Larry_R Posted April 10, 2016 Share Posted April 10, 2016 Are you looking for something different? How about a highly detailed seaplane base, Nanaimo Water Aerodrome on Vancouver Island BC in fact. And how about free, as in Orbx Freeware? Economists say the value of something is what you pay for it, but I'll let you be the judge. A long-term goal has been to recreate the feel of flying from Seattle to Desolation Sound on Kenmore Air, something I did for many years. Nanaimo is a main stopping point along this route and thus is a natural for my first Orbx project. A detailed seaplane base may be a first for Orbx too. Nanaimo Water Aerodrome (IATA: ZNA, TC LID: CAC8) consists of two areas of operation, A and B. Area A, adjacent to downtown Nanaimo serves Harbour Air and Sunshine Coast Air. Area B to the north will not be included in the initial release but will be part of a service pack. Here's an overview: The initial release will include the following: What a pilot sees when approaching the Area A seaplane dock, done in considerable detail; the breakwater, the marina, the waterfront walkway, the downtown buildings one can see from the water, the park to the north. The industrial area to the south including Port of Nanaimo structures and a high-resolution static model of the ship MV Ocean Wind Two reasonably authentic AI foot ferries, one going to nearby Newcastle Island and one going to the locally famous Dinghy Dock Pub, also modeled A high resolution static Seaspan tug (Seaspan Corsair) and an AI version (Seaspan Cutlass) which follows a route to the booming grounds to the south Large log booms in appropriate places High-resolution Seaspan Barges, First Nations racing canoes, and a model of a bathtub racer. The may I say --- crazy sport of bathtub racing was born in Nanaimo Various authentic marine navigation aids A static model of a Harbour Air DCH3 adapted from an FS9 model by Premier Aircraft Design with the kind permission of Bob May Repaint by LR from a photo taken at Nanaimo last September The BC Ferries Nanaimo to Gabriola Island ferry terminal just south of the marina If my separate PNW AI ferries Community Scenery project is installed, a detailed model of the MV Bowen Queen will accurately dock at the ferry slip. (Note: the ferry system is not an Orbx project and is not supported by Orbx.) When ready, a service pack will add Area B including the SeaAir terminal, the large Departure Bay Ferry Terminal and nearby features. Please note: Orbx PNW is strictly required. CAC8 will not work without it. CAC8 is in the final phase of testing and barring unforeseen problems, should be released soon. And now what you really want to see; screenshots. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ikbenik Posted April 10, 2016 Share Posted April 10, 2016 I'm really looking forward to the progress. An exceptional quality-scenery of something different then airfields or landscapes. Will be guaranteed a success. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
real Posted April 10, 2016 Share Posted April 10, 2016 Wow! but why not also include Nanaimo airport/CYCD? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dom Mason Posted April 10, 2016 Share Posted April 10, 2016 Great idea after all ! Dom Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mjw250 Posted April 10, 2016 Share Posted April 10, 2016 Can't hardly wait !! What an idea....... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Voyager Posted April 10, 2016 Share Posted April 10, 2016 Superb scenery! Voyager From iPad Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fltsimguy Posted April 10, 2016 Share Posted April 10, 2016 53 minutes ago, real said: Wow! but why not also include Nanaimo airport/CYCD? Nanaimo Airport is done in excellent detail by Don Grovestine. There is no need to redo his excellent work. Go here for his collection of Vancouver Island airports. They have been specifically designed with compatibility with Orbx.PNW scenery. Follow the install instructions carefully. http://stuff4fs.com/open.asp?JS=TRUE Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fltsimguy Posted April 10, 2016 Share Posted April 10, 2016 As you know Larry, I live just down the road. I have taken the floats over to Vancouver 100s of times. I know the area intimately. By the looks of your screenshots you have done an amazing job capturing this area in superb detail, everything from handrails, sidewalk signs, paint on the door of Harbour Air office, walkways, buildings, docks, and my favourite bistro on the waterfront....everything is spot on. Great job again my man! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Stillwater Posted April 10, 2016 Share Posted April 10, 2016 That looks like an outstanding work, Larry. Now we can replicate the schedule given here...: http://www.kenmoreair.com/ Thank you for this! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
real Posted April 10, 2016 Share Posted April 10, 2016 1 hour ago, fltsimguy said: Nanaimo Airport is done in excellent detail by Don Grovestine. There is no need to redo his excellent work. Go here for his collection of Vancouver Island airports. They have been specifically designed with compatibility with Orbx.PNW scenery. Follow the install instructions carefully. http://stuff4fs.com/open.asp?JS=TRUE I agree i have it installed and that's a wonderful scenery. i just think that ORBX could cover all the area around the airport (city etc). Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pmb Posted April 10, 2016 Share Posted April 10, 2016 Great work, Larry, Glad to notice you obviously joined the ORBX crew. I'd *love* to see more from you, be it freeware or payware. Kind regards, Michael Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dave_YVR Posted April 10, 2016 Share Posted April 10, 2016 This looks amazing Larry! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fishermanivan Posted April 10, 2016 Share Posted April 10, 2016 Awesome! I'm flying there this afternoon IRL, and it looks bang on Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
purduekev Posted April 10, 2016 Share Posted April 10, 2016 This is beautiful Larry! A great idea for something a little different! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BrianV Posted April 10, 2016 Share Posted April 10, 2016 Outstanding news and great looking images! Such a nice idea with a detailed seaplane base near Seattle when flying out from lake Union (btw. would also be wonderful with an update with the Kenmore base). I hope we will soon see a new high quality seaplane from one of the top developers that will truely allow us to explore this forthcoming release in its full glory. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tdavart Posted April 10, 2016 Share Posted April 10, 2016 Man, is this gonna be fun, and will provide a nice break from the Kokoda Track crash-fest! Thanks Larry! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Scott Harmes Posted April 11, 2016 Share Posted April 11, 2016 Oh My Goodness! Wow! What stunning screenshots. This scenery is going to be incredible. A highly detailed seaplane base is definitely called for and this looks like the right one. Cheers, Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Captain Z Posted April 11, 2016 Share Posted April 11, 2016 An amazing looking scenery. Thank you for all the hard work you are putting into this. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GlennH Posted April 11, 2016 Share Posted April 11, 2016 Just wow! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GregJ Posted April 11, 2016 Share Posted April 11, 2016 WOW>>>>> As a former resident of Nanaimo - I went to culinary school there in 1984-85 - I can only say stunning - the shops look excellent as does the waterfront features/Coast Hotel etc. When I go home for Xmas - we take my Dad (91 years old) down there for walks. Really really good. Time to start searching out my beloved "Raven" seaplane. I can taste the Nanaimo Bars ---google it... delicious dessert.... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TigerTigerM Posted April 11, 2016 Share Posted April 11, 2016 Superb detail. Easily payware quality. TTM Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
turnandbank Posted April 11, 2016 Share Posted April 11, 2016 Wow!! What an amazing gift to the community. Looking forward to this. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tuisong Posted April 11, 2016 Share Posted April 11, 2016 Wow Larry! That looks great. It always amazes me that talented people like you give their time and talent away. You have done a great job. Thank you. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rimshot Posted April 11, 2016 Share Posted April 11, 2016 Great! Now I'll have to get myself a nice seaplane. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wedge1047 Posted April 11, 2016 Share Posted April 11, 2016 Superb Larry, love my seaplanes. A big thank you from me. Cheers Reg. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bermuda425 Posted April 11, 2016 Share Posted April 11, 2016 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ripcord Posted April 11, 2016 Share Posted April 11, 2016 I wish Jon Patch was around to see this. He would approve I am sure. Now is a good time to grab his Vancouver V3 add-on if they don't have it already. Larry, I have stayed at that Coast Hotel, while attending a conference with a foreign delegation. We even flew most of them over to Vancouver on those seaplanes (took the ferry myself I as was the driver). Fun memories and really looking forward to this. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
olli4740 Posted April 11, 2016 Share Posted April 11, 2016 The screens look amazing and a seaplane base is just another great pick. Makes me dreaming about "FTX Global seaplane base packs" and payware addons combining airfields and seaplane bases. I could imagine there's some potential beyond what "4th party developers" have provided. EDIT: Something like the Friday Harbor package with an even greater emphasis on the seaplane side of things. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bushpounder Posted April 11, 2016 Share Posted April 11, 2016 That looks BEAUTIFUL!!! And FREE!?!?!?!?! Thank you, guys! Looking forward to it! Don Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rob Abernathy Posted April 11, 2016 Share Posted April 11, 2016 I"m sure y'all will have hours of fun exploring this scenery and making flights to/from Nanaimo! The detail is outstanding. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Perk Posted April 13, 2016 Share Posted April 13, 2016 Looks great Larry! Going to play nice with Victoria Plus too? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Larry_R Posted April 15, 2016 Author Share Posted April 15, 2016 Thanks so much for your interest folks, Stillwater, duplicating a Kenmore Air flight will be a lot more realistic when Area B and Departure Bay is included in a service pack. Kenmore Air uses the SeaAir terminal http://www.seairseaplanes.com/ which will be modeled along with a fair amount of the surrounding area. No time frame for this. BrianV, updating the Kenmore Air terminals (Lake Union and Kenmore) is something I've fiddled with just for myself, but the whole area is so frame rate intensive that any really detailed scenery might be the straw that broke the camel's back. Bermuda425, I think the Otter shown in your video is the very same plane I photographed on arrival at Nanaimo. The textures on the model are from those photos. Perk, CAC8 should be completely compatible with VancouverPlus and VicPlus for Orbx PNW. I should mention that there are other freeware offerings that include CAC8 in one form or another and will not be compatible with CAC8. It's easy to forget that you have these installed. I know! As for other seaplane bases in the PNW, I've got several in mind, but let's see how this goes first. Incidentally, I think you will find that trying duplicate the flight path of the commercial carriers at CAC8 is tricky, especially with single engine aircraft that do not have reverse thrust. They do not decelerate in an authentic manner after touchdown. With the FSX Beaver for example, if you try to follow the Port of Nanaimo regulations when landing at Area B there is a good chance you will plow right into the far shore well after touchdown. But it's possible to twiddle with the aircraft.cfg to shorten the stopping distance if you are willing to accept other compromises. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tom Schroeder Posted April 17, 2016 Share Posted April 17, 2016 Keeping the tradition of great ORBX freeware airports alive, I think this will be another GREAT one :-) Simply can't wait for it! Thanks man!!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
paddler Posted April 21, 2016 Share Posted April 21, 2016 Larry, This looks wonderful. The addition of a series of detailed water aerodromes on the Pacific coast that can link flights realistically up and down the coast will be a very welcomed concept by us GA lovers. Your intro shots are great and I wish you success in this. I will be a supporter and eagerly await your offerings. Thanks for doing this. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
andy1252 Posted April 26, 2016 Share Posted April 26, 2016 This looks rather marvellous - and freeware (are you guys nuts?) Much appreciated and looking forward to it. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
shortspecialbus Posted April 26, 2016 Share Posted April 26, 2016 On 4/11/2016 at 6:49 AM, Ripcord said: I wish Jon Patch was around to see this. He would approve I am sure. Now is a good time to grab his Vancouver V3 add-on if they don't have it already. Criminey, I did beta testing for Vancouver V3+ as well as some of his freeware stuff. He was a pleasure to work with always. I see now that he passed away about a year ago now, I was taking a break from Flight Sim and hadn't seen that I was even thinking the other day that I should contact him and see if he has anything in the works he needs testing on Yeah, he would have loved this. And Vancouver V3+ is absolutely worth picking up if you enjoy flying ORBX PNW area. -stefan Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Larry_R Posted April 27, 2016 Author Share Posted April 27, 2016 Thanks so much folks. You all know the story of counting chickens before the eggs are hatched, but I think with the help of the beta testers all but one showstopper has been resolved. Assuming that can be fixed, it's just a matter of confirmatory testing. I should mention that Area B to the north is coming along and the current plan is that it will be part of a service pack. Did I mention that it will include the large Departure Bay ferry terminal? Orbx? Another ferry terminal? Well, yes, but Area B will have the SeaAir seaplane terminal too. Ripcord, I too stayed in the Coast Hotel last fall. A few of the textures I used are from photos from my 8th floor window. And since I had stayed there, I spent quite a bit of time trying to get the hotel roughly right and yet not add a gazillion triangles. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
nigelgrant Posted May 4, 2016 Share Posted May 4, 2016 Great looking stuff Larry and I look forward to its release. I cycled (illegally) along the boardwalk many times on my way to YellowPoint Lodge (hey, there's another idea for a building, it would stand out well). The detail you are showing is incredible. Nigel Vancouver ps anyone living in this PNW region, particularly in Vancouver and Vancouver Island, are the luckiest simmers in the world! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Zigarten Posted May 6, 2016 Share Posted May 6, 2016 On 4/26/2016 at 0:48 PM, shortspecialbus said: Criminey, I did beta testing for Vancouver V3+ as well as some of his freeware stuff. He was a pleasure to work with always. I see now that he passed away about a year ago now, I was taking a break from Flight Sim and hadn't seen that I was even thinking the other day that I should contact him and see if he has anything in the works he needs testing on Yeah, he would have loved this. And Vancouver V3+ is absolutely worth picking up if you enjoy flying ORBX PNW area. -stefan And wasn't a Westjet pilot involved too? She may not have been with Westjet at the time, she was flying around with Jon Lovelace for Wings over Canada, can't recall her name right now, she seemed so nice. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ziggy Posted May 6, 2016 Share Posted May 6, 2016 Larry, this looks absolutely incredible!! Thank you for doing this and hopefully you will do more water aerodromes in the future! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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