the buildings in FSDS but i'm on a limited time window today...

 

[Dimus]

In ADE you can draw a helper shape, in this case a circle with the required diameter and use it as a guide for placing the apron points. (right click on where you want to put it and select "add helper shape"). Then create a circular apron by placing the polygon points on top of the circle. The more points the more circular it will show. You can then delete the circle.

I can scale the objects in ADE too, I just can not edit their colours, I need something else for that I guess.

 

[Matt Wynn]

yeah i got a copy of FSDS to build scenery years ago, not looked back since... i'm looking at the HACS at LGTG at the moment, determining dimensions, also trying to figure what type of tower it is... obsession? yes it is just a bit... Greece is my Home... i like my home to look nice...

a bit off topic Dimus, anywhere near Athens that hosts some skydiving? and don't suggest with the 'Δυνάμεις Kαταδρομών' reason i ask is my girl is scared of heights.... so i'm going to take her on a tandem skydive, i know it's nice of me

EDIT: Dimus if you make a helper shape then right click and hit 'make Apron' it makes that helper shape an apron...

 

[Dimus]

I am mostly done with this using default FSX objects and scaling them to fit. As said, I am also adding some landclass polygons in the surrounding area to make it look more appropriate. I already made the olympic village that was built for the 2004 olympics. An urban/grid/dry lanclass worked quite well. Also a characteristic landmark north east of the airfield that we use as reference for turning base leg has been added and looks quite realistic. I have also changed my FSX runway and taxiway textures to lighter shades and now the picture resembles more and more real life. I'm really hooked by this. Add to that the fact that I also started repainting the Carenado C152 to make my beloved SX-AKL, in which I soloed, and you can imagine why my family life is in crisis and my sleeping hours drastically reduced.

Now, with all these done, I can not live with the buildings not being exactly right so I decided to build my own or modify the stock ones. So, what do you guys use to do this? The simplest way would be to be able to repaint the buildings textures as I am more or less happy with the shapes but not the colours. Simple shape building and then texturing would also be nice though.

Thanks again for your support.

 

[MCDesigns]

If you can't live with the default buildings, the next step is to take your camera, head out to the airport and start shooting, LOL Then get FSDS or Gmax and give in to the madness of trying to learn one of them (Gmax is my preference, but I've used both). Being able to create your own buildings opens up a whole new era and empowerment in creating scenery.

 

[Dimus]

I'm very close to doing that Michael. However, I was thinking if it is possible to retexture the default buildings as they are close enough, just the wrong colour.

Btw, I finished the repaint of the 152. I will try it out this evening and if successful I may upload it here.

 

[Dimus]

A few WIP shots. Lots of work to do yet. I made a try to represent the T-41s of the Air force academy but I chose the C177 static model instead of the 172, mainly due to the fact that the 172 had wheel covers. It does not look right though as the 177 is more streamlined. I will repaint the 172 and try to hide the wheel covers somehow by painting.

Grass courtesy of MCDesigns.:ernae:

Now if only I could be able to repaint the Club's hangar. This is a default object which had the correct shape but the wrong colour. Any ideas?

 

[peter12213]

A few WIP shots. Lots of work to do yet. I made a try to represent the T-41s of the Air force academy but I chose the C177 static model instead of the 172, mainly due to the fact that the 172 had wheel covers. It does not look right though as the 177 is more streamlined. I will repaint the 172 and try to hide the wheel covers somehow by painting.

Grass courtesy of MCDesigns.:ernae:

Now if only I could be able to repaint the Club's hangar. This is a default object which had the correct shape but the wrong colour. Any ideas?

Wow this is looking very good!

 

[n4gix]

Wow this is looking very good!

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