chris k

March 17, 2013

Excellente! First boot & no issues!

And of course, the real test:

23 FPS vs 17 FPS.

Win!

March 17, 2013

Back home...

New CPU - W3580 out of the sleeve and ready for brain transplant

Popping the old one out:

New CPU In, adding the thermal paste:

Putting it all back together, and back in the case:

... Moment of truth!

March 17, 2013

Bus to Chatswood....

Cheap Pharmacies, and INTER WEBS!

Arriving at the local parts dealer....

- CK.

March 17, 2013

Thermal Paste Silver purchased.

Guy behind counter - can't understand a word he was saying (and probably vice-versa).

Nice enough fellow though. Lots of smiles and nod-ding. "CPU paste?" "thermal gel?" "Put on Intel chip - make cool?" -insert random pointing at SSD disks and USB adapters under glass- "yeah, that stuff"

Torontonians: Think "College and Spadina" - next to Dragon City. Good place to shop for electronics. i.e. "You Pay Cash! No Box - OEM!" No manual, etc...

Great success. !

March 17, 2013

Let's see if I can get my object density a littl higher!

Xeon 3.33Ghz W3580 from EBay: $299 incl shipping.

Now Enroute to pickup a Torx wrench set ($12) and some thermal paste ($5)...

Pictures forthcoming. It's a beaut day outside today in Sydney.

For the locals: got a nice Torx set at Bunnings in Artarmon. Next stop Octagon Computers in Chatswood for the arctic silver.

March 17, 2013

iMac with the GTX 680MX is a clear winner. Assuming a desktop.

That chip is a serious pixel-pusher, and the CPU is no slouch.

March 16, 2013

I'll just bundle the shim library in with this package, as to save Peter the 15 seconds it takes to install the library as-is. It'll stop his complaining about XP9 versions.

March 16, 2013

You dragged the image? That works ?

March 16, 2013

What's your current project, Remlap?

March 16, 2013

Heh.

I did spend alot of time over the past 2 days cleaning up the taxiways at CYYZ. It's coming along... All the northern runways and taxiways are done. Taxiways "A", "F", "H" and "N" are also done. (Yeah, just like YSSY, I'm starting to memorize the taxiways now ). They closed taxiway AG crossing Taxi A after the highspeed exit off of 15L, reflected now.

Fixed all the "infield terminal" aprons, car parks, lighting, and markings. Lookin' not too bad in that area now.

March 15, 2013

So you opened a new post?

March 13, 2013

File Name: Replacement Day and Night Lighting (lights.txt) for X-Plane 10.20

File Submitter: chris k

File Submitted: 11 Mar 2013

File Category: Misc Scenery Resources

X-Plane Version(s): X-Plane 10

Replacement Day and Night Lighting (lights.txt) for X-Plane 10.20
Version 1.1 - Mar 10, 2013
by Chris K and the ISDG Group

____________________________________________________________

1.1 Update: Added 4xSSAA, 8xSSAA Optional files
____________________________________________________________

Quick Description:

- Fixes PAPI/VASI visibility in daylight
- Makes every light bloom stand out, looks much more like the original X-Plane 10 that was first shipped. (remember that?)
- Fixes off-axis visibility of runway lighting as best as I could

____________________________________________________________

Detailed Description:

This file makes many of the scenery-related X-plane lights much larger; making them much more visible. This fixes issues with 4xSSAA which ends up squashing the light billboards so one cannot see them at distance. This also fixes viewing night-time runway lighting at off-angles, as well as PAPI/VASI Visibility in the daytime.

This file overwrites X-Plane's built-in library of light-source definitions. It replaces the lights.txt definitions with a duplicate definition file which exactly doubles the size of many of the light billboards, in both the horizontal and vertical directions for certain lights.

This method requires directly manipulating the internals of X-Plane 10; as there is no 3rd party-friendly LIBRARY method to achieve this effect. Removal can be done by copying back the lights-original.txt file to lights.txt, or re-running the X-Plane 10 Installer/updater, which will overwrite this file when you run it, and will revert the lights back to the original XP10 default.

____________________________________________________________

Which version is for you?

There are four variants included:

"1-lights.txt-normal-distance-bloom" / lights.txt
This file gives the best effect when using normal viewing modes, or in 2xSSAA HDR or less.

"2 lights.txt-high-distance-bloom" / lights.txt
This file gives the best effect if you wish larger light halos at distance. It is for normal viewing modes, or in 2xSSAA HDR or less.

"3 lights.txt-4XSSAA-normal-distance-bloom" / lights.txt
This file gives the best effect when using HDR 4xSSAA or higher (due to the "crush-the-bitmap" way 4xSSAA/8xSSAA does billboarding)

"4 lights.txt-4XSSAA-high-distance-bloom" / lights.txt
Similar to the previous file, this gives the best effect when using HDR 4xSSAA or higher, but includes large light halos at distance.

You are free to use any of these as you see fit. I encourage you to experiment - and see what works/looks best for you.

____________________________________________________________

INSTALLATION:

Overwrite the lights.txt file found in:
X-Plane 10/Resources/bitmaps/world/lites/

UNINSTALL:

Re-run the X-Plane 10 Installer/Updater
or copy in lights-original.txt into X-Plane 10/Resources/bitmaps/world/lites/

____________________________________________________________

FUNCTIONALITY:

Works on XP10.20 only. No guarantees on any other version.

Enjoy!

- Chris K

Click here to download this file

March 12, 2013

i cant have fences in my scenery then

You *do* realize there's a nice 1m, 2m, 3m fence Facade built into OpensceneryX (which virtually everyone has installed); both 'open' and 'closed' .FAC versions.

Just use that one.! Or analyze how that one was made - and lather/rinse/repeat.

It's actually not that hard to make a simple 1 dimensional facade w/a height... i.e. a fence. Just ignore the middle, right, top sloped and stuff arguments. All you need is a LEFT and a BOTTOM. Set your SCALE to be 2.5m tall, reference your bitmap, and boom - instant fence. 4 lines of .FAC.

- CK.

March 12, 2013

Peter. There already IS one for XP9.

And once.again, you can use the XP9 to XP10 compatibliyy library. I refuse to do parallel development. It's hard enough just with one. That's the whole reason I wrote that library extension.

March 12, 2013

March 10, 2013

File is uploaded here too.

Just wish uploads went "live" immediately.. gotta wait for file approval from the powers-that-be.

March 10, 2013

Hax0rz have hit!!

March 9, 2013

WestJet for the win.

March 9, 2013

Got a DX11-level card?

i.e. Fermi, Tahiti, Kepler, etc.. chipsets,

March 9, 2013

Not for most anymore. Many of the aircraft vendors have worked with LR/Ben on this over the past 6 months, and they've got the lighting issues mainly covered these days. They would be in the minority if there is.

However, In terms of rendering speeds:

4x SSAA + FXAA is actually now FASTER than non-HDR Mode. i.e. I get consistently better FPS++ in HDR mode vs Non-HDR.

Ben's been doing some fantastic optimizations in this area. I'm now using HDR mode exclusively.

- CK.

March 9, 2013

Which begs the question.

What is with the Japanese? Fantastic heavy technology, robotics, highest education; yet it's the land of Hello Kitty, insane game shows, and things like this

March 9, 2013

Messing with .TER files:

March 9, 2013

File Name: YPPF Parafield Airport and Adelaide City Photoreal

File Submitter: chris k

File Submitted: 09 Mar 2013

File Category: DSF Scenery Packages

X-Plane Version(s): X-Plane 10

YPPF Parafield Airport and Adelaide City Photoreal
Version 1.1 Update
Mar 09, 2013
The International Scenery Development Group (ISDG)

__________________________________________________________

1.1 Update:

- Made city replacement terrain files "less green" by tightening the shrub overlay textures.
- Added night _LIT textures to the city; hence nighttime flying now looks like XP9 rather than completely dark.
- Fixed an over-sized DDS Texture - This scenery now loads in XP9 via the Compatibility Library.

XP9 Users, you can download : http://forums.x-pilot.com/index.php/files/file/327-x-plane-10-compatibility-library-for-x-plane-9/

__________________________________________________________

Requirements:

- X-Plane 10.20 or better

- OpensceneryX 2.0 (http://opensceneryx.com/)

- A Modern Video Card with minimum 512 Mb VRAM, 1 Gb is highly recommended

- Ability to run at "Very High" texture resolutions (with compression enabled), else the effect is lost.

- X-Plane 64-bit and a 2 Gb VRAM Video card is recommended for the Highest Texture resolutions.
(No... We're not kidding... we will use every ounce of VRAM you have!)

__________________________________________________________

Installation:

Unzip and place folder "YPPF Parafield Airport and Adelaide City Photoreal" in your X-Plane/Custom Scenery/ folder.
- If VOZ is installed, then "YPPF Parafield Airport and Adelaide City Photoreal" must come before VOZ in the "scenery_packs.ini" file.
- If you are installing this for the first time, this scenery will automatically be placed first (which is correct, and will work immediately)

Uninstall:

Delete the "YPPF Parafield Airport and Adelaide City Photoreal" directory from your X-Plane/Custom Scenery/ folder.

__________________________________________________________

Custom Features of this Scenery Package:

- Photorealistic terrain at 15cm/pix resolution
- Hi-Res Australian-Style Urban Texture Replacements
- Complete Customized Adelaide City Downtown (CBD) buildings and parks
- Current Airport Taxiways, Tarmac, Markings, and Signage
- Custom 3D Control Towers and Field Support buildings
- X-Plane 10 Compliant ATC/AI Taxi Flow System
- Airport grounds modelled via XP10 Library and Customized 3D Objects
- HDR Lighting Support with Custom HDR Lights
- Windsocks - Australian Style coloured windsocks, with HDR lighting
- Regional Hangars and Localized Signage
- Field Obstacles, Gables, and Bollards
- Forests, Trees, Vegetation, and Grass
- Advertising and Billboard Signage
- Full Downtown Adelaide (CBD) Buildings
- "Gritty" Texture Support
- Lumber and 6 Restaurants just a short drive away
- This time there's a map of the grounds included.... see if you can find it!

__________________________________________________________

Credits:

Project Lead : Ropeless

Lead 3D Modeller : Sethesus
Misc 3D Models : Ropeless, Skyflyer, AndrooC, Chris K
Placements : Ropelss, Skyflyer, Chris K
Taxiways : Ropeless
Taxi Signage : Ropeless, Chris K
Tarmac Stencilling : Skyflyer
Vegetation : Ropeless, Chris K
City Textures : Chris K
City Skyline : Skyflyer, Ropeless
HDR Lighting : Ropeless, Chris K
Moral Support : Everyone else!

__________________________________________________________

Hang on, Who are these crazy scenery guys?

Ropeless - Orthophoto Guru, WED & ATC Taxi Flow Master, HDR Lighting Overlord, and Photoshopping Machine.
SkyFlyer - Photoshopping, 3D Signage and Modelling, Stenciller, and our Local "Man on the Ground" again!
Sethesus - Lead 3D Modeller, Textures, and spits out Incredible objects faster than we can ask for them.
Karingka - 3D Modeller, WED Manipulator, Textures, FS-Conversions, Encouragement.
AndrooC - 3D Modeller, Textures, Sketchup Object Weaver, johnny-on-the-spot.
Chris K - WED Addict, Taxiway Paver, Object Rotator, Scenery Assembler, X-Grinder, Gardener.

__________________________________________________________

Derived Object and Scenery Credits:

- Barry (Baz) Roberts: Original VOZ/AussiePak Objects - Retrofitted for XP10, re-textured, and HDR Enabled
- Nearmap.com: Orthophotos under Free Derivative Creative Commons License (CC-SA)
- Hypersonic Test Pilot: Guardrail objects and facades, used with permission.
- Nickster: Radio Masts/Towers. Free derivation of any objects for use in scenery as per his note.
See ISDGLibrary/objects/towers/radio/License - Original Author.txt

If we have forgotten anyone for objects not credited, please contact for inclusion or removal.

ISDGLibrary/Forests/tree_textures:
Copyrights are owned by Andras Fabian, Albert Laubi, and Laminar Research. They
are used unmodified with permission of Andras Fabian.
See ISDGLibrary/Forests/tree_textures/README.txt

ISDGLibrary/Objects/windsocks:
Thecustom windsocks are modified X-Plane resources with copyrights owned
by Laminar Research. These objects cannot be sold or used with any
flight simulator apart from X-Plane.
See ISDGLibrary/Objects/windsocks/README.txt

ISDGLibrary/Forests/grass:
Contains material produced by "Simon W.".
Used under the license implied in:
ISDGLibrary/Forests/grass/How to grow grass.pdf

ISDGLibrary/Objects/vehicles:
Car and truck objects sourced from "Vehicle Library Extension"
Used with permission from Jeff M. (Joyfulsongsters) and Cami de Bellis.
See ISDGLibrary/Objects/vehicles/README.txt

__________________________________________________________

Synergies

This scenery is designed to work best with:

YPAD Adelaide Airport Photoreal - http://forums.x-pilot.com/index.php/files/file/432-ypad-adelaide-airport-photoreal-xp10/
Glenelg South Australia Photoreal - http://forums.x-pilot.com/index.php/files/file/345-glenelg-south-australia-near-ypad/
Vehicle Library Extension - http://forums.x-pilot.com/index.php/files/file/125-additional-vehicle-library-extension-xp9xp10-isdg/
FlyJSim Asphalt Textures - http://forums.x-plane.org/index.php?app=downloads&showfile=16270
Wide Taxiway Marking Replacements - http://forums.x-pilot.com/index.php/files/file/406-wide-taxiway-markings-library-replacement/
SkyMAXX sky colouring using "Vivid Skies" - http://forums.x-plane.org/index.php?app=downloads&showfile=15821
BeachMAXX Ocean Textures - http://forums.x-plane.org/index.php?app=downloads&showfile=17311

__________________________________________________________

Reference Materials

Visual Pilot Guide for Parafield can be found on the CASA website:
http://casa.gov.au/wcmswr/_assets/main/pilots/download/parafield.pdf

ERSA entry for the airport at:
http://www.airservicesaustralia.com/aip/current/ersa/FAC_YPPF_15-Nov-2012.pdf

IFR Charts for the airport at:
http://www.airservicesaustralia.com/aip/current/dap/AeroProcChartsTOC.htm#P

Google maps for the area at:
http://maps.google.com.au/maps?ll=-34.793788,138.632526&spn=0.042291,0.055017&z=14

Wikipedia entry for the airport is at:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Parafield_Airport
__________________________________________________________

Legal:

Scenery and 3D Object work copyright © 2012-2013 by the ISDG (International Scenery Development Group)
All other derived materials are Copyright their respective rights holders, used with permission.

You do not have to pay for this scenery. This scenery is Postcard-Ware.
Please send us a postcard if you like the work! We'd love to hear from you.

ISDG Group
PO Box 892
North Sydney, NSW 2059
Australia

....We still haven't received a single postcard for YPAD.... C'mon guys..!

__________________________________________________________

Contact us @ x-plane.org

chris k
ropeless
skyflyer
sethesus
karingka
androoc

__________________________________________________________

Other ISDG Group Member Sceneries:

YSSY Sydney Australia - http://forums.x-pilot.com/index.php/files/file/78-yssy-sydney-australia-airport-photo-scenery-xp10/
YPAD Adelaide Australia - http://forums.x-pilot.com/index.php/files/file/432-ypad-adelaide-airport-photoreal-xp10/
YSCN Camden Australia - http://forums.x-plane.org/index.php?app=downloads&showfile=14867
NZCH Christchurch NZ - http://forums.x-pilot.com/index.php/files/file/122-nzch-christchurch-airport-photo-scenery-xp10-isdg/
KPDX Portland OR USA - http://forums.x-plane.org/index.php?app=downloads&showfile=11248
KRMN Stafford VA USA - http://forums.x-plane.org/index.php?app=downloads&showfile=15638
KSEA Seattle WA USA - http://forums.x-pilot.com/index.php/files/file/321-ksea-seattle-photoreal-underlay/
KBOS Boston MA USA - http://forums.x-plane.org/index.php?app=downloads&showfile=15851
CYTZ Toronto Island ON - http://forums.x-pilot.com/index.php/files/file/301-cytz-toronto-island-airport-and-downtown-toronto-xp10/

__________________________________________________________

Hope you Enjoy!
- The ISDG Team