From liners to bush flying: texture galore

[FridayChild]

Months ago I used to enjoy flying big liners.
Then for some reason (I guess you can call me a lunatic) I got bored and dropped FS 2004 altogether.
I picked it up again just recently, after attending an air show which prompted me to go back to the basics and enjoy low and slow flying with small GA or very light airplanes.
And I have found I'm not satisfied with the way the ground and water textures look from low altitudes.
In facts, when I used to fly big liners I installed the Blue Sphere set of textures, which eliminated some fog display problems and, generally speaking, made the world look better from high altitudes.
Now I'd like to install different textures, more suitable for "bush flying", but how do I go about it?
If I just copy the new files in the "texture" folder, will they just overwrite the current (Blue Sphere) ones? Or will I have to identify all the Blue Sphere files and manually remove them, thus resetting the default situation, prior to applying the new textures?
Which texture packet do you suggest anyway (payware included, provided they are not too expensive and really worth it)?

I'd also appreciate, since I'm prepared to spare some bucks, the suggestion of a good payware GA plane with these features:
- slightly faster and longer running than the Cessna 172
- easy to handle, with a predictable flight model
- highly detailed and realistic
I'm considering Carenado's Piper Cherokee 180, what do you think?

[vololiberista]

I'd also appreciate, since I'm prepared to spare some bucks, the suggestion of a good payware GA plane with these features:
- slightly faster and longer running than the Cessna 172
- easy to handle, with a predictable flight model
- highly detailed and realistic
I'm considering Carenado's Piper Cherokee 180, what do you think?

You don't need to spend any money download the Socata TB10 from here
http://www.simviation.com/members/fs2004props43.htm
Miles better than all the Cessnas
Vololiberista

[Fly2e]

Hey Friday!
I used to do the same thing until I invested some money into meshes, add ons. etc..
Now Bush Flying is the only way for me.

I love to fire up the sim and go to some remote airfield in British Columbia, Alaska, Switzerland, etc.. and just take off with nowhere to go except the sky. Huge mountains, ravines, lakes,, streams, etc with only my GPS to tell me where the next landing might take place.

As for a nice GA Aircraft, the Cessna Stationair is a little powerhouse with real nice VC and some unique details that make it a nice kite to fly!!

I just did what I described above last night, see here!

SEE HERE!!

Hum,.,,,,,,
now where to move this,
"Other Add ons wanted" or "Payware".......  ;)

Dave

[wji]

"If I just copy the new files in the "texture" folder, will they just overwrite the current (Blue Sphere) ones? Or will I have to identify all the Blue Sphere files and manually remove them, thus resetting the default situation, prior to applying the new textures?"

Your call, captain . . . I always backup before attempting to change anything regarding computers. Then -- when things go bad, as they often do -- I just replace the files. But, yes, to the question; that model will use those filenames

- slightly faster and longer running than the Cessna 172
- easy to handle, with a predictable flight model
- highly detailed and realistic

That would be Flight One's Meridian PA46-500 or F1's Pilatus PC-12

[FridayChild]

Thanks for the suggestions.
Now I have a few a/c to choose from (plus the Socata, which I already have, but it's one of many a/c that, for some reason, have a flight model that renders them almost unusable with my joystick. They are continuously shifting on their axes; it's almost impossible to keep them leveled. Don't ask me why, it must be the stick).
What I still lack is the suggestion for a good texture package to replace Blue Sphere; freeware or payware, or both.
Silver Wings look promising, but according to the description, it also modifies things I'd rather leave alone (autogen, clouds).

[Sir_Crashalot]

Hi FridayChild,

If you want great textures and you don't mind payware I would go for Flight One's GroundEnviroment. I use it and it is the greatest. For freeware you could consider Bill Lyons' Silverwing. As long as you keep a low altitude it's great. Get too high and you see a very annoying ground texture that repeats itself.

Crash

[Fly2e]

If you are looking for absolute incredible ground, mountain, etc,... textures for the entire world,
you have to get

GROUND ENVIROMENT!!!

Flight1!

It will change your entire flying experience worldwide!!
Oh, if you want to get really crazy, add Ultimate Terrain to it and you are in for a real nice ride!!!

Now I think I need to move this to the Payware Forum!  ;)

Dave

[FridayChild]

The GroundEnvironment screenies look exactly how I want my sim to look like!
Do you think my system can handle this package? (My system specs are in my signature).
Also and again: to install GE, do you suggest I reset my FS2004 to default (i.e. uninstall, reinstall, apply GE)?

[vololiberista]

If you are looking for absolute incredible ground, mountain, etc,... textures for the entire world,
you have to get

GROUND ENVIROMENT!!!

Flight1!

It will change your entire flying experience worldwide!!
Oh, if you want to get really crazy, add Ultimate Terrain to it and you are in for a real nice ride!!!

Now I think I need to move this to the Payware Forum!  ;)

Dave

Does it do more than one frame per week!!!!!  And, how is  it from high altitude?
Vololiberista

[Sir_Crashalot]

I experienced no drop in FPS what so ever. Even from high altitudes it still looks great. I think your system will have no problem with it, FridayChild. I'm on a medium system myself and it works fantastic.

Crash

[Fly2e]

It has zero impact on frames!!!!!!!!!!!

ALL THEY ARE ARE DETAILED NEW TEXTURES FOR THE GROUND!!

sORRY, CAPS LOCK..

I would definitely un install the Blue Sphere as what GE does is back up your default FS texture files and then overwrites them with the GE Textures..

Like I said fro reading their forums,..
frame rates are not effected as they are basically replacement textures but much more detailed.

They look good from high up but you can really see what they look like at lower elevation....

Dave

[NicksFXHouse]

I would also highly recommend FSGenesis mesh..

For 100 bucks you can have the entire world in its correct landscape and all the updates for 3 years.

For the best FS look,

1.
Install FSGenesis mesh and landclass

2.
Install Ultimate Terrain (all of them) NOTE THE SPECIAL INSTRUCTIONS FOR FSGENESIS USERS

3.
Ground Environment w/Korbygen update

4.
Flight Environment (I only use FE clouds and extended contrails)

5.
Set up FSUIPC for enhanced weather


If you have all that installed and have a good video adapter, edit the following into your FS9.cfg file:


[TERRAIN]
TERRAIN_ERROR_FACTOR=100.000000
TERRAIN_MIN_DEM_AREA=10.000000
TERRAIN_MAX_DEM_AREA=100.000000
TERRAIN_MAX_VERTEX_LEVEL=21
TERRAIN_TEXTURE_SIZE_EXP=8
TERRAIN_AUTOGEN_DENSITY=5
TERRAIN_USE_GRADIENT_MAP=1
TERRAIN_EXTENDED_TEXTURES=1
TERRAIN_DEFAULT_RADIUS=9.5
TERRAIN_EXTENDED_RADIUS=9.5
TERRAIN_EXTENDED_LEVELS=4


That will allow you to see everything but you must have all of the complete FSGenesis mesh (LOD 4 through LOD 12) installed and a good video card to see it all.

Defragment the hard drive and away you go.

[wji]

"Don't ask me why, it must be the stick"
Hey, ya gotta like a fella who answers his own questions  :)

It never ceases to amaze me how many simflyers will continue to use a defective joystick and then waste their time (and others) trashing perfectly good aricraft flight models (in many case FREE ones).

If thousands of other simflyers are using a particular aircraft model and recommending it to others, I submit that if they appear to be " . . . shifting on their axes; it's almost impossible to keep them leveled" it's time to score for a new ($29) joystick  ???

[Fly2e]

wji, what are you talking about

[flyboy 28]

Nick, what exactly does the Ground Environment w/Korbygen textures do?

Dave, I do believe Korbygen comes as standalone freeware, but they replace the autogen textures, houses etc. They do look really nice, but for myself I experienced low frames with them. Also they come with Vista Oz.