So the first tree tests gave mixed results. The soil could take trees well enough, but not the species first tested.
However a replacement has been found and GRUMP assures me these ones are here to stay, so they have been rolled out across the base.
I have worked a new texture (more fitting with the AU colour palette) onto a higher poly mesh. So although the poly count has doubled(from 36 to 72), the texture and shadows are now more pleasing to the eye.
Bored of just mowing and watering grass, the Grounds, Utility, Maintenance & Preparation team, or GRUMP for short, started testing the soil for growing palm trees around the base.
It is yet to be determined if the tree species shown will be chosen, but the initial nitrogen tests look good, apparently. When questioned about the future prospects of the trees planted, Alfy Bootleberry, ex-green keeper at St Andrews Golf Course and head of the Flora Initiative, simply said “well it ain’t dead yet, boss”.
AIA received a rather amusing letter today which we thought our readers might appreciate:
“Dear Mr We Have a Problem,
Please accept this post as a request for a reimbursement payment for the new graphics card I have had to buy myself for Christmas. Following the release of images of the new version of your add on scenery, a requirement existed to upgrade my old card to something which can show your forthcoming release in all it’s shining glory. While we accept the fact that I am able to display your present release, this does not release you from any blame for the overwhelming desire I have to be able to be be able to do justice to the new version when realised. Indeed it is my intention to seek redress in a separate claim for the hours spent enjoying said add on, thinking “This is so much better than any thing I could do”.
This party acknowledges that you have released items from the aforesaid “WideAwake” to be used on self devised add ons but contends that this simply shows ones own “bits” up for the junk they are. This in turn simply fosters the dream that one would be able to humbly gaze on its newer improved manifestation.
To this end this party feels that we had no option but to make ready for your enhanced and eagerly awaited release. If you are to dangle such fine examples of great work in front of us, you have to pay the price.
It has been pointed out that one does not have to download it when its finished. Our counterpoint simply states that having seen and loved the existing version, not getting ready for the new one is just madness.”
Courtesy of paddy2 on the Orbiter Forum
AIA thanks paddy2 for his time and (backhanded) compliments. Read on to see AIA’s response.
The old WIN airport building finally got replaced today. The new mesh design is much more in keeping with the new architecture.
The airport is a static mesh with 6 aeroplane hard stands. It will have a control room camera point and UMMU access point, accessible via the Ascension Tower MFD.
Here are a couple of pics showing the front of the Airport and the hard stands. The entrance to the Passenger Terminal is around the back by the car parking.
The windows are currently missing from the control room… isn’t glass always the last ting to be delivered to site!?
new airport 1
New Airport 2
It seems the shareholders’ ruffled feathers caused the Dockyard facility development to leapfrog to near completion in under 24 hours!
I took this shot from my helicopter earlier today during monorail transfer tests.
Work started on the Ascension Island Dockyard today (the shareholders were keen to point out the development is well behind schedule!).
The Dockyard facility is designed for quick processing of all oceanic freight, with special focus on container cargo for XR-5 operations. The crane and monorail system allows for speedy and efficient passage of container freight from docked ships to the AU internal road cargo network and vice versa. In addition, the docks provide ship maintenance and refuelling capabilities and a Marina for business and leisure moorings.
At present, the Dockyard will be a static mesh, with no actual functionality. However, this may change in the future, and it will have eye-candy animations.
Here are some CAD shots of the basic design.
overview
crane with monorail being loaded
monorail being unloaded for transfer to trucks
AIA thanks Loru for leasing of the crane mesh.
So the Beta Test went live this morning, and AIA eagerly anticipate the subsequent feedback over the coming week(s).
You can track the beta discussion here.
