Trade Wind Airfield in MSFS 2020
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After getting setup with the Microsoft Flight Simulator 2020, we were a little dissapointed with the default version of the main airport on Martha's Vineyard (KMVY), which is where we live. We had started playing with Blender, to see if we could learn enough to try to create a custom version. During this process, we discovered an outfit based in England that had already built one, and it looked pretty awesome, so we bought a copy. They call themselves 'Burning Blue Designs', and turns out they mostly build custom versions of UK based airports, but one of them liked the KMVH airport in earlier versions of the MS Flight Simulator, so he built one based on information he got from the MVY airport director. We chatting with one of them, and ended up sending them a whole bunch of pictures of Katama Airfield (1B2), and they built that one as well. As sort of a joke, We told them we might try to do one of Trade Wind Airfield (MA44), but most of it would be from memory, as most of the strctures are no longer there. The only remaining part of the original airfield, other than the runways, is the old main hanger. Originally (at least back in the early 1980s, when we were flying out of there), there was also an additional 4 bay hanger, an old style fuel pump, and a Tetrahedron for wind direction information. Pretty simple layout. I think these are fairly accurate, though we built them based on memories from 40 some years ago, so... historical fiction really...
Blender has a pretty steep learning curve, but is awesome software, and is open source and free to boot. We ended up using it to build the three airfield buildings (Main Hanger, 4 Bay Hanger, and small shed near the fuel pump), as well as 6 houses for across the street, from scratch. We also modified several other existing models of some cars, airplanes, picnic tables, chairs, and a bike, to include as static models. Burning Blue Designs then did the custom work to clean up the grounds to look more realistic (grass, fencing, better looking streets, telephone poles, etc), and incorporated some of my models in the package. They are now distributing Trade Wind, along with the main airport, and Katama Airpark. Their airports are gorgeous, and we're really enjoying flying into all three of them in the sim.
Here are a few screen shots of some of the models we built / modified in Blender, along with some pictures of these models as incorporated in the custom Trade Wind Airfield taken while in the simulator:
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The main structure of the Main Hanger was built from scratch in Blender.
Creating the Main Hanger in Blender,
before Roof Panels
Creating the Main Hanger in Blender
with Roof Panels
Front Of The Main Hanger as it looks in the Sim
The Super Cub, refrigerator, picnic table, ceiling fan, ladder, and tool box are existing 3D models we were able to find on-line (with unlimited licensing), that we were able to tweak or modify a bit in Blender. We were able to tweak the textures, color, labels, etc, of these existing models using Blender. The people are models supplied by Burning Blue Design. The registration number on the Super Cub is the actual one that was on the Piper Cub that lived in that hanger back in the 1980s.
Interior of the Main Hanger as it looks in the Sim
This 4 bay hanger was also built from scratch in Blender, much the same way the main hanger was built.
Smaller 4 Bay Hanger
All of the aircraft are based on 3D models we found on line, and then tweaked in Blender to modify the color and registration numbers. We modified two of them to appear as fishspotters. These were equipped with 80 or 90 gallon belly tanks for extra fuel (originally designed to hold chemicals for converting these aircraft for crop dusting, these allowed for non stop flying for up to 17 hours). They also were fitted with several extra antennas for a loran navigation radio, and marine radios.
Modifying a model of a Citabria in Blender, with
Belly Tank, extra Antennas, and Experimental Category Placards
Modifying a model of a Citabria in Blender, with
Belly Tank, extra Antennas, and Experimental Category Placards
Modifying a model of a Super Cub in Blender, with
Belly Tank, extra Antennas, and Experimental Category Placards
Picture of an actual Super Cub set up as
a Fishspotter, flying over Georges Bank East of New England, US
Citabria and Super Cub setup a Fishspotters, with
Belly Tanks, extra Antennas, and Experimental Category Placards, in the Sim
Trade Wind had a fuel pump that looked very much like a standard auto gas pump from the '60s or '70s. It was self service - get the key and clipboard out of the shed, note the start and end gallon readings, and give a check to Carolyn next time you saw her. That was aviation out of a small grass field back then.
Original Gas Pump Model, before modifications
to convert it to an AvGas Pump with a longer hose
Original Gas Pump Model, after modifications
to convert it to an AvGas Pump with a longer hose
AvGas Fuel Pump on Slab, with Shack,
Ladder, Vent Pipe, and Oil Can, in the Sim
Blender has to ability to create animated objects, and the animation can be controlled by outside events in the simulator. We built this model of an aviation tetrahedron and animated it in Blender. Once imported into the simulator, the animation responds to the wind direction being simulated in the simulator, and the tetrahedron will point into the wind accurately.
Tetrahedron (Animated to follow the
direction of the wind In The Sim)
This was a really fun project. Much thanks to Adam at Burning Blue Designs for his encouragement during our learning process, and willingness to use some of our models in the final project, which they are distributing along with their other two Martha's Vineyard airports.