Please Help? Airport Boundary Question (KEQY)

[HardCub]

Guys, I really need some help and direction please. I am trying to figure out a way to create an airport boundary and ground texture for KEQY (Charlotte-Monroe Regional Airport). I tried in vain to learn how to make it work in SBuilder9, and finally quit for a break, after working on it for approx. 25hrs. total time since yesterday morning. This is the 6th time I have attempted this in the last 4 months. I guess I am just stupid or something... it just doesn't make any sense to me. I cannot figure how to operate the program. Where to even start?

So I gave up till I can find some answers, and I decided to try the latest version of ADE9X, which is v01.51. Inside the menu I found a Polygon tool which offers a "flatten" switch, but it doesn't show up again (the drawn polygon texture) once you reload the airport at a later point, after closing the program. The new altered polygon terrain BGL. file is visible in the folder, but it won't load onscreen in ADE9X since it doesn't contain the airport files. And everytime I "save" a background photo image, it doesn't display again anywhere. (???) ARRRRgggh!!!



This is KEQY using Google_Maps 2012. It still shows the old original runway, with the newer section being graded on the end of Rwy05.




This is KEQY in 2012 using Virtual_Earth. You can see the new pavement extension to the original runway 05, and the new taxiway section as well.




This is my FS9 work thus far using ADE9X. Everything (aprons, taxiways,runways,etc.) is correctly placed using the satellite map photos. The airport problem is clearly visible... the runway now runs outside of the original airport texture boundary in FS2004. How do I create a new custom airport boundary and texture it???




I also want to model/place most of the surrounding manufacturing business structures as well to match the satellite photo image. So I created a series of "exclusions" to get rid of the autogen houses, buildings and trees. Is this correct method???




This is the airport without the flatten switch. The exclusion switch has been applied, and most of the autogen has been cleared away fro the area to be modeled.




I wish I could leave the 19m scenery terrain mesh as is, but I can't place the business structures correctly if I don't flatten it. The correct airport boundary area would be a BIG help with this issue, since I could better control the underlying ground texture(s).




This was my feeble attempt @ creating a photo-real ground image cut to (basically) fit the airfield.





Fellas, I would appreciate any advice or direction anyone can offer me. I really want to learn how to operate the SBuilder9 software, as I understand this is crucial for making airports appear "real". I just cannot understand how/what to do to get started. I absolutely LOVE to create scenery for the airports, and I really desire to learn how to make them even better! I just need some guidance please?

Thank You sincerely for any help or advice. ~Glenn

[StringBean]

Go here and get Jon's tutorials- http://www.scruffyduck.org.uk/filema...enery%20Design

Once you figure out how to use SBuilder (it is not intuitive) you can knock out an airport background in a matter of minutes.

Firstly, look at the "airfield regression" tute, then the last 2 on the list.

Pay special attention to discussions of VTP polys and layers.

You first have to exclude the original background, then draw your new background at a higher layer.

Once you have your background poly, it takes seconds to convert it to a flatten poly.

Excluding autogen with polys allows more freedom than using the rectangles required by the "switch" method.

peace,
the Bean

[scruffyduck]

What you are trying to do cannot be done with ADE for FS9. ADe9 will only create flattens. You have found that you cannot load these back into ADE - this is correct. You have also found that ADE does not place or compile photo scenery I think. This is also correct. In ADE background images are only for reference. ADE9 is a tool for creating the airport facilities (runways, taxiways aprons etc etc); placing objects and flattening the ground. It does not handle land class, autogen or phot scenery.

As the Bean says the only tool that will do what you are trying to do is SBuilder for FS9.

[HardCub]

@ Stringbean: Okay, totally embarrassed... I somehow completely overlooked the tutorials @ scruffyduck.org.uk on the SBuilder9 program. I will study them intently and learn how to do this. I have also discovered a webpage earlier today (can't remember the name of it right now ~ it's saved on my other computer system) but it was extremely helpful, and loaded with lots of links to information sources for creating scenery. It's not new information though... I think the posts were dated 2005 - 06 -08, etc. Still, it is extra information, and I guess I need all I can find to figure this stuff out.

@ Scruffyduck: Jon, thank you for your help on this. I want to say right now that I absolutely LOVE your ADE9X product (which is why I was trying to figure out a way to make it work instead of using the SBuilder9). The ADE9X software is AWESOME!!!!!!

I will scrap everything created thus far,and start over. I will keep y'all informed if I find success with this project.

[scruffyduck]

You are welcome and good luck!

[phlux]

Now you know I couldn't let this thread go without making a comment Given how impressed I am with my sneek peek of your first effort, I'm very excited to see what you create on this second go. I can't say enough how much I appreciate your efforts on this scenery Glenn!