Adding Arrestor Cable Image to an Airfield

[Tomcat2]

Howdy folks! I'd like to add a simple bmp image onto the runway of an airfield in FS9. The .bmp is a simple arrestor cable layout (the texture is in Rob Barendregt's RBCO2 files). I know the exact lat/long of every point for each corner of the image, I have all the scenery design tools one can ask for, and can do simple 3D work in GMax or 3DSMax if that's what's called for. But I am not sure which tool I should be using and am looking for a simple tutorial for how to carry out such a task for FS9.

I've searched through the turorials at SHOF, and read the basics here in this forum, but I'm still lost in understanding the technique that I might be able to use. Clearly one can do this as Rob Barendregt did place this image at TFFG in his RBCO2 files, using a small .bgl and the texture. I have yet to be able to convert his .bgl to xml using any converter programs, so I don't know what the "inside" of that .bgl looks like.

What might be a simple technique and tool I can use to accomplish this? My first thought was I need to create a simple polygon object, give it the texture, then use one of the scenery tools (SBuilder or AFCAD 2 or FSSC) to place it at the exact lat/lon's and then compile it into a small .bgl. I am just uncertain as to where to begin on this small project.

Any help would be greatly appreciated!

072908: I think I can add a simple textured polygon using SBuilder directly - no need to build it in GMax. Using one of Scruffyduck's tutorials (number 3), and some careful positioning, I think I can lay that textured polygon in the right place on the runways at an altitude of 0.1 ft above the runway elevation and get it to show up. I'll give it a try tomorrow night and see how it turns out!

R/
TC2

[scruffyduck]

If you wnat to place a flat textured polygon then you can do this with SBuilder. What I am not sure is whether this would show up over a regular FS9 runway. There are some tutorials on my site www.scruffyduckscenery.co.uk (http://www.scruffyduckscenery.co.uk) including one on using Sbuilder with textured polys. I recall I used it to place an airport name on the grass at an airport.

[Tomcat2]

Scruffyduck, thanks for the reply. I read all your tutorials - very very helpful.

After a couple of false starts (missing a mwgfxvb.dll which I got via a net inquiry, and missing the SCASM executable in the SBuilder\Tools folder), I was able to properly lay the textured polygons (with the arrestor cable texture) right onto 14L and 32L and am working on 23L now at NAS Oceana. Works fine following the directions in your tutorial #3 (placed it 0.1 m above the runway height and it showed up just fine). Great directions and picures in the tutorials, by the way! Extremely helpful and well-thought out. Using your instructions and SBuilder, I was able to very accurately place the cables for what should be close to exact traps for FCLP.

Both of the above are SBuilder "Gotchas" that you may want to consider including in Tutorial #1.

Thanks for your tutorials and the helpful comment!
R/
TC2

[scruffyduck]

Pleased to be of help and thanks for te 'gotchas'