RAF Little Staughton - Flight Sim Model

After more than 15 months work the project nears completion.
All 173 structures from page 1 of the RSP have been modelled from scratch on SketchUp, including extensively researched texturing and coloration. This was achieved from multiple sources, inc numerous site visits, interviews, contributions from local villagers (some eye witnesses), contemprorary aerial images, Richard Flagg's 'UK Airfields (vital resource), ARG (the building threads were particularly helpful), 25+ books (which have been accessed front to back many times), websites, old film, Scottish Library Maps, LIDAR and a lot of sources I've now forgotten.
One person I won't forget to mention is Peter the Eater, whose guidance was patiently given over many months and literally hundreds of questions. Without his help I'd have got nowhere fast. Thank you sir. Using Sean Feast's bio of 582, I was able to identify every weapon the Pathfinders used, and with Peter's expert help, modelled them all to recreate the (two) bomb dumps, filled to overflowing. 8000 tons were delivered from LS over occupied europe at accuracies of up to 60 yards.
I'd thought this project might have stirred more interest from WW2 afficionados but was suprised by how few wanted to contribute or even respond. My grateful thanks to all who did though!
The plan is, over time, and as it hopefully spurs debate, I can add to or enhance or correct it where necessary so it creates a permanent and authentic memorial to those who served Bomber Command, inc my late father Tom.
It is the most accurate replica of any WW2 Bomber Command airfield available on any flight sim, and as promised, it will be free issue. You will however need a copy of XPlane12 to use it.
XPlane's scenery editor, WED, is a powerful and free tool for creating airfield landscapes. It allowed me for example to add tree lines, field boundaries, roads, tracks, paths, worn patches, even tyre marks from the aerial images. Over a dozen WW2 airfield vehicles were modelled, as well as 582's Lancasters and 109's Mozzies. These have been animated to add realism and create a challenge for the ardent flight simmer to avoid.
XP also allows the user to dial in weather, time of day, wind/gusts for additional realism.
The model will probably be released latish November 2024.
The video provides a glimpse of the animated vehicles and aircraft, but over the next few weeks I'll be creating a series of short films to tell the story of the airfield as a Pathfinder base. I hope both model and videos will stimulate interest, particularly from young people, about the sacrifice made by these men and women 80 years ago. The Bomber Command Memorial at Lincoln has already shown interest.
Creating the model made me delve deep, but the effort was rewarded by LS giving up its secrets: where the airmen climbed into the crew trucks; what went on inside the mysterious 'radar workshops'; why there are so precious few images of the airfield; and last but not least, which part of the Lancaster took off the Baptist Chapel's roof.
If any do talke the plunge with XPlane and take a virtual tour around LS, let me know what you think, or if it can be improved.

Finished, at last.
18 months at 4 hrs a day and a labour of love.
I learned a huge amount about not just about LS, but Pathfinders too.
ARGs resources, discussions, postings, going back many years were an invaluable resource. I know many who contributed are sadly no longer present, but my grateful thanks to those who set hand to keyboard over the years.
in particular, I want to thank Peter Hamlin for answering many hundreds of questions and keeping me on track. I would have failed without him.
The video is a 10 min glimpse, a trailer to publicise the model, which as promised, will be a free download for the XPlane flight sim from its forum. This should be uploaded in the next few days.
I believe what it does is to connect the dots and create a picture of a living Pathfinder airfield, as accurately as is reasonably possible. The RSP was followed in detail, guided by the 3 existing wartime aerial images. The 173 Structures are right to the nearest foot, with tone and texture according to best available records. Site visits, interviews, over 30 books, much web trawling completed the picture.
i was pleased to be able to upload on Remembrance Day too.
Please let me know what you think.
Neil

I came acoss the trailer on YouTube last evening and viewed it as if I had been there in the day. We have spent many hours exchanging information in an attempt to maintain historical accuracy. It has been an interesting diversion for me delving into anorak detail of such things as electrical power distribution to airfields relying on National Grid. Well done! I doubt that there are many souls out there who would challenge the structural details but, if there are, all constructive criticism is welcome.

I uploaded the scenery model to the XPlane 12 Flight Sim Forum Friday 4pm.
Since then, it's had nearly 500 downloads globally.
I mention this only because it leverages the accumulated wisdom of this august body, showcasing the ARGs knowledge accrued worldwide. It has been very well received and the forum is talking about ARG too.
As promised, it's free to download but you would require a copy of XP12 (£60) to use it, and a reasonably specced machine with decent GPU. It is amazingly immersive, really placing you in its midst in time and place.
I'm hoping maybe a museum or two picks up it, adding a projector and decent sound system would be a marvellous educational tool for kids of all ages.
forums.x-plane.org/index.php?/files/file...ughton/&tab=comments

Great work Neil, really nicely done

Rich