Hi all, 

 

I've been a long time user of Microsoft flight sims, but I haven't moved past FSX due to not really getting along with the newer MSFS. 

I recently tried the demo of XP12 and I was blown away. It looks fantastic and for me, the flight model is a world above MSFS. Flying in XP12, if only for 15 minutes, felt like the aircraft have mass, compared to my previous experiences with MSFS where to me, again just an opinion, the flight model feels more arcade like. 

 

I'm all ready to go and download XP12, but I have a couple of questions, that I can't test in the demo. 

 

How well are the Scottish islands modelled? Are all the small airports across the Hebrides and Orkney/Shetland well modelled or do they need add-on scenery to make them usable? 

 As I almost exclusively fly small commercial props from small airports, I'm currently flying the Carenado DO-228 and Virtual col DO-328.

Are there any good payware versions of these specific aircraft available for XP12  or even any in the works? Having looked about I don't see any, and it maybe a deal-breaker if I can't fly my own personal VA aircraft.

I've looked at the freeware options, and while they look good on the outside, the interiors aren't up to payware standard of even FSX. 

 

Any advice is much appreciated. 

XP12 uses "generic scenarios" by default like FSX, so if you want to fly on nicer scenarios you necessarily have to customize the simulator with some addons (exactly as was done with FSX).

If you want to migrate to XP12 you must learn to take advantage of the planes that XP12 (and community) make available to you.
Do not go looking for planes that are not there at the moment (or are there, but you are not satisfied with them).

However, a DO 328 does exist.
I don't know if it meets your expectations though.
You can download it, install it in XP12 demo, and test it a little.
https://forums.x-plane.org/index.php?/files/file/92231-dornier-328-110-xp12/

@Ace_Tytan what is not mentioned, is xplane 12 is pretty much an engine rewrite, so many addons simply will not work, have issues, or not perform well. Laminar had to go down the route of ensuring addons comply with standards so lots of things broke. There is also constant changes to flight models, engine performance etc as things are corrected updated and added. It may not look pretty but at 15,000 ft really dont care.

Ace-Tytan. Ditto re scenery. Look Scotland is not bad in the sim and most of the default airports are fine and pretty accurate. Scenery addons matter of taste I guess. SimHeaven is a very worthwhile addone and is freeware picks up the scenery well for European areas. I would get ORBX's Global Forest (Payware) for XP12 which is very worthwhile for the overall view outside. 

I would expand on mjrheaths comment about not working etc. Do not bother purchasing or installing XP11 models into the sim. They just don't work for a variety of reasons. That said some get upgraded many do not. If it was Carenado forget it they will not be upgraded for XP12. There are a couple of dedicated community members that have done some mod work to some Carenado aeroplanes - mixed results. 

There is both a Do228 and a Do328 available for XP12 both are community hence free. The Do228 is very nicely modelled in looks etc but has no door function and the instrumentation and hence automated functions are hit and miss - basic but not bad. The D0328 is also a freebie and is an excellent model in XP12, all works and high level functionality as per the original Do328. Otherwise there is also several really good Dash 8 packages around for the 100 300 and 400 series respectively again free and very good (nearly study level). All of course do not have the Carenado or other payware texture shine but are more than adequate.  Laminars default King Air is pretty good and there is a first class BE350 available to buy. 

As mjrheath says XP12 is a work in progress but word not allowed good as it stands - lots of better improvements to come no doubt. So get used to the update syndrome for the foreseeable future - sim and addons!

Thanks everyone for your feedback, appreciate it. 

 

Absolutely correct that I need to take advantage of what XP12 offers, and not what it doesn't yet. As an avid modder there is nothing stopping me from making the things I'd like to see! 

 

The advantages of a modern platform, and supported SDK far outweighs the, from my perspective, lack of aircraft choices in my chosen category. There's plenty for me to be doing in the meantime, learning a whole new framework for example. 

 

 

Another addon worth consideration is Orbx's True Earth Great Britain North which will give some good additional general scenery at the expense of some performance. You could start without it and then maybe add when in a sale which may well be the case in Nov and/or Dec?

8 hours ago, Ace_Tytan said:

Thanks everyone for your feedback, appreciate it. 

 

Absolutely correct that I need to take advantage of what XP12 offers, and not what it doesn't yet. As an avid modder there is nothing stopping me from making the things I'd like to see! 

 

The advantages of a modern platform, and supported SDK far outweighs the, from my perspective, lack of aircraft choices in my chosen category. There's plenty for me to be doing in the meantime, learning a whole new framework for example. 

 

 

There is by the wat a freeware kingair done by real pilots available better than a lot of payware.

On 11/5/2024 at 8:36 AM, Ace_Tytan said:

How well are the Scottish islands modelled? Are all the small airports across the Hebrides and Orkney/Shetland well modelled or do they need add-on scenery to make them usable? 

 As I almost exclusively fly small commercial props from small airports, I'm currently flying the Carenado DO-228 and Virtual col DO-328.

Are there any good payware versions of these specific aircraft available for XP12  or even any in the works? Having looked about I don't see any, and it maybe a deal-breaker if I can't fly my own personal VA aircraft.

I've looked at the freeware options, and while they look good on the outside, the interiors aren't up to payware standard of even FSX. 

 

Any advice is much appreciated. 

1. Airports, generally, are pretty good and definitely usable. However, not all, and YMMV.

If you want to be sure of good scenery, then probably best to spend some coin on Orbx True Earth Great Britain North. Which was just re-mastered for XP v12. LOVE it.

The airports aren't necessarily fantastic, but the regional scenery is well worth the spend. 

Make sure to wait for the holiday sales where the True Earth series are up to 40% off.

2. In any flight simulator it's best to cast off any desire for specific aircraft. You are far, Far, FAR better off choosing a Hi Fidelity version of the same class of aircraft rather than putting up with lower fidelity add-ons.

In that class of aircraft, you could go for the AirFoil Labs KA 350 or the FJS Q400.

You won't be disappointed with either.

 

Eta: I forgot about a freeware plane that is a closer match to the Dornier. It's been around quite awhile and has been updated and maintained. I can't personally vouch for it, but it's just a free  download away😁:

https://forums.x-plane.org/index.php?/files/file/88175-let-l-410-turbolet-xp12/

 

 

Edited November 7, 20241 yr by UrgentSiesta

On 11/5/2024 at 7:36 PM, Ace_Tytan said:

Are there any good payware versions of these specific aircraft available for XP12  or even any in the works?

No. The only 228 is horribly out of date and dead in the water. No payware 328 around.

Payware turboprops for XP12 is an underserved market segment in general, with the only recommendable option (at the moment) being the FJS Q400. Maybe TOGA's Mu-2 if you can live with something smaller.

The rest has not been properly updated for XP12. And never give in to the temptation to buy anything Carenado. They've exited the X-Plane market, leaving each and every of their product unsupported and with a very doubtful future.

Hello,

their is an Twin Otter. This is vor XP11 but here is an Mod vor XP12.

RWDesigns-DHC6-v2

and the Mod

Its an Turboprop with STOL characteristics and nearby an DO228.

33 minutes ago, Bjoern said:

eing the FJS Q400

Actually the Q4XP which is the XP12 ver

The Q4XP is unsuitable for the airfields and beach strips of the Highlands, Islands and Orkneys. I believe that the Britten-Norman Islander is the aircraft of choice in real life. And maybe the Twin Otter, at a pinch.

I believe the TBM900 is going to be updated for XP12 'before Christmas' according to the dev on Hotstart's discord. I think this is a turbo prop.

For BN-2 Islanders, there is some choice. TorqueSim's BN-2B and -2T, Nimbus' BN-2B and Thranda's BN-2A. And all cost exactly the same.

Other than that, helicopters may be worth a look.

 

 

23 hours ago, mjrhealth said:

Actually the Q4XP which is the XP12 ver

Yes, that one.

3 hours ago, Bjoern said:

For BN-2 Islanders, there is some choice. TorqueSim's BN-2B and -2T, Nimbus' BN-2B and Thranda's BN-2A. And all cost exactly the same.

Other than that, helicopters may be worth a look.

 

 

Yes, that one.

I have all the various Islanders; Torquesim, Thranda and Nimbus. They are all equally good only the Nimbus has a fault in the AI which has yet to be fixed by them (The AI does not show bank angle on the top half). Sound wise they are all good too. Depends on what you want to float around in, 2A, 2B or 2T .