Am looking for more roads being represented in FSX, not just major highways. Is there an add-on that does this? I've been looking at FTXG and GEX but not sure if this is what am looking for. (although could for future purchase).  Thanks.

Ultimate Terrain X.

 

FTX is also working on their versions of a similar product, FTX Vector/OpenLC.

 

There's also something called OpenVFR, I don't know much about it though, just google it. With that I think you can buy individual countries for a smaller price rather than paying more for one huge continent.

 

Worth noting that these products contain more than just roads.

Don't get OpenVFR: too many roads and too expensive when you buy more countries. I would wait for FTX Vector which will offer vector data like roads but also waters for the entire world. UTX is also a good option but it doesn't cover the entire world, even if you buy all their regions (which will cost a lot more than FTX Vector will).

If you're interested in residential roads then UTX is your only option since FTX Vector has announced that it will not contain those.

 

However as previously stated, UTX doesn't cover the entire world, so that's a definite factor.

Ftx Vector won't have residential roads. Other than UTX, there's ROADS AND RAILWAYS EUROPE X and Road Vector Japan from ESC Sceneries. Search at Simmarket you can find easily.

 

But beware, too many residential roads killing autogen popping and you get ugly and flat scenery.

Thanks! I took a quick look at some pics of UTX. The roads look a bit cartoonish. I could be wrong though. Still might get it.

UTX has plenty of options as to type of roads, and you can easily adjust them. Its not just roads though, using UTX really adds a lot to FSX

Thanks! I took a quick look at some pics of UTX. The roads look a bit cartoonish. I could be wrong though. Still might get it.

 

None of the roads from either UTX or FTX Vector are going to blend in completely with the scenery.  Different textures, etc. 

 

Besides you want the roads to stand out a bit so you can find them, otherwise they dissolve into the surrounding scenery.

If you have big wallets and want ALL your roads you can get MegaSceneryEarth for the United States and some parts of Europe.   It has every single road since it's all satellite imagery.  ^_^  But at 39.95 a state, it can get expensive.   You also lose your autogen but if you are  a tube flyer like me, you can live without Autogen.

The basic problem you have with residential/city roads is that if you are using landclass, the city textures have roads baked into them so the real, vector roads are overlaid and it can look like a mish-mash.  What UTX at least does with the major roads (also railroads have the same problem) is to place a texture underneath them (UTX calls it encasement) that extends laterally outward from the road.  This makes the road stand out much better when viewed from the air.

 

Another thing about UTX is that if you like to roll your own scenery at all (for example using OSM vector data) having UTX installed you can make use of their textures which makes things a bit easier than just relying on the default road textures.

 

scott s.

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