NZTI for MSFS2024

[toprob]

After a loooooong time, I have a 2024 beta for NZTI coming up. If you want to test this for me, let me know via PM, or email robin@windowlight.co.nz.
A recent email made me realise that this is just about ready for release, so it may as well be out there.
BruceR here at NZFF sent me some photos of what's changed, and I've implemented most of it. There's even an easter egg for real flight simmers, which I wanted to implement in 2020, but didn't get around to until now, with help from AI 3D model creation tools. I've used the AI 3D tools a bit here, just for the hell of it.
Just a bit of optimising to go, and I would like to get the flag reacting to the wind, but this eludes me at the moment.

[toprob]

I've been playing around with AI generation of 3D models again. This is fun, but a bit expensive as an ongoing subscription, so I won't make a habit of it.
As I said, a local simmer sent through some photos of recent additions, and one was this hangar, and through the open door I could see a couple of old vehicles, so I typed a simple prompt -- "1951 green jag" for one -- and got some workable models. These needed to be highly optimised, with the mesh reduced, as the default results aim for 500,000 vertices, far too much for the sim. Luckily there's one renderer which aims for low-poly game-ready models, so these are those, but with a lot of 'decimate' used in Blender to reduce the number of vertices in the result.
I didn't place them inside the hangar, as it's a bit much work, but they can just hang out in front.
There's a few other AI models here and there in the Taieri scenery, but it won't take the world by storm.



No interest in testing so far, so I may need to figure out where to go from here.

[deeknow]

Dang those brits and their curvy cars !!!

Congrats on the NZTI progress Rob, can't help w the Beta testing but I'm sure it will go well and be well appreciated on release

[Charl]

No interest in testing so far, so I may need to figure out where to go from here.

MSFS 2020?

[toprob]

This is a 2024 update of the previous 2020 Taieri on flightsim.to

[Charl]

There's even an easter egg for real flight simmers, which I wanted to implement in 2020

Sorry - misunderstood your intention maybe

[Naki]

Ill be keen to test - I've dropped you a PM

[mavman]

Please keep trying for Marketplace access, would love to be able to have a realistic NZTI!

[toprob]

Oops, I did try to reply here the other night, but the forum was misbehaving. I have plenty of testers now, thanks to all.

Mav -- I'm retired now, and have nothing to sell, so the Marketplace is no longer an option. I think it's been 6 years since I applied, it still riles me to think about it. I know there must be a huge number of good developers out there who never got what was promised with the marketplace. And a few who seem to flood the MP with junk and phony reviews, according to some community forums. It does seem ironic that I can't use my own airports on my new Xbox. I don't know if that will ever be opened up -- like a freeware Marketplace -- but I doubt it in my lifetime.

Still working on the new fuel stations, as soon as they are ready I'll upload a beta. Browsing the latest Google photogrammetry last night, and noticed that the big tanks I'd spend time optimising the other day are now gone. And plenty of new buildings in the business centre, which I just won't bother with. Progress, eh, who needs it.

[Adamski]

-- I'm retired now, and have nothing to sell, so the Marketplace is no longer an option.

Marketplace is an unmitigated disaster. A total mess - and does the sim no favours at all.

If you still want at least *some* revenue from NZTI, I'd suggest flightsim.to - where you can either do payware or donation (Paypal coffees).

[toprob]

The idea is to not make any money -- this week I received a payment notification from SimMarket for the sale of my scenery, and I had to tell them I don't want this -- I don't know how these sales happen, there's nothing of mine in their store as far as I can see. Hopefully they'll refund the customer.
I did make donations available on Flightsim.to for NZTI 2020, with no result at all.

Some more shots, I paid for some more credits on the 3D AI tool, but I'll need to remember to cancel it before the month is out -- over $50 a month.

First up is a model of my Hyundai Accent, but in blue, and I clicked the 'use pearl effect' button to see what it does -- now that's a nice paint job:)



The new aeroclub fuel station, not finished yet


Taieri is home ground for the Otago Jaguar Owners club, hence the jags here. I added some class in the form of an old Morrie. This was AI from a single photo of the car parked on the side of the road in Taieri. Before I used the photo, I asked the AI to make a model using the prompt 'blue morris minor', but it gave me a weird cartoon character.

[toprob]

Adam, who's testing the scenery, asked about some people, so here's a preview.... well, probably won't happen, but it's fun to play with.
This is an AI 3D model from an AI image. The strategically placed toolbox covers the fact that he doesn't have feet, as the pic didn't include them.

[Adamski]

The strategically placed toolbox covers the fact that he doesn't have feet, as the pic didn't include them.

Oh dear ... what monster(s) have I unleashed!!!

Reminds me of a story a very talented illustrator friend of mine once told me ... "if you look at many old master portraits, they often have hands or feet obscured by fruit bowls, drapery, you name it". He said hands were often the hardest ... with fingers looking like chipolatas He made sure all his characters were standing in long grass!

Here's what Monty Python made of it

[toprob]

I've been looking for that image for a looooong time, I remember being hugely amused by it back in the Mad days. I think I've even used the 'dammit dammit dammit' meme at some point here.

[Adamski]

I've been looking for that image for a looooong time ...

Pleased to hear this thread unearthed a "gem". I still have the book (somewhere!!). "The Brand New Monty Python Papperbok" (1973)
https://www.montypython.com/book_The%20Brand%20New%20Monty%20Python%20Papperbok/21

[deeknow]

Too funny Adam

[Adamski]

Taieri is home ground for the Otago Jaguar Owners club, hence the jags here. I added some class in the form of an old Morrie. This was AI from a single photo of the car parked on the side of the road in Taieri. Before I used the photo, I asked the AI to make a model using the prompt 'blue morris minor', but it gave me a weird cartoon character.

I can't find these vehicles - though I think I've found the container they're parked near. Did they not make it to the beta?

[toprob]

They should be right in the middle of this screenshot. If not, take a screenshot roughly like this, and let me see what else might be missing. Maybe get up close to the container as well just in case they want to appear.

EDIT: I'll be out of touch for 24 hours.

[Adamski]

Aaah - yes - spotted! A classic pantomime "he's behind you"! I hadn't looked at that side of the airfield





Thanks!