Development

When did you start developing for flight simulators and what got you interested in it?

I only started in June this year (2014), and after seeing some of the great work from other people in the X-Plane world, I just thought, well why not give it a go myself.

Tell us about the nature of your designs and what you do?

At the moment I have been limiting myself to small rural airstrips and farm strips, the occasional disused military base in the UK and the occasional object. I was amazed at just how many of these there are dotted around the United Kingdom. Also by creating these sceneries, I'm able to give something back to the X-Plane community.

What do you consider your best or most popular work?

My favourite so far is Charterhall (XCHA) in Scotland, which is completely fictitious I should add, so I was able to use my imagination a little here. If I ever happen to win the lottery I know what I will do; buy an old airfield and fill it full of classic aircraft! I really love vintage aircraft, especially aircraft like the Spitfire and B-17, as there is something very special about these. To be honest I'm pretty proud of all my contributions so far (considering that I have only been doing it for a couple of months). My favourite object I've created is the wooden pallet I made. Yes, I know it doesn't sound much, but believe you me it was pretty tricky to model. With just a little bit of practice, you'd be amazed at what you can achieve in SketchUp!

What do you find to be the most challenging aspect of a project?

As I am very much a beginner, the biggest challenge for me personally is finding good reference material such as photos. In some cases all you have is the view from Google Maps, so it can be quite tricky to identify what is actually down there. There is also a pretty steep learning curve with the graphics software, however every time you start a new project you find something else which makes things just that little bit easier and more enjoyable than before.

What have been your favorite projects?

To be honest I have really enjoyed them all (so far). I get a great deal of satisfaction in making things from scratch, particularly the objects.

What software packages and tools do you use to develop?

For scenery layout and object placement, I use WED, which is a fantastic tool and one that every X-Plane developer should learn. It can seem daunting at first, but you soon get the hang of it. I also use GIMP for texturing objects and SketchUp 2014 for 3D modelling.

Many of your custom designs were created in SketchUp. Would you recommend SketchUp to beginners?

Personally, I think SketchUp is great! Once you've got used to it, it's pretty easy to use and the best bit about it is that the basic version is free!

Who would you consider to be your mentors or inspiration in the development world if you have any?

Lots of people really, as there are some really great designers out there. There are also countless X-Plane users who are only too happy to offer advice and encouragement. However Paul Mort's work was the main reason why I started scenery design, as he was kind enough to make a couple of home strips for me. After seeing them, I thought, maybe I could try my hand at creating scenery. Paul has been a great help, with both advice and tips.

Do you develop payware/freeware or both and why?

All freeware. It hasn't even crossed my mind to consider payware offerings. Even if I wanted to, I am a long way off from that level. For now, I'm just happy to share with the community.

What advice would you give to readers thinking of creating their own scenery for X-Plane?

My advice: go for it. Read as much as you can in the various forums, look on the likes of YouTube, post the odd question when you get stuck, and don't be afraid to give it a go. First time out don't expect miracles, but keep at it and you will get there.

The Team

How many people work with you or your team?

The team consists of me, the cat and my 9 year old daughter.

What do the various members of the team do?

Funnily enough, it was my daughter who introduced me to SketchUp after using it at school. She is totally brilliant at it!! The cat..well, it just gets in the way!

What other developers or teams have you worked with and what were their roles?

Other than getting advice from a few others like Paul Mort, none. It would be nice to collaborate in the future though.

Real Life

Do you have any experience in real aviation?

Other than sitting in the back of more North Sea helicopters than you can count, and a bit of international travel, none really. My wife did work for a couple of helicopter companies for many years so I did get to know many of the people there; from the check-in and baggage people, to the pilots, engineers and management. It was really interesting stuff, as I've always had a keen interest in what goes on above our heads.

What started your interest in aviation?

I'm not sure really. I do know though, that I have always been intrigued by aircraft and what makes them and the people who fly them tick.

Any memorable flights in real life?

A few real scary ones in the North Sea in mid winter, low visibility, high winds and helidecks the size of postage stamps! These pilots are all heroes in my book. What they do, day in, day out, in some horrendous conditions is truly amazing. I did get to sit in the jump seat once which was brilliant! The crew took me through all the pre-flight stuff, aircraft inspection, route, fuel, etc. and I was able to sit and watch them fly out from a great vantage point. The only thing I had to be careful of was that I didn't hit my head on the throttles on the way out!

Would you like to share what you do in real life?

I work for Shell as a Production Chemist. Chemicals and chemistry are my game! Currently I'm posted in Brunei on the beautiful island of Borneo in South East Asia and have absolutely nothing to do with aircraft! Well, we do have some input into the manufacture of the helicopter fuel we use here.

What other hobbies or things do you do for enjoyment?

Not too much time for other stuff, although I do enjoy a game of golf now and then and also play in a Scottish Ceilidh band here in Brunei. Yes and I do eat Haggis, play the bag pipes and wear a kilt from time to time! Honest truth. Too Scottish?

Have you ever considered doing flight simulator development full-time?

Never!

Future

How do you choose your next new design or project?

So far it is often based on a great sounding name. Yes, I know, it's not very scientific! Sometimes though, it's because it's a great location with nice scenery around. The UK is actually a very beautiful place when you get out and look at it from above. I have also had a couple of requests and I am more than happy to do this for folk.

What simulators do you design for now and which ones do you plan to develop for in the future?

So far it's only X-Plane and I have no plans to change at the moment, but you never know where this might lead.

In what ways do you see development changing in the future?

I can only see flight simulation getting better and better, with more and more realistic scenery and objects. It still amazes me just how realistic things are at the moment. In another five years or so just imagine what it could be like!

Your Thoughts

As an X-Plane developer, what improvements, or features would you like to see added to X-Plane in the future?

Not so much with X-Plane itself, but more to do with WED, and that is to have the ability to see roads and train tracks like you can in Overlay Editor. This would really help with placing objects.

What can sites like FlightSim.Com do to support you and the hobby better?

To keep spreading the word and trying to encourage as many people as you can to get involved. It doesn't matter if you use objects which have already been created for your scenery, or if you're making your own, it all helps to keep this great hobby alive and kicking.

How do you feel about the future of flight simulation in general?

I think the future is bright and that there is a lot more to come!

What are some of the most important things a site or community can do to help the developers?

Help the communication process, bring like-minded people together and help share what is out there.

What would you like people to know about you or your team and work?

Just that I love what I am doing at the moment and that I am more than happy to help others or perhaps take a few requests. I really do encourage anyone who has been thinking about creating some scenery to give it a go, as you will be amazed at what you can achieve!

Stuart McGregor
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