Best Mesh/Terrain Upgrade?

[cadmium]

I've been trying to pick out a good mesh upgrade to get. So far the most popular seem to be FS Global 2005, RealScene 2004, and various FSGenesis packages.

From what I can tell, FS Global has the best coverage for my money, making it a pretty good value. However RealScene has supposedly higher resolution mesh detail and also upgrades textures or terrain info as well? FSGenesis is constantly being updated and has many higher resolution areas, but is really expensive for (near)global coverage, and seems like more work to install it (since it's in so many pieces).

I have a few questions:

-Is there a big difference in practical quality between FS Global's Meshes and RealScene?

-Does FS Global update terrain info (which it seems RealScene does)

I'm mostly a USA flyer right now, so RealScene seems pretty good, but I haven't seen to many screen shots from the current version. I will probably do more sight seeing in other parts of the world as I improve my skills so that makes FS Global pretty attractive as well.

I'm so confused, I have no idea which one is best? :(

[SDickson]

FSGenesis 38m meshes for the entire US are available as freeware in the flightsim.com libraries. Search using keywords "Justin Tyme". The files are available in small localized areas or larger regions (west coast, rockies, midwest, north east and southern regions).

[slarente]

... and they are the best of all!

[btwallis]

In addition to those mentioned, there is no question that Holger Sandmann has put out some of the best.

Search flightsim.com, for everything Holger Sandmann, download and install all his British Columbia, Vancouver Island Enhancements, they will turn boring default into spectacular mountainous scenic flights.

Throw in some good old miserable west coast weather, and you will get some great flying challenges.

cheers.

[SDickson]

Some more goodies for the BC/Vancouver Island area in addition to Holger Sandmann's excellent scenery packages:

Harvey Janszen's East Vancouver Island Coastlines and Landclass
http://library.avsim.net/download.php?DLID=39484

Irvine McIntyre's Port Alberni and Tofino Coastlines
http://my.chillstation.de/fs/Alberni...s-09-12-04.ZIP
http://my.chillstation.de/fs/Tofino_...s-09-12-04.ZIP

Martin Oldridge's BC Communities Landclass
http://library.avsim.net/download.php?DLID=57155

And for the ultimate scenery add-on, check out FSAddon's Misty Fjords package which covers the Misty Fjords region of Alaska and BC.
http://www.fsaddon.com

[cadmium]

That's pretty awesome, thanks for the tip!

So, is there any reason to buy a reatail pacakge (I'm guessing the coverage isn't quite as comprehensive as a retail package?). Also is there a huge difference between 38m and 76m?

[jacdan]

There's also the SRTM 70m mesh.

http://www.simviation.com/fsdterrainsrtm.htm

Word has it though that there may be gaps in the data.


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[SDickson]

To the best of my knowledge, the freeware 38m FSGenesis terrain mentioned above provides full coverage of the lower 48 US states. The main benefit of buying FSGenesis mesh that I can see is ongoing support and access to enhancements and fixes.

38m mesh is quite a bit more detailed than 76m as the higher resolution data results in 4 times as many polygons for a given area. The difference between the two, especially in mountainous areas, is quite striking.

[cadmium]

Can anyone who own's a payware mesh upgrade add any opinions?

[slait]

I own FS Global and can tell you that it has been the single most beneficial add-on I've bought so far. I say that because I like to fly all over the world and that's what you don't get from any other single package. As has been mentioned FSGenesis offers 38m mesh for the whole lower 48, as well as great mesh for Alaska, which I also run. But, 76m mesh is about as good as it gets for the rest of the world and you just can't beat the coverage. Anywhere I fly now I know I have great scenery already installed and ready for me.

I don't have the other package you referred to, but I can say that FS Global is only mesh, no terrain enhancements. Get ready to allocate some disk to it though because when all is said and done it will take about 14GB. Again, for me because I like to fly everywhere, it was worth every penny.

Hope that helps.