Airport Ground Layout using Gmax

[Guest Claviateur]

I was planning to create a ground layout for the airport using gmax. In gmax. I have a big image for the airport layout but this will make it huge to load in FS as one piece.Is there a way to map this image using slices on the Gmax ground layout surface or any other idea?ThanksMichel

[arno 1]

Do you want to slice the image into parts or do you just want to apply it to different polygons in GMax?

[Guest Claviateur]

This is the question :) I create the layout in gmax as a planner surface now I have the choice between slicing this surface into many faces or create one face... Gmax lags like hell when I apply the image material on the planner surface I created so it is not workable. I believe I have no choice to slice it I guess!Michel

[arno 1]

Hi Michel,When you say layout do you mean that you are placing the photo under your scenery or are you drwaing each apron and taxiway as a polygon in GMax?If the performance of GMax is going down that much I guess you must be using a big image for it :) Slicing is probably the only option then.

[Guest Claviateur]

I did a fast photoshop drawing showing what I am planning to do in Gmax (plz see attachement). A layout with a thickness to simulate the elevation of the airport ground and on top of this 3D structure I want to map the image. But I think you are right, the whole thing could be slices into pieces and the structure divided into faces?If I can simulate sloping runways why not but I think FS and slopes is not a good mix since the aircraft dymamics are not designed for slopes... Not mentioning that taxying on smooth straight surfaces is already a pain ;)Cheers!Michel

[arno 1]

Hi Michel,Ah, now it starts to make sense :). I would indeed cut it into a few pieces. I would try to make the textures as large as possible (1024x1024 for example) and then cut your 3D structure till they match the textures.Do you have a mesh scenery below this to match the altitude or did you place to use the Fs2004 platforms to let you land on this? You could also use these to make a sloped runway btw.

[ShezA 176]

Interesting but how do you create a hard surface to land on?Shez

[arno 1]

That's very simple with the attachtool script of the Fs2004 gamepack, it has an option platform.

[Guest Claviateur]

That's right Arno, I will see if the slopes will make sense in FS as for A/C behavior otherwise it will be a flat platform :)Thanks for the tipsMichel