Hi. Can you tell me which are the best (freeware or payware) software/programs for creating FS Scenery for FS2004

This is a very difficult question. There are many answers, and I don't even know myself. However I'm going to answer it

The simplest way is to create the taxiways & aprons is with AFCAD2. Then you can add 3d objects etc with FSSC &/or XML code. You can add loads of objects from the FS2004 object bank using Rollerballs User friendly design package which may help some to understand what this XML code stuff is about

To make macros for use with FSSC you can use Easy object Designer or FSDS(2). To create macros in XML format you need to use GMAX and do all sorts of fiddly stuff, which I can't help you with!

Anyway I believe that’s the best I can do!
Birdman.

great, thanx a lot! I will try my best...

USA Photo maps is a free program at http://jdmcox.com/ .

You can use it for the color photo-real part of the texture part
You just have to figure out how to do it and have the time to do it. It is rally quite a amazing FREE program. Just type in your address and it will come up. Then zoom out.. Way out. I have almost the whole state of central Illinois. Champaign to Chicago. Then around Las Vegas and San Francisco !

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Confusing ain't it. It was different back in the days of FS98 when there was only one way of doing it but things have since moved on. The problem now is that there's too much choice & everyone has their own favourite programs.

New methods & the programs developed to take advantage of them come along all the time but the basic principles don't change. Learning to use any scenery design program will make it easier to understand & use the later ones as they appear. My advice would be to start out with the latest one available. No sense in going backwards. I've never used it but if I was just starting out I would try SceneGenX. You will still need to be familiar with Airport for Windows for features not yet possible with SceneGenX. (The Exclude & Flatten areas that RollerBall mentioned. See above.)

Also read all you can find on the subject.

Hi Brittair. I'll look out for your RAF Leeming & check it out. I always liked FSSC as I find it easier to use than Airport. I use whatever I find easiest. This is purely my opinon but if the methods & tools you're using do what you want I would stick with them.

It never does any harm to check out new things as they appear. I once tried to keep abreast of all new developments (not only scenery design) as soon as they became available but sadly this is no longer the case. It also made me a "Jack of all trades" but master of none. I know enough about the basics of most things to do with FS/CFS to give anyone a good start. Then it's down to them. RollerBall is the best one here to give advice on this subject now. I trust him & his opinions.

Just bear in mind that these latest design tools are only compatible with FS9 (I think so anyway). The programs & utilities you need will depend on the sim you're creating the scenery (or aircraft) for. Everyone seems to naturally assume that it's for the latest version, whether it be FS9 or CFS3. My specific interest is CFS2 for which I find FSSC perfectly satisfactory. The same can be said for FS2002, using AFCAD & FSSC (or Airport).

The problem with this new method, unless they are experienced with a computer a newbie or beginner is going to find all this XML stuff very difficult.

Firstly setting up sceneGenX is going to be hard for them - they are going to get very frustrated with it stopping every five minutes because they pressed a wrong button.

Then you have Gmax, a handful to learn even if you know the basics of scenery design, but I would say its way too difficult for most beginners.

I can't see currently (build 32) what advantages ScenegenX has over AFCAD2 in terms of taxiway and ground layout – nothing or anything with huge advantage. With AFCAD2 you can start up and add you taxiways etc in a matter of minutes.

I agree that FSSC has had its day, and scenegenx & gmax are the best tools to use, (especially when ScenegenX is released officially) - but I don't believe that everyone will be able to jump straight in the deep end. If newbies come up against a brick wall at every corner they are just going to give up.

If they use AFCAD2 for the ground. ExcBuilder to remove default signs & buildings etc & Createsign to create XML signs. Then use FSSC to place objects made with EoD on top. Then as they get confident they can start using Obplacer XML to place MDL objects.

That’s mostly XML stuff – it would just mean they could do most of it the easy way and as they get more experienced they could start using the more complicated Gmax for objects. Once they have done a project with something like that then they’ll be ready to start with ScengenX & Gmax exclusively.

It's a great shame that MS are going to leave the backward compatability completely. I wont miss the FSSC taxiways though!

Birdman.