Hesco FARP "Template"

[Hunter_5E]

I like the new multi selection tool in the mission editor, cheers ED.
It gets us around the issue of having no template function for FARPs.
Now it's definitely worth the time and effort to make a nice one, just copy paste, easy.
It's not exactly a "Template" but works great in place of one - gets the job done.

So I had a go at making a nice FARP and what resulted is quite pleasing. Decided to share it with all you good folks.
It's on Caucasus - everyone has it - and it uses only standard DCS stuff.
No asset packs required - should work for everyone.

It has 2 Kiowas, 2 Apaches and 1 Chinook FATCOW flyable on site. Change to suit your prefs.
FATCOW is aircraft only though, no script loaded for it. Dynamic spawn is on at FARP.

All you have to do is select the whole thing with the multi selection tool, press CTRL+C to copy, open the mission file you want it in, left click on the location you want it then press CTRL+V to paste. Select the whole group again after pasting then fine tune position and rotation. Bosh, you're done.

Very cool. Build up a collection of your creations of whatever kind in a single mission file called "My Stuff" or something, then just copy and paste them at will to any other mission. Easy peasy.

You need to be patient though, it consistently takes just over a minute to paste this FARP on my PC - low end by todays standards - it's pasting a lot of stuff so will take time. It does work though, I've also pasted my FARP into Syria and South Atlantic maps with no problem.

I think it looks active and interesting. Hope you like it.

PS. Hope this is in the right section, been a while. Please move if required. Cheers

Caucasus - Hesco FARP.miz

[Hunter_5E]

Had a bunch of ideas after flying around it today for a bit. I set to and made some improvements. Here is Version 1-1.

All watch towers now manned - thought they couldn't be manned after trying with the wooden watch towers, they didn't work.

Filled the empty space next to the hide tent, added some more sentries, put in a fuel tank for the generator pack, added a guy fixing the excavator.

Plus a few other tweaks and additions. Anyway, I think it looks a lot better and more polished and alive. Hope you agree.

Caucasus - Hesco FARP 1-1.miz

[Hunter_5E]

Was getting a bit annoyed with the lime green grass on the big FARP. Thought there was a desert version at some point? ED, any chance of a couple texture options for the big FARP? That lime green just doesn't fit in so many places.

Had a brainwave and replaced the big one with 4 singles on the same construct.

Allows you to see the natural map textures through it now.

Need a good level bit of ground and try to find a spot where the textures work with it.

It works well if you want a more natural look.

Caucasus - Hesco FARP - 4 x Single Pads.miz

[Hunter_5E]

A couple transplanted to dry spots in Syria. They look pretty good.

Nice to be rid onullf the lime green. Still a bit round the single pads but a lot more bearable.

[KrazyPilot]

This is GREAT! I like this idea.. By chance, if you have time of course, you think you could possibly make a Soviet counterpart? I appreciate this as I do not have the time right now to make my own (Kids!) so this helps tons! Thanks!

[Hunter_5E]

Had to evolve to this eventually - switched to the invisible FARP to get away from the greens on the standard DCS ones. Just don't like them and they sure don't work in desert.

Made my own pads from standard DCS statics collection. Came out ok. Now has five full pads and is all natural. Needs level ground to look good. Can't get rid of vegetation inside the camp unfortunately but this FARP fits so many more locations and is great in desert terrain as you'll see in the Syria version. I've adjusted the FARP position to cover all nine squares on all five pads with repair/rearm/refuel services. No dynamic spawn on it this time as it doesn't work well on a busy FARP using invisible one. Thinks there's no free parking space .

Caucasus and Syria FARPs attached below.

I left the Chinook in but it now always makes my DCS stutter terminally and then can crash when I try to fly it. Major spiking in my FPS counter.

Kiowa and Apache are fine anywhere on the FARP but the Chinook seemingly doesn't like something in it. Chokes and kills DCS quite quickly for me. No issues with the Chinook in other missions without this FARP, just in this one. Standard DCS statics only used, should be fine with them.

@KrazyPilot - Glad you like them. I've enjoyed making them. I'll try to have a look at a Soviet version, no guarantees though.

Caucasus - Hesco FARP - Invisible.miz Syria - Hesco FARP - Invisible.miz

[Hunter_5E]

Ok so here's the final versions - one invisible for the natural look and one visible for where the ground is too uneven, or if you like that look.

Two mission files, each with both FARPs side by side. Caucasus so everyone has access to it, Syria to showcase the desert look.

Hope you like them.

Caucasus - Hesco FARPs - Final.miz Syria - Hesco FARPs - Final.miz

[Hunter_5E]

Still wasn't happy with it so it's had another overhaul. This one is for desert terrain but can be changed easily for greener lands.

Changed everything to desert paint as far as I could. Infantry still have green in their uniform but chose one that had at least desert colours in it.

Changed out the vehicles for better selection and added a couple tanks guarding plus an MRAP patrol at the gate waiting to go out.

The major change is the lighting. I've done a very comprehensive lighting install and it looks amazing at night. Jump in at the mission time of 5:10am and see what you think.

Only on Syria at the moment. If anyone needs it on another map just ask. Either myself or someone else will be able to oblige I'm sure.

I'm very happy with the end result. Hope you like it too.

Syria - Hesco FARP - Desert.miz

[Hunter_5E]

So sorry to hit you with another update but I found a couple lights that were causing performance issues so had to be removed. The lights facing the fronts of the main pads, towards the tyres were causing regular spiking in my FPS counter when flying over them. Only happened after several minutes of flying around but kept happening and wasn't good.

While I was in, I added a few more exterior lights facing inwards and one between the containers by the big hide. Looks better balanced lighting now and no performance issues. I've flown over the whole thing at low level again for a while, keeping an eye on my FPS graph. It's flying nice and smooth despite the number of lights.

That's a good trick when building like this in the editor. Your FPS graph will quickly pick out and highlight any objects that are problematic. For example I tried putting in some static aircraft for effect but quickly found out they're FPS killers. Static Apaches and Hueys were liveable but the Kiowa and Gazelle caused major spiking whenever I flew close to them. The static Chinook is unusable - made my DCS crash every time I put it in. Still having problems with the flyable Chinook in here too. Hmmm

Been a bit of an "early access" journey for you I'm afraid. Sorry bout that. This is the proper final now though, 100% sure. Fully tweaked and checked, good to go.

Any more editing can be done by you. Feel free to edit it in any way you want. If you don't like something, change it. Good bones to work on though. Enjoy.

Syria - Hesco FARP - Desert 1-1.miz

[Shurik75]

25 минут назад, Hunter_5E сказал:

Been a bit of an "early access" journey for you I'm afraid. Sorry bout that. 

I think you have absolutely nothing to apologize for. This is creativity. And thank you very much for this!

[Hunter_5E]

Thanks Shurik, I really enjoyed making this so it's nice to know others are enjoying it too. Surprised myself how well it came out, looks awesome all lit up. Worthy of sharing now I think.

I've made another nice improvement - the lights centre of the main pads didn't fit the space. Thought of a nice solution and it fits much better.

Had to share, you gotta have the latest and greatest. Hopefully that's it. Think so now.

Cheers.

 

 

Syria - Hesco FARP - Desert 1-2.miz

Edited February 10 by Hunter_5E

[Hunter_5E]

Pasted it into Nevada and Persian Gulf - and added some lights. Sry, can't help it - all improvements though. Takes almost 3 mins to paste now and almost 30 secs to copy.

Nevada Sunrise.

Found a road to nowhere - with streetlights - and stuck the FARP on the end of it. Makes it fit the scenery well. Nice spot to fly at dawn.

Persian Gulf - Hesco FARP - Desert 1-3.miz Syria - Hesco FARP - Desert 1-3.miz Nevada - Hesco FARP - Desert 1-3.miz

[Gideon312]

Absolutely incredible, thanks. I tried the first version in NTTR, but was not pleased with the green outcome. So this is great……

[Hunter_5E]

Thanks for the kind words Gideon. Glad you like it.

I've done some more major work on it and it looks much better. Realized it still just wasn't where it needed to be. But, I've now got it to the point where I've flown it for 4 whole days and not had the urge to change ANYTHING. It is proper done, no bull this time. Couldn't be happier with it.

I've made 4 mission files for each of Caucasus, Nevada, Persian Gulf and Syria - First Light, Day, Last Light and Moon. Chose each time of day carefully for maximum visual effect.

I've also added comms menu items (F10: Other) to allow quick swap between them for ease of viewing. As long as you have all 4 mission files for any map in your missions folder it will work - in multiplayer too. Also added restart for First Light and Last Light as they change quite quickly and I often found I wanted to restart whilst testing/viewing.

I've added a README in each zip file with tips for best results in using it. I recommend you read it.

Hope you all enjoy it. Sorry for the dragged out journey to get here but I think it was worth it. Hope you agree.

Cheers.

Screenshots on Persian Gulf

Hesco FARP Desert 1-4 - Caucasus.zip Hesco FARP Desert 1-4 - Nevada.zip Hesco FARP Desert 1-4 - Persian Gulf.zip Hesco FARP Desert 1-4 - Syria.zip

Edited February 15 by Hunter_5E

[Hotdognz]

On 2/16/2025 at 3:26 AM, Hunter_5E said:

Thanks for the kind words Gideon. Glad you like it.

I've done some more major work on it and it looks much better. Realized it still just wasn't where it needed to be. But, I've now got it to the point where I've flown it for 4 whole days and not had the urge to change ANYTHING. It is proper done, no bull this time. Couldn't be happier with it.

I've made 4 mission files for each of Caucasus, Nevada, Persian Gulf and Syria - First Light, Day, Last Light and Moon. Chose each time of day carefully for maximum visual effect.

I've also added comms menu items (F10: Other) to allow quick swap between them for ease of viewing. As long as you have all 4 mission files for any map in your missions folder it will work - in multiplayer too. Also added restart for First Light and Last Light as they change quite quickly and I often found I wanted to restart whilst testing/viewing.

I've added a README in each zip file with tips for best results in using it. I recommend you read it.

Hope you all enjoy it. Sorry for the dragged out journey to get here but I think it was worth it. Hope you agree.

Cheers.

Screenshots on Persian Gulf

Hesco FARP Desert 1-4 - Caucasus.zip 247.62 kB · 8 downloads Hesco FARP Desert 1-4 - Nevada.zip 248.64 kB · 8 downloads Hesco FARP Desert 1-4 - Persian Gulf.zip 249.01 kB · 9 downloads Hesco FARP Desert 1-4 - Syria.zip 255.72 kB · 9 downloads

Hi can these be used with the Dynamic Spawn system or does it report all slots taken ??

[HanuXXL]

Thank you! I really appreciate that you've done this without mods. And with multiple versions.

Looks really nice; I'll definitely use these in my missions!

[Hunter_5E]

@Hotdognz - No unfortunately dynamic spawn won't work. Keeps saying no free parking available. Pity we can't specify parking spots for the invisible FARP.

@HannuXXL - You're welcome and thanks for the compliments. Very glad you guys like it.

I found a couple tiny glitches last time I flew it - both really easy to fix though.

1. - The windsock next to the watchtower between the FARP tent and the "high bay" has sunk into the hesco and is too low - supposed to be above the top of the tower. The mission editor did this to me a couple times with other stuff after editing for a while. Loses track of what's on top for some reason.

Fix - Delete the windsock and put a fresh one in it's place. This will restore the "on top" order for the windsock and it will be above the tower again.

2. - The 8 man perimeter patrol are bumping into the light just round the corner from the excavator - even though I checked them to make sure they weren't.

Fix - Just tweak their corner waypoints out a tiny bit and they won't bump into it any more.

Little things but they are annoying when you spot them.

[fargo007]

This is really sharp. Nice work.