Hi All,With a design-friend, we are releasing a freeware addon aircraft named Thunderbird-2.For those of you not familiar with this old TV series (and movie) about "International Rescue": It's a large, VTOL spaceship that can also be launched from an angled platform.I.o.w.:The aircraft taxies onto the platform and stops, the platform tilts up on one side to about 20 degrees (like the blastscreen of an aircraft carrier) with the aircraft on it, and the aircraft can now be be launched.Is it even possible to create such a scenery object in FS9 ?Or in FSX ?Thanks for any insight ...Rob BarendregtPS: The Launch part itself (FDE) isn't the problem; that's already working (from a hillslope, near the top of a hill, in the scenery)

Hi Rob,How's everything? Sounds like a very cool project, looking forward to it. Thunderbirds are Go!I am not so sure about FS9, but you should be able to do a tilted hardened platform with the gMax FS X game pack:It has worked successfully for me, although my "aircraft" (the Rowberry Airborne C4 Hang Glider) often seems to stub its "toes".Best regards.Luis

Hi Rob,How's everything? Sounds like a very cool project, looking forward to it. Thunderbirds are Go!I am not so sure about FS9, but you should be able to do a tilted hardened platform with the gMax FS X game pack:It has worked successfully for me, although my "aircraft" (the Rowberry Airborne C4 Hang Glider) often seems to stub its "toes".Best regards.Luis

Hi Luis,Thanks for the info.But would it be possible to make the platform moveable (=tilting, like a blast screen) as well in FSX ??By the way, no need to explain how in detail, since I don't have the first clue about scenery design anymore, or what the FSX gamepack is :-)At this stage, I just want to have a feeling if it would be possible or not.Best regards, Rob

Hi Rob,Sorry, I was going to think about this, and then life sort of sidetracked me, didn't mean to keep you hanging or anything.I don't see why you should not be able to animate the launch platform, or the sliding pool cover, or the tilting wall panel that leads to the slides, or anything else for that matter. In gMax, or 3DS Max, animation is pretty simple, particularly for easy things like a tilting platform. Then, I suppose you would key the animation to an FS variable of your choice so as to be able to activate the animation in game.In short, it should be possible, and is certainly well worth attempting.Best regards.Luis

Hi Rob,Sorry, I was going to think about this, and then life sort of sidetracked me, didn't mean to keep you hanging or anything.I don't see why you should not be able to animate the launch platform, or the sliding pool cover, or the tilting wall panel that leads to the slides, or anything else for that matter. In gMax, or 3DS Max, animation is pretty simple, particularly for easy things like a tilting platform. Then, I suppose you would key the animation to an FS variable of your choice so as to be able to activate the animation in game.In short, it should be possible, and is certainly well worth attempting.Best regards.Luis

Hi Luis,Thanks.Now, since you obviously know you way around the island :( , and both Libardo Guzman (the model designer) and I don't have the first clue about scenery design: would you be interrested/willing in helping us out by implementing any of the features you mentioned (especially the launch platform) ??No need to answer it now (although a Yes would be very much appreciated :( ), untill you've seen what we come up with. We'll most probably release this Thunderbird-2 within two weeks (FS9 first, then FSX), so you can judge yourself if it's worth your effort.Best regards,Rob Barendregt