I was trying to build new (correct) airbase - need help pls

[+Monty CZ]

Hello all fellow modders,

I simply wanted to add historicaly correct airbase to GermanyCE map

and use it in one of my mod. I can do 3D models of RWY, buildings,

hangars, lights, blastshields etc etc but I can´t make them show in the game.

Where are supposed to be the targets and types ini (saved games mod folder

or terrain folder?)

Or I can provide all models for free use and trade it with somebody who would

make me the basic ini I can populate :-) (it is LKPD Pardubice Airbase map here)

 

Thanx in advance

 

MontyCZ

Edited November 18, 2010 by Monty CZ

[+Soulfreak]

targets and types ini goes into the mod/terrains/your terrain folder

Maybe kevin knows more about that secret.

[+Gepard]

To make a new airbase is relativly simple, but time consuming, because we dont have a tool for terrainobject setting.

[+Monty CZ]

Thanx to Steve this is not true :-)

http://combatace.com/topic/34895-wov-target-object-placement-interface-tool-wip/page__st__80

ok this was easy..wrong file destination

Monty CZ

Edited November 18, 2010 by Monty CZ

[+76.IAP-Blackbird]

Great Baseshape ;) I was there 1996 with my grandpa

[Wrench]

Looks Great!!

 

Remember, the offsets for the buildings, fuel tanks, etc, even the parking slots, are based off a North/South orientation of the main runway (it being the 0,0 point). Of course, that assumes the runway was built with N/S in mind, like TKs, and the 0,0 point IS the center of field (regardless of lenght/width or taxiways, etc)

 

Even with the STT, you may still have to physically fly over the target area, and 'hand measure' the offsets, and then recheck in-game. For some buildings, their "front face" if you will, is not where you think it might be.

 

Once the objects placements are finalized, you can then rotate the runway's heading to whatever it should be, and the other objects will 'follow or get dragged along' keeping their placements. But once rotated, you can't add anything, as the offsets will be wrong. (however, if you rotate back to N/S orientation, you can. then, flip to whatever)

 

edit: terrain objects, as you've figured out, get listed in the terains _targets and _types inis. Those go in the /Terrain folder (in this case, in the mods folder, /Terrains/GermanyCE).

 

wrench

kevin stein

Edited November 18, 2010 by Wrench

[+Soulfreak]

Damn, now I´m interested in Airbase modding too....

Is there a tutorial somewhere how to make a

"new" Air Base?

[+Monty CZ]

Damn, now I´m interested in Airbase modding too....

Is there a tutorial somewhere how to make a

"new" Air Base?

 

Hey it is not so easy :-(

there are 3 different things you have to do

1) object placement - the easy part, when you add the new objects into "type.ini"

and then add new airbase via "targets.ini" and if you are building new airbase which wasnt present on map before

you have to flatten the terrain (dont know how, maybe in terrain editor)

2) add lights - there are usualy more lights than objects which has to be placed!!!

3) in airbase ini specify routes for planes, take off points, landing points...everything that the game needs to know

so AI can use the airbase...I am scared of it!! :-(

so maybe I did the first step but I dont know if I can walk all the way...

Monty CZ

[+PureBlue]

Be careful, airbase modding gets pretty addictive

 

The most time consuming part is placing groundobjects. Because you just can't get enough of it, and keep finding new things to add.

 

I'm compiling a tutorial now for you all to get your feet wet. Stay tuned

[+Gepard]

When i made my 10 new airbases for WOE i made a special test terrain. Only one red airfield and only one blue airfield.

So i was sure always to take of from the correct airfield and no somewhere in the Pampa.

The most time consuming steps i found was the puzzling of the single parts together to get the airbase. After each singel set object i made a testflight only to see wheter the objects are at the correct place. If you set more objects it is difficult to find out which object is placed wrong and which correct.

The light problem is not as big as you think. Military airfields have in wartime only few lights on. One line at the one side of the runway and one of the other. If i remember right it were only 7 or 8 lights neccessary.

If you want to make a civil airfield with full lights, then i agree with you, that you has a problem.

 

Take my 10 new airbases for WOE as example for airfield building. If you need help, send me a PM.

[+PureBlue]

Here's a quick tutorial to get started:

It's not much different than what Gepard and Wrench explained here.

Just get started and we can sort any problems on the way.

 

HOWTO File: http://www.mediafire...993vvkg5vru945u\

I'll upload it on CA soon. (Here's the KB entry: http://combatace.com/topic/60610-how-to-create-an-airfield-from-scratch/)

Edited November 19, 2010 by pureblue

[Wrench]

If you set more objects it is difficult to find out which object is placed wrong and which correct.

 

oh, gods! don't I know that one!

 

Actually, adding runway/taxi lights is exactly the same as adding any other 'object' to the base. What I haven't figured out, is the directionaly of the approach end lights (they change color on the stock runways, depending on which way you're facing).

 

I've added taxi, runway lights to the stock runway3 a long time ago; you'll find it in many of my terrain mods. You just have to follow the 'basics' set on the other stock runway set ups.

 

Here's the runway3

 

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RenderedInOrder=FALSE

AlphaTestEnabled=TRUE

CullMode=NO_CULL

LightEnabled=FALSE

UseLightLevel=FALSE

SpecularEnabled=FALSE

EmissiveEnabled=FALSE

FogEnabled=FALSE

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TextureStage[01].MipMap=TRUE

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TextureStage[01].StageColorOp=TEXTURE_MODULATE_DIFFUSE

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you can see, it follows the same offset patter as other buildings and such

 

the screenie is what it looks like

 

wrench

kevin stein

[+Piecemeal]

I was busy adding my Desert 3 Airfield mod to the four seasons terrain last September before I became sick, but I haven't done anything with it since. I for one can tell you how time consuming and sometimes boring it can be. But usually the results are worth the effort.

 

Keep up the good work Monty.

 

Edited November 20, 2010 by Piecemeal

[+Gepard]

This is the airfield lighting which i used in my 10 new airbases for WOE. Its wartime setting. Only lamps at the start and endposition of the runway.

I think it is enough.

[Wrench]

absolutely agree! on a war footing, ALL bases would surely be blacked out.

 

wrench

kevin stein

[+Monty CZ]

I was manually populating and placing some objects - really time consuming

 

Monty CZ

Edited November 21, 2010 by Monty CZ

[Wrench]

oh, I LIKE those shelters!

 

Yah, populating can be a real bitch! Now, multiply that by an ENTIRE map with 120 'empty' target areas -in this case, I emptied them to correct the items- retiling to move them to the geographicly correct positions...(including cities, ports, oilfields, airbases, military bases of all types...then add creating the front lines, movement routes and so on and on and on and on.....

 

It no wonder Terrain Engineers go mad..... I think there's a post office nearby...

 

wrench

kevin stein

Edited November 21, 2010 by Wrench

[+PureBlue]

Some days I'll be looking for something in my room and I come across these papers, full of coordinates and object names and drawings.

Oh yeah, this was a year ago, when I was working on that naval base... And this, even older paper shows all those cities I'm supposed to populate...

Then Santa (Swambast) came along

 

 

Anyway, looking very good already Monty

[+Monty CZ]

hm it looks like I need to solve two things:

1) collision meshes for the hangars - I want to park aircraft in those shelters

and I did collision mesh which is wery simple - it is only the rounded "grass" mesh

without front (so it has hole where it supposed to be). But when I arrive to the front

my wings fell off and engine start to smoke...

2) my buildings has no shadows and from the distance they looks like they dive under the terrain...

 

Anybody knows something about that?

Thanx Monty CZ

[+PureBlue]

2) my buildings has no shadows and from the distance they looks like they dive under the terrain...

 

For shadows, create an INI file named the same as the LOD. Inside this ini, define your lod distances and also you can have a shadow definition. (Format is similar to other lod ini files)

 

The sinking problem, I've been looking for a cure for that too.

Buildings, objects & (and even your flight w/ AI planes) ; placed on another FLATOBJECT (like a ramp or taxiway), start to sink under that flat object, as you move the camera away.

I'm kind of suspecting zbuffer values. Airfield objects are defined with zbuffer=6 in stock files, and perhaps we should lower that? Got to try this tonight..

Edited November 22, 2010 by pureblue

[+Soulfreak]

Are you still working on that AirBase Monty?

looked very nice so far!

[+Monty CZ]

Since I am not able to use that great object placement tool I gave up :-(

If somebody wants to finish it I can send objects, ini, drawings...

Monty CZ

[+Soulfreak]

Hmm, sad Monty, but that will be a good Airbase for a Red-Range I think....