How to prepare sectionals?

[WildBillKelsoe]

I think this is one that will help new people and serve as reference. So how do you prepare a sectional in DCS? Do you go to mission editor? Print screen on fraps and merge in GIMP? Are there any specialised programs to help in placing map icons and scales? Many thanks

 

What about TC-1? Do you fold it? Can you see enough to get a specific tasking location? Do you crop it in GIMP or whatever to a sectional of interest? How do you guys, if you do it, do it?

[PFunk1606688187]

In A-10s over Kosovo it went into some detail about the maps they carried and I believe the two sizes they'd carry were 1:250 000 and 1:50 000 scale maps. The smaller the number the greater the detail.

 

The TC-1 is a 1:500 000 scale map and so there's so little detail its not gonna be good for much other than plotting navigational waypoints I think.

 

In terms of making sectionals you can look up the ways that they make these kinds of charts and basically cut them up if you like, but thats a lot of work. What format are you considering making them into? Printed?

[DUSTY]

I've never used a 'sectional' in DCS - 'Sectional' charts are typically VFR navigation charts with airspace on them and for DCS purposes I find them a bit redundant.

 

I've found the real world Tactical Pilotage Charts F-4D and F-4C to be the most useful for my DCS needs, you can find them online and there is even a topic somewhere here on the ED forums which has a few of them in .jpg format (can find it later if you like?). I have the TPCs on my iPad though as I find all the systems on the A-10C mean I never have to make a mark on a paper chart. I have only once needed to use it for DR navigation after getting battle damage and losing my wingman to ground fire. Other than that I have my trusty kneeboard, paper pad and a couple of pencils for scribbling info throughout a mission.

 

Hope that helps Bill.

Edited August 5, 2015 by |DUSTY|

[Skowtura]

I've found the real world Tactical Pilotage Charts F-4D and F-4C to be most useful

 

Available for download here:- http://www.lib.utexas.edu/maps/tpc/

[PFunk1606688187]

Of course the problem with using real charts is that they aren't reflecting whats in the game.

 

Hopefully Nevada and later maps will be so much more accurate though that real maps will be useful.

[WildBillKelsoe]

In A-10s over Kosovo it went into some detail about the maps they carried and I believe the two sizes they'd carry were 1:250 000 and 1:50 000 scale maps. The smaller the number the greater the detail.

 

The TC-1 is a 1:500 000 scale map and so there's so little detail its not gonna be good for much other than plotting navigational waypoints I think.

 

In terms of making sectionals you can look up the ways that they make these kinds of charts and basically cut them up if you like, but thats a lot of work. What format are you considering making them into? Printed?

 

I am considering a printed A4 format or Ipad 2048X1533 high resolution format. I have good programs to cut and slice, even extract those icons but that is infringement of copyright. Perhaps I could create funny, weird looking substitutes and chuck a key at the bottom of each chart but that is tedious. A4 just for a specified patrol zone, like killboxes if you will...

 

I've never used a 'sectional' in DCS - 'Sectional' charts are typically VFR navigation charts with airspace on them and for DCS purposes I find them a bit redundant.

 

I've found the real world Tactical Pilotage Charts F-4D and F-4C to be the most useful for my DCS needs, you can find them online and there is even a topic somewhere here on the ED forums which has a few of them in .jpg format (can find it later if you like?). I have the TPCs on my iPad though as I find all the systems on the A-10C mean I never have to make a mark on a paper chart. I have only once needed to use it for DR navigation after getting battle damage and losing my wingman to ground fire. Other than that I have my trusty kneeboard, paper pad and a couple of pencils for scribbling info throughout a mission.

 

Hope that helps Bill.

 

 

Available for download here:- http://www.lib.utexas.edu/maps/tpc/

 

Many thanks guys, I'll take a look. The rationale behind this is that most campaign missions are in the western-eastern edges of Georgian seaside, and I want to start relying on maps as the real deal does, because it is the alphabets of skill in a plane. My main problem also comes to orientation loss after passes, but that is beyond the subject of this thread.

 

This is my view, and I maybe right or wrong, but here goes: If you get your CDU/CICU busted, you can always revert to a reliable map, even continue on with task at hand. (now before you start firing on me, I know this is unrealistic, please hold it.. hold it...!!!!). The fun part, is being able to see the part where the TAC wants you to hit on a map so clear that you can practice distance measuring via aspect when you're in the cockpit, thus help you establish sort of a magnification factor of the things, thereby help you learn a real life skill within the realm of DCS, even though (again, hold it... I know its a sim, it does not mimic every aspect of real life, it is part realistic, etc...).