1 arc-second highres mesh for CBI scenario (FSX+P3D)

[roger-wilco-66]

While searching through my dev folders I found an abandoned project (CBI scenario). I stopped working on it some time ago because someone else was making something similar.

For those who might want to enjoy a more detailed ground enroute to Kunming or back, here it is:

http://www.sim-outhouse.com/sohforums/local_links.php?action=jump&catid=113&id=19174


Default Mesh:


https://www.dropbox.com/s/tvbdth051aa6kl5/cbi-mesh-default.png?dl=1


1 arc-second mesh:

https://www.dropbox.com/s/ainxv3je5n9sgb7/cbi-mesh-1arcsec.png?dl=1

Details 2D:

https://www.dropbox.com/s/2kqhupv6wc7teos/cbi-mesh-gm-2d-cutout.png?dl=1

Details 3D:

https://www.dropbox.com/s/ucrj6357dju8u3k/cbi-mesh-gm-3d-cutout.png?dl=1

[Duckie]

Thank you r-w-66. Downloading now. :encouragement:

[Bill Kestell]

Roger-Wilco-66!

Thanks for a GREAT scenery add-on. I have more than 500 hours over the Hump and your mesh is long overdue. I use Alex Nicolson's CBIXv1 which has all the airfields and NDBs and I didn't notice any conflicts or problems after your add-on.

I just completed a Low Hump flight from Chabua to Kunming using Route Easy. FANTASTIC changes to the stock scenery. You notice it immediately as you climb out of Assam Valley heading toward Naga Hills ... First Ridge ... and the mountains just look nastier and nastier as you head East. Combine your scenery fix with Rex 4 textures, Active Sky Next's weather engine, and flying Manfred Jahn's C-47v2 ... I know why I fly in FSX! WHAT AN EXPERIANCE!!!

Tonight I want to hop into my Guzman-Garcia/Pepper/Gibson C-46 Commando and tackle the High Hump. That should be an example of REAL UGLY!

A BIG THANK YOU :applause::applause::applause:

[Roger]

Thanks Mark:ernaehrung004:

[roger-wilco-66]

Hey great you guys like it. That's worth the effort.
The hump was what got me into flying with MS Flight Simulator many years ago, when MAAM came out with their first R4D. I read the book "Flying the hump" and reenacted the hair raising flights described there.

Now, with the DC6s and Manfred + collegues C-47 V2 and the C-46 it is twice the fun today. Not to mention A2As P-40 and many others.

I looked into what I had done when I started the CBI scenery about two years ago and found that I modeled the lakes around Kunming, if there is any interest I'll put together a package and upload them. The default lakes look awful.

@Bill: thanks for mentioning Alex's CBI scenery, I'll get that!

Cheers,
Mark

[Bill Kestell]

Mark!

ANYTHING you can do that involves the CBI will always be greatly appreciated.

Attached shot is my C-46 just crossing over the Mt Tali Monastery (thanks, Alex) coming home from Kunming!15745

[roger-wilco-66]

So I'll do it. The GIS data for the Kunming lakes is here, I just have to import into SBX and make lakes. I also started to remap the mountains with proper rock landclasses, I'll also have a look how far I brought that.

Cheers,
Mark


https://www.dropbox.com/s/qi9j38dvo40xz9l/kunming-lake.png?dl=1

[Bill Kestell]

EXCELLENT!

Your overview explains one thing quite clearly. If you note on page 43 of FLYING THE HUMP, it indicates that you need 8,000' minimum when flying outbound over "DB" ... that pile o' rocks East of Chengkung certainly tells me why!!!

[GypsyBaron]

Great addition! Over at the 91st Bombardment Group we have a CBI Campaign covering a number
of flights and routes and having this detail will certainly be welcomed!

Thanks for your work!

Paul

[spatialpro]

It is always great to meet other Flight Sim developers using GlobalMapper! ;)

Andy

[roger-wilco-66]

Yep, nice tool :-)

I found an error though and must upload it again. Something is wrong with the projection. I contoured the lake, brought it to the sim and it turned out around 30km or so to the west. The error is not obvious though from just looking at the landscape.

Please don't download from above link in the moment, I'll fix it and upload it again. Sorry!


Cheers,
Mark

[roger-wilco-66]

Oh boy! The mesh is OK, it just didn't go as far as Kunming and I mistook another lake for the one near Kunming. That means, though, that I have to redo everything to include Kunming. This is a must, I think.

I'll upload another version tomorrow!

Cheers,
Mark

[roger-wilco-66]

OK, I extended the mesh past Kunming now and inserted about 10 lakes (with islands) in the area.
Next I'll work over the river and landscape around Myitkina, which is very distinctive and beautiful with it's river bend and the nearby lake. The area around Fort Hertz also deserves some attention. The other important areas like Dibrughar, Imphal, Lashio and so on look OK to me. Except for the default landclass.
To my dismay, the whole northern edge of the mesh is unusable due to spikes and other anomalies. I can correct that manually, but not to the large amount I found there. That would take weeks.

More to come.

Kunming:

https://www.dropbox.com/s/wtriwk336e6z9it/cbi-kunming.png?dl=1

Lake with Mt. Tali Monestary:

https://www.dropbox.com/s/q95gbvp3pnqcn44/cbi-pagoda-lake.png?dl=1

Myitkina as it is now:

https://www.dropbox.com/s/criwkq82gjnp4c4/cbi-myitkyina.png?dl=1

[roger-wilco-66]

To all hump pilots, the new version is ready for download.
I corrected the abysmally bad northern region, which was full of spikes and other anomalies, extended the coverage way beyond Kunming and added the greater area of Chungking in the north east.

The new package also incorporates vector files for all the lakes with high resolution shorelines around Kunming, Mount Tali and a very detailed Irrawaddy river region around Myitkyina.

Get the new version here:

http://www.sim-outhouse.com/sohforums/local_links.php?action=jump&catid=113&id=19174

The next step will be to add a few vital airfields with photoreal backgrounds and some custom scenery objects. Kunimg is already on it's way. Myitkyina, Chabua, Imphal, and maybe Lashio will follow down the line.

A big "Thanks!" goes to Bill Kestell for sharing his knowledge about the era and whereabouts as well as for taking his time to test the work.


Cheers,
Mark


Some images:


Over the last hump obstacle, entering the steamy Myitkyina valley at dawn, with the guiding Irrawaddy river and it's remarkable bend around the town and airfield.

https://dl-web.dropbox.com/get/photos/flightsim/CBI-Scenery/cbi-kunming-Myitkyina4-irrawaddy.png?_subject_uid=58324394&w=AABZu76Af9YxrKnJ3jIXogfvKCgCINQDnSpl4E60FvzUPw&dl=1



At dawn, mist creeps from the jungles in between the Himalaya ridges (real weather settings):

https://dl-web.dropbox.com/get/photos/flightsim/CBI-Scenery/cbi-kunming-Myitkyina3.png?_subject_uid=58324394&w=AABEdZnr3TD6_ifDaC4ZnefOJaV0PHaJYoLmMKfdEAqhVg&dl=1


Layout of the Kunming airfield (low res for testing), which was drawn with a 1944 aerial photo in the background as reference:

https://dl-web.dropbox.com/get/photos/flightsim/CBI-Scenery/kunimg-ab-photo-2.png?_subject_uid=58324394&w=AAC1Be98v18B1Daz82lugMS72q9Z1d9BhR_7AST3d3smXg&dl=1

[alexdan]

Hi Mark
Nice work - as always and thanks. In case you aren't already aware of it, the Yangtze is unflyable from above Chungking to down around Wuhan, due to a multitude of land "bridges". Its been that way since FSX came out and is embedded in the Stock scenery. Fs9 is OK although even it is a mess around Myitkyina.

Regards

Alex

[roger-wilco-66]

I saw that, and Bill pointed out some problems with the San Hu Pa airfield, that, most interestingly, sits on a little island in the middle of the Yangtze river.

I think these errors are the radar reflections of large bridges that span the Yangtze river today and just weren't corrected.

I'm trying to rebuild the Yangtze in the greater Chungking area by countouring vector lines at a given elevation in Global Mapper - that should fix the island and also the "land bridge" problems for good.

Not intended at the beginning, the CBI additions are evolving to a larger project. But we have a very good base and excellent documentation with Alex's CBI-X scenery (is that your work, by the way?) and Bill's historical sources, so it's very rewarding to work with and gives good results.
I'll release small updates as work progresses and bundle everything in a complete package when a certain stage is reached.


Best,
Mark

[alexdan]

Yes Mark, I am the guilty party:untroubled:. My Sun Hu Pa is fine. Don't know what is Bill's problem. The original was just a sandbar and often submerged by flooding. Short and much hampered by the cross river cables. CNAC and Eurasia were regulars before the Americans appeared.

Alex

[roger-wilco-66]

Well, my compliments then, Alex, this must have been a huge undertaking. I know how much work this is.

The Yangtze is about to be rebuilt now, I have around 30 miles east and west so far and will add some more, expecially to the west. I also try to depict the other water bodies like small rivers and lakes that are abundant in the area. It has a fascinating geography!

Cheers,
Mark

[roger-wilco-66]

Just a small note.
The Yangtze river is rebuild now on a length of 225 km and with the help of Alex and Bill I built a new version vor the Yangtze River Station (San Hu Pa airfield), which is quite hazardous because of it's short runway and location on an island in the middle of the river between the hills. Bill and Alex provided some nice historical photos and descriptions that led me to create some custom objects in 3dsmax of the buildings there. Landing there with the Jahn Team C-47 is guaranteed for some sweaty palms...


Beta testing is in the way!

https://www.dropbox.com/sh/x0skkam7xu8zz8r/AAAbMDGl7rf69QUjC8_v-3V5a/CBI-Scenery/cbi-sanhupa-airfield-stat-c47.png?dl=1

https://www.dropbox.com/sh/x0skkam7xu8zz8r/AAATzaRf7s_4BX4rjfcz_7KKa/CBI-Scenery/cbi-sanhupa-airfield-buildings3.png?dl=1

https://www.dropbox.com/sh/x0skkam7xu8zz8r/AADCjcOgfaFlt9ibWl36Y2Yfa/CBI-Scenery/cbi-sanhupa-storage-shed2-2.png?dl=1

[Flyboy208]

Quite a big undertaking and looking fantastic !!! Mike :applause:

[windquest]

Hi Mark,
Thanks to your wonderful efforts, I have discovered the HUMP. The mesh seems perfect everywhere I have been but one. I don't know if this is an issue with CBIx1 or the mesh, but Sookerating has an elevated runway and taxiways, with large square depressions all around. In the past I have looked for duplicate .bgl files or a duplication of scenery, but this is a fresh install. What I suspect is the problem is on my end, I just don't where. Any ideas?

Keep up the great work, I look forward to the next up grade.

Cheers,
Henry

[roger-wilco-66]

Hi Henry,

I'll check Sookerating, thanks for the notice. This is typical when a different mesh is set upon an existing scenery. I'm sure we can work something out.

Right now I'm working on Kunming, by the way. Thanks to some real good documentation and the help of Alex and Bill I can make a very authentic rendition of that central and quite complex airfield.


Cheers,
Mark

[alexdan]

Hi Mark,
Thanks to your wonderful efforts, I have discovered the HUMP. The mesh seems perfect everywhere I have been but one. I don't know if this is an issue with CBIx1 or the mesh, but Sookerating has an elevated runway and taxiways, with large square depressions all around. In the past I have looked for duplicate .bgl files or a duplication of scenery, but this is a fresh install. What I suspect is the problem is on my end, I just don't where. Any ideas?

Keep up the great work, I look forward to the next up grade.

Cheers,
Henry

Hnery

Contact me direct email. I am the scenery creator.

Alex

[windquest]

Thanks Alex, email sent.

Appreciate your efforts as well Mark. I hope to learn a lot more about scenery in this process.

Henry

[roger-wilco-66]

Welcome, Henry. I'm sure that's an easy fix.

Here's the latest screenshot of the work on Kunming, just as a teaser:

https://www.dropbox.com/s/so6jhugv1jhp55w/cbi-kunming-af-10150108.png?dl=1

[windquest]

My little elevation problem at Sookerating is now solved thanks to Alex's extraordinary efforts in the help department. Bill K had been kind to send me two replacement files, which I thought fixed the problem but didn't. I can now say to all that the CBI scenery and Mesh (Mark's) work in FSX, P3Dv1.4 and P3Dv2.4 While I doubt I have further glitches, I will keep in touch.

This is truly a magnifisent effort on the parts of Alex and Mark....please thank them for making the CBI airlift come to life.

Thanks guys.

Henry

[roger-wilco-66]

In the meanwhile, in Kunming / Yunnan province / China, a mechanic and a pilot relax in front of the AVG hangar.

https://www.dropbox.com/s/q6irx6nirer5x7g/ms-cbi-kunming-AVG-hangar.png?dl=1

[SH427]

So I have to ask, anything new worth talking about here? Really excited for this lately

[roger-wilco-66]

Hi,

it's coming together nicely, Kunming development is at 70%, and Chungking airfield more or less done.

I want to make one more airfield, which will be the Myitkyina complex, to have a start / destination on the other side of the hump. Then it can be released. The immediate rest (say 2 or three airfields) can follow as updates.

Cheers,
Mark

https://www.dropbox.com/s/oolf5k3g0c304r2/ms-cbi-kunming-20150123.png?dl=1

[Dimus]

Really looking forward to this Mark. Your work is amazing and inspiring for anyone that has done even a little scenery development. I am looking forward to great online sessions with our group crossing the Hump in C-47s.

[roger-wilco-66]

Thanks for the kind words, Dimus. We're getting there. Right now I fight with the lighting effects on the field. I placed 20 Bartow-Type ww2 runway lights along the runway (according to an old airfield map), as well as flood lights at the ends and two ramp light towers on the apron. The lights work, but not as I want them to (visibility is not as far as I would prefer, the yellowish light turns white in the distance, and sometimes it doesn't work at all). Man, I hate that.


Cheers,
Mark

[fxsttcb]

Hi Mark, Thanks for the incentive to "Fly the Hump"! I've been having a blast the last few days. :applause:
Of course I did run into a few mountains while using ASN RW weather! Instant whiteouts must have been a real issue for those pilots.

Anywhoo, I've got enough juice in my system to max my scenery sliders, and, with my mesh resolution at max I have a pair of parallel "walls" at the South East side of ZPJH Gasa.
I can minimize it by going to 76m resolution, but, I really like the high res mountains. Not a deal breaker by any means! I just take off from Rwy 34. lol...Don

[roger-wilco-66]

Hehe, thanks for the notice, Don, I put it on my list for fixing the mesh.
I also found a few spikes about half way in the maointain range between Chunging and Kunming. I ran into one of them while flying on instruments in the clouds. Doh!

Cheers,
Mark