NZ Scenery Alternatives

[BendyFlyer]

FWIW I am a long time ORBX user for OZ but due to internet data restrictions where I am (We are restricted to a wireless modem or portable dongle) have been unable to consider the ORBX NZ stuff yet.

So, IN the meantime I did a complete rebuild of my FSX scenery library following some good advice in some other forums which basically was to put outside FSX all your scenery except the FSX default. I found that fixed a lot of issues I had with scenery installations, conflicts etc and that FSX works much better with this sort of arrangement, including the correct layering as per advice contained in the FSX SDK. I then came across the ASTER GEM 30 M MESH at SimAviation.com, which is basically available so far for the entire world barring a few notable exceptions and you can download it in chunks for most areas. NZ is included as a separate download as is the Pacific etc. The ASTER MESH is a significant improvement on the stock FSX mesh and I am not sure you can get better for scenery unless you go to a very specialised product for your desired operational area. I then installed to enhancements by a chap called LeClerq which changes the interzone bgls in FSX for the transistion between bare land and mountains and the rocks in mountains, those enhancement also made a significant difference to the Scenery in FSX, both operate at the 50cm threshold in FSX (These came from FlightSim.com) . So then I added in lots of the fantastic freeware for NZ especially the Godzone and other freely available stuff. I am very impressed with the outcome and it all works beautifully using the ORBX scenery default FSX setting guidelines, frame rates are good without stutters on a bog standard HP Pavilion with 4G RAM and 2.8 Ghz CPU. Runs Captain Sim stuff very well.

Now I am not sure whether to even bother going the ORBX route. Anyhow for those interested the above is a very good alternative route to really picking up the scenery graphics in FSX. Oh, yeah did take a lot of time, but worth it.

[Yob]

Ian's stuff is pretty good have not used it yet but will be getting it soon, in some of the screens it looks a little bit lower res but has better accuracy.

[Ian Warren]

One thing i also look at is getting away from very outta date looking library file that make places look like Noddyville .. so end lotta Tim's 'Timmo' really go hand to hand .. or FS-Creations is a real gap filler ..