Lambert St. Louis Video from 1962

[richjb]

A KTVI documentary on St. Louis - Lambert Field from 1962 has been posed to YouTube:

youtu.be/lygAwRtwfQg

This video shows the original configuration of the airport with just three domes instead of the current four domes.

Rich Boll
Wichita, KS (formerly of St. Louis)

[Tom/CalClassic]

Thanks, Rich. Hopefully our classic scenery is at least close.

[Pixel Pilot]

Hi Rich, Thanks for posting that video. I'm also from St. Louis. There's plenty of picture evidence available on the internet that shows the building was originally a 3 domed structure. I think the fourth dome was added around 1967 or 1968. This is about the time that the airsides were installed and as far as I can tell that was the biggest difference from the time this documentary was shot until the late 1960's. You can get a look at the changes by going to Historic Aerials. They have images from 1958 and 1971. The parallel to RWY 12-30 was added sometime between those 2 dates. I have not been able to find out exactly when. I do know from standing at the fence in the mid 1960's that it was already there.

Ed

[richjb]

May 24, 2015 12:33:14 GMT -5 Tom/CalClassic said:

Thanks, Rich. Hopefully our classic scenery is at least close.

The domes are close, expect for one too many. The concourses are the modern ones that were modified in the last 1970 to include jetways. My father flew out of Lambert regularly, and in the days before tight security, we used to follow him down to the gate which were located at ramp level. My last recollection of ramp level gates was on our flight to Europe in August 1975. Somewhere around 1978 or 1979, the update of Lambert occurred raising the gate level up to the second level and installing the jetways. It also extended C concourse, the east-most wing from the terminal.

I have given some thought into dipping my toes into scenery development, with a 1960 version of Lambert as my starting point. I have no experience nor tools with which to begin this process. Any suggestions where to start?

Thanks & Happy Memorial Day!

Rich

[richjb]

May 25, 2015 9:13:18 GMT -5 Pixel Pilot said:

Hi Rich, Thanks for posting that video. I'm also from St. Louis. There's plenty of picture evidence available on the internet that shows the building was originally a 3 domed structure. I think the fourth dome was added around 1967 or 1968. This is about the time that the airsides were installed and as far as I can tell that was the biggest difference from the time this documentary was shot until the late 1960's. You can get a look at the changes by going to Historic Aerials. They have images from 1958 and 1971. The parallel to RWY 12-30 was added sometime between those 2 dates. I have not been able to find out exactly when. I do know from standing at the fence in the mid 1960's that it was already there.

Ed

Hi Ed,

I discovered Historic Aerials a few years ago, I believe from this website. It's amazing how St. Louis (and other places) have changed over the years. Before looking at Historic Aerials, I did not know that there were originally 3 domes. I didn't realize that the terminal building was as old as it was (1956). Considering that it still in use and still the main check-in area for all airlines other than SWA, that's pretty amazing. It even survived a direct hit from a Tornado in 2010!

There's a Facebook or Flickr page hosted by Lambert Field that has historical photos. I can't find the link (doah!), but I will post it when I locate it.

That saddest part of Lambert's story is what it has become today since TWA's demise....

Thanks!

Rich

[Tom/CalClassic]

Hi,

Most people use Sketchup to create the custom buildings; I use GMAX because I started before Sketchup was available. Much harder to learn, but a little more flexible in things like texturing. Then you use ModelConverterX (MCX) to convert a Sketchup object to an FS MDL file. Most people use Airport Design Editor (ADE) to build the airport itself (runways, taxiways, aprons, etc.) and to place the objects they created in Sketchup/MCX. I instead use Instant Scenery (payware) for the last task, since you can place them right in FS and it goes so much faster.

My Sketchup Tutorial (there are several others on the web):

www.calclassic.com/sketchup_tutorial.htm

Then if you want to work on the terrain features (airport polygons, roads, rivers, landclass, etc.) most people use SBuilder. For large landclass projects I use LWM Viewer instead, which I find easier for that task.

Hope this helps,