Mackay... or, The Real Australia

[Battlecat]

Very cool couple of updates!  Nice touch with the 4x4 crossing point! 

[Yan077]

Very nice update 

[adroman]

Well guys, it's time for a micro-update and a bit of a teaser, I think 

but first...
Replies:

Will (penguin007) ~ Thank you very much! I do love working with FAR, and I did like how to ford turned out as well.

scott1964 ~ Thank you Scott! 

976 ~ Thank you!

io_bg ~ Thank you very much, I'm very glad you liked it 

Ethan (ecoba) ~ Thank you, Ethan. I think that making the textures will be rewarding, and then I'll have to do my own Automata... I doubt that GLR was designed with me in mind  I'm thrilled to know you liked Corfield. Thank you for commenting on that Farmhouse, I wasn't sure how it'd look ingame. The village took a lot of time to sculpt right, but I think it was worth it. I was hoping that overview shot would give some sense of scale, something which I'm always wondering if my MD has. And the bypass road is very typical, I can't argue there. The town I live in now was supposed to get one, but it was routed through some Cane fields, so (naturally!) there was a crack-up about it and it fell through  . I hope to keep everyone coming back!

RickD ~ Thanks, Rick! I'm glad it was that realistic  Thanks, I'll be showing some ingame shots soon... hopefully!

Battlecat ~ Thank you, my friend! I'm glad you liked it 

Yan077 ~ Thank-you very much, Yan!

Today we'll be looking at a little farm that's on the corner of two main roads, the continuing road leads to RAAF Stuart, and the ending road leads out to the nearby ranges. In Australia recently there has been a trend for farmers to "subdivide" blocks off their farms to sell as housing blocks, much of the practice has been outlawed now, but sometimes a Farmer will find a loophole:


Now, in this picture you can see the three new Alottments that have been created, small lots, but enough to put a house on. You can also see the power substation that has been built to accommodate the new housing, along with the street lighting.


In this picture you can see the large trees that would've been planted by the original settlers; in Cane-Growing regions you can generally tell a early settlement by finding the tallest and oldest trees.

And, to wrap it up... a teaser...



Need anything be said? 

Until next time,
Adrian.

[i_love_lamp]

Oooooooooooo... purty... a new airbase near Mackay perhaps?

[ecoba]

Wonderful update, Adrian.

I really do feel that you give us a good sense of scale in Mackay. I also feel like, with the help of an occasional region view, which you seem to give us at perfect intervals, I know almost exactly where everything is.

As for the micro-update, it was just as good as a normal update. I think that the 'subdividing' of cane fields is really an interesting topic, and I'm pretty sure that farmers are doing it in North America, as well. As strange housing blocs are starting to pop up all over satelite pictures. I personally think that the second picture is beautiful because of the large eucaplyptus trees lining the road.

The airplane photo? Perhaps you're reconstructing Mackay's old airport, or the RAAF Stuart? Either way, we'll be seeing some air ports soon. 

Ethan

[canyonjumper]

Nice pics! The pics are nicely detailed, which I think is the best quality of a picture.

          -Jordan

[vinlabsc3k]

I've never seen the Australian landscape personally , but your reconstruction is wonderful and make me be there with you and the kangoroos .

[Schulmanator]

RE the teaser: did you actually make a flyable plane?! If so, you TOTALLY rock! 

[Nanami]

Impresive pics!

[adroman]

Hello again, time for a full update... I suppose  

But, as always... Replies.

i_love_lamp ~ Thank you, and you'll soon see for yourself  

Ethan (ecoba) ~ Many thanks, Ethan! I'm glad you can see the scale of the place... if you ever want a Region Shot, just ask... I'm not one for showing Macro-details that often.

It looks like we're from common stock, I love looking into little planning details as well. It is such a shame to see agriculture drying up for housing, but that's the way things are. I also loved the look of it the trees, I'm glad you did as well  

Mackay's airport will be redone in the future, when I BAT the terminal and stuff... the picture is from RAAF Stuart, as you correctly guessed. Thanks for your comment!

Jordan (canyonjumper) ~ Thank you, Jordan! I'm glad people enjoy the detailing that I put in  

vinlabsc3k ~ Thanks very much my friend! If you ever get the chance to visit, be sure to!

Schulmanator ~ Thanks, but the plane isn't UDI-able. It's a static prop, that I rotated and edited to be in a landing position. I would make it a UDI prop, but it's not possible with such a complex model. Thanks for visiting!

976 ~ Thank you my friend!  

Part one...

I guess I should point out that this base is entirely fictional, however I may refer to real life Units and Squadrons, and every aircraft is in its real-world livery. This base has been inspired by several Real world RAAF Bases... but is not an accurate representation of anyone of them.

A brief history.
RAAF Stuart was formed as a training base for the newly form "Australian Flying Corps" in late 1918, the base provided training for pilots who would be sent to Europe to fight alongside New Zealanders and Britons in the First World War. After the war, the base was scaled back but retained a training role. With the outbreak of WWII in 1939, the base was once again a hub of activity. Training was upscaled and new fighter Squadrons were formed at the base. The Royal Australian Air Force used the base as a Transport hub, mainly for PBY Catalina's. One of these Aircraft remains in operation today as a Tourist hub in the nearby Bay. After World War II the RAAF was considerably demobilised and the future of RAAF Stuart remained in doubt. The base was almost completely abandoned in 1956, but a revival of the Base occured in 1957 and the base was reinstated as a Coral Sea patrol base, this role continues today as the base is home to three AP-3C Orion Aircraft. 1976 saw the introduction of Mirage III fighters to the base, and provided a new Northern Apron with Hardened Shelters for the fighter detachment, of course after the Mirage III's had been retired, the Base was re-equipped with F/A-18A Hornets. By 1982 RAAF Stuart also became home to a detachment of F-111C Aardvark . Since 2008 the base has also been home to 3 No. 37 SQN C-130H "Hercules" transports, and in 2010 received a detachment of two No. 2 SQN 737AEW&C "Wedgetail" aircraft to further the surveillance role of the base.

so much for short, eh?

I guess I could describe the base better with some visual aids!


The main entrance to RAAF Stuart.


A close-up of the Huey on Gate Guard duties.


A block of Barracks and support buildings. Gee, the roads are busy  


Parade ground and Base Comms.


Southern block of Barracks, showing some more of the Support buildings, and a football field for recreational purposes.


Warehousing and offices on the edge of the main apron. Also shows the PT ground and the Base HQ.


The Base's Air Traffic Control Tower, manned by a detachment of No. 44 Wing


Close up of the tower.


The fire station, equipped to cope with any disaster.


The first F-111 Shelter... currently housing 6 aircraft each.


Showing a "Pig" refuelling after a flight. Note the Grey-out livery, as opposed to the traditional Camo of the other F-111's.


Taxi-ing in for a rest past the Wedgetails.


One of the Wedgetails in the Turn out, where's the other?


Being pulled back in after a long flight!


One of the AP-3C's in port.


The second Orion, I guess the third is out on Patrol.


The AP-3C's and the Herc's are kept side-by-side.


Idling around.


Unloading or loading?


The staging area opposite the Orion and Hercules Apron.


The overview of what we've seen today... Click to enlarge.

Notes and Thanks...

I am aware of the Graphical glitch on the Tug, it only affects one rotation... and it happens that I couldn't avoid some rotations.

The Huey on Gate Guard isn't to the exact specifications, as Delta and I were discussing in my RAAF Project thread, but it's more about the overall affect that two technical problems, right?

Now, my greatest, greatest thanks goes out to three of the greatest people ever, and three great teams:

joelyboy911: Thanks Joel, your modelling and tutelage made this whole thing possible, if it weren't for you... well, I wouldn't have the Wedgetail, C-130 or any respectable models. You could almost call this RAAF Joelyboy, because it's as much mine as yours.

fafalone: Many thanks, your TMIP has been invaluable in making a more realistic airport, even if I did use your least favourite ground texture

ShadeSlayer: Thanks Alex! Your ARIP, along with PLT's ARP, made this bases' roads so much better.

AC: For your fantastic RMIP-2 sets, and all the accessories of yours... I'm sure it'll get even better with RMIP-3!

SCAG and Team Downunder: For being great chaps and being sources of inspiration and encouragement.

The biggest thanks goes out to... ... my commentors! it's great to see feedback. Thank-you one and all  

As always, comments, critique and queries always welcome here.

I'll see y'all at Part II!

Havva good one,
Adrian.

[joelyboy911]

Wonderful update, mate. As much as I adore seeing the pictures of our planes in action, I am impressed by your crafting of the support area, the barracks and the parade ground.

The buildings you've BATted, the ATCT and the bunker for the F-111s, they look superb.

Keep up the great work!

[ecoba]

Great job, once again, Adrian. There certainly were a lot of different planes in this update, and I think that it might have been equivalant to a small course on military aviation.  I particularly liked the grounds of the base, we have a navy base in the city where I live, and it resembles yours greatly, well without the airport at least.

In the sixth picture of your update, I must ask where you got the brown building that is centred in the picture, with the blue warehouses behind. I love this BAT, but have not been able to find it... 

Ethan

[canyonjumper]

Very nice Adrian! I liked the base alot! There's more greenery than I thought there'd be, but then again, I've never seen a military base

              Your friend,
                              Jordan

[planetechef]

Wahou  very nice military base, i like very much the way you put those planes with the details around, like the soldiers, great update 

[Nanami]

Wow. Great update!

[nedalezz]

That is one of the best army bases I have ever seen recreated in SimCity Just stunning.

[adroman]

Thank you all for the comments!  I'll reply to all of you individually at Part Two, which is coming together nicely.


Can anyone hazard a guess as to what this is?

Oh yes, and not to keep you in suspense, Ethan... that's apart of the SNM set, but the original building and lot is a SimGoober and is on the LEX, here.

Until next time,
Adrian.

[RickD]

I believe I have seen those kind of airport maps in FSX. I think the number are the runway orientation and length.  I am still a Flight Sim Noob, though. 
Cool idea to make this for your SC4 airbase.

[kalvar]

I like your military base, I would like to know where you get those props, for use in my base.

[Tomas Neto]

Wow, my friend!!! Impressive update! The level of details is incredible!!!