MSFS 2020 | REVIEW: iniScene London Heathrow (EGLL) scenery for Microsoft Flight Simulator

[@FilbertFlies]

Since I published this review, iniBuilds have advised that they are working on several improvements to the airport, and I've been very impressed by their responsiveness to my comments and those of others. Here's what they've said over on avsim.com: Currently we're acting on the following; - Night lighting improvements throughout - Terminal lighting improvements at T5 - VGDS solution (longer term implementation) - Increasing dirt at stands - Adding airport side roads - Increasing cars on landsides for added immersion - And fixing numerous bugs reported to us on our own forum and support tickets as well as what's been picked up throughout the wider community.

[@acurisur]

Good to hear. In that case I'll wait for the fixes before I buy it, the night lighting and lack of detail in the roads kills the immersion for me as the airport currently stands. Heathrow is an airport I've been to in real life (as recently as last December) so I'm vey picky about this airport in particular.

[@cjmillsnun]

Good news. For me it was always a solid buy as it clearly is better than the "hand crafted" Heathrow from Asobo which was a huge disappointment.

[@iniBuilds]

Hi there. Thank for your comments. We feel that we provided a great effort for this airport - one must be aware of the magnitude of this airport and the minute details in each corner. Performance is key. Some things we are working on: - T5 night lighting - T5C textures - T3 glass - Snow - T3 bricks is interesting as its complimented in one area, but not liked in another. We will see what to do, as its the same texture. - More dirt on stands In response to some questions: - Tunnels were actually modelled with depth in and around the airfield. However, due to the proximity of some of these to stands it was causing quite a few issues, and was pulled for a more seamless solution. As certain MSFS tools develop we will review the situation and see if we can re-insert the tunneling system we developed. - Many hundreds of hours we spent on this airport, and let me assure you this piece of work was not rushed. - Night lighting overall was done in collaboration from feedback for those who work on the airfield. London Heathrow is not an overwhelmingly colorful airport. We have three individuals who work on the airport daily that were consulted in the production and testing of this airport and to ensure sufficient details were added. We know what we aren't going to please everyone, but rest assured if the feedback is reported on our forum (where official feedback needs to go) we will look into items and make improvements where we can. Kind Regards iniBuilds Management

[@吴-s5h]

Not very performance friendly for lower end PCs. But the airport is indeed a big improvement over asobo's.

[@flightreportsyt5797]

Thank you for working on improvements, thats not sth many dev do especially short after release so i have to admit i love your company policies. Im pretty sure these improvements ll add lots of immersion to the airport so that the performance related reduction on some textures etc will be negligible at least for me.

[@TheVirtualAirlinePilot]

Excellent review - and pretty much what I discovered today when it was released and I bought it. I petitioned IniBuilds for a copy for review but they have declined, so I bought it anyway and my review will be out on Saturday. As someone who spent some 27 years at Heathrow in my former career, you pretty much nailed this review. My i9-9900k CPU also struggled with pauses and stutters. Today, I drove up to Heathrow and spent about 2 hours looking around at it, since I left my career there in 2006. There are issues with this product but on balance, I agree with you - it is perhaps the best Heathrow so far and I am a little peturbed that no Manual or ReadMe file was included for our non-UK simmers who might be looking at this in detail for the first time. And no history or even credits for the people who worked on it? A Manual would have been good for a polished product. It strikes me of the same issues that Origami had with Gatwick. But I will use it and see how we do. Thanks for the review. All the best - Lee

[@DesktopSimulation]

thankyou for been honest on your review, other videos i have seen from youtubers who got a copy for free has said everthing is perfect and we can see there head was turned with the free copy, keep up the good work

[@flightreportsyt5797]

you are definitely right, i bought it at release because its heathrow , i need it haha. There wont be another heathrow for the next time for sure. But all the points you mentioned are exacttly what i thought, especially te night lighting from t5. I ve been there 4 times and its just special for heathrow to have this blue, green tint at night times and thats just completely killing the immersion here. Hope they fix it, thx for your fantastic review again i really respect your honesty.

[@ShotInTheDark]

Great to see an honest and balanced review, which is something we can always rely on from you. Personally, I’m a fly in taxi deplane, or reverse type of user so all the external roads wouldn’t interest me from close up. Like you pointed out, it’s where I’m going to be spending time taxiing, and the gate is where I’d want to get the full immersion, no, I won’t be walking around the terminal but it’s important to be able to see into it from the cockpit etc. I’d also wait for a sale before buying too.

[@cjmillsnun]

Worth doing an updated review now V2 is released.

[@DanBirasi]

"noticeable impact on my framerate" - that's all i needed to hear. Thx for the video, thx for saving my money - staying with the vanilla.

[@Fauxbourg]

So happy you're doing reviews again! :)

[@FilbertFlies]

Thanks. I couldn't NOT review Heathrow. It's the Big One isn't it?!

[@briancrawley8440]

So glad you did this review. Like others I was ready to purchase it based on other reviews. After seeing your review I have decided to give it a miss. Too many weird issues and bad performance. I can’t imagine the performance with a busy Vatsim Heathrow. Thanks for your honest reviews. Keep up the good work.

[@FilbertFlies]

Performance-wise, I did fly out of it yesterday on Vatsim and it was perfectly flyable. One or two stutters, but nothing awful.

[@42LGK]

I was hoping for this video of yours. much appreciated. thank you

[@Topofdescent55]

Great and fair rewiew. It’s a pity your “Should you buy it? Absolutely!” comment wasn’t at the start of the video. It seems from the comments a lot of people didn’t get that far and decided to pass before your summary

[@FilbertFlies]

I agree. I think it's very easy with a video like this for people to focus on the negatives. At the same time, if I started the video by telling people to buy it, then there would be no point in the rest of the video and people would give me grief if they bought it and didn't like it!

[@Topofdescent55]

@@FilbertFlies yeah a catch 22 for you. At first l thought you were being too picky, and was kind of annoyed because Ini are one of my favourite devs and EGLL is difficult to get right… expectations/performance balance. But at the end of the video l though you got it spot on. Thanks for your great vids.

[@scarsstitches636]

If Pyreegue or Flytampa did this, they would be all over every single corner of (at least) the main terminal. Once again, Inibuilds have yet to top their NZQN.

[@TheVirtualAirlinePilot]

I have to agree with this statement.

[@abarth003]

I always loved your honest review. Thank you.

[@Myersman0]

Brilliant review, thank you! I did laugh at the cocktail stick looking concorde though!

[@JenniferinIllinois]

I was almost thinking you were not going to recommend it but then you did. Definitely some things need improving. Hopefully the developer provides some updates in the future. Now to decide if Heathrow is an airport I really would ever fly to. 🤣🤣🤣

[@FilbertFlies]

They will. iniBuilds are decent people and they've already published a list of fixes they're working on.

[@weswheel4834]

Thanks for the review :) I find it easy to crash into random clutter at night when pushing back (even from external view). Was hoping for more lighting...

[@andersdrakkar]

I’ll not get it. I was excited about it but seeing what I see, I know they could have done a much better job. Thanks Filbert for the video!

[@SparkySven]

New version 1.1.0 is already available since today

[@SparkySven]

Version 1.2.0. is out already

[@liortaylor5305]

thank you for another excellent review. Think I'll sit this one out.

[@JackBeal05]

Thank you filbert for the great review! Always enjoy your reviews over anyone else’s. I think Inibuilds have done a great job with this. Sure it’s not the best but I think too much would make it unflyable to use. The only things I’d like to see done is improved night lighting, Work on T5, airside roads and maybe a big jet TV van in myrtle avenue 😛

[@richavery66]

I bought the standard version of MSFS, as the only thing the deluxe version had which I'd have wanted was a the handcrafted Heathrow. I decided to take a punt and hope that a developer would produce a version. This product clearly isn't perfect but it seems like a good package overall. And, of course, the thing which makes it worth getting: the fences at 14:30! ;)

[@FilbertFlies]

"...isn't perfect but it seems like a good package overall" is a damn fine summary of what I think too! I'm a little sad that so many people in the comments have focussed entirely on the negatives. And yes, were it not for the fences, it would be hard pass ;-)

[@Lucpol1986]

Fly mainly out of Heathrow, Gatwick and Southampton. As both Heathrow and Gatwick payware are an upgrade on Osobo (and there is a SALE on right now), going to grab both - must haves for me. Have not found Southampton payware for this SIM yet unfortunately, although got the Jersey one, which is my main route.

[@richavery66]

@@Lucpol1986 Orbx do a payware version of Southampton.

[@Lucpol1986]

@@richavery66 I had it for the previous iteration, but didn't realize it was compatible with 2020. Will grab it thanks 👍🏾.

[@richavery66]

@@Lucpol1986 You're welcome. It was released last year - I think it's done by Orbx but is based on the FSX/P3D version by 29Palms.

[@MidQuotient-jh1yf]

Hopefully they fix some of the issues in some updates. I think £20 will be acceptable when this happens.

[@billsmith3850]

Thank you for a great review.

[@cbcdesign001]

For me this was a must have. I didn't like the pricing of MSFS versions, insisting UK customers pay through the nose for the countries largest airport, it should have been included in all versions of the sim in my opinion, Paris was after all (funny that) so I bought the standard version of the sim instead. So I have been waiting for a better version of EGLL and for me this is it. Yes there are night lighting issues that need to be looked at and no doubt will be. But this is still a lot better than anything else that is out there including Asobos version. I dont find performance any worse in this large airport than in some other similarly large sceneries to be honest.

[@shinkicker404]

It looking pretty damn good, but framerate issues expected. Its weird/funny how on these big airports you get areas that seemed to be done by different people or have seemingly had less time/resources spent on them. I really like the look of terminal 2. Lack of the roads is kinda weird, because they really stand out on airports that have a lot of them. The tunnels not being modelled is also really disappointing too. I am guessing its because of the world itself and terraforming being kind of annoying to do, but who knows. Lack of cars on the roads or the land side stuff is kind of immersion breaking imo, carparks are nice but the roads need some love too. The bridge near the A380... seems like two bridges overlapping each other, which is... weird. Also the land is terraformed there so... Hope they really fix that lighting up, that is pretty bad, at the very least the windows should be lit up so it doesn't look like its shut up for the night.

[@Mogget5]

Your comment regarding how different areas seem to have been done by different people is spot on. As far as I am concerned, the texture quality and level of detail should be consistent everywhere.

[@FilbertFlies]

It's true, you can definitely see different people's work in this.

[@richardhunt5691]

Is that contributing to poor frame rates as well! I have a high end system including GTX390 and see a difference of more than 35 fps from cruise to EGGL often dropping below 30 and down to the teens!

[@scottfranks6362]

@@richardhunt5691 I agree. As lovely as it is to see the work that’s gone into it and the detail, I have had to remove this as the stutters from taxiing around and landing just completely ruin the immersion for me. Hopefully it will be optimised further in the future

[@kilooscar6033]

Thanks for the honest review - a mixed bag and certainly appears rushed out. Definitely a pass for me at the moment.

[@stephenjones8928]

Signage looks great!

[@CappySeventyOne]

Thanks for the review

[@dtrjones]

Hey a few have said there's probably no other Heathrow coming for a while. What about UK2000, I know some of their MSFS products have been up and down but they already produce a good ground atmosphere at their airports and I think their style would suit Heathrow in MSFS very well.

[@FilbertFlies]

To be honest, I'd be surprised if UK2000 bothered to do a Heathrow for MSFS. Their P3D version hasn't been updated for a very long time. They seem to be focussing on just the smaller airports for MSFS. I also don't think theirs would be significantly (if at all) better than this one. I could be wrong on all counts though, and I hope I am!

[@speedbird380A]

Have they included Runway Wig-Wags in this release?

[@denault3985]

Looks like iniScene is working/finishing a patch to solve the problems. I hope Filbert will review the product again after this major patch is released

[@FilbertFlies]

I've had a look at it. It's not particularly major. They've added night lighting to Terminal 5 and it's bright, but it's not particularly good. It's a translucent turquoise texture rather than proper lighting from within and it looks odd.

[@SparkySven]

BIG PROBLEM WITH THIS airport in SU8. If you set it as departure toward Orbx or default EGLC London City Airport and hit fly now = CTD. Departing from Heathrow without destination does work. And huge FPS killer sadly enough. I hope they fix this fast.

[@fssim6825]

Anything better than Asobo Heathrow will do me

[@greathorton]

I look forward to seeing next EGLL from other developers.

[@FilbertFlies]

To be honest, I don't think there will be another one. Generally, once one developer has done an airport, particularly one of this size, there isn't the impetus for anyone else to do it.

[@jmp9035]

Think Sim wings will chip in with their rendition from P3D.

[@tjsynkral]

@@FilbertFlies On flightsim.to mkvy (who made the freeware Gatwick) is working on a Heathrow freeware project that already looks very promising in the early stages. I'm sure he won't have the same detail in some areas like ground and building texturing, but his interior modeling is pretty good if Gatwick is anything to go by. Hopefully he doesn't give up on it since the iniScene has now come out.

[@pm110978]

Hope someone does Dubai International Airport!

[@jmp9035]

Going to haveto wait for Fly Tampa but they are busy doing all their other airports first Dubai will be last.

[@janjonsson2402]

Thank you for yet another excellent and useful review. Bought it yesterday and installed through MSFS Marketplace. However I have a problem with trees growing on the runway. Any clues to why? Best to reinstalling or could it be some other problem? I have made a ticket to Inibuild but maybe someone here have heard about this problem?

[@FilbertFlies]

If you have the premium deluxe version of MSFS, try deleting the stock EGLL from your content manager. I did this, and I have had trees everywhere on one occasion, but this seems to be what fixes it for most people.

[@pm110978]

Thanks for the review boss 👍 Mixed Bag. Not the best payware scenery I have seen.

[@dannyone1565]

Sadly it keeps crashing to Home Screen on Xbox X and is lagging when take off. I had to uninstall it. Why is this? Any idea?

[@FilbertFlies]

Sorry, I know nothing about Xboxes.

Great video

[@sergamespl]

I wanted GOOD Heathrow! Now we still have to wait for it :(

[@FilbertFlies]

It's not a BAD Heathrow Kafel! It's not the Heathrow of our dreams, but I can't see there being another one tbh.

[@sergamespl]

@@FilbertFlies I know what you mean but when I see so many issues like performance, low quality textures, terrible night lighting, no roads (!!) and 22 euro price tag? Sadly I have to say no and the reason that it's the only one we have doesn't make it any better for me

[@cjmillsnun]

@@sergamespl They have promised fixes. May be worth revisiting in 6 months time.

[@pm110978]

Has this been updated since the release Filbert?

[@FilbertFlies]

It has. There have been some minor changes, most notably T5 night lighting, but nothing that has changed my overall opinion.

[@andym1562]

Like you I was looking forward to this release, overall I'm disappointed with it, especially with Terminal 5, looks like it's been rushed. Thanks for the review.

[@shinkicker404]

I was much the same with Brisbane.... so disappointed with it.

[@nonfamous]

looks as rush job, night lighting is important, and textures are ......did you uninstall msfs heatrow? suggestion to include AI traffic parkings and runway usage. This will force builders to take more care of AI parking and traffic flow. Top honest review!

[@FilbertFlies]

I don't think it as a rush job to be honest. I did uninstall MSFS Heathrow to be on the safe side, but I don't think this was necessary.

[@SDGRTX1455]

The next Int airport should be EHAM Netherlands. that airport is a huge mess atm : (

[@FilbertFlies]

FlyTampa are working on it. I don't know when it'll be ready, but I do know it'll be worth the wait.

[@boa974]

I have 5950x and RTX3090, with the original airport my FPS is good once I load this scenery I get huge hit on FPS!

[@how2not358]

could you do a KLAS and KMDW review?

[@FilbertFlies]

I've already reviewed KLAS. Probably won't to KMDW I'm afraid.

[@theapplepilot95]

is it better than the premium deluxe one though?

[@FilbertFlies]

Watch the video, I talk about exactly that in it! 😂

[@theapplepilot95]

@@FilbertFlies ah yes i just watched the end. Its a very good video nice job. Do you think Inibuilds will address all the issues and work on it a bit more?

[@cjmillsnun]

@@theapplepilot95 Yes. They have already said they would.

[@TheGrimbo666]

Ok so after installing this i am not much pleased with this add on, tried several settings, i get 2 towers half the buildings are missing, plus logo textures do not show, i get double runway numbers, seems to me like this add on is trying to over lay the original but makes my heathrow look crap.

[@cjmillsnun]

I suspect you are on premium deluxe. You will need to uninstall Asobo's heathrow.

[@TheGrimbo666]

@@cjmillsnun can you tell me how to find that please.

[@FilbertFlies]

Find where your Community folder is, go up one level and open the Official folder. Search in there for "EGLL" and delete the folder that you find. Should be called asobo-airport-egll or something like that if I remember rightly.

[@crazzagameplaylaughs9910]

Thursday?

[@TheGrimbo666]

Can you please advise me how to install this airport please.

[@FilbertFlies]

Follow the link in the video description, buy it, download it, run the installer.

[@fiftyphonkartist]

not bad, not good.

[@dannyone1565]

This is not working it’s laggy and CTDS on Xbox X needs addressing. I want a refund.

[@FilbertFlies]

I'm afraid I can't help you with that. I'd guess you need to contact Microsoft if you bought through the marketplace.

[@MrFiideell]

Shame youre not showing how hard this scenery is on FPS.

[@FilbertFlies]

Actually, I did discuss the performance impact.

[@regisbiass]

Performance is a problem ....It freezes all over the place....I have lowered my settings considerabiliy....LIKE THEY DID NOT TEST THIS !!!

[@RiosFishingAdventures]

Unfortunately this is a disappointing heathrow with plenty of flickering and drop in fps .there's many roads missing around the terminals and the lighting is poor with no lighting in the terminals.the runways seem very flat and the runway lighting isn't all there and overall the airport looks extremely quiet even with ai traffic .overall I'm disappointed for the money

[@denault3985]

Looks rushed to me, extremely poor night lighting!

[@FilbertFlies]

I don't think it was rushed to be honest.

[@roberthatcher2773]

Compared to Brussels, Belfast and others in the Sim this Airport is rubbish. As one of the busiest International Airports in the world it deserves much more attention to detail.

[@AntiSociety100]

iniscene are a lazy bunch of devs. Wasnt impressed with EGKK, nor am I with EGLL. Imo one of the worst airport devs for MSFS2020

[@FilbertFlies]

EGKK was done by Origami Studios, not iniScene. I don't think they're lazy, I think they've done their best here, it's just not up to the standard of what other devs are capable of.