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paulb
October 8th, 2010, 09:03
Hi

I have reinstalled FSX and SP1 and 2 on a new HD. Recently I have been adding new aircraft.

I have bought and installed the three volumes of UK airports (UK2000/Horixon/Playsims). These are great value and hugely enhance the default FSX UK airports. I like autogen. I had bought but have now uninstalled the VFR photographic scenery that I had. So I want to keep the autogen.

I would now like to improve the ground textures/roads/trees etc and perhaps the clouds.

Any suggestions please?

TIA

stiz
October 8th, 2010, 09:09
ground textures - http://www.flight1.com/products.asp?product=gexeurope
placement of roads/rivers/coastlines - http://www.flight1.com/products.asp?product=FL1-UXE-001
clouds n stuff - http://www.fspilotshop.com/product_info.php?products_id=2531

:)

guzler
October 8th, 2010, 09:09
I use UTX for the roads, nightlighting & coastlines, REX2 for the water, clouds & sky textures. Highly recommend them as a fellow UK flight simmer. Not sure about replacing the autogen for the UK though.

Cheers

Neil

MarkH
October 8th, 2010, 09:10
I would now like to improve the ground textures/roads/trees etc and perhaps the clouds.

Not sure how you can improve the ground textures with photo-scenery, but REX will give you nice clouds and water. For trees, check out the Earth Simulations 'Treescapes UK' packages. Pricey, but they give you accurately-placed autogen forests, including seasonal variation.

Sundog
October 8th, 2010, 09:21
Not sure how you can improve the ground textures with photo-scenery, but REX will give you nice clouds and water. For trees, check out the Earth Simulations 'Treescapes UK' packages. Pricey, but they give you accurately-placed autogen forests, including seasonal variation.

Check their forums, Earth Simulations, as IIRC, they are working on an autogen package for the UK.

calypsos
October 8th, 2010, 09:26
The full Gen-X VFR autogen programme is still very much WIP, I use those 'Treescapes' which although pricey, do enhance the photo scenery until something better comes out. They will not clash with any other trees you may have, e.g. those supplied with my (and other's) add-on freeware airfields for Gen-X VFR scenery.

paulb
October 9th, 2010, 02:32
Hi Chaps

Many thanks for your replies. They are much appreciated. I will now have a good look at those products which you have suggested. It looks like the credit card is going to take another bashing!

Cheers

Paul

calypsos
October 9th, 2010, 03:16
It's expensive, but if you fly a lot in the UK, it will be years before MS will make anything better...if at all.

kilo delta
October 9th, 2010, 06:46
I fly virtually in the UK quite often...but with GEX/UTX and REX addons. I've considered the VFR photoscenery option but the lack of autogen would be a big no no for me as I mostly like to fly low and slow in a VFR environment. I've tried Tileproxy on a few occasions and have been very impressed (Love to fly the Skysim Hawk around the Mach Loop in Wales ....fast and low). What benefits (if any) over Tileproxy does the Gen X VFR packages offer?

paulb
October 9th, 2010, 13:04
Hi Chaps

Having looked at the software I am a bit confused re - Ground Environment X Europe and Ultimate Terrain Europe. They seem to overlap a bit. Are they both used together or are they alternatives? Do they both allow the standard autogen to work? Do either of them change the mesh? (I ask the mesh question because in the past such products caused havoc with my UK airport addons eg runways ending at a cliff edge etc.)

Thanks again!

guzler
October 9th, 2010, 13:47
They can be used together.

Gex - replacement ground textures
UTX - detailed coastlines, accurate roads, railways, airport textures, night lighting and some landclass improvements

I'd get UTX first. I use this with all three UK airport volumes. It drastically improves the coasts without any negative issues with the airport volumes.

Get downloading now !!!!

paulb
October 9th, 2010, 14:18
Thanks! OK so I will get UTX first then.

One last question - re clouds etc - how does REX (Real Environment Xtreme) compare with FEX (Flight Environment X)? Is it much better?

I ask this question for two reasons - I used FEX in FS9 and was pretty happy with it (although the program doesn't seem to like Windows 7), also I have read that REX might cause some instability in FSX. Any thoughts?

stiz
October 9th, 2010, 16:20
One last question - re clouds etc - how does REX (Real Environment Xtreme) compare with FEX (Flight Environment X)? Is it much better?


i've got both, and i much prefer REX, its also still an active developement, FEX died a long times ago, author just up and left, a lot of promised stuff never materialised :(

paulb
October 9th, 2010, 23:57
Good point. Well I have just ordered UTX and will buy either GEX or REX next!

BTW, has anyone tried out the Scotflight scenery? Is it of similar quality to the GS UK airports?

calypsos
October 10th, 2010, 01:19
Scotflight is similar (but not better) than UK2000, the earlier stuff was a bit poor IMHO. Just remember, if go away to GEX etc, you will not really be able to navigate using the Mk. 1 eyeball and map, as with Gen-X photoscenery.

Again, if you continue to use Gen-X about 70% of airfields (including ones not in UK2000) are available freeware, just seach 'Tony Meredith' or even me (Trevor Clark) at FS.com for about 30 odd of them. These are often better than both Scotflight and UK2000 models, but you will need some extra scenery objects, all free though.

ananda
October 10th, 2010, 01:30
I've considered the VFR photoscenery option but the lack of autogen would be a big no no for me as I mostly like to fly low and slow in a VFR environment.

Earth Simulations has tree autogen for England and Wales (Treescapes) with buildings autogen in the works.

http://www.earthsimulations.com/

http://img259.imageshack.us/img259/589/machg.jpg (http://img259.imageshack.us/i/machg.jpg/)

kilo delta
October 10th, 2010, 03:14
Earth Simulations has tree autogen for England and Wales (Treescapes) with buildings autogen in the works.

http://www.earthsimulations.com/

http://img259.imageshack.us/img259/589/machg.jpg (http://img259.imageshack.us/i/machg.jpg/)

Thanks for the HU,Ananda...though the washed out colours of the photoscenery would be distracting to me,too.....nowhere near realistic.:kilroy: :)

paulb
October 10th, 2010, 04:29
Scotflight is similar (but not better) than UK2000, the earlier stuff was a bit poor IMHO. Just remember, if go away to GEX etc, you will not really be able to navigate using the Mk. 1 eyeball and map, as with Gen-X photoscenery.

Again, if you continue to use Gen-X about 70% of airfields (including ones not in UK2000) are available freeware, just seach 'Tony Meredith' or even me (Trevor Clark) at FS.com for about 30 odd of them. These are often better than both Scotflight and UK2000 models, but you will need some extra scenery objects, all free though.

Thanks Trevor! I will have a good look at them.