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help needed: making new airfield & few landmarks

Rola

Rola

Messages
2
Country
poland
Hi folks! :wave: I'm another newbie on this forum, seeking advice.

Let me first introduce myself: I've started a pioneer FS9 project dedicated to vintage aircraft from my country. I simply love "roaring thirties" period - period! :D
Currently in the works are RWD-9 touring aircraft, winner of the international Challenge'34 contest (close to be finished) and RWD-8 basic trainer.

I invite you to visit my website: www.rr.9-1939.pl

I've noticed that early 1930s birds look plain stupid in modern airports with lit concrete runways etc. There is "Golden Wings" addon, but I wanted to create something myself... err.. more like with team effort ;)
So I've planned to make few freeware scenery objects to accompany the vintage aircraft we're making for MSFS2004. The most important part is making a new small airfield (built from scratch, not present in game) and its immediate vicinity.

Now, the problem is that my team has 3D modelers and texture artists - some even with CFS/FS modeling experience - but all of them were making aircraft, not scenery.

Therefore I'd like to invite a scenery modeler / landscaper who would like to join us. We could at least use some advice, as most of us know gMax / 3dsMAX good enough to produce valid low-poly models suitable for scenery, however we lack the secret know-how specific to FS9, i.e. we have little/no idea if the polycounts are acceptable or if the texture is of reasonable size. The documentation provided with game SDK is a bit vague, e.g. there is a tutorial how to make simple house and generic explanation of LOD system, yet I need more concrete info and examples in order to make game-compatible and "FPS-friendly" models.
Please have mercy for a n00b :p

hangarPMlods.jpg

Yes, I made a blooper here: LOD0 should be LOD100, while LOD1 is about LOD50. As you can see I'm more used to making objects for completely different sim.

I'm doing the research & coordination part, which means I provide photographic reference, drawings, schematics, even old aerial photography.
I already have a guy, who will make an airfield scenery manager for me (e.g. "press button to activate: 1934 air show event" etc. - you won't always want to have those crowds of people in your way).
As I said, I already have few junior 3D modelers & texture painters, who're willing to help, but have no experience in FS, but I think they can handle relatively low-poly objects for scenery.

For example - questions that bug us in the beginning:
- what would be suggested polycount for LOD100 skyscrapper (unique landmark) and subsequent lower LODs?
- what would be suggested polycount for LOD100 multistory building (common object) ?
- what would be suggested polycount for LOD100 hangar (common object), variant with closed doors and another with open (ready for triggered animation)
- same as above for unique landmarks of the size of small castle (model already in progress) and large palace
- what would be suggested texture size for these? 256x256?

Any examples in gMax / 3DSMAX format of similar objects? (for reference only)

Somebody with experience in airfield making would be required as well. Pole Mokotowskie (Mokotowskie Field would probably get EPPM designation today) may be small, but I want a real ol' "field", i.e. no concrete-made runways etc. A couple of wooden hangars, windsock and a horse race course in the neighborhood - and we're set. :)

For those wondering: Why to make this airfield at all?
  • important location: European capital
  • historical significance - national: one of the first and most important airfields in Poland, first site for PZL & DWL(RWD) factories, 1st Air Regiment and LOT Airlines, Aeroclub of Warsaw and Air Force Command also were located here
  • historical significance - international: Gordon Bennett Balloon Cup 1934/1935/1936, Touring Aircraft Challenge (FAI) 1934, it was also a waypoint for other international air races/rallies
  • perfect for hosting oldtimers (1920-1940 aircraft)
  • challenge of making a whole new airfield, quite different from the majority of others found in game

Like I said: I have free positions in my team, if you're interested :wave:
 
Last edited:
Hey there

Im sure there are planty of people here that are willing to help but i just wanted to direct you to a nice tutorial over at the AVSIM website in there scenery design forum which i believe is called scenery for beginners. This will give you an idea on which tools are available as there are so many that are available depending on what you are creating.

Dave
 
Thanks for a tip, Dave :wave: - I think I got this one from www.scenery.org, but that was just a zipped copy, while AVSIM website has the most current version, constantly updated.

I will check it out, however I still have hope that somebody experienced might be interested to join... you know: learning everything from scratch, going through layman's mistakes etc. would take a lot of time - and add to it the time of actually working on that airport... by that time they're going to release FS10 :D ;)
 
Rola- Anyone who has made some airfields could help out. I've made some old ones myself. Might not worry about LOD and such. Just keep an eye on the polycount. I've made some nice old hangars with animated doors on approach or on frequency change.

Check out rwy\txi lights (my file and I can't even remember how I called it at this moment.) These lights are not too bright but still visible. They are rwy lights and taxi lights which come in two sets. 1. radio activated, 2. day/night activated. These are nice for a private airfield or an old airfield. It is at Avsim under author Robert Lacy, FS9 scenery design.

BTW- neat little trick.... at a dirt or grass field you don't want taxiways to show up especially if you are using ai. Make your taxiways 2 feet wide or less. ai will still follow them, but they will be invisible.

Don't worry animation doesn't hurt frame rates. Some loibraries with people... nicely done...those hurt if you use too many of them in one area.

Design your field for "normal" scenery setting in FS9. Anyone using normal and above will see everything.

The designing does not have to be with Gmax. Gmax is great but can take a while to learn. Many of us use FSDS 3 and 3.5.1 and do well with it.

If available, anyone one of us can help. But your "airfield dude" must realize that you have the final say in what you want. You listen to his or her suggestions, but you make the final decision. It might be... hey that's great, but too new looking; or- let's move that runway to a hdg of xxx and over to the right just a tad. ... things like that. It's your call. :) Bob
 
Rola said:
Hi folks! :wave: I'm another newbie on this forum, seeking advice.

Let me first introduce myself: I've started a pioneer FS9 project dedicated to vintage aircraft from my country. I simply love "roaring thirties" period - period! :D
Currently in the works are RWD-9 touring aircraft, winner of the international Challenge'34 contest (close to be finished) and RWD-8 basic trainer.

I invite you to visit my website: www.rr.9-1939.pl

I've noticed that early 1930s birds look plain stupid in modern airports with lit concrete runways etc. There is "Golden Wings" addon, but I wanted to create something myself... err.. more like with team effort ;)
So I've planned to make few freeware scenery objects to accompany the vintage aircraft we're making for MSFS2004. The most important part is making a new small airfield (built from scratch, not present in game) and its immediate vicinity.

Now, the problem is that my team has 3D modelers and texture artists - some even with CFS/FS modeling experience - but all of them were making aircraft, not scenery.

Therefore I'd like to invite a scenery modeler / landscaper who would like to join us. We could at least use some advice, as most of us know gMax / 3dsMAX good enough to produce valid low-poly models suitable for scenery, however we lack the secret know-how specific to FS9, i.e. we have little/no idea if the polycounts are acceptable or if the texture is of reasonable size. The documentation provided with game SDK is a bit vague, e.g. there is a tutorial how to make simple house and generic explanation of LOD system, yet I need more concrete info and examples in order to make game-compatible and "FPS-friendly" models.
Please have mercy for a n00b :p

hangarPMlods.jpg

Yes, I made a blooper here: LOD0 should be LOD100, while LOD1 is about LOD50. As you can see I'm more used to making objects for completely different sim.

I'm doing the research & coordination part, which means I provide photographic reference, drawings, schematics, even old aerial photography.
I already have a guy, who will make an airfield scenery manager for me (e.g. "press button to activate: 1934 air show event" etc. - you won't always want to have those crowds of people in your way).
As I said, I already have few junior 3D modelers & texture painters, who're willing to help, but have no experience in FS, but I think they can handle relatively low-poly objects for scenery.

For example - questions that bug us in the beginning:
- what would be suggested polycount for LOD100 skyscrapper (unique landmark) and subsequent lower LODs?
- what would be suggested polycount for LOD100 multistory building (common object) ?
- what would be suggested polycount for LOD100 hangar (common object), variant with closed doors and another with open (ready for triggered animation)
- same as above for unique landmarks of the size of small castle (model already in progress) and large palace
- what would be suggested texture size for these? 256x256?

Any examples in gMax / 3DSMAX format of similar objects? (for reference only)

Somebody with experience in airfield making would be required as well. Pole Mokotowskie (Mokotowskie Field would probably get EPPM designation today) may be small, but I want a real ol' "field", i.e. no concrete-made runways etc. A couple of wooden hangars, windsock and a horse race course in the neighborhood - and we're set. :)

For those wondering: Why to make this airfield at all?
  • important location: European capital
  • historical significance - national: one of the first and most important airfields in Poland, first site for PZL & DWL(RWD) factories, 1st Air Regiment and LOT Airlines, Aeroclub of Warsaw and Air Force Command also were located here
  • historical significance - international: Gordon Bennett Balloon Cup 1934/1935/1936, Touring Aircraft Challenge (FAI) 1934, it was also a waypoint for other international air races/rallies
  • perfect for hosting oldtimers (1920-1940 aircraft)
  • challenge of making a whole new airfield, quite different from the majority of others found in game

Like I said: I have free positions in my team, if you're interested :wave:
Click to expand...
I would to help. I run P3D4. I like doing older sceneries, 30's buildings etc. I am on Teams since Skype is dead. to join here is my email jyarddog@potc.net I am Bob
 
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