Scenery Review: Oslo International Airport, Norway by Taimodels

[Dominic Smith]

 

Scenery Review: Oslo International Airport, Norway by Taimodels

 

By DrishalMAC2

 

Note: YouTube video review at the end of the article. 

 

Introduction

Oslo Gardermoen Airport is an international hub serving the Norwegian capital city of Oslo. It also functions as a key hub for Norwegian Air Shuttle, Scandinavian Airlines, and Widerøe. Originally built as a military base during World War II, it has since evolved into one of Scandinavia's busiest airports.

Located nineteen nautical miles northeast of Oslo, the airport features two parallel north–south runways measuring 3,600 meters (11,811 ft) and 2,950 meters (9,678 ft), along with seventy-one aircraft stands, fifty of which are equipped with jet bridges.

TaiModels has returned with another highly promising airport rendition, this time extending its reach to both X-Plane 11 and 12. As of now, TaiModels' ENGM stands as the only payware option specifically designed for X-Plane 12, superseding, in terms of features, the version already available for X-Plane 11. The airport leverages PBR textures to deliver realism in lighting and reflections, a quality further enhanced by custom-made 3D models of the terminals and other structures. The ground markings also meet high standards of accuracy and detail. Let’s delve into some more details of this scenery!

 

 

 

Installation
The download size of the package is 1.4GB, which is relatively light when you consider the size of some X-Plane sceneries. All that’s required, once unzipped, is to transfer the airport and mesh files to your Custom Scenery folder. You may have to adjust your scenery_packs.ini file, since the mesh file should be positioned below the airport entry.

Included in the download is an “Options” folder, where you can choose to use a flattened version of the airport, which removes the underground tunnel, and is recommended if you're not using the custom mesh file. This folder also contains an Ortho4XP patch file. This patch allows Ortho4XP to generate a tile using the custom mesh; without it, custom ortho tiles won't work. To use this patch, create (if you haven’t already) a folder named +60+010 in your Ortho4XP/Patches directory and paste the +60+011 file from the ENGM download inside. The correct file path should read Ortho4XP\Patches\+60+010\+60+011. I've generated an Ortho4XP tile using this patch and can confirm that it seamlessly integrates with the airport, providing full ortho coverage without sacrificing the custom mesh.

 

Documentation
The provided documentation is comprehensive, detailing how to install both the scenery and the required SAM plugin. It also guides the user through installing the additional options, which are straightforward. While the documentation does not cover how to use the Ortho4XP patch file, this information is readily accessible with a quick Google search.

 

 

Airport
The scenery comes with ortho imagery for only the immediate surrounding area, which is standard for most payware products. Although the existing coverage is of high quality and meshes well with my custom ortho imagery (BI or Arc), it would be great to have the option for a more extensive ortho area.

 

 

The ground textures on the taxiways, ramps, and runways are top-notch and faithfully replicate the real airport. PBR textures, utilised throughout, take full advantage of X-Plane 12's excellent new lighting system. For me, the additional details like tyre marks and oil/fuel spills on the ground are particularly striking, contributing to a sense of weathering and usage at the airport. Transitions between different surface types are seamlessly managed with tar lines, adding depth to the ground textures.

 

 

The primary terminal building is exquisitely modelled, featuring, as expected, high-quality PBR textures. The terminal roof is especially well detailed.

 

 

A partially modelled interior provides just enough visual information when you're parked at the stand, striking a good balance between detail and performance.

 

 

Surrounding structures like the Norwegian Armed Forces Aircraft Collection and nearby hotels, such as the Radisson, are also included and help enhance the general ambience of the scenery. 

 

 

A neat feature enhancing the airport's realism is the 3D grass, which is carefully placed to optimise visual impact and performance, and the balance is executed perfectly.

 

 

Airport clutter is exceptionally well done, featuring all the objects you'd expect at a major international airport. The assortment of vehicles and clutter at each gate appears random, avoiding a repetitive, copy-paste look.

 

 

The airport exudes a sense of liveliness, bolstered by ground vehicles and even a railway line. This is achieved through a proprietary ground traffic plugin that comes with the scenery package. Lastly, the SAM plugin is employed for jetways, and an effective VDGS system at certain gates ensures accurate and realistic parking.

 

 

Night Lighting

Night lighting at the airport is impressively accurate, with the terminal and gate lighting, as well as approach and taxiway lights, all contributing to an immersive night-time flying experience. A minor downside is the always-on NAV lights on parked aircraft, but this is a small issue likely to be addressed in future updates.

 

 

Performance
Given the high level of detail at this airport, the performance is exceptionally good. Personally, I only experienced a slight drop in FPS when flying a heavier aircraft, making this airport well-suited for lower-end PCs without significantly impacting performance. In lighter GA aircraft, such as the default Cessna 172, I encountered no FPS drop whatsoever. Importantly, the airport runs smoothly across various aircraft and scenarios, with no system stuttering to report.

 

 

Conclusion
In summary, TaiModels' ENGM airport is an absolute must-have for any avid X-Plane user, especially those who enjoy flying in the scenic vistas of Norway. Not only does it offer a visually stunning and realistic experience, but it also boasts seamless performance, even on lower-end PCs. From the intricacies of the terminal buildings to the small details like accurate taxiway lighting and immersive night operations, this airport excels on all fronts.

 

The ease of installation and customisability via the options folder only add to its appeal. While some might find the lack of extended ortho imagery or the always-on NAV lights on parked aircraft to be minor drawbacks, these are far outweighed by the airport's many strengths. Most importantly, the developer seems committed to ongoing improvements, making it a worthy investment for the future.

 

If the captivating landscapes of Norway call to you, then this is one scenery pack you won't want to pass up.

 

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Oslo International Airport by Taimodels is now available from the X-Plane.Org Store here:

 

Oslo International Airport

Priced at US$24.49

 

Features:

• Highly detailed models
• SAM amination jetways
• High quality PBR texture on object and ground
• High performance
• Completed autogen around airport
• Ground traffic plugins (car and truck)
• for both X-Plane 12 and X-Plane 11

Requirements

X-Plane 12 or X-Plane 11 (2 versions included)
Windows, Mac, or Linux
4 GB VRAM Minimum - 8 GB+ VRAM Recommended
Download Size: 1.5 GB
Current version: 1.1 xp12 (August 15th, 2023)

 

Review System Specifications

Windows 10 Intel i5-12400F 32GB RTX 3070Ti 

 

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Scenery Review by DrishalMAC2
28th Sept 2023
Copyright©2023: X-Plane Reviews

 

(Disclaimer. All images and text in this review are the work and property of X-PlaneReviews, no sharing or copying of the content is allowed without consent from the author as per copyright conditions).