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Found 16 results

  1. Scenery Review: EGCC - Manchester International Airport by Taimodels By DrishalMAC2 Introduction Manchester Airport, located in Ringway, Manchester, England, is approximately nine miles south-west of the city centre. As of 2019, it stood as the third busiest airport in the United Kingdom by passenger numbers, and notably, the busiest outside of London. Boasting two parallel runways each measuring 3,048 meters (10,000 feet), the airport is well-equipped with an extensive array of over a hundred aircraft stands. It features three passenger terminals alongside a cargo terminal, establishing itself as a crucial hub for both domestic and international flights. Over the years, Manchester Airport has transitioned from a modest regional airfield, to one of the UK's premier aviation gateways. This latest release from TaiModels is said to incorporate state-of-the-art features that significantly enhance both the visual and functional aspects of the airport, whilst promising at the same time, unmatched performance. Let's embark on a journey to the North West of England and evaluate how this scenery stands up. Installation The download package for this scenery is quite substantial, with a zipped file size of 1.9GB and an unzipped size of 3.88GB. This is notably larger compared to TaiModels' ENGM or EGLL sceneries. The reason behind this size is the extensive detail included in the package. To install, you should first unzip the file and then transfer the airport and mesh files into your X-Plane Custom Scenery folder. It might be necessary to tweak your scenery_packs.ini file to ensure the mesh file sits below the airport entry. However, I found that the naming convention used by TaiModels meant the scenery worked seamlessly right after installation. Also, part of the download is a folder labelled “OPTION,” which offers the choice of a flattened airport version. Opting for this version removes the underground tunnel, a feature that is particularly recommended for those not using the custom mesh file. Ortho4XP Patch The scenery package includes highly detailed Zoom-Level (ZL) 21 Ortho imagery for the vicinity of the airport. However, for those who prefer to use their personalized ortho imagery across the entire tile, traditionally, the custom mesh could complicate this due to potential visual discrepancies. Thankfully, the included manual offers a solution through a link to an ortho patch file. This patch enables the creation of an Ortho4XP tile that incorporates the custom mesh with your own Ortho4XP imagery. The instructions provided are straightforward, making the integration process relatively simple. Having used this patch to generate an Ortho4XP tile myself, I can attest to its effectiveness in blending the airport seamlessly with comprehensive ortho coverage, all the while maintaining the integrity of the custom mesh. However, for the purpose of this written review, all screenshots will show the scenery in its standard form. Documentation The PDF documentation accompanying this scenery package is concise yet sufficiently clear and straightforward. It covers essential installation instructions for the scenery itself and the required SAM library, also including the previously mentioned link to the Ortho4XP patch. Despite being brief, its clarity ensures users can follow the necessary steps without confusion. However, it's worth noting the absence of airport charts or detailed information about the airport, which I feel represents a missed opportunity. Aerial Perspective TaiModels' rendition of Manchester Airport includes comprehensive coverage of ortho imagery, extending just beyond the airport's boundaries. This level of detail is a significant improvement over many other payware scenery packages I have experienced of late. The imagery is of high quality and integrates seamlessly with personal Ortho4XP tiles generated for the area. Runway & Taxiway Texture Quality Descending closer to ground level, the precision of the runway's Physically Based Rendering (PBR) textures becomes apparent. These textures, which include a variety of asphalt and concrete types, are particularly detailed with signs of wear, such as tire marks, cracks, and oil or fuel stains. The developer's careful placement of varied texture types works well and significantly enhances the realism of the airport's surfaces. Signage & Foliage The airport and its taxiways are enhanced with a generous amount of 3D grass, which not only heightens the visual appeal with its careful placement but also impresses with its performance. Quite often, the overuse of grass can detract from its performance; however, this scenery manages to maintain high frame rates at most times of the day, at least on my system. The taxiway signs are rendered with high-quality textures, maintaining their clarity even when viewed up close, a noticeable improvement over the default signs provided by Laminar Research. Additionally, the accuracy and sharpness of the taxiway ground textures are commendable, with a detailed comparison to Google Maps validating their placement. Notably, the inclusion of playful elements like the "I Love MCR" slogan on the apron adds a touch of authenticity and character. Airport Buildings Venturing beyond the runways and taxiways reveals various areas of interest, including a children’s play area, a fire practice zone equipped with a mock-up aircraft, and several other noteworthy buildings. The parking facilities, which include both ground-level lots and intricately modelled 3D multi-story car parks, are populated with numerous 3D modelled vehicles. This attention to detail, avoiding the use of 2D flat vehicle textures, significantly enhances the realism and immersion of the scenery. Adjacent to the main terminal buildings, the Ibis, Holiday Inn, Radisson Blu, and Crowne Plaza hotels are depicted with a high level of detail and accuracy. The inclusion of the airport’s railway station, aptly named "The Station," illustrates the benefits of the custom mesh. The station, like the previously mentioned hotels, is also modelled to a high standard, enriching the airport's overall authenticity without over embellishment. Terminal Buildings The terminal buildings at Manchester Airport, comprising Terminals 1, 2, and 3, are interconnected through a combination of the Skylink and a covered walkway. TaiModels has created a wonderful recreation of all three terminals, blending exceptional 3D modelling with attention to detail. The inclusion of large glass sections and intricately modelled features like AC vents and railings highlights their commitment to realism. All three terminals are further enhanced by PBR texturing, although their placement on a relatively low-resolution ortho tile might be seen as a minor drawback when viewed up close. While accurate, one could argue that custom ground textures might have offered an aesthetic upgrade, albeit potentially at the expense of geographical accuracy. Terminal 1 Catering to airlines operating both scheduled and charter flights to European and other international destinations, Terminal 1 stands as the airport's second largest. Inaugurated in 1962 by Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh, it serves as a base for easyJet, among others. Terminal 2 Opened in 1993, Terminal 2 is utilised by a diverse group of airlines for charter and scheduled services to numerous destinations across Europe and globally. Terminal 3 Inaugurated in 1989 by Diana, Princess of Wales, Terminal 3 initially served as a domestic hub before its expansion and rebranding in May 1998. It has undergone several name changes prior to its current designation. World Freight Terminal The World Freight Terminal, operational since 1986, caters to cargo flights and cargo transported on passenger services. This area is equipped with large warehouses, pallets, and trucks, and one can envisage its bustling activity, especially during peak times like Christmas, mirroring the vibrancy of the passenger terminals. Terminal Interiors The interior designs of all three terminals at Manchester Airport have been thoughtfully included, with Terminal 1 presenting the least detail. Despite this, the level of detail in Terminal 1 remains commendable and is appreciable even from the exterior. Terminals 2 and 3, on the other hand, boast significantly more detailed interiors across larger areas, offering visually pleasing environments. The modelling across these terminals strikes a careful balance, offering a reasonable amount of detail without venturing into excessive complexity that could potentially impair performance in terms of frame rates. One notable area for potential improvement would be the inclusion of 3D people models. Despite this omission, the overall execution of the terminal interiors is impressive, with careful attention to maintaining a balance between detail and performance, ensuring that the visual appeal does not come at the expense of usability. Hangars & Maintenance Facilities Exploring beyond the passenger terminals of Manchester Airport reveals a variety of hangars and maintenance facilities. These include hangars initially designated for Thomas Cook, which, following the airline's cessation of operations, should technically be referred to as "STS" hangars. Additionally, facilities for Air Livery, Jet2.com, and other maintenance services are present. A noteworthy highlight is the presence of vintage aircraft on static display, such as the Nimrod and VC10, which add a historical dimension to the airport's modern infrastructure. Ground Clutter & Animated Features The scenery includes animated baggage carts, pushback trucks, and a variety of other vehicles typical of a bustling international airport. The random assortment of vehicles and equipment at each gate effectively avoids a repetitive "copy and paste" appearance, contributing to a dynamic and authentic environment. When combined with third-party add-ons like Traffic Global, the airport's atmosphere is significantly enriched, mirroring the lively ambiance of a real-world airport. The integration of the SAM plugin for jetways and the implementation of a Visual Docking Guidance System (VDGS) at selected gates, further increases the realism. Night lighting The custom night lighting employed at Manchester Airport is well-executed, ensuring that the main runways, taxiway lights, and gates are adequately illuminated for operations after dark. The lighting effectively enhances visibility, contributing to a realistic night-time flying experience. The illumination of all three terminals, alongside the expansive array of maintenance buildings and hangars, contributes significantly to the scenery, introducing an additional layer of realism that enhances the visual appeal and atmospheric depth, especially during evening and nighttime scenarios. Performance Given the intricate level of detail incorporated into many parts of this scenery by TaiModels, the performance it delivers is exceptionally high. In my personal testing, I noticed only a slight reduction in frames per second (FPS) when operating larger widebody aircraft, a factor more attributable to the aircraft model and my computer's specifications than to the scenery itself. This indicates that the developers have invested significant effort in optimising the scenery for a broad range of PC capabilities, ensuring smooth and stutter-free performance across different aircraft types. The performance is even more remarkable when flying lighter General Aviation (GA) aircraft, such as the default Cessna 172. In these cases, I experienced no FPS drops at all, suggesting an optimisation level that surpasses even the default Manchester Airport scenery, resulting in improved FPS. This level of optimisation is a testament to TaiModels' commitment to delivering high-quality scenery that enhances the experience without compromising on performance, making it accessible to users with varying hardware setups. Issues / Improvements TaiModels' Manchester Airport impresses with its stunning visuals, yet like all sceneries, it's not without minor issues. Notably, without the ortho patch and elevation fixes, users might see a black texture on the airport's north side, a problem solved by applying these fixes. Additionally, the lack of people in the terminals and the outdated reference to the Thomas Cook hangar, which should now be labeled as "STS" following the airline's closure, slightly reduces the scenery's authenticity. Moreover, the documentation could be richer, including airport charts and a historical overview for direct access, enhancing the package's value. Despite these minor issues, it's clear that TaiModels has invested considerable effort into creating an immersive experience, and with their track record of updates, there's every reason to believe these areas will see enhancement in future versions. Conclusion In summing up, TaiModels' rendition of EGCC Manchester Airport is a fantastic package that offers exceptional value for both X-Plane 12 and 11 users. This scenery excels in delivering a highly immersive experience, underpinned by robust visuals and performance that together, create a compelling virtual environment. While the package does include minor issues as mentioned previously, these elements do not mar the overall excellence of the scenery. Instead, they highlight areas for enhancement in subsequent updates, suggesting a pathway towards an even more refined and lifelike representation of Manchester Airport. For those ready to embark on their next virtual journey, TaiModels' Manchester Airport offers a compelling starting point, one which is poised to enrich any X-Plane user's experience with its detailed realism and immersive environment. ________________________ ________________________ EGCC- Manchester Int'l Airport by TaiModels is now available from the X-Plane.Org Store here: EGCC- Manchester Int'l Airport Priced at $27.00 Features Hyper-Detailed models SAM amination jetways High quality PBR textures on objects and ground for superb reflections High performance Completed autogen around the airport Ground traffic plugins (car and truck) Compatible with XP11 and XP12 - Both versions included Includes weather texture in X-Plane 12 Requirements X-Plane 12 or X-Plane 11 - Both Versions Included Windows, Mac, or Linux 8 GB VRAM Minimum Download Size: 2 GB __________________________________ Scenery Review by DrishalMAC2 16th February 2024 Copyright©2024: 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).
  2. Scenery Review - YBCS Cairns International Airport Australia by Taimodels Australia is strange place to visit, by sea or air, as you can travel thousands of kilometers past the northern coastline until you reach any major population centre. More oddly is the continent's relationship with Asia, again to the north. In some ways Asia is on Australia's doorstep, but to the Australians they could be half the world away. It is a remote land. You have to in reality fly to Brisbane on Australia's east middle coast, or to Perth on the country's lower west coast if you want to mix with the main population centres, Sydney and Melbourne are set even far lower again, with Melbourne on the southern coast, the rest is just a wide open barren landscape. Those were your only main port choices until only less than a decade ago. Things are changing. Two northern ports however are in particular very important to this change, one is Darwin's International Airport, and it is still not what you would call a big airport as in also being part of a military base. The second is Cairns International, in Far North Queensland (FNQ), and it is strategically Australia's closest airport to Asia. Cairns Airport goes back to 1928, but it was not until the second world war the Australian Government bought the airport for use by the Royal Australian Air Force. In 1943, the main runway was hard surfaced and lengthened to handle military aircraft. It was also used by the United States Army Air Forces as a transport base, with the 33d Troop Carrier Squadron (374th Troop Carrier Group) operating from the base during 1942. During the mid-1960s, the airport was upgraded and the runway further lengthened to 2,020 m (6,630 ft) and also strengthened so jets could land. During the 1970s, Australia's two domestic airlines Trans Australia Airlines and Ansett then provided regular scheduled services out of CNS to most Australian capital cities and also Papua New Guinea, while in 1975 Air Niugini became the first international airline to commence flights out of Cairns, to Port Moresby in Papua New Guinea. In 1982, redevelopment of the airport commenced. This involved further lengthening of the runway to 2,600 m (8,500 ft) (making it the longest runway in Queensland) and construction of a new terminal building. At the end of the 70's decade the second stage of redevelopment was completed. This included a new separate International Terminal, associated aprons and taxiways, costing an estimated $80 million. The main runway was again extended, to 3,196 m (10,486 ft). In 1997, the third stage of redevelopment was completed, during which a three-storey Airport Administration Centre was also constructed providing 4,000 m2 (43,000 sq ft) of office space. In January 2010, Auckland International Airport Limited announced that it had purchased 24.6 per cent of North Queensland Airports (NQA). Then a $55 million Domestic Terminal upgrade was completed in August 2020. Check-in facilities was expanded into a common-user facility for all airlines, and the building again enlarged. Five new jet bridges replaced the existing three old bridges. In early 2023, it was announced that the International Terminal (Terminal 1) would undergo its first major upgrade in April 2023 to a value of AUD$40-50 million. The first of which would feature the installation of four new glass air-bridges and the re-cladding of the exterior of the building. Everything in passenger numbers were building nicely over the last decade, mostly Asian tourists, coming in to view the famous Great Barrier Reef which is situated very close to Cairns, then the pandemic rolled in and the numbers flat-lined, and yet have to recover. But operations are already starting to open up with international Jetstar services to Osaka–Kansai, Tokyo–Narita in Japan. But if one airport in Australia is primed for huge expansion it is CNS Cairns, as noted it is the most northern of Australian Airports, but it's neighbour Papua New Guinea is a big market, not to mention surrounding regional services, FI-FO (Flyin - Flyout) services to the mining industry is also a huge traffic bonanza, and the famous Australian Flying Doctor also has a facility here... Its a busy place, for somewhere so remote. For X-Plane users Australia has not been at the front of quality scenery, in fact for a simple demographic population, the releases have been dismal, there is even a poor representation in freeware, never mind quality payware, but the last few years it has got marginally better. Orbx delivered an excellent Brisbane BNE and even a city package that is well worth the investment, Perth is served by Axonos as is the Gold Coast YBCG. But there is currently no MEL - Melbourne, the biggest port in Australia, and that aspect that shows how lacking we are over here, Canberra, Hobart, Adelaide are also non-existent, the last Alice Springs YBAS actually made me cry it was so badly made. So thank god for Taimodels. First they delivered an excellent YSSY - Sydney International last year, and now here we have again another Australian scenery from Taimodels, this one is YBCS - Cairns International. Obviously I wanted to do the usual BNE-CNS route (QF 5908). Departure from Brisbane was under a heavy low cloud, its been like this for a week now, with the odd patches of rain. The service today is by the Zibo Boeing 737-800, and it is a 2h 5m + flight. You always know when you are approaching Cairns, it is brighter up here, hotter too. Most approaches into Cairns will mean an easy parallel track, mostly you arrive via RWY 15, as RWY 33 is a more tighter approach and departure, actually through the Goldsborough Valley, or a left tight 015º turn after departure. Cairns Airport IATA: CNS - ICAO: YBCS - WMO: 94287 15/33 3,156m (10,354ft) Asphalt Elevation AMSL 10 ft/3 m Your approach is usually via SUNNY, to D16.0 and then track 150º until you collect the ILS (109.9 ICS) I always loved a Cairns Approach, as you have be really on your alerts and as to get the landing sequence right, for there is a wall of high terrain to your west, so you can't afford to mess up the approach. Now you will get your first clear view of YBCS, most of the airport (terminals) are to the eastern side. As you pass over the Barron River, there is some very well designed and placed Approach Lighting, this why you buy Payware, because you get detail. Finals! Both ends of 15/33 have turnarounds... ground linage is very impressive, if a little confusing from the cockpit. No guidance boards, but a marshaller... and there is a little, but still ample clutter, but no animated ramp traffic? so it all feels slightly empty. Looks like Cairns, certainly feels like Cairns... so it must be the Cairns I know so well. _________________ The single long 15/33 magnetic runway 3,156m (10,354ft) now dominates, as the shorter sealed light aircraft runway 12/30 has been decommissioned. The Terminal layout is a square L shape with the earlier Domestic Terminal sited North/South, and the newer International Terminal sited East/West. The airport has two passenger terminals on the eastern side of the airport on reclaimed mangrove swamp. They are approximately 6 km (3.7 mi) north of the Cairns Central Shopping Centre and situated on Airport Avenue off Sheridan Street (Captain Cook Highway). The terminals are in two separate buildings 200 m (660 ft) from one another. The Domestic terminal is number 2 and it has five jet bridges and 17 gates, while the International Terminal is number 1 and it currently has six jet bridges and ten gates in total. Domestic In all my time in X-Plane, the CNS Domestic terminal has been a long rectangle box, with five stick airbridges sticking out, that is freeware for you. But here we get the fully replicated domestic terminal from Taimodels... yes its very good, as Taimodels are very, very good at modeling terminals. Impressive are the five scissor walkways to each airbridge, they are a very nice detail of the terminal's hodge-podge design. Landside is extremely well done, with great glass and signage. But the area is devoid of any life, no passengers or vehicles to make it look like a busy airport, so what is wrong with a bit of life clutter? All of YBCS uses the SAM3 animated airbridges for aircraft connection, plugin is needed of course, but it's a nice interactivity. Arrivals, Departure and the main Terminal internal lounge are all internally present, nicely done, but again devoid of any life, a shame as it's well done. International Terminal I'm not sure of the presented International Terminal is the older, or newer? but will say it is the current facility in being very colourful. The design is very basic, really a big shed style terminal, but again Taimodels have done a perfect job in recreating the look and feel of the facility. The building detail is first rate, there is also the added bonus of animated traffic through the international arrivals area, and even a bus. Internally the International Terminal is well done, bright and very FNQ in style and feel, but again not much activity or passengers. Notable is the glass, as it is nicely transparent, the trees outside will move if the wind is strong enough, and cars passing by helps as well. On the Airside, the departure lounges are done, but its all a bit sparse, so in areas here it feels not completed either with empty shops. So you wish for more as more intimate detail here, as it would lift the scenery to the higher grade it deserves. Cargo The freight zone south of the Domestic Terminal is small, in fact it only has one parking bay (23). But it is a generously sized one and could easily cater for a large B748 or B744 freighter. There is a little bit of cargo clutter that is nice, but again it is sparse around the buildings. Central Control Tower and Airport Administration Centre stand out, both are very nicely done. Important as they are so very visible in the scenery. The Australian design and feel of the buildings is very evident in the scenery, so Taimodels have done a great job in this aspect. There is a basic layout set out in the tower control room, but the heavy blue glass tint makes it (very) hard to see the two approaches. Landside is really good. There is a photo underlay, but it's not at all intrusive. Carparks are well laid out with loads of 3d vehicles, and auxiliary buildings are also numerous and photo correct. More signage would have been nice, but again that Aussie feel comes across well. In clutter, some service vehicles are Qantas branded, but again everything in services is not overwhelming. Southwest is the General Aviation and Services area. This area includes the famous Australian Royal Flying Doctor Service (RFDS), and they have a significant base here covering the Cape York Peninsula, which stretches north to the Torres Strait, and west to the Gulf Country. Again some signage or aircraft denoting the Service would have been nice. Hinterland, GSL and JetAviation are all represented... there are a few static aircraft, but these ramps are usually very crowded and busy, were as here the opposite. Nautilus Aviation and GBR Helicopters are also represented, in fact there is a wide choice of landing pads over most of the scenery. Northwest is the (photographic) Northern Waste Treatment plant, but there are some 3d buildings surround it, making the area realistic. Several points are the missing vehicle Captain Cook Hwy bridges over the Barron River, visible from any northern arrival or departure, it's an ugly join as well. Another missing piece is the retired Bush Pilots Airways DC-3 memorial that is now gone, it was originally a visible statement on the entrance to the domestic airport... it was moved to the western side, then later broken up, the significant white Hercules is however still present but not shown here. Secondly there is only a small section of parameter fencing on the west side, and all the airports boundaries are very well defined, so it is noticeable sadly. Ground textures As this scenery is X-Plane 12 certified, you do get an odd situation considering the foliage. X-Plane 12 has seasons, that turns the foliage into colours or trees with no leaves in the winter... here in FNQ the system works badly against you. First of all in Northern Australia there are no typical four block seasons, just a Dry or Wet season, and it's a tropical clime up here as well, so the trees don't really change that much thoughout the year. But X-Plane does what X-Plane does, and it swaps the seasons around as well, actually the wrong way, as this is the Southern Hemisphere. So what you get are brown autumn trees in the Spring/Summer? here Taimodels have used the XP12 3d foliage trees... .... and it simply doesn't work, as the colours don't match in with the surrounding textures or the area There is a trick to get it right. Turn off the "Time of Day" and set (Customize) your month to June or July, and the colours will come green and right again, odd as those months are set deep into the Australia's winter? Another small nark is the grass. Here you get 3d grass, but the VOD is very small, and so the big bushes here tend to appear and disappear in a heavy line as you move, or when you takeoff/land. Basically you are better off by removing the 3d foliage as the ground is lighter below as well... overall the grass it just doesn't work and it looks artificially horrible. The main textures are okay, certainly not totally realistic, but still in the "not bad" category as well, grain is good, as are the marks, and there is depth to the textures...oil/fuel spills and grunge on the ground are realistic, with a good sense of weathering and usage at the airport. PBR reflective (wet) active textures and burnt-in ambient occlusion is also available here, and are excellent for those sudden explosive summer rainstorms, but there are no winter textures this close to the equator. Only bloat on the copybook are the iron rod straight lines set on the edge of the runways and taxiways. Lighting Overall the lighting is pretty dire.... not a strong area with Taimodels, but Cairns is their worst lighting to date. Approach lighting adheres to the X-Plane 12 standards, but everything else goes downhill from there. Ramps are shown in a soft yellow glow, but most of the working areas and gates are in darkness. Only bright spots (pun intended) are the Domestic and International arrival areas, the rest depends on the odd spot lighting and road lighting, signage lighting is also non-existent. Internal Domestic and International terminals relies on intermittent spot lighting? again it all looks very average. On the GA services side it is lit up like a Christmas Tree with tons of of harsh spot lighting... .... but the real concern here is all the missing taxiway side and centreline lighting, as there isn't any at all, not impressed! Summary Considering the long distances to get to Australia, there is not a lot of quality X-Plane scenery available when you do finally get here. Only Sydney (Taimodels) and Brisbane (Orbx) have extensive payware scenery, Melbourne is sadly lacking even a decent freeware, so don't mention a quality payware. That is the very sad state of affairs down under. But here is their second Australian scenery from Taimodels, and it's set in the Far North Of Queensland, Cairns International. A welcome choice from the earlier cheap YBCS rectangle boxes and five stick airbridges. The CNS scenery shows the absolute strength and weaknesses of Taimodels as a developer, gladly the strong is way better than the few weak here. Starting with the excellent terminal modeling, both externally and internally, it is all very well done and has that Cairns FNQ feel and look. Airbridges are all SAM3 powered and animated, but with marshallers and not guidance boards. Good photo underlays give a solid base that covers all the areas of the airport, including an excellent landside, and the west side General Aviation and Services areas, including the Royal Flying Doctor Service building. Control tower, airport administration building and auxiliary buildings are all very well done. The average is not a lot that could not be fixed up in an update. Far more detail and signage with clutter and landside detail, including passengers and their baggage, both inside and external Terminals would be very nice, some airside animation in service vehicles would also add in some activity... this is all fine tuning stuff, but the real detail required here is the lighting. It needs to be far better than this, but no taxiway lighting is not just a oversight, but is even detrimental to the developers reputation at this level. First thoughts are that any payware scenery, rather than no quality scenery is what is probably delivered here by Taimodels. But that is not the case, as overall this Cairns International scenery for X-Plane 12 is excellent, and far, far better than just filling in a location to fly to. It delivers an excellent representation of Cairns International, in look and feel, and the cost at around US$20 it is value packed as well. Taimodels as scenery developers are extremely good now, but need to do or finish the finer, finer detail to reach that coveted 5 star status, its close here, so very close. But overall Taimodels YBCS is quality scenery for the X-Plane 12 Simulator. __________________________ The YBCS - Cairns International Airport Australia by Taimodels is NOW available! from the X-Plane.Org Store YBCS - Cairns International Airport Australia Priced at US$20.00 Requirements X-Plane 12 or X-Plane 11 (both versions included) Windows, Mac or Linux 8 GB+ VRAM Recommended Download Size: 810 GB Released Nov 3rd 2023 Installation Installation of YBCS - Cairns International Airport Australia is done via download of 775 Mb... There two files TMS_Cairns_International_YBCS (1.42Gb) TMS_YBCS_Mesh (3.05Mb) With a total installation size of 1.48Gb. The "YBCS_Mesh" must be in the lower order in the SCENERY_PACK_INI, and set below the main "TMS_Cairns_International_YBCS" scenery file. SAM Plugin - Scenery Animation Manager - Suite 3.0 or higher is required for this scenery There is one basic installation pdf (3 pages) Review System Specifications Windows - 12th Gen IS1700 Core i7 12700K 12 Core 3.60 GHz CPU - 64bit -32 Gb single 1067 Mhz DDR4 2133 - PNY GeForce RTX 3080 10GB XLR8 - Samsung 970 EVO+ 2TB SSD Software: - Windows 11 Pro - X-Plane 12.07r1 (This is a Release Candidate review). Plugins: Traffic Global - JustFlight-Traffic (X-Plane.OrgStore) US$52.99 : Global SFD plugin US$30.00 Scenery or Aircraft -Zibo Boeing 737X - ____________________________ Scenery Review by Stephen Dutton 14th November 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 copy of the content is allowed without consent from the author as per copyright conditions) All Rights Reserved
  3. NEWS! - Scenery Released : YBCS - Cairns International Airport Australia by Taimodels After their excellent YSSY - Sydney International Airport last year. Taimodels are back in Australia with the airport scenery release of YBCS - Cairns International in the far north Queensland. The geo-positioning, makes the airport one of the closest to Asia for the Southern continent, and over the last few years more international carriers have been creating tourist routes from CNS to Singapore and China, damaged by the pandemic, they are now returning with 22 airlines registering intent on starting services. Domestic travel is also very high, but unique to Australia is the huge FI-FO (Fly in-Fly Out) services that cover the mining industry and the Far North, and the tourism nature of the Great Barrier Reef. Formerly operated by the Cairns Port Authority, the airport was sold by the Queensland Government in January 2010, to Auckland International Airport Limited, in they announced that it had purchased 24.6 per cent of North Queensland Airports (NQA), operator of the airports at Cairns and Mackay. It is the seventh busiest airport in Australia. The airport is located 2.3 nautical miles (4.3 km; 2.6 mi) north northwest of Cairns or 7 kilometres (4.3 mi) north of the Cairns central business district, in the suburb of Aeroglen. The airport lies between Mount Whitfield to the west and Trinity Bay to the east. Features - Highly detailed models - SAM amination jetways - High quality pbr texture on objects and ground - High performance and FPS - Completed autogen around airport - Ground traffic plugins( car and truck) - Compatible with XP11 and XP12 (both versions included) - Include weather textures in X-Plane 12 SAM 3 Plugin is required for this scenery, and both X-Plane 12 and X-Plane 11 versions are supplied with this scenery package _______________________________ The YBCS - Cairns International Airport Australia by Taimodels is NOW available! from the X-Plane.Org Store YBCS - Cairns International Airport Australia Priced at US$20.00 Requirements X-Plane 12 or X-Plane 11 (both versions included) Windows, Mac or Linux 8 GB+ VRAM Recommended Download Size: 810 GB Released Nov 3rd 2023 ___________________________ News by Stephen Dutton 4th November 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 copy of the content is allowed without consent from the author as per copyright conditions) All Rights Reserved
  4. 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. ________________________ 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 __________________________________ 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).
  5. NEWS! - TaiModels releases Oslo Gardermoen Airport for X-Plane 12 It has become a bit of a game... what major airport would TaiModels do next? My money was on WSSS or Singapore International (again), but no TaiModels made me lose my office bet a second time by releasing Oslo, Norway... or Oslo Gardermoen Airport. Either way it was a good choice. From my perspective I use ENGM Gardermoen a lot in X-Plane, in personal flights and for reviews. That is the Aerosoft Oslo XP version. Very good it is, but this Aerosoft version was made for X-Plane 10, and had only a few updates for X-Plane 11. It is still very good, but also now showing it's age. Will I switch? that is a very good question, but the attraction to a more modern version of ENGM and X-Plane 12's active dynamic winter features is a big, big drawcard, but I am also very much in regard for the Aerosoft version... a review might answer my question. Oslo Airport Gardermoen is the main airport serving Norway’s capital, Oslo and the municipals surrounding that area. It is located about 35 km to the North of the city. A surface area of 13 sq km, two runways and more than 100 international destinations make it the busiest airport in Norway. Gardermoen also serves as a hub for Norwegian Air Shuttle, Scandinavian Airlines as well as Widerøe. 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 Images courtesy of TaiModels ________________ The ENGM Oslo International Airport, Norway by TaiModels is now available from the X-Plane.OrgStore!... Here: Oslo International Airport, Norway Price is US$24.49 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: 1.0 (August 15th 2023) ________________ NEWS! by Stephen Dutton 16th August 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 copy of the content is allowed without consent from the author as per copyright conditions) All Right Reserved.
  6. NEWS! : Scenery Release : KPHF - Newport News / Williamsburg Airport by Taimodels Over the last few years, most releases from TaiModels have been mega airports, like the last two in EGLL - Heathrow and VHHH - Hong Kong International, both massive ports. So it is a bit of a surprise to see a small regional airport come from TaiModels (I was expecting WSSS - Singapore next?)... in KPHF - Newport News / Williamsburg Airport. Newport News/Williamsburg International Airport (IATA: PHF, ICAO: KPHF, FAA LID: PHF) is in Newport News, Virginia, United States, and serves the Hampton Roads area along with Norfolk International Airport in Norfolk. The airport is owned and operated by the Peninsula Airport Commission, a political subdivision of the Commonwealth of Virginia. PHF covers 1,800 acres (728 ha). The Newport News scenery is only a 880 Mb and priced at US$20.00. Features: High detail models SAM animation jetways High quality pbr texture on object and ground High performance Completed autogen around airport Ground traffic plugins( car and truck) Compatible with XP11 and XP12 Includes weather textures in X-Plane 12 Images courtesy of TaiModels ________________________________________ The KPHF - Newport News / Williamsburg Airport by TaiModels is now available from the X-Plane.OrgStore!... Here: KPHF - Newport News / Williamsburg Airport Price is US$20.50 Requirements X-Plane 12 or X-Plane 11 Windows, Mac or Linux 8 GB VRAM Minimum Download Size: 660 MB Current version : 1.0 (June 5th 2023) ________________ NEWS! by Stephen Dutton 5th June 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 copy of the content is allowed without consent from the author as per copyright conditions) All Right Reserved.
  7. NEWS! - Scenery Release : VHHH - Chep Lok, Hong Kong International by TaiModels After a huge amount of scenery releases in 2022 from TaiModels, then here after EGLL-Heathrow is another mega airport, this is a significant one in the Far East, VHHH-Chep Lok in Hong Kong. A personal plus airport, as many times I have transited Chep Lok going to and from Australia to the UK, so I know the airport well. So this is a really nice addition to any network... and to a point an important one to be added into any long haul collection... and very, very good it is. Important added into the TaiModels scenery are the latest new additions to Chep Lok... The third runway, with its own dedicated passenger concourse (T2 Concourse), that was built parallel to the current two runways on reclaimed land directly north of the existing airport island. The third runway (referred as the North runway) began operations in July 2022. Meanwhile the original North runway (re-designated as the Centre runway) was closed for reconfiguration and is expected to be completed by 2024, alongside other facilities of the Three-runway system project including the T2 expansion, new T2 Concourse, connecting Airbridge, automatic people mover. And they are all included in here! Features include: Both X-Plane 12 and X-Plane 11 versions included High details on tunnel and terrain High quality textures with PBR materials High details models inside Terminal High performance Completed autogen and city around airport Ground traffic plugins( car, train and truck) Includes weather textures in X-Plane 12 The scenery features an accurate rendition of "Chp Lok" Hong Kong's International Airport, with high-quality textures, complete autogen around the city, ground traffic plugins, weather textures for X-Plane 12, high-detail models inside the terminal, PBR materials, performance-friendly optimization, and is compatibility with both X-Plane 11 and 12. Images courtesy of TaiModels ________________________________________ The VHHH - Chep Lok, Hong Kong by TaiModels is now available from the X-Plane.OrgStore!... Here: VHHH - Hong Kong International Airport Price is US$28.50 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 Install size is 4.30Gb Current version: 1.0 (April 18th 2023) ________________ NEWS! by Stephen Dutton 19th April 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 copy of the content is allowed without consent from the author as per copyright conditions) All Right Reserved.
  8. NEWS! - Scenery Released : KSMF Sacramento International Airport by TaiModels A new year in 2023 and already another new scenery from TaiModels. This time it is California, in good old USA and Sacramento International Airport. Sacramento International Airport (KSMF) is located 10.5 miles (16.9 km) northwest of Downtown Sacramento in Sacramento County, California, United States and covers 6,000 acres (2,400 ha). KSMF serves the Sacramento Metropolitan Area, and it is run by the Sacramento County Airport System. The airport is the main gateway to the California State Capitol. The airport is also a gateway to the attractions and adventures in Northern and Central California such as Heavenly Mountain Resort, Lake Tahoe, Yosemite National Park, Old Sacramento State Historic Park history of gold rush, underground tunnels, floods, and fire, etc., Wine Country, Yolo Bypass Wildlife Area, Cosumnes River Preserve, Hawver Cave and Sutter's Mill and Marshall Gold Discovery State Historic Park. Features Highly detailed 3D modeling SAM amination jetways High quality PBR texture on object and ground High performance Completed autogen around airport Ground traffic plugins( car and truck) Compatible with XP11 and XP12 Includes weather textures in X-Plane 12 Images courtesy of TaiModels ________________________________________ The KSMF - Sacramento International Airport by TaiModels is now available from the X-Plane.OrgStore!... Here: KSMF - Sacramento International Airport Price is US$20.50 Requirements X-Plane 12 or X-Plane 11 Windows, Mac or Linux 8 GB VRAM Minimum Download Size: 710 MB Current version : 1.0 (January 2nd 2023) ________________ NEWS! by Stephen Dutton 4th January 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 copy of the content is allowed without consent from the author as per copyright conditions) All Right Reserved.
  9. NEWS! - Scenery Released : London Heathrow International Airport - EGLL - XP12 and 11 by TaiModels You have to admit it, they are ambitious over at TaiModels. Not only releasing Sydney (YSSY), Dubai (OMDB) and OOMS (Muscat) in 2022, here is another Mega scenery for one of the seriously largest and busiest hubs in the world... London Heathrow (EGLL). Available for X-Plane 12 and also X-Plane 11 and older versions, both of which versions are included in the package. My current EGLL is the Aerosoft's; Scenery Review : EGLL London-Heathrow by Aerosoft / SimWings, it has nice T5 textures, but poor (marginal) animated gates, and it's heavy on you graphic card, but it is (or was) a very good EGLL. But this scenery was released back in 2015, so how far have we come, and now with the X-Plane 12 effects as well... can TaiModel's Heathrow be the new benchmark? here are stats; Feature: Compatible with XP12 and XP11 (2 files) Compatible with Ortho4XP. High detail on tunnel and terrain High quality textures with PBR materials High detail models T5,T2 interior have been modeled SAM amination jetways High performance Completed autogen around airport Ground traffic plugins( car, train and truck) Includes weather texture in X-Plane 12 Yes there is a video as well... X-PlaneReviews will be doing a lot of services out of TaiModel's EGLL over the break, so tune-in for a full review of the scenery in the New Year 23. It looks excellent, and is it another major step up from the developer? it looks like it! SAM 3 Plugin is required for this scenery All images are courtesy of TaiModels _______________________________ The London Heathrow International Airport - EGLL - XP12/11 by Taimodels is NOW available! from the X-Plane.Org Store London Heathrow International Airport - EGLL - XP12 and 11 Priced at US$28.00 Requirements X-Plane 12 or X-Plane 11 Windows, Mac or Linux 4 GB VRAM Minimum - 8 GB+ VRAM Recommended Download Size: 1.7 GB Current version: 1.0 (December 16th 2022) ___________________________ NEWS! by Stephen Dutton 17th December 2022 Copyright©2022: X-Plane Reviews (Disclaimer. All images and text in this review are the work and property of X-PlaneReviews, no sharing or copy of the content is allowed without consent from the author as per copyright conditions) All Rights Reserved
  10. Scenery Review : OOMS - Muscat International by Taimodels Formerly Seeb International Airport, OOMS - Muscat International is the main international airport in Oman and is located in Seeb, 32 km from the old city and capital Muscat within the Muscat metropolitan area. The airport serves as the hub for flag carrier Oman Air and Oman's first budget airline Salam Air, and features flights to several regional destinations as well as some intercontinental services to Asia, Africa and Europe. The airport opened as Seeb International Airport in 1973, replacing a smaller airfield located in Bayt al Falaj. This OOMS scenery has the distinction of being the first scenery to be released for X-Plane 12. Overall the release schedule of projects this year from TaiModels has been already extensive with both YSSY-Sydney International and OMDB-Dubai International, already released. With the release of such very big complex mega sceneries, you would expect a drop in standards and quality. But both reviews show that was not actually the case, in fact both sceneries had a significant jump in quality far relative to their size. So here is another large airport, not mega this time though, but the standards of the earlier scenery is well in vogue again here. First view of OOMS... extremely good. But you have to take into account here the X-Plane global textures even in X-Plane 12, as they are not the very best in desert conditions with no updates for over a decade. The X-Plane 12 hue is also significantly different, slightly darker but more well detailed. Muscat International Airport مطار مسقط الدولي IATA: MCT - ICAO: OOMS 08R/26L 11,758ft (3,584m) - Asphalt 08L/26R 13,123ft (4000m) - Asphalt Elevation: 48ft (15m) Focusing on the central area, it is dominated by the new Terminal 1 complex of a simple cross + But we won't start in the newer section, but in the older Seeb area on the south boundary called South Civil. Terminal 2 is a single-building, two-story, T-shaped passenger terminal. It opened in the 1970s as a replacement of the Bait al-Falaj airport and has been expanded several times during the last years to cater for growing passenger numbers. This terminal originally featured 58 check-in counters, 23 departure gates, 4 baggage reclaim belts and several service counters and shops. During its years of operation, passengers and crew were transported to and from the aircraft using shuttle buses as the terminal lacks jet bridges. I'm a huge fan of older airport infrastructure. It give a time-traveler look into the past of what it used to be, and usually the buildings are far more intricate and relative to the culture and the area. Certainly in this case, as the old MCT terminal has a very Arabian feel and design to it. It is very well done as well by TaiModels with a lot of detailing and texture. Notable are the ground textures, here they are a scale too large, and making them larger than they ought to be, the reflective nature of the texture reflection effects don't help the visual appeal either. Overall T2 is very good, if quite now deserted... the old facility was planned to be redeveloped into a low-cost carrier terminal, but was instead turned into a field hospital and COVID-19 vaccination site ever since the outbreak of the COVID-19 virus. Terminal 1; The airport's newer and significantly larger terminal located north of the existing terminal and with first the runway which opened earlier in 2018. This new building initially brought the airport's capacity up to 20 million passengers a year upon completion of the first phase. Subsequent enlargements under second and third phases will increase the airport capacity to 24 and 48 million annual passengers respectively. The terminal covers 580,000 sqm and features 118 check-in counters, 10 baggage reclaim belts, 82 immigration counters, 45 gates and a new, 97-meter control tower. The new terminal is centrally located between the old and new runways and is capable of handling large aircraft such as Airbus A380s and Boeing 747s. The Terminal 1 was opened on 18 March 2018, with the first flight, an Oman Air flight from Najaf, arriving at 6:30 p.m. The Terminal 1 is as noted in a Christian Cross, with three separate piers in C (green) the longest, Then each side A (Blue) and B (Brown). Notable are the two side Piers are on a slight curve. You have to admit, TaiModels do certainly create extremely good modeling. Their design and reproduction of the terminal and piers is excellent, very impressive. The external terminal detail and construction webbing is first rate. Roof paneling is reflective glourious and nicely detailed with skylights and air-con units. Pier detail is again beyond excellent, with a breaking star motif, like with the excellent external design at both YSSY and certainly at OMDB it is all again intricate and highly stylised work at OOMS from TaiModels, you have to admire the work created here. All gates are SAM powered/animated and are "Bank Dhofar" branded, all airbridges are very well detailed and feel Arabic authentic. You have both working single and double bridges to the aircraft and one stand for an A380 category (305). The Control Tower is impressive as well. The tower being 97.6 metres high and comes with 100 square metres of floor space within the VCR. The visual control room comprises 20 facets of TEX ATC ‘Maxi-View’ laminated glass, providing the controllers with a 360 degree uninterrupted view. Each panel measures over 4 metres high and is over 55 mm thick and weighs in at over 1200 kg. The Control Tower is part of the Pier C concourse. Sadly the X-Plane "Tower View" is not set? an oversight, maybe, but not a good one. But again the detail and shape of the tower is absolutely first rate. The clutter around the terminal and piers is good, but not overwhelming, also it is all X-Plane (Laminar) and not local Oman branded... .... same story with the animated traffic. They are here only the Laminar branded vehicles, and they keep mostly to just to the ring around the terminals... at least they are the more better quality X-Plane 12 vehicle traffic, but I would rather have them all be locally branded. As with most TaiModel sceneries, as you move away from the central focus of the terminals, everything sort of dies a little... it is well done, but also very flat and sterile in feel, with no vehicles or animated traffic? Cargo East of the Terminal 1 is the twin areas of the cargo facilities, first is the "Transom Handling" building is well done, but the significant large "Transom" signage is missing? The large Oman SATS Cargo building is well represented and there are three large cargo stands, 901-903. South boundary (South Civil) has a lot of infrastructure on both sides of the old Terminal 2 complex, The Royal Flight of Oman and Royal Air Force of Oman are based at the airport and the RAFO also shares its facilities with the airport. A Royal Terminal and Royal Flight hangars are located adjacent to the old terminal. There is also faded remnants of the old United Kingdom which has hosted Royal Air Force BAe Nimrods in the past, including for the 1991 Gulf War. These aircraft cooperated with the Royal Navy of Oman in the 'Magic Roundabout' exercise series. The base was used by a detachment of Vickers VC10 tankers from No. 101 Squadron RAF during the Gulf War training with Royal Air Force SEPECAT Jaguars. There are two (each end) large engineering hangers, nicely reproduced here. A mosque with great detail is also positioned central. There is some infrastructure east of the Terminal 2, but mostly it is a photo layer with objects on the top, and then every object isn't covered but the Flight Catering building is represented. To the west is Al Mawaleh South, and there are some custom objects representing the area, but again it peters out with just a few objects on the photo layer... highly recommended is the SFD (ShortFinal) Global object addon. It creates (in this case) Middle-Eastern bright white autogen to replace the American/European default autogen... and here again it works absolutely brilliantly. Textures As we have found in the past, the central areas of TaiModel sceneries are excellent, but surrounding areas and certainly on the points of the custom scenery meeting the X-Plane default textures it can go to be all a bit sparse, as I noted the X-Plane textures are very old, but still an experienced developer should be able to blend in the two together. Here in TaiModel's Muscat, you have roads not joined up, or over well done roads that look a little fake and devoid of traffic, either don't work? The internal custom scenery photo textures, don't match up either with the external X-Plane textures in creating an island custom scenery feel... On the surface or close up the runway, taxiway and ramp textures look very good... I certainly like the different old and new runway compositions that separates the two airport sections... but there is no 3d grass and an over reliance on photo textures to create visual objects, including the odd burnt in ground aircraft... ... as I mentioned, close up the textures look good, but dig down and there is a visually nasty repeated pattern in all the textures. The textures do have the usual PBR, built in Burnt-in ambient occlusion effects and their reflections are all in there. But this is the first scenery as mentioned that is also configured for the state of the art X-Plane 12 effects. And they are quite sensational and highly realistic. Does it snow in Oman? probably not as this is a desert country. However turn on the snow machine and you can instantly see a problem with these heavily patterned textures, as they don't absorb, but even react badly to the repeatable pattern. Close up it's again not too bad, but scenery developers are going to have to be aware of theses special problems going forward in X-Plane 12 development. This is obviously the beta version (b7) of X-Plane 12, so it might be refined before going final. A scenery in the hot desert region means you would never see them, but what of a northern clime? Lighting Airport lighting was never a TaiModel strong point, and here again a OOMS-Muscat it is a mixed bag... First again is the X-Plane 12 feature of better runway lighting and now set technically to the FAA approved brightness levels. The difference seen here is excellent. It looks and feels as it is so very different from X-Plane 11 and earlier. OOMS-Muscat lighting is all a bit fun-fair gaudy as the Blackpool Illuminations, even as in earlier Flight Simulator production. But in areas where it is done right, like the arrivals awning it looks really quite good, and the ramps are nicely lit, but there are no exquisite lighting skills presented here... The water feature at the Terminal 1 entrance is all very Las Vegas, but it is probably like that anyway.The Control Tower lighting is horrible, again more like the Blackpool Tower. Terminal 2 area is fine, but again not very discrete, the Mosque is.. well pretty, but there is also a badly place lamp set directly on the taxiway at the A & C intersection? nasty. Navigational signage is one-dimensional and non-ground reflective. ___________________ Summary This OOMS-Muscat from TaiModels is the first airport scenery for X-Plane 12, so it is the first glance we get to see the exciting features in action and feel. Over the last year with both YSSY-Sydney International and OMDB-Dubai International already released from TaiModels, we found the quality and detail has been of a far more higher level and even a quite impressive elevation in the modeling and the quality of the TaiModels airports overall. There are even in areas that you will find the internal and the important terminal and piers (Concourses) expertly done and very nice to use and to look at, even the word impressive comes to mind. Both the older Seeb Terminal 2 and the far more modern Terminal 1 are all very well recreated and decorated here in detail and feel. T1 comes with the SAM intergration for aircraft bays, including both single-double airbridges. Animated traffic (X-Plane default and non-branded) are active, and good, but not brilliant clutter (again default) could have been better. All the new X-Plane 12 features are also active here, with seasons, wet areas and the excellent modern well lit approach and ground lighting. The overall feel, ambience and environment of the airport is the far more distinctive X-Plane 12, making the scenery more realistic. Like all TaiModels sceneries, once you move away from the highly and even extremely detailed central area, the detail falls away, the boundaries are all covered with objects, but immersion into the surrounding (if now very old) X-Plane default scenery is average, roads are not connected and devoid of traffic, and even look unrealistic. There is a bit of a sterile feel to the whole airport, with areas not covered in objects and traffic, and relying heavily on the photo ground textures to provide visual stimulation. Textures are good, but have bad repeatable patterns that are again visually noticeable and react with the seasonal elements of X-Plane 12. Night lighting is sadly quite FS in style and gaudy in taste, and not mine. First of all let me state I love far away destination exotic airports. Better now with seasonal X-Plane 12. So Oman in Arabia is always going to be a very attractive destination for me, and this TaiModels scenery of OOMS-Muscat is always going to be on my departure board. Overall the excellent modeling, inner detail and nice working ramps will be the big attraction here along with the X-Plane 12 features. And you get both X-Plane 11 (without the features) and X-Plane 12 which are included in the one package. If TaiModels would take more or as much time on the more external areas as they do on the inner, OOMS-Muscat would easily rate as a 5 Star scenery, but in this case it is more a 3 Star... Still very good though and certainly very worthy of being in your long haul collection as a destination worth using regularly, certainly a buy and as a very good value investment from me. _______________________________ The OOMS - Muscat International by Taimodels is NOW available! from the X-Plane.Org Store OOMS - Muscat International Priced at US$21.00 Features 4k textures High detail models SAM amination jetways High quality pbr texture on object and ground High performance Completed autogen around airport Ground traffic plugins( car and truck) Compatible with XP11 and XP12 Include weather texture in X-Plane 12 Requirements X-Plane 12 or X-Plane 11 (both versions included) Windows, Mac or Linux 4 GB VRAM Minimum - 8 GB+ VRAM Recommended Download Size: 1.2 GB Current version : 1.0 (September 7th 2022) Installation and documents: OOMS is download of 1.1Gb download that is translated into a; MUSCAT_OMSS_TAIMODELS_XP12 2.11Gb full install in your Custom Scenery folder. SAM3 Plugin - Scenery Animation Manager - Suite 3.0 is required for this scenery, Documents There is a 1 page "Instruction" page for installation and requirements OOMS_Instruction.pdf ___________________________ Review by Stephen Dutton 20th October 2022 Copyright©2022: X-Plane Reviews Disclaimer. All images and text in this review are the work and property of X-PlaneReviews, no sharing or copy of the content is allowed without consent from the author as per copyright conditions) All Right Reserved  Review System Specifications:  Computer System: Windows - IS1700 Core i7 12700K 12 Core 3.60 GHz CPU / 64bit -32 Gb single 1067 Mhz DDR4 2133 - ASUS GeForce GTX 1080 8Gb - Samsung Evo 1TB SSD Software: - Windows 10 - X-Plane v12.00b7 (note this review was done in the beta revision period) Addons: Saitek x52 Pro system Joystick, Throttle & Rudder Pedals : Sound - Bose Soundlink Mini Plugins: US$69.90 : Traffic Global - JustFlight-Traffic (X-Plane.OrgStore) US$52.99 : Global SFD plugin US$30.00 Scenery or Aircraft - None-
  11. Scenery Review : OMDB – Dubai International Airport by Taimodels Dubai is one of those futuristic cities of the future, extreme buildings, even has the tallest most striking building in the world with the Burj Khalifa, also known as the Khalifa Tower. Like the trade routes of the past, the Emirate States (UAE), a federation of seven emirates that see themselves as the crossroads between the east and the west, not by sea or land this time, but by the air. This is the grand plan for three of the major cities here, Abu Dhabi, Dubai and Sharjah to be those crossroads, and mega projects both in buildings and airports have created an oasis in the middle of the desert, plus to be a critical transitioning place between the major areas of the world in Europe and Asia, west and east. Dubai International Airport is the biggest and most prominent of the three (Dubai is building another mega airport just to be sure). But OMDB with it's home airline Emirates, has taken the scale to huge proportions, no other airline has 119 Airbus A380's double-deckers like Emirates Airlines does and you need a big if massive airport to cater for them all. TaiModel's started out atrociously in making scenery for the X-Plane Simulator. Quick turnover and not much quality and even less detail. I gave them a short-shift in not promoting the work. They were originally only really screen fillers and nothing else. The YSSY - Sydney International Taimodel's release changed all all that, here was a very well done scenery, great detail and a very good representation of Mascot. And here is the followup to that excellent scenery from Taimodels, in Dubai's mega port OMDB – Dubai International Airport. First a note. Here I am using the SFD Global package to create Middle-Eastern infrastructure around the scenery, a critical aspect on the look and feel to Dubai. And those SFD objects show in all the images here. X-Plane has had a few OMDB's sceneries, from very average freewares to a few lately released paywares from Orbx's FeelThere (Reviewed Here) to Aviotek Simulation's OMDB. The interesting one is FlyTampa's OMDB, but not available in X-Plane. But that didn't stop users including myself buying it and doing Frankenstein conversions to X-Plane. The point of FlyTampa's version is the extensive Dubai city buildings and excellent infrastucture, and this is the point with OMDB as a scenery. The Dubai Cityscape is AS important as the airport scenery itself. Would FlyTampa ever do an X-Plane version of OMDB, well there is always hope, but until then you will still need a good Dubai International Airport, so is this Taimodels the best one to have of them all? OMDB – Dubai International Airport by Taimodels Dubai International Airport مطار دبي الدولي Maṭār Dubayy al-Duwalī IATA: DXB - ICAO: OMDB - WMO: 41194 12L/30R - 4,000m (13,123ft) Asphalt 12R/30L - 4,450m (14,600ft) Asphalt Elevation AMSL62 ft / 19 m In passenger airport traffic OMDB - Dubai is 25th on the list (2021), but in International traffic Dubai International is number 1 (29,110,609), which is no surprise considering the the scale of the aircraft operating in/out of DXB. DXB is a mega airport, so it is mega in size. Dubai Airport has three passenger terminals. Terminals 1 and 3 are directly connected with a common transit area, with airside passengers being able to move freely between the terminals without going through immigration, while Terminal 2 is on the opposite side of the airport. The receiving Terminal is on the western side, then connected to the three massive Concourses A, B and C, although Concourse C is noted as Terminal 3. Basically it is gate numbers Gates A, Gates B and of course Gates C. Terminal 1 connected to concourses A-B has a capacity of 15 million passengers. It is used by over 100 airlines and is connected to Concourse D by an automated people mover. It is spread over an area of 520,000 m2 (5,600,000 sq ft) and offers 221 check-in counters. T1 looks like two separate terminals because the buildings designs separated by the centre Control Tower, are different... this is a BIG terminal in scale and size. Concourses A - B Concourse A which follows the characteristic shape of Concourse B, 924 m (3,031 ft) long, 91 m (299 ft) wide and 40 m (130 ft) high in the centre from the apron level and accommodates 20 air bridge gates, of which all are capable of handling the Airbus A380-800. The gates in concourse A are labelled A1–A24. Concourse design and detail by Taimodels is exceptional, brilliant detailing and textures are very, very realistic, nice lower section detail is as good as well. Although the cladding is very good, it is the glass that not just great here... ... well it just "Totally blows you away", with it's design patterns and this incredible detail. This IS exceptional. Concourse B is directly connected to terminal 3 and is dedicated exclusively to Emirates. The total built up area of the concourse itself is 675,000 m2 (7,270,000 sq ft). The concourse is 945 m (3,100 ft) long, 90.8 m (298 ft) wide (at midpoint) and 49.5 m (162 ft) high. The terminal has 10 floors (4 basements, a ground floor and 5 above floors). The building currently includes a multi-level structure for departures and arrivals and includes 32 gates, labelled B1–B32 It would be very hard to beat this incredible look and feel of the concourse designs. Central Control Tower 87-metre-tall (285 ft) is very well designed and modeled as well, it has all the right shapes and oozes detail. Tower view is set well, with both north and south approaches clear. Internal terminal is semi-modeled, and only Concourse B... Concourse C Concourse C, is a part of Terminal 3, which was opened in 2000 and used to be the largest concourse at Dubai International Airport before Concourse B in Terminal 3 opened. It incorporates 50 gates, including 28 air bridges and 22 remote gates located at a lower level of the terminal. The gates are labelled C1–C50 Set slightly offset to Concourse B, Concourse C is slightly squatter and wider than the A-B concourses. Like Concourses A-B, the detail on Concourse C is phenomenal, again the same cladding and that brilliant glass detailing. All gates are SAM3 Suite (Plugin required) activated, all for A380's as well obviously, with many airbidges in three arm units, but in most cases you would only use the forward two arms. Concourse D Concourse D has a capacity of 15 million passengers, include 17 gates and connected to Terminal 1 via an automated people mover. On Wednesday, 24 February 2016, Concourse D officially opened with the first British Airways flight arriving at gate D8. This section is all very new at DXB, and also presented here in this Dubai International scenery. Set behind is the Cargo Emirate "SkyCargo" Mega Terminal. This facility with the Cargo City (opposite) at Dubai International Airport is one of the world's largest and most central cargo hubs in the world, with most of the cargo for Asia and Africa coming through the facility. The Concourse D style and design is quite different from the other more rounded concourse designs, but again the reflective glass is very well done. All gates are again SAM3 active. Terminal 2 Sited opposite on the northwest corner, Terminal 2 was built in 1998 and has an area of 47,000 m2 (510,000 sq ft) and has a capacity of 10 million as of 2013. After several, decent reconstructions and a major expansion in 2012 which saw capacity double. It is used by over 50 airlines, mainly operating in the Persian Gulf region. Most flights operate to India, Saudi Arabia, Iran, Afghanistan and Pakistan. Terminal 2 is the hub of Air India Express and flydubai, and the terminal houses the airline's corporate head office. Part of the Terminal 2 complex is the Al Majlis VIP Pavilion and Dubai Executive Flight Terminal. Executive Flight Services (EFS) caters to those passengers of high class or special importance that travel through Dubai International Airports. It is the largest dedicated business aviation terminal of its kind in the Middle East. It is located at the DAFZA - Dubai Airport Free Zone (below) close to Dubai International's Terminal 2. It only caters to private flights exclusive to the terminal. The Cargo City is on the this same north boundary, has all the usual cargo operators (FedEx/DHL), plus the huge dnata "Air Cargo City" facility. Mid central north is the huge Emirates Engineering base, remember there are 119 A380s, plus the 124 B777's to service. Southwest and directly across from the Engineering base is the Emirates Group building and head office, again done really well. The Dubai Metro Network is modeled and shown, but there are no animated trains, and almost every other payware OMDB has these animated red trains, a big omission. Dubai City At the head of this review I made it clear that OMDB Airport, is only part of the Dubai scenery. The Dubai City cityscape is as just as important. Here the icons in the immense Burj Khalifa, Burj Al-Arab Jumeirah and Dubai Mall, but it ends there, why? because basically it is the exact same as the X-Plane default "Landmarks Dubai", their not the default here but custom, but you wouldn't know, so there is nothing extra either. So no Atlantis (The Palm) or Dubai Opera House or even the QE2 (Ship), no docks or Dubai Creek detail fill in here either, and the dock cranes are by and visible from the airport, in fact there no external infrastructure at all. Here like with YSSY - Sydney International, Taimodels again loses interest, brilliant for the airport, but barely none or poor detail surrounding it. To be honest Dubai is not that hard, and the difference between (and why you purchase their scenery) like FlyTampa and Taimodels comes down to these sort of details. that is not saying I want every Dubai building and tower modeled, but you do NEED something far better than this to make it a credible cityscape, certainly on the approaches and viewing the city from the airport.. The under scenery ortho photos are another case in point. They are very good, but in areas they are totally blank of objects, and far too close to the airport scenery to be realistic... and so here there is simply too much of those exposed flat photo based textures on the eyes. Lighting I was expecting the lighting to be really bad, certainly considering earlier Taimodel's night lighting which was plain awful. But like with YSSY - Sysdney Taimodels have learnt a lot along the way. There is still some reliance on FSX one colour window detail, but overall it is far better and tuned better for X-Plane lighting features. The lighting is very good were it needed to count, around the concourses. It was debatable on how the daytime glass would transfer to the night. It again works quite well, and is difficult to create authentically. Overall on the ramps it is all very good. Control Tower looks very nice, and well thankfully not over lit.. Concourse D is very good, and so is the Terminal 1 facade. Off airport, there is still a heavy reliance on block colour, with the DAFZA being totally horrible. Emirates Engineering is very nice, but you feel there should be more lighting needed as some areas are dark. Emirates HQ is also very good, but I was surprised the Emirate corporate logos were not lit on each end of the building, a big oversight. Field Navigation signage is very good, but come with no ground reflections, which is a real shame. Thankfully the navigation signage is good around DXB, as there are a LOT of taxiways. Ground Textures All ground textures are very good if excellent. but the texture scale is a bit slightly too large or knobbly, but you wouldn't notice that unless you are really looking for it. built in Burnt-in ambient occlusion effects and reflections are excellent, and will be far better with the X-Plane12 effects, can't wait. There is not much field at DXB, it is all mostly man-made surfaces. There are a few grass taxiway separators, but they come with no grass, it would have been still good to give them a little grass as they are very flat. So again overall the different surfaces (a lot here) and the textures are very well done by Taimodels, so they get a decent pass. ________________ Summary After the excellent YSSY - Sydney International, then Taimodel's next scenery had a lot to live up to, and to pick OMDB - Dubai International, one of the largest airports by capacity in the world, was a big if brave choice. The unique shapes of the Dubai DXB concourses are very hard to recreate authentically. But here they are not just very good but even exceptional, with great cladding and brilliant glass with decoration. In fact a lot here is very good. Concourse D, Terminal 2, City and Mega Cargo, Emirates Engineering and Main head office are all represented and done well. Scenery has the SAM2 active plugin, and again great for the multiple gates for all those Airbus A380s that regularly ply the airport. Lighting is far better than most Taimodels lighting in the past, but still there is average facades in some areas like the DAFZA buildings. Internally the airport scenery is exceptional for it's scale, but externally there are a few minuses. The Dubai cityscape is only a very few landmarks, and in reality there is no extended Dubai city or port. Orthophoto imagery is very good, but flat and empty around critical areas around the airport that can be seen on approaches and from even the stands, lighting as noted is good, but not excellent. So is Taimodel's OMDB - Dubai the best for X-Plane. In many contexts it is simply excellent, certainly within the airport context itself. But it is let down by the poorer external aspects that for someone like FlyTampa wouldn't make. Scenery at this scale is not just about delivering a good airport, it is about the full scenario of the experience of the destination. This could have been not only a very good, even exceptional OMDB, if those other city and the surrounding infrastructure aspects had been addressed, but until the FlyTampa release their Dubai for X-Plane, then this Taimodels is an excellent choice. _______________________________ The OMDB- Dubai International Airport by Taimodels is NOW available! from the X-Plane.Org Store OMDB- Dubai International Airport Priced at US$28.00 Features for X-Plane 11 and 12 (when available) 4k textures Completed inside Highly detailed 3D models SAM amination jetways High quality pbr texture on object and ground High performance Completed autogen around airport Ground traffic plugins( train, car and truck) Requirements X-Plane 11 - X-Plane 12 (when available) Windows, Mac or Linux 4 GB VRAM Minimum - 8 GB+ VRAM Recommended Download Size: 1.6 GB Current version : 1.0 (July 22nd 2022) Installation and documents: DXB is download of 3.3Gb download that is translated into a 1_a_Dubai_city_buildings (74.4Mb) 2_b_OMDB_Dubai_Taimodels (4.93Gb) 3_c_OMDB_mesh (22.2Mb) 5.20Gb full install in your Custom Scenery folder. There is an OPTIONS folder of a flat version of Taimodels Dubai Scenery Flat_version You just swap over the supplied Earth nav data folder. SAM3 Plugin - Scenery Animation Manager - Suite 3.0 is required for this scenery, Documents There is a 2 page "Instruction" page for installation and requirements OMDB_Instruction.pdf ___________________________ Review by Stephen Dutton 29th July 2022 Copyright©2022: X-Plane Reviews Disclaimer. All images and text in this review are the work and property of X-PlaneReviews, no sharing or copy of the content is allowed without consent from the author as per copyright conditions) All Right Reserved  Review System Specifications:  Computer System: Windows - IS1700 Core i7 12700K 12 Core 3.60 GHz CPU / 64bit -32 Gb single 1067 Mhz DDR4 2133 - ASUS GeForce GTX 1080 8Gb - Samsung Evo 1TB SSD Software: - Windows 10 - X-Plane v11.55 Addons: Saitek x52 Pro system Joystick, Throttle & Rudder Pedals : Sound - Bose Soundlink Mini Plugins: Environment Engine by xEnviro US$69.90 : Traffic Global - JustFlight-Traffic (X-Plane.OrgStore) US$52.99 : Global SFD plugin US$30.00 Scenery or Aircraft - None-
  12. NEWS! - Scenery Released : OMDB- Dubai International Airport by Taimodels After their sensational release of YSSY - Sydney International, Taimodels are back with another mega scenery. This time it is in the Middle-east and UAE with OMDB- Dubai International Airport. Dubai International Airport (IATA: DXB, ICAO: OMDB) is the primary international airport serving Dubai, United Arab Emirates, and is the world's busiest airport by international passenger traffic. It is also the nineteenth-busiest airport in the world by passenger traffic, one of the busiest cargo airports in the world, the busiest airport for Airbus A380 and Boeing 777 movements, and the airport with the highest average number of passengers per flight. In 2017, DXB handled 88 million passengers and 2.65 million tons of cargo and registered 409,493 aircraft movements. Features Incude; for X-Plane 11 and 12 (when available) 4k textures Completed inside Highly detailed 3D models SAM amination jetways High quality pbr texture on object and ground High performance Completed autogen around airport Ground traffic plugins( train, car and truck) SAM 3 Plugin is required for this scenery _______________________________ The OMDB- Dubai International Airport by Taimodels is NOW available! from the X-Plane.Org Store OMDB- Dubai International Airport Priced at US$28.00 Requirements X-Plane 11 - X-Plane 12 (when available) Windows, Mac or Linux 4 GB VRAM Minimum - 8 GB+ VRAM Recommended Download Size: 1.6 GB Current version : 1.0 (July 22nd 2022) ___________________________ News by Stephen Dutton 28th March 2022 Copyright©2022: X-Plane Reviews (Disclaimer. All images and text in this review are the work and property of X-PlaneReviews, no sharing or copy of the content is allowed without consent from the author as per copyright conditions) All Rights Reserved
  13. Scenery Review : YSSY - Sydney International Airport by Taimodels As I live in Australia, you want the best quality scenery to reflect your local environs, yes you want to fly around your own country, but Australia as is with a lot of the destinations in Asia quite dire. There is Australian scenery but most is currently and mostly freeware. The ISDG Group headed by Chris K covered 10 Australian destinations, including the majors in YSSY-Sydney, YMML-Melbourne and YPAD-Adelaide, otherwise you were left with the mega Barry Roberts VOZ scenery. The ISDG scenery was very good, it is but now six years old, and now feeling very dated with the now disbanded ISDG team and no new updates forthcoming. So you are now really starting to feeling the dire situation over here. Currently there are only five quality sceneries for Australia. YPPH - Perth International by Axonos, YBCG - Gold Coast International Airport by Zero Dollar Payware and two from Orbx with YBRM Broome International Airport and YMEN Essendon Airport and a strange scenery out at YAYE - Ayres Rock - Connellan Airport by RIM&Co Most of the quality scenery with Orbx YBBN-Brisbane and YBCS Cairns Airport, and even FlyTampa's excellent YSSY-Sydney never got the transfer treatment, as they are all in the Flight Sim world. It is enough to make you want to cry... Australia deserves far better. So here came the surprise that Taimodels have released their YSSY-Sydney for the X-Plane Simulator. Bigger surprise is that it is actually very good. Regular patrons to this site will note I was always in the past not in being a big supporter of the Taimodels style of scenery. In fact one user noted their work as only scenery fillers, but even then they were gaudy at best. Scenery was rushed with limited detail and the night lighting was so unrealistic to be even credible, in time I even stopped announcing any new scenery from Taimodels as I felt it was not worth the time to download and check it out. But Sydney is well, Sydney and it was worthwhile a punt. YSSY - Sydney International Airport Sydney International Airport is known by several names; Kingsford Smith Airport, Sydney Airport or mostly as Mascot Airport after the local, Mascot suburb. Mascot is located 8 km (5 mi) south of the Sydney central business district. And the airport is owned by Sydney Airport Holdings. It is the primary airport serving Sydney and to a point Australia, and is a primary hub for Qantas, as well as a secondary hub for Virgin Australia and Jetstar, as well as a focus city for Air New Zealand. Situated next to Botany Bay, the airport has three runways. Sydney Airport is one of the world's longest continuously operated commercial airports and the busiest airport in Australia, handling 42.6 million passengers and 348,904 aircraft movements in 2016–17. It was the 38th busiest airport in the world in 2016. Currently 46 domestic and 43 international destinations are served into Sydney directly. Before we delve into the airport it is important to note the need to install a secondary scenery to cover the Sydney CBD and the City's highlights. X-Plane does give you the Opera House and the Harbour Bridge by default, but not much else. A good Sydney city scenery can be found here Sydney City CBD City Scene 2020 1.3 by haydo83. The CBD scenery is required because it is on the approaches to runways 16R/16L, even departing from the same 16R/16L you usually loop around to go north and the city is to your left. It is quite rare to use 34L/34R for departures (noise restrictions), but again the city is on your right and a focal point on the departure. The CBD scenery itself is very good, but missing is the important Circular Quay Passenger Terminal. Sydney (Kingsford Smith) Airport IATA: SYD- ICAO: YSSY- WMO: 94767 07/25- 2,530m (8,301ft) Asphalt 16L/34R - 2,438m (7999ft) Asphalt 16R/34L - 3,962m (12,999ft) Asphalt Elevation AMSL21 ft / 6 m SYD has two separate areas for it's terminals. Northwest of the large cross is Terminal 1 or the International Terminal, northeast are the two Domestic Terminals of T2 and T3. There are plans to mesh together all the terminals by airlines (Qantas of course taking the majority share), and merge both the Terminals into both servicing International and domestic activity in one terminal, but the idea has gone quiet over the last few pandemic years, it feels like an odd idea anyway as this separated arrangement already works very well, but does require a bus trip between the International and domestic terminals if you are transiting. Terminal 1 Terminal 1 was opened on 3 May 1970, replacing the old Overseas Passenger Terminal (which was located where Terminal 3 stands now) and has been greatly expanded since then. Today it is known as the International Terminal, and it has 25 gates (thirteen in concourse B numbered 8–37, and twelve in concourse C numbered 50–63) served by aerobridges. Pier B is used by Qantas, all Oneworld members and all Skyteam members (except Delta Air Lines). Pier C is used by Virgin Australia and its partners (including Delta) as well as all Star Alliance members. There are also a number of remote bays to the south which are heavily utilised during peak periods and for parking of idle aircraft during the day. (for instance the British Airways flight BA15 arrives at SYD 6.10 a.m, but does not depart again until BA16 leaves at 3:50pm for LON). The Terminal 1 layout is very similar to older Heathrow (now Terminal 3) in being higgledy-piggledy and add a pier on here sort of development outwardly, and all are hanging out from the central Y shaped main terminal. But having been there it sort of all works, again like Heathrow. North is Pier A in an L shape (top), Then Pier B and to the west the large Pier C (bottom). Modeling is very good (Brilliant by old Taimodels standards), with great glass and wear on the buildings, the terminal area details are good as well with terminal architecture flourishes well done. There are tons of clutter but sadly not QF branded, but the ramps feel cluttered and like real working areas. It is not overall the best I have seen in detail, but very good in this context. Landside detail is very good with the prominent Rydges and the two large carparks. The Taimodels YSSY-Sydney uses the animated SAM system here throughout all the airport's terminals, and tailored to use even the three gate Airbridge docking arms for Airbus Cat 5 A380's, and a lot of A380's use SYD... more than most airports including Heathrow. (I counted 13 A380's once at SYD!) Some of the airbridges are branded as well (HSBC), and the various different airbridge layouts are also well catered for throughout all the different terminal areas. Terminal 2 In reality T2 is the heart of the domestic SYD complex and the main terminal that you would use in a transition on a domestic flight. Terminal 2, located in the airport's north-eastern section, was the former home of Ansett Australia's domestic operations until 2001. It features 16 parking bays served by aerobridges and several remote bays for regional aircraft. It serves FlyPelican, Jetstar, Regional Express Airlines (REX), and Virgin Australia. There are lounges for Regional Express Airlines and Virgin Australia. I have spent many an hour here, even longer when the unions go strike, which they do often. Basically T2 has two main piers and the third is basically stands for walkon/walkoff regional flights. Sydney Airport previously had a fourth passenger terminal, east of Terminal 2. This was formerly known as Domestic Express and was used by Regional Express Airlines, and the low-cost carriers Virgin Blue (now known as Virgin Australia) and the now-defunct Impulse Airlines, during the time Terminal 2 was closed following the collapse of Ansett Australia. It is now used as an office building. Gates (bays) are extremely good, and very lifelike to the real areas, glass is perfect in the colour and style. The arrival (and departure) zone for T2 is excellent. The terminal has been faithfully reproduced in great detail, signage is very good as well. Terminal interior modeling is very basic, but still modeled, but the entrance to the security area is a glass wall? Textures at the airport can be a bit heavy handed, here the ramp and ground textures are so heavy it looks like moving water? not very realistic. Connecting corridor to DOM 2 however is excellent. Terminal 3 Terminal 3 is another domestic terminal, but here serving only Qantas with QantasLink regional flights having also moved their operations from Terminal 2 to Terminal 3 on 16 August 2013. Originally, it was home for Trans Australia Airlines (later named Australian Airlines). The current terminal building is largely the result of extensions designed by Hassell that were completed in 1999. This included construction of a 60-metre roof span above a new column-free checkin hall and resulted in extending the terminal footprint to 80,000 square metres.[39] There are 14 parking bays served by aerobridges, including two served by dual aerobridges. Terminal 3 features a large Qantas Club lounge, along with a dedicated Business Class and Chairman's lounge. As with Terminal 2 the Qantas Terminal is hugely impressive. The detailing and quality is excellent in getting the right feel and look of the buildings. Note iconic access roadway support pylons that signify the area. Terminal concrete textures are also excellent as are the large floor to roof window panels. Again the Terminal interior is basically modeled, not much to see here, but the bright and airy style of the building is very evident and realistic. The Terminal 3 support latticework is really, really good, and best seen for a fair while, the whole building is masterful. Again the signage is very good. Qantas Engineering The very large Qantas Engineering "Jet" base is again very well detailed and covers the iconic site with distinction. Build like a lot of old legacy airport facilities it has a large assortment of buildings and hangers to make up the site, and all are covered here really well. With the "96" building were Qantas do their famous arrival or announcement media. A QF aircraft in the hanger though would have taken up the large empty space would be however been welcoming. Nice are the large QF parking pads, and the open aircraft cover which again is highly affiliated to the "Jet Base". But the burnt in photo texture of aircraft tails are highly visible, and not very realistic? Qantas Cargo Mascot is a major hub for freight transport to and from Australia and in handling approximately 45% percent of the national cargo traffic. Therefore, it is equipped with extensive freight facilities including seven dedicated cargo terminals operated by several handlers, the facilities are positioned north of the Terminal 1 complex on the outer ring road. For the cargo hauler it is a long ride out to SYD, but worth the distance as the facilities here are very good, note the large fuel depot set behind. Control Tower Again like Heathrow, YSSY has a very iconic control tower set very central field off taxiway C. The curved (stair) entrance and pod design is very easy to see visually from all parts of the field. And I really like the authentic reflective window design. You pass the tower regularly if using the southern part of the field, and in particularly Rwy 16L/24R. The roof mounted radar is also nicely animated. Tower Views are also excellent and you can see all the approaches and all parts of the field. Infrastructure To the east and northeast of Mascot there is a fair bit of infrastructure. The modeling is not detailed, detailed, but the important aspects are done like the Domestic carparks (very good) and the hotels with the Mantra, Ibis and Stamford Plaza. But to complete a quality scenery you have to detail areas that are very significant to the area in creating that realism vibe, FlyTampa are well regarded because they they think out of the box like this... but here it lets the SYD scenery down significantly? Port Botany is the main port for Sydney, and it is positioned directly besides Rwy 16L/24R... but there is nothing, not even a single crane or warehouse to view? The very visual Kurnell Oil Refinery opposite is missing in action as well... both are huge omissions important to YSSY. Southern Cross Drive (M1) taxiway bridges are done here in 3d, however the cut down gradient sides are not pretty, in just being dropped photo textures, and stretched at that. Lighting Most of Taimodel's earlier lighting was mostly simply horrible, with very gaudy window textures. I had a big fear at YSSY that in that aspect it would continue on here. But to my surprise the lighting is actually pretty good, the gaudy panels are still evident in T2, but again thankfully not to the extreme as before... Terminal 3 has the best lighting overall, more subdued and detailed, it works really nicely. Terminal one is also the most less brighter as well, except for the office and hotel buildings. The highlight is again the domestic entrance, a different tone makes all the difference for realism... nice. Navigation signage is very good and needed here as YSSY can be difficult to find your way around correctly, certainly from Rwy 16L/24R . It looks nice at night in not being totally overbright and having realistic lit panels. Textures The ground textures are a bit head scratching... the actual textures with built in Burnt-in ambient occlusion effects are "really, REALLY" good, but the surface texture (knobble) is simply far to large to be wholly realistic... ... if they had been pared back just even a little bit, it would have been perfection. Lineage IS perfect, worn, cracked and realistic... you can't ask for more in runway detail. Apron areas are also excellent, with repaired areas highly visible and all have lovely different textures gradients. There is no 3d grass, and required here with the almost usual wild nature reserve on to the outrigging runways, you always noticed that from the cabin windows on departure or arrival. Stone walls around the same are very basic images, they deserve better. _________________ Summary YSSY- Sydney International Airport also known as Kingsford Smith Airport, Sydney Airport or mostly Mascot Airport. Is Australia's most prominent introduction to the country and the most busiest. And oddly unless for some very good freeware scenery, there has never really been a quality scenery created for this important gateway. Plenty for Flight Sim, but zilch for X-Plane. This YSSY scenery came from an unexpected quarter in Taimodels. In the past Taimodel's are a "turn them over fast and average quality factory", but this Sydney scenery was a sudden reminder, that yes they can do good quality scenery if they really wanted to. The three terminal quality is actually very good, with a lot of detailed infrastructure to give you a very detailed layout of the Sydney Airport. Highlight is Terminal 2 Domestic, but Terminal 1 (Qantas) is very good as well, with the sprawling Terminal 1 International harder to define, but all terminals come with great textures and realistic glass. The scenery comes with the SAM gate animation system, and it has up to three pier airbridge connections, great clutter and animated ground traffic (not branded) creates a very realistic apron and ramp activity. The iconic twirly base, pod top control tower is also well done with all the required areas of Qantas Engineering and Qantas Cargo all featured. All building textures are very good, and night lighting is also in the "far, far better" than usual class from Taimodels. It is however not a totally perfect SYD. Ground textures in areas (roads) look like water more that asphalt, and the same taxiway and runway textures are far too knobbly for my liking, a shame as the texture quality and ground detail here is very good. No 3d grass on the field is another missing element and the rock walls are image flat and crappy. Oddly the biggest missing elements here are the Port Botany facilities (cranes, warehouses) and the missing Kurnell Oil Refinery, both are significant visual aspects of the southern approaches to the airport, and solely missed here to complete the scenery of to which could if added can give the scenery a (very) high quality rating... it is so close in this aspect, but fails on these important missing elements. With the very limited quality scenery for Australia, then any YSSY Sydney International Airport scenery would be highly welcomed, that it came from Taimodels is for sure a surprise. If they continue to produce scenery in this context (YMML, anybody) then they would prove that "doing less for delivering more" would give them more if high quality sales. This SYD airport seriously points them into that direction and is well worth the purchase. Recommended! ___________________________________ Yes! the YSSY - Sydney International Airport by Taimodels is now available from the X-Plane.Org Store here : YSSY - Sydney International Airport Price is US$28.00 Features - 4k textures - Completed inside - High detail models - SAM amination jetways - High quality pbr texture on object and ground - High performance - Completed autogen around airport - Ground traffic plugins Requirements X-Plane 11 Windows, Mac or Linux 4 GB VRAM Minimum - 8 GB+ VRAM Recommended Download Size: 1.5 GB Installation and documents: SYD is download of 1.44Gb download that is translated into a 1.84Gb install in your Custom Scenery folder. YSSY-Sydney-Taimodels (1.98Gb) YSSY-Sydney-mesh (12Mb) The above two install folders must be put in the order of the "mesh" below the main YSSY scenery folder. A "Flat" option mesh version is provided for those that don't want the 3d layout. The Sydney city scenery Sydney City CBD City Scene 2020 1.3 by haydo83 is highly recommended with the Taimodels YSSY scenery, it fills out the skyline and the approaches nicely. Documents There is a 2 page "Instruction" page for installation and requirements YSSY_Instruction.pdf ________________________________________ Scenery Review by Stephen Dutton "May the 4th Be with you" 2022 Copyright©2022: X-Plane Reviews Disclaimer. All images and text in this review are the work and property of X-PlaneReviews, no sharing or copy of the content is allowed without consent from the author as per copyright conditions) All Right Reserved  Review System Specifications:  Computer System: Windows - IS1700 Core i7 12700K 12 Core 3.60 GHz CPU / 64bit -32 Gb single 1067 Mhz DDR4 2133 - ASUS GeForce GTX 1080 8Gb - Samsung Evo 1TB SSD Software: - Windows 10 - X-Plane v11.55 Addons: Saitek x52 Pro system Joystick, Throttle & Rudder Pedals : Sound - Bose Soundlink Mini Plugins: Environment Engine by xEnviro US$69.90 : Traffic Global - JustFlight-Traffic (X-Plane.OrgStore) US$52.99 : Global SFD plugin US$30.00 Scenery or Aircraft - None-
  14. News! - Released : LEBB - Bilbao Airport by Taimodels Taimodels have released their next scenery in the Spanish, LEBB Bilbao. Bilbao Airport is a public airport located 9 km (5.6 mi) north of Bilbao, in the municipality of Loiu, in Biscay. It is the largest airport in the Basque Country situated in northern Spain, with a passenger flow of 5,469,453 passengers in 2018. It is famous for its new main striking terminal opened in 2000 designed by Santiago Calatrava. The unique terminal has a sleek design, with two symmetrical "wings" and a sharp tip at its center which is especially visible when approaching the terminal from the sides. This original design has granted the building the nickname of La Paloma ("The Dove"). White concrete and glass have been used. The interiors are open and luminous spaces, distributed over two floors, the upper one for departures (check-in counters and gates) and the lower one for arrivals. Features Include 4k textures High quality pbr texture on object and ground High performance Completed autogen around airport Autogate Jetways Images are courtesy of Taimodels LEBB - Bilbao International is now available from the X-Plane.OrgStore. ____________________________ Yes! LEBB - Bilbao Airport by Taimodels is now Available from the X-Plane.Org Store here : LEBB - Bilbao Airport Price Is US$17.50 Requirement X-Plane 11 Windows, Mac or Linux 4 GB VRAM Minimum - 8 GB+ VRAM Recommended Download Size: 1.2 GB Current version: 1.0 (March 25th 2021) ____________________________ News by Stephen Dutton 26th March 2021 Copyright©2021: X-Plane Reviews (Disclaimer. All images and text in this review are the work and property of X-PlaneReviews, no sharing or copy of the content is allowed without consent from the author as per copyright conditions) All Rights Reserved
  15. News! - Released : RKSI - Incheon International Airport by Taimodels This is the second release from Taimodels, their first was VVVD-VAN DON International Airport, Vietnam, released back in January 26 2021. Focusing totally on Asian scenery we have now moved to the largest airport in South Korea, and the primary airport serving the Seoul Capital Area, and one of the largest and busiest airports in the region. This is Seoul–Incheon International Airport. Incheon International Airport is located west of Incheon's city center, on an artificially created piece of land between Yeongjong and Yongyu Islands. The two islands were originally separated by a shallow sea. That area between the two islands was reclaimed for the construction project, effectively connecting the once separate Yeongjong and Yongyu islands. The reclaimed area as well as the two islands are all part of Jung-gu, an administrative district of Incheon. RKSI has altogether 111 boarding gates with 44 in Terminal 1, 30 in Concourse A (connected to Terminal 1), and 37 in Terminal 2. ICN airport is located 49 km away from Seoul. Features Included 4k textures High quality PBR texture on object and ground High performance Completed autogen around airport Autogate Jetways RKSI - Inchcon International is now available from the X-Plane.OrgStore. ____________________________ Yes! VVVD - VAN DON International Airport, Vietnam by Taimodels is now Available from the X-Plane.Org Store here : RKSI - Incheon International Airport Price Is US$28.00 Requirement X-Plane 11 Windows, Mac or Linux 4 GB VRAM Minimum - 8 GB+ VRAM Recommended Download Size: 4.1 GB Current version: 1.0 (March 8th 2021) ____________________________ News by Stephen Dutton 10th March 2021 Copyright©2021: X-Plane Reviews (Disclaimer. All images and text in this review are the work and property of X-PlaneReviews, no sharing or copy of the content is allowed without consent from the author as per copyright conditions)
  16. News! - Released : VVVD - VAN DON International Airport, Vietnam by Taimodels Now you don't get a lot of payware releases from Asia, but I don't think there was ever before a release from Vietnam for X-Plane. That has certainly got to be an interesting destination. And the airport is positioned near the famous ha long bay, which is UNESCO world heritage site. Located on the coast of Quảng Ninh, Van Don International Airport covers an area of 325 ha (800 acres) and contains one single runway: Runway 03/21: 3,600 m × 45 m (11,811 ft × 148 ft) with a 300 m x 300 m (984.3 ft x 984.3 ft). Runway 03/21 is certified for Cat II Instrument Landing operations. The airport has 7 aircraft parking stands and an air traffic control tower of 42 m (138 ft) tall. Construction on the airport commenced in 2015. The 3-phase project has an estimated total budget of 7.5 trillion VND (US$330 million). Upon completion of all three phases in 2030, On July 11, 2018, a King Air 350 from Noi Bai International Airport landed in Van Don for a calibration flight, marking it the first flight that the airport received. And on December 30, 2018, the airport officially was opened for operations. Features: 4k texture High quality pbr texture High performance Completed autogen around airport Images are courtesy of Taimodels ____________________________ Yes! VVVD - VAN DON International Airport, Vietnam by Taimodels is now Available from the X-Plane.Org Store here : VVVD - VAN DON International Airport, Vietnam Price Is US$20.00 Requirement X-Plane 11 Windows, Mac or Linux 4 GB VRAM Minimum - 8 GB+ VRAM Recommended Download Size: 249 MB Current version: 1.0 (January 26th 2021) ____________________________ News by Stephen Dutton 26th January 2021 Copyright©2021: X-Plane Reviews (Disclaimer. All images and text in this review are the work and property of X-PlaneReviews, no sharing or copy of the content is allowed without consent from the author as per copyright conditions)
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