Test machine specs: MSI X670E, AMD Ryzen 7 7800X3D, AMD Radeon RX 7900XTX, 48gb RAM
Reviewed for: FS2024
Add-ons: FS Traffic, GSX Pro
DETAIL
Having bought SiamFlight’s Samui a couple of days ago, I had an expectation in my mind, that’s largely been met.
The terminal is the scenery’s jewel in the crown, particularly the parts of it visible from airside. It’s really well done and features a near-full interior (although sans people, which Samui has). The internals make extensive use of 2D textures but it somehow works, in spite of the mostly low resolution used for these overlays. Take a peek after dark and this developer’s knack for stunning night visuals becomes very apparent.
Airside, there’s a better variety of ground clutter than at Samui, but that’s perhaps an unfair comparison as Samui’s operations are almost exclusively Bangkok Airways. Even so, I generally consider the custom GSE at Phuket to be slightly better, particularly resolution-wise. Ground textures are excellent but if I were to really nit-pick, some parts of the apron look a little too clean and uniform (might be like that in reality, though?). One thing I do like is the amount of fixed assets that have made their way into every corner of the operational airfield (signs, gantries, masts, hatches, manhole covers, etc.).
Moving landside, we begin to see some weaknesses that aren’t an issue with Samui: some very low-res rooftops and, despite the excellent modelling in this area, a lack of cars and people. To be fair, the car-park opposite the terminal’s main entrance is superbly modelled — and populated with various bits of custom clutter — but there’s an awkward juxtaposition with some very poor quality elevated roadways. In fact, the quality of nearly all the modelling away from the main terminal is quite sterile, and unlike Samui, there’s insufficient fine detail to mask a lot of it (due to Phuket being a considerably larger airport, less detail is probably to be expected, but I think there’s room for improvement). Another complaint I have is the abundance of default Asobo assets, including cars, buses and vegetation (I much prefer the custom palm tree models they used for Samui). At least out on the ramps, there’s a good balance between default and custom.
Exploring the airfield’s peripheral areas, there’s some decent modelling to be seen (the fire stations, for example) but there’s no escaping the fact that many buildings just look boxy and cartoonish. Outside the perimeter fence (which is completely custom and all-encompassing), most of the complexes and facilities look like they were lifted from FSX, but to SiamFlight’s credit, they have at least modelled some surroundings (and let’s face it, it’s really just additional eye candy to be viewed while passing, not to be scrutinised from five paces). Perhaps the most pleasing examples of off-airfield modelling are the electricity pylons that run under the approach to RWY27 — coupled with some nice terrain work by Asobo makes landing from the east a real visual treat! The famous plane-spotting café, adjacent to the main parallel taxiway, is also included, and features an interior.
I already touched on night-lighting and it’s something SiamFlight have cnsistently nailed. I can only think of a couple of others devs (Marcus Nyberg springs to mind) who can achieve a similar level of authenticity.
PERFORMANCE
I’ve often said that seemingly odd developer decisions might actually be deliberate and calculated — I don’t know whether the low-res textures dotted around the scenery help in some way but performance for me is great, even when there’s quite a bit of FS Traffic activity.
VERDICT
I like Phuket — It’s another quality airport in an area of the world that is oddly sparse in MSFS — but I do think some of the dev’s choices are a little bizarre. I don’t have an issue with very low-res rooftops for buildings outside the perimeter fence but it’s distracting to see such poor work atop what are undoubtedly pretty prominent airfield buildings. And it’s not only some rooftops that look bad — the terminal’s multi-storey car-park is a mess, exhibiting 2D texture overlays rather than any sort of three-dimensional features. This method works inside the terminal, viewed through tinted glass; but it doesn’t work elsewhere, I’m afraid.
There really is a lot to like here (ground textures, main terminal building, uniform detail across the airfield, night-lighting, RWY27 powerlines) but for me, there are a few cut corners too many, that mount up to wipe the shine off what could be a fantastic airport scenery. Luckily the dev is very open to criticism and suggestions so hopefully he’ll read this…
So what does SiamFlight need to do to elevate this from a good scenery to a brilliant one? Sort the rooftops out, for starters. And any other important areas that suffer from distractingly low-res or otherwise poor texturing. Then stick some custom vehicles and people around the place. These things alone would change the whole feel of the package. The only other recommendation I would make is to tart the beach at the end of RWY09 up. In reality, this beach is a bustling tourist hotspot so introducing some half-decent detail would make approaches from the west that bit more interesting.
Another thing Phuket doesn’t have going for it is price, which at over £17 puts it in the same ballpark as the likes of IniBuilds and Pyreegue (and more expensive that your average MK Studios or Flightbeam airport). I appreciate it’s probably harder to sell Thai airports than it is European or American but customers these days do consider cost. That’s not, however, to say Phuket isn’t worth its asking price — I’m simply stating that it exists in a competitive market, in which better airports can be had for the same (or less) money.
Of course if you want Phuket, this is your best bet. Orbx’s version is getting old and is now out-of-date, and the other one (by BDOAviation) looks like something from 2008! SiamFlight VTSP is far from a bad airport — it just has numerous issues that no 2025 scenery priced at >£17 should be afflicted with. I bought it in IniBuilds’ Hallowe’en sale (which runs till 7th Nov), for £14.78, and for that price I’m very happy. As I say, there is a good possibility the dev will acknowledge and address the highlighted flaws.
While the above criticisms may lead you to believe I cannot recommend this scenery, that’s not the case. I can’t say I’m not disappointed with certain aspects of it but it’s still a decent addition to SiamFlight’s expanding catalogue. If you’ve been looking for a good rendition of Phuket… you found it!
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