 FS2004 Pre War USS Lexington (CV-2)
 I wanted a  straight deck pre war carrier so I could do catapult take offs and arrestor gear landings with my vintage Navy warbirds to which I had added Rob Barendregt and Doug Dawson's  XML gauges from rcbco-11.zip.  This has given me more flying pleasure than anything in flight sims in a long time.  I chose to model the early Lexington mainly because I actually saw it when I was a mere child.  I know many sources for airplane drawings and data but not so for ships.  I found several photos of the early Lex; it seemed like the configuration changed a lot with every photo.  I finally found a good side and top view but the data was in Russian!  Fortunately' I understood "Meters"!
 This scenery object was created with FSDSv2.24 and compiled as a .bgl file into FS2004.  FSDS does not generate the same .bgl format as used in FS2004 but it still works.  The hardened deck (actually a helicopter pad) was created as an XML file and then compiled with bglcomp from the Microsoft SDK.  The Lex is located in Long Beach, Ca. harbor close to the Queen Mary.  If you have FSDSv2.24 and bglcomp you can move it to other locations (see moving instructions below).  This carrier is intended for use with planes equiped with the XML gauges in rcbco-11.zip and not the cables like in Flight Deck 3.  Of course, you can always land on it if you give your plane a "Super Spoiler".

INSTALLATION:  Unzip Prelex.zip into a temporary folder.   Next copy the folder Prelex into the Add On scenery folder of FS2004.  Close and open FS2004, when you see the set up screen click on settings then click on scenery library, click on add area, then look at the drop down and click on Add On scenery then click on the folder Prelex. Click on it, don't open it.  Now click on OK and close FS2004.  The carrier will show up in the airport list under Long Beach Ca.  You can use the Active Runway or Pad 36 for the start point.  If you are happy with it in Long Beach Harbor; that's it.

MOVING INSTRUCTIONS:  Be advised I have NO INTENTION of going into the moving business so I will ignore requests to move the carrier.  I have provided the .fsc file and the XML file for the deck in the folder called Moving Stuff.  I am assuming you have some knowledge of FSDS2.24 and can write a simple command line in bglcomp.  First let's move the Carrier.  Back up the current file outside of FS2004.    Decide where you want to locate by slewing an airplane to that location.  Jot down the coordinates and heading from FS2004.  Load the .fsc file into FSDS2.24.  Set the preferences to Meters.  Go to Project Properties and enter the desired coordinates in the Area Block  Hit Auto for the header info.  Enter 7-Relative for the type,scale=1 and area type=6.  Be sure the 3 textures are entered in the FSDS Texture folder or they won't show.  Note there is no Heading entry.  The ship will point due North in the sim unless you physically chage the heading in FSDS.  You can do this by clicking on the top view hit select all and the entire ship should be highlighted as selected.  Now you can rotate it around the Y axis to the desired heading.  Save and compile as a .bgl file in the scenery folder of the Prelex folder in the Addon scenery folder.  Let it overwrite the existing file.  The Carrier should now be at the new location but it won't show in the airport menu yet and you will drop right through the deck.
  OK, let's move the pad.  I have found FSDS does not compile to exactly the coordinates you entered (Close but not exactly) so please slew an airplane to the exact center of the carrier deck and note the coordinates and heading.  Open the XML file Prelexpad with Notebook (don't use anything else!)  If you are moving a long ways you need to edit the city, state, country etc.  You will see 3 places where there is a coordinate entry; edit them to the new values.  Enter the new heading where it is required.  Change the runway number as required.  Save the changes to the XML file and copy it into wherever you have installed bglcomp.  Run bglcomp to compile the new deck .bgl called Prelexpad.bgl.  Copy this into the same scenery folder as above.  Now the carrier will show in the airport menu and you can bounce around on the deck.
  This whole moving thing will become easier after I become more proficient in gmax.  I can import and export the carrier with gmax but I haven't mastered materials and textures at this point.  I can make green doughnuts and red cones, though!   Remember, I am a very old dog trying to learn new tricks.  I think my next project will be another PutPut; these readme's give me carpal tunnel syndrome! 

LEGAL: This project is released as freeware.  You may modify it, repaint it, etc., upload to another website as long as it is not for profit.  You need my written permission to use any of these files for commercial purposes; otherwise just give me credit for the original design.  This boat should not hurt your computer but I am not responsible if it causes problems.

Enjoy!  Paul Clawson

Email:   p.pandj@verizon.net

