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Abacus EZ-Scenery
Posted: 13 Apr 2007, 19:35
by soggy
Hi all,
Do any of you know anything about the above programme?,I am thinking of buying it to make the buildings for my retro manchester.
Cheer's
Pete.
Posted: 13 Apr 2007, 20:20
by DaveG
Yep, I've got it.
Works quite well, easy to use. Lots of additional libraries on Avsim etc.
You can only place ready made objects, but you can make more with FSDS & Gmax.
There is also "Instant Scenery" which does the same, but works in FSX as well.
http://www.flight1.com/products.asp?product=instscen
Try the demo

Posted: 13 Apr 2007, 20:26
by petermcleland
Pete, it is quite useful and I use it all the time to place objects in my scenery from Object Libraries...That is what it is for. I am a "Lego Builder" and just clip bits on. I don't actually create anything new. You can achieve pretty good results with the "Lego" method and you could build the whole Manchester Airport that way, but you would have to use existing buildings and objects like I do,
If you want to MAKE buildings that closely resemble the Manchester buildings then you would need some other basic tools program that I can not advise you on...However, the Abacus program will still prove useful to scatter things like baggage loaders and other bits and pieces around your airport.
The primary tool that you might like to use first is AFCAD 2.21...You would use this to lay your concrete and aprons and lights and markings etc...Start with the main runway and place it EXACTLY in the correct place and pointing in the EXACT right direction and with the EXACT length and width...Take a lot of time with this because it would be an absolute pain to move it later when taxyways and aprons are joined to it. Then position all your taxiways and aprons.
All that will take some time and is all AFCAD work and the results are contained in just one file...Now you can start to plonk buildings and items of scenery around the place using whatever programs you have decided on.

Posted: 14 Apr 2007, 00:52
by soggy
Hello Peter,
I am using afcad2.21 at the moment to develop the layout for the airport,
so far so good,However a package is due in the post that will make it ten times easier.
I was thinking of EZ as a means of building the custom buildings,But it appears it needs another programme ie:fsds or gmax to create the buildings before being place in the right places by EZ.
If i can get a free programme that can create the models to be placed by ez i will have a crack at doing the custom buildings,if not default representations will have to do.
EZ is definatly on the shopping lidt though if McLeland field is anything to go by.
Pete.
Posted: 14 Apr 2007, 00:54
by Garry Russell
Don't forget Pete
Gmax is on FS9 disc one
Garry
Posted: 14 Apr 2007, 00:56
by soggy
Hi Dave,
Unfortunatly i am doing EGCC for Fs9,So instant scenery is no good to me.
However i may look into the cost/ease of use of fsds and see if i can create somthing.
Pete
Posted: 14 Apr 2007, 10:12
by DaveG
Instant Scenery work with FS9 as well
Works with FSX and FS2004: Instant Scenery works with both FSX and FS2004. If you have FSX already, explore 1000's of new models FSX offers. If not, enjoy all Instant Scenery features in FS2004 without worrying whether it will later work in FSX - it will. A special compatibility mode allows you to make scenery that works in both flight simulators.
Uses all libraries: Both FSX and FS2004 come with extensive libraries containing 1000's of models. In addition to these, Instant Scenery is compatible with all add-on libraries made by Flight Simulator users for FS2004 and FSX (FSX libraries are only usable by the FSX version). This allows you a vast choice of objects to use in sceneries you create.
Posted: 14 Apr 2007, 10:35
by soggy
I think i will go down the instant scenery road then,no use in getting something that wont work when i eventually upgrade to fs10.
Cheers garry i had totally forgot that gmax is in with FS9.
Pete.
Posted: 14 Apr 2007, 12:28
by petermcleland
Pete,
I wonder if I am in time to stop you purchasing Instant Scenery...It is basically a copy of Abacus' "EZ Scenery" but it has serious bugs at the moment which make it the lessor pruduct...It fails to recognise or offer for use, dozens of object libraries that EZ does recognise and offer. It also gets very confused about what scenery you actually have active in your FS. It does place and display correctly anything it offers but EZ does it in exactly the same way but offers many, many libraries that Instant Scenery just does not see.
I'm afraid that Instant Scenery is just a pirated copy of EZ, rigged to take in FSX as well as FS9 but failing to do the job as well as EZ does in FS9. I have them both, so you can take my word for it.
Posted: 14 Apr 2007, 14:13
by DaveB
Hi Peter/Soggy..
Following DG publishing that link for Instant Scenery, I downloaded the demo and had a look. It does appear to do what it says on the box but I got more than one unexpected error come up (and this during the install).. one of which spit FS out. I'd summise from this brief experience that it is as Peter suggests, more than a little bug ridden :roll:
ATB
DaveB :tab: