NDB models

[Northstar98]

Hi everyone,

Another issue I've found on the Marianas maps - that being the model for the NDBs.

At the moment they're these absolutely gigantic lattice towers that look nothing like the real thing. They also have a LOD that makes them basically invisible until you're less than a km away from it (though this might be my display - it's tiny).

The one on Guam is a small building with a triangular lattice tower that's probably a third of the height of the tower that's currently there. Incidentally the terrain mesh looks off - Google Earth at least thinks it's roughly level with the road, and is essentially flat - here it's a fairly significant ditch. This isn't so much of a problem though - because it is less noticeable.

The one at Rota International Airport is again, a much thinner mast, that's probably a third of the height - this is the best RL image I can find of it:

Compared to this (-camera 75.618393 0.231608 48.282757 -cameradir -0.148210 -0.165008 0.975093):

Obviously more zoomed in, because at the distance of the RL shot, the LOD makes it basically invisible  - track posted below.

Then there's the one at Saipan - easily the worst of the 3, not only is it the same massive tower, but it's positioned almost directly on the approach path into runway 7 of Saipan International Airport.

The actual mast is a small, white, guyed, triangular lattice tower, that's looks to be about double the height of your average light-pole/street-lamp. Or about 1/6th of the height (if that) of the huge lattice tower that's currently there.

The geometry also seems off, according to google street view, the area is in a bit of ditch but a barely noticeable one.

Here's a google street-view of the site:

And here's essentially the same shot in DCS (-camera 179.211235 0.043152 99.909885 -cameradir 0.125941 0.018311 -0.991869)

Notice that there's also a load of electrical objects present where there aren't (the actual site only has 3-4 objects - the antenna, 2 very small buildings and a wooden pole (?). The geometry also seems off as well, it's much more flat IRL by the looks of it than in DCS. Hell, maybe that was intentional - because if it was correct it would definitely be interfering with the approach path.

And here is it in relation to runway 7 at Saipan International (-camera 179.100563 0.105914 99.596342 -cameradir 0.346104 -0.047823 0.936976):

Saipan's_Enormous_NDB.trk

EDIT: This should've been posted in the bugs and issues section.

Edited January 15, 2022 by Northstar98
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[Skysurfer]

Oh yeah, I almost crashed into that tower on final as it popped in. Fun. 

[Northstar98]

On 7/1/2021 at 2:12 AM, Skysurfer said:

Oh yeah, I almost crashed into that tower on final as it popped in. Fun. 

It's kinda silly when the real one is nothing like as obnoxious as it currently is.

Edited January 15, 2022 by Northstar98
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[Skysurfer]

Just now, Northstar98 said:

 

It's kinda silly when the real one is nothing like as obnoxious as it currently is.

 

It's the first release verion, I'm sure it'll get fixed and polished as time goes on. 

[Northstar98]

On 7/1/2021 at 2:15 AM, Skysurfer said:

 

It's the first release verion, I'm sure it'll get fixed and polished as time goes on. 

True - but even the ILS glidepath antenna would've been a better fit.

Edited January 15, 2022 by Northstar98
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[Northstar98]

Just an FYI, there is a small communications mast located on the western end of Guam (N13°26'45.37", E144°37'10.89", camera position: -camera -4.154774 0.067892 -19.265552 -cameradir 0.302968 -0.215826 -0.928240), which would've been a much more suitable stand-in than the current gigantic lattice towers.

It would also be more suitable for the communications tower located at the site of Saipan's abandoned PACBAR III RADAR, specifically, the tower at N15°14'54.02", E145°47'44.79" (camera position: -camera -4.154774 0.067892 -19.265552 -cameradir 0.302968 -0.215826 -0.928240) - currently a small electrical transmission tower from the SoH/PG map (AFAIK).

EDIT: There's an even better one. At Antonio B. Won Pat Intl. there's a small, triangular lattice tower, it's coordinates are at N13°29'39.91", E144°48'58.97" and the camera position is: -camera 0.998107 0.122160 2.064380 -cameradir 0.807536 -0.370961 -0.458555. It's a much better stand-in for both.

Edited January 15, 2022 by Northstar98
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