I note Tom (tag21) has now uploaded a whole bunch of mostly fictional depictions of real airfields to MAIW.
While Tom is obviously talented at writing the blurb, the authoritative nature of the text leads one to expect that the download is an accurate depiction of the subject presented. In every case, this is not so. Do we not quality control the downloads at MAIW?
Terry Boissel and Alf Denham both produced reams of WW2 RAF airfields (all available at FlightSim/Avsim). Where the layout was speculative or incomplete, they were at pains to point out that the depiction was inaccurate and merely served to show the general layout and 'atmosphere' of the true location. In fact, most were pretty close to reality and could be overlaid on Google Maps to verify the general layout.
Ian Person and Ian Elliott have covered a whole load more WW2 airfields, in great detail in some cases, including almost all of those that Tom has recently produced. Tom's latest, Thorney Island, was covered by me in John Young's Andover package, and by Brian Clarke some years ago. It was also produced by Trevor Clark, and his is available at FlyAway. Like most contributors here, I go to great lengths to ensure the accuracy of what I produce and I stand by their veracity - accepting that there are limitations when generic libraries - particularly the ubiquitous Ted Andrews buildings - are used to represent real structures.
Most of Tom's airfields show little relationship to the subjects covered and really are simply placeholders to provide an operable airport at the location of a real-world WW2 facility. As an example, compare his dramatic but entirely fictional depictions of RAF Hornchurch with the real airfield:
Tom's Hornchurch
Ian P's Horncurch:
The real thing:
Tom's Thorney Island, on the other hand, appears to be a rebuild of Trevor Clark's Thorney using an SBX-generated modern photoreal background and some randomly-placed MAIW buildings and a lot of extra trees.
Tom's Thorney (note ATC placed on the main apron, for example):
Tom's AFCAD:
Brian's Thorney (accurate for the 1990s as an Army base, but not really representative of the 1970s or 1940s):
Brian's AFCAD:
Trevor's Thorney:
Trevor's AFCAD:
My Thorney, built as it was in 1975 with many of my own buildings (as well as a fair few Ted Andrews' creations) and on a completely new AFCAD - and available here at MAIW:
My AFCAD:
As I stated earlier in the thread, I have no problem with fictional airfields but I think it must be clear in the description that the scenery presented is not intended as an accurate depiction. Where someone else's scenery has been modified (hopefully with their permission) credit should be given to the original author.
Tom's sceneries also include AI aircraft produced by creators here at MAIW. Were they asked about their models' inclusion?
