[igormk]

EDIT/UPDATE 11.06.2010:
Since I started the work on the map (see the original first post below this update) till the final version there has been a lot of work. You can find the list of upgrades/changes since the beginning in the next two posts:
http://forums.eagle.ru/showpost.php?...0&postcount=98
http://forums.eagle.ru/showpost.php?...&postcount=132

The final version of the map is available for purchase here:
http://fighter-collection.com/pages/...tion/index.php

and for download in high resolution png file here:
http://www.mediafire.com/?gyj44wnmdiz

Very useful additional information on how to laminate and use the map here:
http://forums.eagle.ru/showpost.php?...30&postcount=1

THE ORIGINAL FIRST POST
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Recently I’ve started working on printable 1:500000 scale chart that is covering DCS and FC2 area.

My plan is to print it and cover it with plastic foil so you can draw and write on it with marker which is then easy erasable with alcohol.

I was inspired by the announced integration of both DCS and FC in multiplayer with FC2.0. Then I imagined how it would be like to fly in a co-op mission where you have real guys flying fighters, strikers and attack helicopters.
Imagine having a pair of Ka-50s flying scout role on the front line, and having flight of Su-25Ts or A-10s waiting on strip alert to be called in. Fighters are providing cover all the time. And if you are in that Ka-50 and you spot a large enemy armor formation coming towards our borders, how would you call those strikers? In Ka-50, and (hopefully soon) in A-10C you have GNSS, INS, moving map, so you can be very precise with locating the enemy’s position. But how to pass the information to those strikers which doesn’t have any of those NAV devices. And possibly they have predetermined flight route that they can’t change in flight.
And if you go with “Large group coming in from east, just passing north of Bagdati”, it is question how many of us know the terrain so well that they would know where to go. And even if you know where Bagdati is, would you be able to find it visually if you take off from Sukhumi, and you have to fly low level due to enemy fighters and AD.
Therefore I made this chart in order to eliminate that DCS/FC “navigational” gap. Now if you are Su-25T pilot waiting for call, and you receive coordinates from scout Ka-50s, you can easily draw your target’s location on the printed chart, and if you have predetermined route loaded in your NAV system, just look for your closest WP, measure heading and distance from it, and it will be easy to navigate to the target area.
Off course, this is all applicable for servers that have disabled map and external views.

The chart itself is made of large number of screenshots, all joined together. I have tried to represent the Earth’s curve as it is IRL. Then I added Geodetic and MGRS grids. MGRS system is not checked for precision! I have decided to include it because I believe it will be present in DCS A-10C. Practically, this chart is a representation of real life TPCs (example). I didn’t try to invent anything. There are just few things that are different here with the real life TPC.
Then I added cities, villages, airports, NDBs, peaks, borders, river names, lake names… the result is here.














I'm attaching lower resolution version here ~4000x3100pixels. If you think it would be good to have this chart, after I finish it I will attach full version (~16000x12000pixels).


500k low res (~6MB)




What I want to add on the chart are some good visual reference objects (for better orientation) like:

-Comms Towers



-TV Towers



-Large factory complexes outside of the cities



-Oil platforms


The problem is that I don’t know how to find all of them. Maybe there is some file that have list of all of those objects with their coordinates, but I’m not sure. So, if someone knows where or how to find them, I would be very grateful. And it would be nice if someone could double-check precision of the Geodetic grid. I have tried on several locations on different places of the chart, and I think it is very precise. Just be aware that chart is made relative to coordinates IN game, not in the ME.

I’m open for any suggestions.

S!

[Distiler]

Holy moly macaroni, that's supah

I'm eager for the high resolution one

[TKMR]

Wow great work! Definitely looking forward to the final version!

Rep inbound!

The only thing I would suggest is just checking the grid against it's real life counterpart. Maybe with google earth or something? Would be cool to be able to look at the map, figure at latlng coords, (even if just a general area) for entering into the Rubicon.

[Boulund]

Incredible! Love it already. Now gotta figure out a good way to get it printed

[159th_Royalman]

Looking nice! Any idea when the 16000p x 12000p version is ready for download??

[Nate--IRL--]

I suppose delving in to how the DCS terrain is created may help you, you may be able to extract co-ordinates of the objects you are looking for. Alternatively you could ask ED for help.

You may also (given permission from ED) be able to sell a few of the plastic coated maps on the forum, just something to think about.

Nate

[element1108]

Well done! Looks great!

[Boberro]

It looks superb!!!. I have printed another map created for myself and it has about 120 cm x 70 cm x 300 dpi.

What are your map dimensions at example 300 dpi if it is gonna to be large I'll print it to replace mine

Will you release JPG or PSD too?

[MTFDarkEagle]

woooow!!! nicenicenicenicenicenicenicenicenicenice!!!!!!!!!! !!!!!!!!!!
Looks really good!

[GhostDog]

Suhweet!