Never created scenery before, but want to try it!

[corkyo4 2]

Hi all,I realise there are probably a number of beginner threads, but all seem so displaced and offer different information i thought i would create my own.I am very familiar with FSX, however i am totally new to scenery design.Having edited a couple of BGL's a while back, that is as far as my knowledge takes me and i think that was by luck than judgement.For my first project i would like to create an FSX friendly Jersey (EGJJ) scenery, for which there is an FS9 version already, but i want to create a newer edition for all to use.Several questions;What software should i begin by obtaining to allow me to create an airport?Where can i get accurate aerial photos from to use as a back drop for the airport?Are there any sources i can use to obtain a detailed ordnance survey type map?I am almost fluent in AutoCAD, can this be used to design airports?I have tried to download the beginners guide from this forum, but there doesnt appear to be a link, can anyone assist on this?Thanks for your help in advanceTom

[LuisFelizTirado 33]

Hello Tom,Welcome to our community and congratulations for taking the plunge.There are many tools, quite good, for making different aspects of FS X scenery; if you want to change the airport facilities file, then perhaps you could take a look at Jon Masterson's (scruffyduck) Airport Design Editor:http://www.airportdesigneditor.co.uk/There are different places to get aerial images, Google and Microsoft being the best known, and you can use SBuilderX to easily make the ground textures. Get SBuilderX at:http://www.ptsim.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=52&Itemid=56And you might want to try the following tutorial on making custom ground textures:Make photo-real ground textures in Flight Simulator Xhttp://library.avsim.net/esearch.php?CatID=fsxsd&DLID=140539AutoCAD cannot be used to make FS X airports, fortunately, but if you can master that tool, then you will find all of the FS X tools very easy to use.Don't hesitate to ask any questions here; many people will be glad to help.Best regards.Luis

[corkyo4 2]

Hello Tom,Welcome to our community and congratulations for taking the plunge.There are many tools, quite good, for making different aspects of FS X scenery; if you want to change the airport facilities file, then perhaps you could take a look at Jon Masterson's (scruffyduck) Airport Design Editor:http://www.airportdesigneditor.co.uk/There are different places to get aerial images, Google and Microsoft being the best known, and you can use SBuilderX to easily make the ground textures. Get SBuilderX at:http://www.ptsim.com...id=52&Itemid=56And you might want to try the following tutorial on making custom ground textures:Make photo-real ground textures in Flight Simulator Xhttp://library.avsim...xsd&DLID=140539AutoCAD cannot be used to make FS X airports, fortunately, but if you can master that tool, then you will find all of the FS X tools very easy to use.Don't hesitate to ask any questions here; many people will be glad to help.Best regards.Luis

Thanks Luis,Well i have got as far as saving a google earth background as a BGL using SbuilderX and i have a template of EGJJ loading in ADE. Is there a way of combining the two?? Is it possible to import the google earth background in to ADE or do i need other software?Ideally what i would like to be able to do is see the google background in relation to the design in ADE, this will allow me to manipulate the design according to the google earth image.Tom

[Art_P 6]

Is it possible to import the google earth background in to ADE or do i need other software?

You are going to find ADE easier than AutoCAD. I usually capture the Google Earth image as a JPG file using Microsoft Windows Snipping Tool. All you have to do is right click in ADE where you want the image centered, select Add/Image and select that file. The background image can then be moved, rotated and resized from the edit window. Be sure to consult the excellent turorials that are furnished with ADE.

[LuisFelizTirado 33]

Sure, Tom, no problem and very easy to do. SBuilderX saves the background image that was used to make the bgl; look in the Tools\Work folder for a bitmap with an associated txt file. The bitmap will have a name that begins with "Photo" and the txt file (a simple text file) has the coordinates of the corners of the image.So, just copy the bitmap to your ADE folder and add a background in ADE using that image and the coordinates of the txt file. The same image used to make the custom ground will now serve as your background for ADE in the exact same place.Best regards.Luis

[corkyo4 2]

Thanks again guys,I am progressing quite well so far with ADE, however i am looking for some information to explain the different lighting systems used on the runway, i dont know the difference between calvert, odals, malsf etc etc. so that would be useful to know.Also when i draw a fence around the airport it disappears and i cant find it again??One other thing, the threshold markings ADE used are different to the ones at EGJJ, is there a way to change these.Basically ADE uses a 2 large boxes whereas EGJJ has a different arrangement using smaller boxes in an offset pattern.Tom

[corkyo4 2]

Thanks again guys,I am progressing quite well so far with ADE, however i am looking for some information to explain the different lighting systems used on the runway, i dont know the difference between calvert, odals, malsf etc etc. so that would be useful to know.Also when i draw a fence around the airport it disappears and i cant find it again?? - RESOLVEDOne other thing, the threshold markings ADE used are different to the ones at EGJJ, is there a way to change these.Basically ADE uses a 2 large boxes whereas EGJJ has a different arrangement using smaller boxes in an offset pattern.Further questions,As i have a background image in ADE, when i compile the airport, will this image remain??I have read that SBX allows you to blend the edges of the scenery in to the existing FSX scenery, how do i do this?What software can i use to start creating buildings and adding other scenery items to the airport?I have read that RWY12 scenery objects wont work in FSX, is this true? only there is an option to add them in SBXFinally, once i compile my airport and photo scenery, i presume i can simply add them to my fsx scenery folder and this will load them in FSX?Thanks alotTom

[Opa 6]

Thanks again guys,I am progressing quite well so far with ADE, however i am looking for some information to explain the different lighting systems used on the runway, i dont know the difference between calvert, odals, malsf etc etc. so that would be useful to know.Also when i draw a fence around the airport it disappears and i cant find it again?? - RESOLVEDOne other thing, the threshold markings ADE used are different to the ones at EGJJ, is there a way to change these.Basically ADE uses a 2 large boxes whereas EGJJ has a different arrangement using smaller boxes in an offset pattern.Further questions,As i have a background image in ADE, when i compile the airport, will this image remain??I have read that SBX allows you to blend the edges of the scenery in to the existing FSX scenery, how do i do this?What software can i use to start creating buildings and adding other scenery items to the airport?I have read that RWY12 scenery objects wont work in FSX, is this true? only there is an option to add them in SBXFinally, once i compile my airport and photo scenery, i presume i can simply add them to my fsx scenery folder and this will load them in FSX?Thanks alotTom

I can help on two of your questions:Lighting: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Approach_lighting_systemObject creation program: Take a look at this fine tutorial by Tom Gibson regarding the use of the free Sketchup utility:http://www.calclassic.com/sketchup_tutorial.htm This program is much eaise to learn than GMAX.Good luck!

[scruffyduck 4]

One other thing, the threshold markings ADE used are different to the ones at EGJJ, is there a way to change these.

Basically ADE uses a 2 large boxes whereas EGJJ has a different arrangement using smaller boxes in an offset pattern.Do you mean the way ADE depicts the markings? If so then it is representative and not what you will see in FS. Or do you mean the way they display in FS?

As i have a background image in ADE, when i compile the airport, will this image remain??

Images in ADE are used only as background guides in the application. They are not transferred into the Sim

What software can i use to start creating buildings and adding other scenery items to the airport?

GMax is the traditional choice but I think that Google Sketchup is now being widely used and there are converters to get the objects into a format for FS.

I have read that RWY12 scenery objects wont work in FSX, is this true? only there is an option to add them in SBX

Generally they will work. However there is an issue with some textures and these may not show properly. The only way is to try. You can also add these with ADE if you wish.

Finally, once i compile my airport and photo scenery, i presume i can simply add them to my fsx scenery folder and this will load them in FSX?

Provided that the folder is active in FSX.

[corkyo4 2]

Thanks all,I now have some additional questions.Firstly, i have compiled a BGL using ADE and copied this to my active egjj scenery folder for FSX to use. This has loaded successfully in FSX, however i have noticed that there are areas of fsx scenery blocked out by my scenery - let me explain further, when i originally loaded a stock airport there was a boundary fence around the airport, it seems as though the are depicted in FSX for the airport follows the boundary fence. However i have since modified the fence and depicted alot smaller area, but the scenery doesnt follow this.My boundary fence has breaks in it to illustrate a vehicular access, im wondering if a break in the fence is the cause of not reverting to the new boundary shape??I have compiled my photo scenery and copied this in to my fsx folders, but for some reason it has either placed EGJJ in another part of the world, or the land around the airport has been modified some how and doesnt show the airport being on an island any more. More like being stuck in the middle of knowwhere.Could it be that the coordinates are wrong? this is weird because the stock airport was used as a basis for the design and i added my background using coordinates and these also tallied. The second image should show this better, i have drawn on what looks like the extents of the isle of jersey so it seems as though i have some scenery taking over the sea. Id have thought that my airport would only be a tiny area within the EGJJ fsx scenery??Help.Tom