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P3D v4 The Kodiak Project

reefsimsoft

reefsimsoft

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5
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us-alaska
Hi everyone!

I just wanted to share my current project with you guys! Being a pilot from Alaska, I have always been disappointed with the lack of attention for the island of Kodiak. So, I have decided to take the task upon myself!

So far, the ground polygon for PADQ has been nearly completed, as well as the majority of the buildings modeled. Water masks and blend masks have also been completed for most airports around the island. In addition, nearly all buildings for Ouzinkie (4K5) have been modeled as well.

Here are a few pictures of my work thus far! :D

75a62f091e.jpg

a7a9d5c57c.jpg

56dced8016.jpg


The project will be completed in the following order (for the most part) -

Volume One:
This volume will include the only two paved airports on the entire island, PADQ and PAKD.
Also included, vector data and 5m mesh for the entire island (Kodiak and Afognak Island).
​
Volume Two:
This volume will include all of the other airports (primarily seaplane bases with a few gravel strips) on both the islands of Kodiak and Afognak.
Airports Included:
ORI, 4K5, KYK, 6R7, AKK, KOY, KMY, 2A3, AK81, WSJ, ALZ, KWP, KKL, KKB, KPR, KPY, 9Z3, and T44.​

Volume Three:
This volume will complete the entire project! Custom landclass/vector landclass (and textures), POI's, and many other features!
​
I'll be updating this thread as I progress with my work on the project. Please let me know if you guys have any questions, comments, or suggestions!! :)
 
AWESOME!

I have also thought it was an area missing attention in FSX/P3D. I even downloaded imagery a long time ago and did plan on doing some kind of scenery, but obviously that never eventuated.

I am really excited by your project, and I am very impressed by the work so far. I will be following this project eagerly.

Cheers,
 
Cool project. Every considered photoreal for the two islands instead of going the landclass route. Would make an instant purchase from me, Landclass scenery is so 2016 :)
 
Cool project. Stick to landclass and its much better efficiency though since photoreal is so 1995.
 
Mikael said:
Cool project. Every considered photoreal for the two islands instead of going the landclass route. Would make an instant purchase from me, Landclass scenery is so 2016 :)
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Unfortunately, that isn't very feasible. However, the custom landclass "tiles" already completed are from various locations around the island. I figure this would be a close second ;)
 
Hereric, say that to the good folks at ipacs with their latest AeroflyFS simulator that only use photoreal or to Orbx developers heading in the photoreal areas direction. What would Orbx Innsbruck be without the photoreal city and surrounding (well still great :) ) but you get my point? a selling point with every new airport is how large the included surrounding photoreal area is so no, not very 1995 at all! The trick is the resolution, to include autogen and preferably summer and winter textures, beats repetetive landclass every day

Mike
 
mikced said:
Hereric, say that to the good folks at ipacs with their latest AeroflyFS simulator that only use photoreal or to Orbx developers heading in the photoreal areas direction. What would Orbx Innsbruck be without the photoreal city and surrounding (well still great :) ) but you get my point? a selling point with every new airport is how large the included surrounding photoreal area is so no, not very 1995 at all! The trick is the resolution, to include autogen and preferably summer and winter textures, beats repetetive landclass every day

Mike
Click to expand...
The way I have been doing it (with very good results thus far), is to create the city and villages with photoreal. All surrounding areas with be filled in with the remaining vector data, autogen, custom landclass textures, etc. After all, Kodiak is far from a very developed island.
 
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mikced said:
Hereric, say that to the good folks at ipacs with their latest AeroflyFS simulator that only use photoreal or to Orbx developers heading in the photoreal areas direction. What would Orbx Innsbruck be without the photoreal city and surrounding (well still great :) ) but you get my point? a selling point with every new airport is how large the included surrounding photoreal area is so no, not very 1995 at all! The trick is the resolution, to include autogen and preferably summer and winter textures, beats repetetive landclass every day.
Click to expand...

Photoreal is much more ineffcient in terms of memory use and seasonal and time-of-day variety than well crafted vector and landclass data. Period, end of discussion, over and out.
 
I totally agree with Heretic -- right up to part where he writes "end of discussion."

Somebody doesn't grasp the meaning of the word 'forum'.... (I suspect he was joking).
 
Ripcord said:
I totally agree with Heretic -- right up to part where he writes "end of discussion."

Somebody doesn't grasp the meaning of the word 'forum'.... (I suspect he was joking).
Click to expand...

I really dislike the "photo wallpaper" trand, but don't want to discuss this any further in someone else's thread. Hence the "EoD" (from my side).
 
Hopefully you are still making progress on this project. I had just thought of it as I was planning the next leg of my trip in the A2A 182. A more realistic rendition of Kodiak Island would be awesome!
 
christopherbritton said:
Hopefully you are still making progress on this project. I had just thought of it as I was planning the next leg of my trip in the A2A 182. A more realistic rendition of Kodiak Island would be awesome!
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Hey, Chris!

No need to worry, my brother and I are still hard at work on this project! We've both been very busy with college, but we definitely have not lost sight!

In addition, now with the advent of Prepar3D v4 being 64-bit, we are finding ourselves able to push to limits of the simulator even more for a much more realistic, both VFR and IFR flying experience.

What's so fascinating and intriguing about this project for me, is the fact that the island caters to both VFR and IFR traffic. The island is notorious for its foul and unpredictable weather, making every flight a challenge, whether in a jet, turboprop, or piston aircraft.

As I had described at the beginning of this thread, the goal of this project is to accurately depict the entire island both of Kodiak and Afognak. As primarily a VFR pilot within the simulator myself, I would really like to create an environment where one can fly a few hundred feet above the ground to get an understanding of what the rugged island is like in real life. This includes seemingly endless points of interest, such as various harbors and fisheries, as well as (if we can figure out how to incorporate it properly) the beautiful wildlife that surrounds the island.

It's a pretty large for my brother and I, and we are very determined to complete it! :)

With that being said, we are struggling a bit to find reference images for an accurate rendition of the airports around the island, primarily at the villages. If anyone happens to stumble across any, posting them would be much appreciated!!
 
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