[:)]PCjr.
Yes, true it is hard to make it look good (see thread 5533 for sky projection). Simply put, the horizon needed a lot of sky above and only a thin stretch of ground view, and still only good on some locations (with a wide view)... orthorectangular projection issues ...
Yes but just a little elevation, like lifting the plan a couple of metres up with terrain under, changes the perspective considerably. Still, sky texture should represent a view near the actual horizon. For closer items, the workaround is better. The biggest problem, I find, is that big exterior objects shifts the view angle in aerial view further back (even if that level is hidden), hence the use of a separate file. Then again, this is not the main purpose of SH3D - but still fun to play with to visualize a project. ok..it belongs more in the midground... ..something to do with relative elevation...