LockOn printable map

[Bogun]

Gentlemen,

 

For some time I was puzzled why there was no printable map of LockOn theatre of operations. Combined with absence on almost any means of tracking you position on the map – it did a lot to spoil my on-line flying experience in the game.

Well, my squadmate Vosxod and I decided to do something about it - to make The Map ourselves.

 

The work is largely done and here is a pic from it (%90 quality):

 

Well - it is a "Mother of All Maps"... :)

The resulting jpg image of the whole game map is huge – 6MB. There is no way to print it on one page with desired level of details and I have no space to post it on the web.

Map, of course, can be split to center on desired theaters of operation, like Crimea, Kuban, Caucasus, but even then jpg images at %100 quality level will be around 2MB.

Map segments very well for printing on common size “US letter”, “US legal” and A4 paper.

 

Any comments, suggestions are welcome.

[JimMack]

Great initiative.

I too have been looking for maps.

You can buy on the internet (ie Amazon) a map of the Crimea at 1:300,000 scale. It is about 1.1 metres X 1.1 metres.

Source is Institut Geographique National. 3615 IGN, published in 1997.

I have yet to find a discrepancy between this map and the Lock On Crimea.

I have covered it with "Coverfilm", and therefore can plan mission/tasks with a non-indelible marker, which rubs off.

Can be folded OK as in the air maps that are used by pilots.

 

For greater definition, see thread "Rivers on Maps" where you can get maps at 1:100,000.

 

In practice, the military use 1:50,000, so if anyone knows a source, I'd be interested to know.

 

Jim

[GGTharos]

Or you could just try getting red dog's excellent maps...

[Bogun]

Where to get those "Red Dog" maps?

[MBot]

What I would love to see in future ED sims is a Il-2 style map. That solution is just genious.

For those that don't know how it looks like. When displaying the map it only covers up about 1/4th of your screen, so you can still look around while working with the map. This is great for cross checking terrain features with your map or avoiding hitting the ground while studying it. The map can be scrolled and zommed with your mouse.

 

Additionaly it would be cool to be able to draw on your map ( various symbols, circles, lines, letters etc. ) at flight planing and while in the air.

 

Such a relative simple feature would increase the possibility to plan and execute a precise mission greatly.

[GregP]

Bogun,

 

Very nice work on those maps. I hope you find a way to upload them somewhere.

 

As for Red Dog's maps, I searched around and found them, they're here, near the bottom the page:

 

http://users.skynet.be/bs999158/LomacDownload.htm

 

Enjoy.

[Bogun]

Thanks GregP,

 

Unfortunately Mad Dog’s map would not help me, non-pilot to navigate even over Crimea, and there are no Kuban or Caucuses maps…

 

Here is small update – made sea color lighter, it was coming up too dark when printed on color printers. Each grid square – 50x50km.

[gustav]

Great work! Really looking foward to download, n matter the size. :D

[Ice]

Here is one I made long time ago..

 

We have many variations available on our website with bullseyes, grids etc.

 

Full size map Here

 

Here is an earlier thread

 

[Bogun]

Great job Ice.

I can easily see – we were thinking and making the map along the same lines – overlay “satellite map” with “geophysics map”, grid and all…

I just wanted to have better visible city names, airbase names and the grid marked in a way to make describing your own location instantaneous…

Would I see you map earlier – I would definitely try to “coerce” you into making different grid…

Great job again.

 

BTW, people on the “parallel” thread on Russian branch here

http://forum.lockon.ru/viewtopic.php?t=3116

were saying:

 

USSR_Baikal said - "it make sense to wait for v1.1 – maps there are

better scaling and have more info."

 

Aim quoted one of the LockOn developers (Valery Blazhnov) talking of new options to export maps from the game. It isn’t done yet, but they may still do it, “if they will have time”.

[Skarp]

I'm sure lockonskins can help you bogun. http://www.lockonskins.co.uk/ just go on the forums and ask if mr.wolf can help you.

[Guest ThomasDWeiss]

It can be quite useful for mission planing.

 

When you are ready, send it to us at Lomacfiles, we will be more than glad to host it.

[Bogun]

Thank you ThomasDWeiss, thank you Skarp.

Almost there…

 

Map is specifically made to make it easy to describe one’s location in the game

Tht’s why I thought of simple grid with coordinates overlaying the map is the easiest for us, virtual pilots, not the geographical coordinates, like on real life maps.

 

Now, last question:

What grid net to apply to a map?

There are people who prefer 50x50km, there are some who prefer 20x20km grid.

Tell now which one is better. I personally think 50x50 is better.

 

Grid 50x50km

Grid 20x20km

[Bogun]

Map had been completed and tested.

Surprisingly - it is actually very usable :)…

 

The whole map is 6100x2620pix, about 7MB jpg file.

Because of the feedback – grid applied is 20x20km.

Anyone can select desired area in Photoshop, PaintShopPro or alike image editing program and save section as smaller jpg to print it with Windows Picture and Fax Viewer, which scales down selected jpg extremely well.

 

Now, I could split the map on smaller areas, so LockOn pilots would not be forced to have go through the hassle of playing with area selection, but the problem here is – will anyone want to host bunch of LockOn map archives optimized for printing on “US Letter” (8.5”x11”), “US Legal” (8.5”x14”) or A4 (8.25”x11.75”) paper sizes.

In my opinion – map printer on color laser printer, on “US Legal” paper is the best, most usable size maps to use in the game.

 

ThomasDWeiss,

Please tell me what do I need to do to submit the map (maps) for your to host them on LOMACFILES.COM. I was not been able to register on that sites forum.

[Bogun]

Just to sums it up - LockOn printable maps now available here:

http://www.lockonskins.co.uk/index.php?page=downloads

and here:

http://www.lomacfiles.com/modules.php?name=Downloads

With the release of Flaming Cliffs new/better maps may become available, so I will definitely try to update maps above.