Scenery Review: Dolpa Airport for XP12 by Cami De Bellis

[Dominic Smith]

 

 

Scenery Review: Dolpa Airport for XP12 by Cami De Bellis

 

By Dominic Smith

 

Introduction
Welcome to the world of Cami De Bellis, a seasoned scenery developer for X-Plane whose footprint spans a remarkable fifteen years. Known for her precision and high attention to detail, Cami is a respected figure within the X-Plane community, with a notable portfolio of predominantly tropical sceneries.

In addition to the multitude of freeware sceneries she has contributed over the years, Cami is also the creative mind behind the CDB library, aptly named after her. A tool set crafted for fellow developers, the CDB library enables the creation of unique freeware sceneries, encouraging a collaborative and creative space within the X-Plane universe. One of Cami's recent additions to her collection is the payware scenery of VNDP - Dolpa Airport Nepal for X-Plane 12. This follows her successful renditions of the challenging topographies of Paro Intl Airport in Bhutan and Kathmandu Tribhuvan Intl in Nepal, further cementing her expertise in recreating airports located in the complex terrains of the Himalayan region.

 

Dolpa Airport, also known as Juphal Airport, is a small domestic hub situated within Nepal's Dolpa District, a region renowned for its rough and rugged landscapes. It plays a vital role in connecting the remote region with the rest of the country. Opened to the public in 1966, the airport resides at an impressive altitude of 8,200 feet, offering a unique and challenging environment for pilots. It's the gateway to the Upper Dolpa and Shey-Phoksundo National Park, making it a vital hub for both local transportation and eco-tourism.

 

With an array of features including highly accurate airport buildings, over 40 custom objects, and mesh modifications for accurate topography, this scenery reflects the breadth of Cami's expertise. Other highlights offered by the scenery package, include photorealistic textures, custom-textured taxiways, runways, aprons, and on the surrounding buildings, and much more.  

I've admired Cami’s work for quite some time, as her attention to detail and quality of execution has never failed to impress, so the promise of such intricacy and detail at Dolpa, only served to heighten my anticipation. But, as with all X-Plane sceneries, there was an essential first step to take care of – the installation process. With that in mind, let's get started on this exciting journey.

 

 

Installation 
The installation process, much like many X-Plane sceneries, was relatively straightforward. Upon purchase, two separate download links were provided, one for X-Plane 12, and another for X-Plane 11.

At first glance, the relatively small file size of the scenery (just 290MB), might raise a few eyebrows, given its promised complexity. However, this is due to the required installation of Cami's CDB Library, a resource already widely used and appreciated by the X-Plane community. To further enhance the scenery, the download of a custom Ortho4XP mesh tile for the specific area (+28+082) was required, along with two additional but optional scenery tiles. These ranged from between five and six gigabytes, so if you have a slow internet connection, be prepared for a wait. 

 

Once all the required and optional files were downloaded, unzipped, and then placed into my Custom Scenery folder, the final step of the process was to adjust the scenery load order within the scenerypacks.ini file. Once this was accomplished, I was all set to embark on my journey through VNDP - Dolpa Airport, Nepal. 

 

 

Walkabout
My exploration of Dolpa Airport began at altitude, presenting a broad view of the airport embedded within its vast natural landscape. The custom mesh and photographic scenery, impressive in its magnitude, provided a striking backdrop to the airport. As I lowered towards the airport, the textures of the runway, taxiways, and apron came into clearer focus.

 

The markings were suitably done, contributing to the realistic feeling that resonated throughout the area. Also worth noting was the way in which the mesh had been used to shape smooth surfaces and adjust the airport area topography, an important aspect, especially considering Dolpa’s challenging location.

 

 

Moving closer to ground level, the surrounding 3D vegetation came into view. While there were some slight irregularities with the trees, the overall visual impact was minimal and didn't detract from the scene's immersive atmosphere.

 

 

At ground level, the array of 3D people and animal models added a lively touch to the scenery. The variety of characters, including passengers, locals, and even cows and pets, brought a sense of realism to the setting, reminiscent of a bustling small-town airport.

 

 

The local buildings, all meticulously modelled in 3D, caught my eye as I walked around the airport. The texturing was notably detailed, with some surfaces featuring a weathered appearance. There were a couple of unintentional texture mishaps, but never enough to become an issue.

 

 

The closeness of the buildings, coupled with the mountainous terrain, must have represented a considerable challenge to get right, but it all works well. The high-resolution 2K textures enhanced the visual experience, creating a detailed and realistic local environment.

 

 

My last stop was Dolpa Airport’s main terminal, the largest building in the scenery and one that stood out amongst the smaller structures in the village. The attention to detail was consistent with the rest of the airport, maintaining a unified look across the scenery. While the lack of interior modelling might not appeal to all, it felt like a considered decision, aimed at preserving performance and fluidity during flight operations.

 

 

Night Lighting
Unlike many airports seen worldwide, which are often lit up like Christmas trees, Dolpa's nighttime lighting may initially seem underwhelming to some. However, upon reflection, it appears to be in line with the reality of the actual airport. Given the location, it's reasonable to assume that local power supplies may limit the scale of illumination, setting a more modest expectation for night-time lighting. That said, what lighting is present, is implemented well. Buildings are illuminated sufficiently without being overly bright, offering a sense of realism, instead of standing out like sore thumbs in the night, an issue that some other sceneries have fallen into. 

 

 

As for the runway, it's important to note that there's no lighting available. As the saying goes, discretion is the better part of valour; so, it would be prudent not to entertain any ambitious landing plans after sundown. All in all, the night lighting feels authentic and true to the location, rather than underwhelming, adding another layer of immersion to the experience.

 

 

Winter Textures
X-Plane 12's enhanced weather engine allows for the creation of picturesque winter landscapes, and it would have been remiss not to experience Dolpa's unique winter rendition. Given its geographical location, it was almost a given that the scenery would transform with a sprinkle of snow and the presence of some overcast clouds. The results were nothing short of impressive. The landscape underwent a striking transformation, turning from the usual inviting ambience to something that felt somewhat more daunting, yet visually appealing. While the snow-covered landscape took on a different, more austere look, it maintained an undeniable charm that locals would surely appreciate. 

 

 

Performance
Throughout my testing, spanning various weather conditions and times of day, I found the performance to be more than acceptable, a benefit largely owed to its geographically unique location. Despite the high detail within the village and immediate surroundings, the absence of other settlements or large forested regions, allowed the scenery to provide excellent framerates. 

 

 

Conclusion
As I journeyed through this delightful scenery, it was evident that Cami’s talent and dedication have yet again created a compelling and immersive scenery. Its intricate detail, from the faithful modelling of buildings to the considerate night lighting, all attest to its high-quality craftsmanship. 

Enhanced by X-Plane 12's seasonal capabilities, the scenery beautifully captures Dolpa's unique location. Despite the absence of bustling city lights or crowded terminals, it delivers a unique experience that genuinely captivates. Performance-wise, it excels, promising a smooth journey throughout, allowing users to fully appreciate the scenery's depth without worrying about taxing their systems.

 

In short, Dolpa Airport is an impressive feat of design, a must-explore destination for any X-Plane user, and stands as a testament to Cami’s expertise, underscoring her reputation as a truly valuable contributor to the X-Plane community.

 

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VNDP - Dolpa Airport Nepal XP12 by Cami De Bellis is now available from the X-Plane.Org Store here:

 

VNDP - Dolpa Airport Nepal XP12

Priced at US$19.95

 

Features

• Highly accurate scenery for VNDP- Dolpa/Juphal Airport with all buildings modelled
• Over 40 custom objects all with Ambient Occlusion 
• DSF mesh created and modified to fix bump terrain and set and correct the topography of the airport’s area
• Fully compatible with Ortho4XP_meshes
• Photo real textures on buildings, vehicles etc.
• Detailed airport objects and vehicles 
• Custom textured taxiways, runways, and apron 
• Custom surroundings buildings 
• Custom forest and flora trees 
• High-resolution building textures – all in 2K  
• Excellent night effects 

 

Requirements

X-Plane 12 or X-Plane 11
Windows, Mac, or Linux
4 GB VRAM Minimum - 8 GB+ VRAM Recommended
Download Size: 2.1 GB
Current version: 1.1 (April 18th, 2023)

 

Review System Specifications

Intel i5 10400 – 32GB RAM - Nvidia Asus RTX 3060 – Windows 10 Home 64 Bit

 

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Scenery Review by Dominic Smith
29th June 2023
Copyright©2023: X-Plane Reviews

 

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