FSX: Recommended Texture upgrade for UK

[DavidRogers]

Hi,

I am currently touring all of the "VFR Airfields" from UK2000. Whilst the airfields are great, I am currently just using default FSX textures and terrain for the UK.

Can anyone recommend a texture / terrain upgrade for the UK ?

Should I get "Ground Environment X : Europe", or is there something better that will give me more believeable textures for the UK in FSX, when flying between these airfields?

PS.... I don't want to go down the photoreal route, ie... Horizon GenX or Just flight Real Scenery, as I use (and like) autogen.

Thank you,

David

[MatOakley]

David,

Im doing much the same thing as you, and am very happy with the results from GEX Europe. I also have Ultimate Terrain X for Europe BTW

Mat

[DavidRogers]

Hi Mat,

I actually have UTX Europe, but it's currently uninstalled as I haven't used it for years ...... (didn't reinstall after my last rebuild, as all my flying at that time was in the Pacific North West (FTX)..... however, I'm currently enjoying flying 'at home', so perhaps I need to re-install it. I remember UTX Europe giving me better coastlines and inland lake borders.

If I go ahead and buy GEX, are there any complexities, or special orders that I need to install these two products (GEX Europe, and UTX Europe) ?

Thanks,

[jcmmg]

Hi David

GEX+UTX are an excellent combination (they are designed to work together), you can use UK2000 airports with it as well (even the Horizon edition), and they fit like a glove. Also I have Scottish scenery for additional scenery.

I used to fly with Horizon scenery but I enjoy more the 3D buildings and UTX+GEX is better in terms of coverage per £...

Clear skies,

Jcmmg

[MatOakley]

Hi Mat,

I actually have UTX Europe, but it's currently uninstalled as I haven't used it for years ...... (didn't reinstall after my last rebuild, as all my flying at that time was in the Pacific North West (FTX)..... however, I'm currently enjoying flying 'at home', so perhaps I need to re-install it. I remember UTX Europe giving me better coastlines and inland lake borders.

If I go ahead and buy GEX, are there any complexities, or special orders that I need to install these two products (GEX Europe, and UTX Europe) ?

Thanks,

I seem to remember that its better to install UTX then GEX as GEX has an installation option to make it more compatabile with UTX. However, my memory may be sketchy on this to im sure the GEX manual is clear on it.

One on, they sit very well together as Jcmmg said

Mat

[Mark Hurst]

Hi,
PS.... I don't want to go down the photoreal route, ie... Horizon GenX or Just flight Real Scenery, as I use (and like) autogen.

Hi David. You might consider Horizon with the Treescapes UK addon from Earth Simulations. This adds autogen trees in the correct locations. Obviously not buildings, though there is talk of some kind of other autogen product. The treescapes stuff is quite expensive, though.

[mallcott]

Before spending vast amounts on these addons, try updating mesh, then updating landclass. Cheap, but it works.
Scenery Tech and Cloud 9 offer landclass replacements that work well with different parts of the UK, and Europe as well. Just upgrading the 76m default mesh can make a big difference, almost like the default textures were designed for it in the first place.

And UTX and GEX both work well with mesh and landclass so you can always add them later.

[DavidRogers]

Thanks for the help & suggestions gentlemen.

Since I started the post, I am now using GEX Europe and the SceneryTech Landclass for Europe. It is a big improvement, and increases the enjoyment of flying around the UK VFR Airfields Vol 1 & 2. I do have UTX Europe but I've discovered it's stuck up in my loft/attic, so not accessible for now!

What I really need to improve now, as suggested, is the Mesh. (I have GS Global 2008 up in the same attic but it causes LONG load times for me in FSX (12mins+) so I no longer use it, as I tend to fly in only small areas at a time (like the UK).

I am also very interested in the Treescapes UK stuff, will check that out.

Thanks,
David.

[DavidRogers]

WOW!

Big developments this evening.............

I looked into "Treescapes" from Earth Simulations and liked what I saw. So I re-installed my Horizon VFR Photoscenery Vols, and bought Treescape Vol 3 (UK2000 VFR Airfields Vol 3 is my local area, so I wanted to try this first!).

Getting Treescapes working in FSX was a pain (the CMD installers hang because they're expecting some 'texture' sub-folders in the Gen-X folders, that don't exist .............. anyway after a visit to the Earth Simulations forum I found out about this, created the folders, re-installed and my trees appeared

As I said ........ WOW! ..... This is UK flying Nirvana! Yes it's only trees not buildings but it makes a HUGE difference to the Horizon VFR sceneries (and the UK2000 VFR Airfields).

It's great to be flying back 'home' in the UK, and to have such wonderful visuals. I don't think I'll be flying in the Pacific North West or Alaska (my recent haunts) for a while now! (...until I want some snowy textures of course!).

Thanks for the help ............ please see my other post on optimizing / tweaking FSX for photoscenery.

David.

[MatOakley]

David,

How about a screenshot or two with the treescapes in place? If its that good I might consider it as well.

Thanks

Mat