My desktop

[toprob]

...at the moment I use my desktop background to remind me where I'm currently working on NZCH, so I can 'live' with the scenery as it goes together. I also use shots of issues, which I keep on my desktop until they are solved:)
Here's the current desktop, showing a problem I've finally fixed -- this is Prepar3d v3, which shows the FTX AI 777 at the proper gate, but I couldn't get it to show at all in v4. Finally 'solved' it today, I think it was a time issue, I probably ran some sort of time fix in v3, but in v4 everything just appears an hour later.

Still missing the FTX AI 727 in v4, but that's not a biggie.



I've yet to put the SODE dual jetways in, that'll come when I finish the detail on the tarmac. It would be great to see the 777 with both jetways active!

Because I've been 'living' in virtual Christchurch for a while, I have got very homesick lately. I'd love to end up back there, but it is a bit expensive at the moment. The last time I looked for a place to rent, the cheapest hole I could find in a place I could live in (Lyttelton) was still dearer than this unit in Timaru. Timaru suits me at the moment, but I'd hate to retire here.

After the earthquake they said it would take 15 years to get the city back to something nice, but there are some cool things happening now in the central city. The new library opens shortly, which works for me! And finally they've made a start on the Cathedral. Just about everyone I knew in Christchurch has moved away, all my family in particular, if it wasn't for flightsim folks I wouldn't know anybody there!

[toprob]

Just updated my desktop...

[NZ255]

[toprob]

Took some time out over the weekend to look at night lighting at NZCH, so my current desktop image is more of a way to 'live' with some lights in the scenery. I've hosted this on my own site this time, so that it can be the original size -- of course the forum won't display it that way, but you can see if full-size if you wish. Just clicking on the image still doesn't show it full-size, though, so you still need to jump through hoops to see it bigger -- if you don't know how to do this, just ask, and tell me which browser you use.
I know that night shots don't always display well on everyone's screen, hence the full-size image for detail.
This is Prepar3d v4 so all the tarmac/carpark lights here are dynamic -- only the tower is 'painted' night textures. I know not everyone gets dynamic lighting in Prepar3d, but I love the way they 'soften' the lighting as they merge or fall-off. The tower isn't lit dynamically, simply because I'll reserve the dynamic lights for 'up close' in an aircraft. Same with the Gateway bridge, not shown here... Also this is pre-lighting the terminal. I do have the lovely blue lights on the terminal as well, but I'll save them for release...
I'm not a big fan of night lighting in my scenery, simply because I don't have good night vision, so don't fly at night. Still, you gotta have some lights!
Dynamic lights are one of the many reasons why there will be a P3Dv4 version first, followed by FSX/P3Dv3, and then X-plane later on. I'd rather make the 'best' scenery first, and then decide what needs to be taken out for the other sims.
The other issue is that the terminal interiors won't be modeled this time, as it is impossible to get access to most of it to take photos (90% of the frontage is security-controlled). So there won't be lit interiors showing through the terminal front. A bit of a compromise, I know, but that's the way it is.

[toprob]

Another week gone by, but might have to keep at it all weekend, otherwise I'll never make it to the end!

[NZ255]

Seems like it never ends

[cowpatz]

Very impressive Rob.

[deeknow]

this is looking great Rob !!!

[cowpatz]

I wonder how it will go with PBR in P3D4.4?

PBR P3D4.4

[toprob]

PBR will either make or break me:)
The way I work is a bit different from most developers, in that I rely fully on photos for realism. This actually works well in the simulator, as until now we haven't had anything but basic lighting/rendering. Detail from light and shadow comes mainly from the photos I took at the time. I have no clue how PBR will fit into a purely photographic technique. Developers like Flightbeam already build their own artistic textures, so they might be in a better position to take advantage of something like PBR. Look at their Wellington preview shots, everything has lush shading, which is built into the materials. It look beautiful, but it doesn't make me want to build airports -- I love my photos too much.
In my last screenshot, you can see that the step supports are simply a single colour, relying heavily on self-casting shadows for depth and detail. If I had to make PBR textures for the supports, it would make my year-long project into a 2 year project.... Other surfaces like the doors are simple photographs. PBR could add a lot of 'realism', but I think I'd still stick with photographs for most detail.
The trouble is I'm not at all artistic. I don't 'see' objects as a collection of PBR textures, I see a photograph first. My modelling relies on taking photos, cutting them into squares and sticking them on the sides of boxes...
I suspect that we might see a lot of computery scenery for a while with PBR, that 'plastic' look which was part of most computer games for a long time. Once people come to terms with the real power of PBR, things will improve, but I dunno if I'll make it to that point.
So, short answer -- we'll see.

[NZ255]

What's your desktop looking like today?

[toprob]

The last week or two have been frustratingly unproductive. I spent a week on a beta installer, and this week I've finally delivered it. Now I just wait for a suitable time to grab some more photo resources. There is plenty to be going on with in the meantime, but nothing exciting. My mood while developing tends to be 95% based on Store sales, a quick look shows me that I have not had a single airport sale this month... well, a few from SimMarket as usual, thankfully. You'd think that with practically zero income, I'd be working real hard to complete Christchurch, but it just don't work that way:)

I did complete the rotating radar, but it really only looks good when it's moving, so it didn't make it to my desktop. So I've updated my desktop just now, just for you. This was actually a contender for the comp, but it does show the Chch scenery...

[NZ255]

Shame about the lack of sales. Hopefully CH will do well when it’s done esp with flightbeam bringing new customers maybe.

Ah yes the SSR. I watched mine spin for quite a while after I got that animated. What is it 4 or 5 seconds per rotation?

Nice screen!

[toprob]

Not much to show at the moment, this is the 'run up' to the finish line which means lots of repetitive, mind-numbing tidying up, although still a ways to go -- NZCH is quite a complex airport to model, compared to anything else I've attempted.

The previous desktop image stayed there for a long time, but I've replaced it today:

[goingboeing]

Hey rob, not sure if you remember but i got some pics a couple of years ago for you when i was based in rotorua with eagle for your NZRO update, im currently in chch with Mt Cook and would be happy to help with anything, pics,test flying scenery etc and helping with feedback etc if you were wanting regarding your work on NZCH

[NZ255]

Quite incredible!
You keep getting better, that's for sure

[toprob]

Hey rob, not sure if you remember but i got some pics a couple of years ago for you when i was based in rotorua with eagle for your NZRO update, im currently in chch with Mt Cook and would be happy to help with anything, pics,test flying scenery etc and helping with feedback etc if you were wanting regarding your work on NZCH

I completely missed this post, sorry about that GB.

Here's a bit of AI-watching, which made it to my desktop today:

[toprob]

[jpreou]

Nice.
Rob, I think you answered this already but will we see Sugarloaf antenna and the Gondola building in your scenery?

Any idea whether the ORBX AI includes A380s? I see them lumbering over my house in Rolleston all the time; not sure how they stay flying given how slow they are going!

[toprob]

I think my previous answer might have been a big glib, I think I said, 'hey, if it's there in real life, it'll be there in the sim!' but now all I can say is maybe....
If you sign up for the beta, and they aren't there, nag me until they are! Actually, I've always had a tower, I think both VLC and Orbx NZSI supply them, so if they are already there I normally won't bother. I have been planning on doing a quick gondola model, though, just the buildings, it's basically a simple shape extruded around a horse-shoe curve.
Initially I always planned to have a proper photo session over Christchurch, but that never really happened beyond what the aero club requested.

Yes, FTX AI certainly has a A380, in fact if I turned the camera in the previous shot a bit more towards the east, you'd see a flock of them riding the Port Hills thermals. Still, never seen one actually parked at NZCH. Here's one I spotted over Auckland....