FSX Power Project V4.0 Scenery

Experience a vast update to your landscape in Microsoft Flight Simulator X with this freeware scenery expansion. It features worldwide arrays of rotating wind turbines, enhanced power infrastructure, atmospheric steam and smoke effects, and carefully placed radomes. Developed by Ray Porter, this add-on integrates seamlessly into default terrain and photo-real enhancements alike, offering a more authentic rendering of power stations, parabolic dishes, and electricity pylons.

Key Aspects of the Power Infrastructure

Power Project v4.0 introduces thousands of animated power-related structures that bring vitality to numerous regions:

• Wind Turbines: Over 10,000 units dispersed globally, showcasing realistic rotor animations.
• Power Stations: More than 100 sites fitted with chimney stacks, cooling towers, and subtle steam or smoke effects.
• Electromagnetic Installations: A variety of radomes and large parabolic transmitters in strategic locations.
• Electricity Pylons: More than 28,000 pylons meticulously aligned with photo-based scenery across the UK.

Additionally, an optional “UK scenery shifter” realigns default autogen elements for users who employ Horizon’s Generation X photo terrain in England and Wales. For enhanced coastlines, Ultimate TerrainX Europe is also highly compatible.

Simulator Compatibility and Requirements

This package has been designed for Microsoft Flight Simulator X exclusively. It is not compatible with FS2004 or earlier platforms. For those still using Microsoft Flight Simulator 2004, there is a separate FS2004 Power Project (v1.0) derived from a previous build of this scenery. Although Acceleration is not strictly mandatory, it is suggested in order to see certain 3D models and to ensure full compatibility. Photo-real textures and products like Ultimate TerrainX Europe will also enhance the visual detail, especially along coastlines.

Highlighted Content Sections

1. UK Electrical Grid

Incorporates a detailed partial representation of the British power distribution system, placing thousands of pylons, sub-stations, and rotor structures in accurate locations. Horizon’s Generation X scenery was used as a principal guide. Moreover, semi-realistic steam and smoke effects appear around cooling towers or chimney stacks for deeper immersion.

2. Global Energy Sites

Extends to wind farms and major generation plants throughout Africa, North America, Europe, India, and Australasia. With Google Earth positional data, these sites reflect real-world coordinates, like the extensive Horse Hollow facility in Texas. Steam and smoke visuals are enabled at many of these power complexes.

3. Default Power Station Steam Effects

For certain default U.S. power stations (e.g., Three Mile Island), steam effects have been infused to add a lifelike dimension to the environment. This subtle addition makes industrial sites more noticeable amid typical flight paths.

4. Radomes and Dishes

An extensive network of radomes and large dish antennas is interspersed globally. These rely on Microsoft Flight Simulator X Acceleration assets, thus an Acceleration installation is beneficial for optimal display.

Recent Adjustments in Version 4.0

Ray Porter refined this release to address some documentation inconsistencies, incorporate over 4,000 new wind turbines, and install more radomes and large dishes in multiple areas around the world. In addition, many missing pylons now appear, including those crossing the South Downs in proximity to Shoreham Airport (EGKA). A new “FSX_UK_default_scenery_shifter” folder is included if you lack Ultimate TerrainX Europe, enabling default objects to better match Horizon’s GenX photo layers.

Installation Instructions

1. Locate the “Microsoft Flight Simulator X” folder inside the package; drag and drop it onto the same folder that contains your primary FSX installation. Confirm overwrites if prompted.
2. This procedure installs Power Project v4.0 into Addon Scenery, merges the included visual effects into Effects, and places the FSXPower Project models in Scenery/Global/scenery, with textures going to Scenery/Global/texture.
3. Launch FSX, navigate to “Settings,” then click “Scenery Library.” Select “Add Area.”
4. Open Addon Scenery ? FSXPower Project V3_1 ? FSXPower Project_objects, then choose “OK.”
5. Ensure FSXPower Project_objects is placed at the top of your Scenery Library list.
6. Repeat these steps to add FSXPower Project_pylons followed by FSXPower Project_effects. Make sure FSXPower Project_effects remains above FSXPower Project_objects in the Scenery Library so that steam and smoke are rendered properly.
7. After these additions, click “OK” to let FSX rebuild the database. Once it completes, the module is fully installed.

Optional Effects Configuration

In order to increase visible range for steam and smoke from 15,000 to 40,000 units, consider editing the effects.CFG file found under “Effects.” Look for the [Emitter Detail Distance] section and change the “Very Far” line from 15000 to 40000. Remember to create a backup of this file before making edits. Keep in mind that this greater draw distance may impact frame rates if numerous effects must be rendered simultaneously.

Deactivation of Demolished or Decommissioned Facilities

A subfolder named “demolished” contains BGL files for power stations that have been deconstructed, while “decommissioned_demolished” stores the effect files associated with them. If a power site has been taken offline or demolished, move the corresponding BGL entries into those folders to hide them within FSX (and avoid floating steam effects).

Improving Performance

If frame rates suffer, lower the “Special Effects Detail” or reduce “Scenery Complexity” from “Extremely Dense.” These settings can decrease particle emissions and remove certain elements of the add-on. If further boosts are needed, disable the FSXPower Project_effects layer entirely in the Scenery Library.

Compatibility Notes

This add-on has known overlap in certain areas with third-party airport packages or large-scale landmark collections. If you notice conflicts, placing the FSXPower Project entries above any conflicting scenery in your Library typically resolves issues. The developer organized sites into separate BGL files, labeled by country or region, allowing for quick isolation or removal of specific items if needed. For instance, “USA” is used for American sites, “Oz” for Australian terrain, and “NZ” for New Zealand coverage.

Technical Development Insights

Most placements rely on Google Earth or photo-based references, ensuring optimal alignment with popular add-on meshes or high-resolution textures. Since wind turbines and other power elements often appear on ridges or mountains, placing them precisely sometimes requires minor manual adjustment. Varying terrain mesh resolutions might cause occasional floating or buried objects, but the approach used attempts to mitigate these discrepancies.

Notes on 3D Models

Ray Porter created multiple Gmax-based geometry items, including two- and three-blade wind turbines, smoke stacks of differing heights, cooling towers, satellite dishes, gasometers, and more. The interior FSX default library supplements these models for pylons, transformers, and other small details.

Freeware Usage and Permissions

According to Ray Porter, this freeware scenery is not meant to be sold or utilized commercially without explicit permission. Installing and using Power Project v4.0 should remain free of charge so that all enthusiasts of Microsoft Flight Simulator X can enhance their virtual environment without any additional cost.

— Ray Porter