Class 87

[warriorgoku]

Just thought I would show you what i'm working on.


Its a class 87, its my first model ever and my first model in gmax.

At the moment I am just learning the ropes, but have completed a couple of gmax tutorials.



What do you guys think, the front end is the end i'm working on, the rear end is a mirror image so everthing is symetrical.

[warriorgoku]

Oh and one more thing, I am not promising that I will complete the model as it could go pear shaped from this point on. So don't sit at your computer every night dreaming of my model, as it could turn into a horrible nightmare

[basildd]

If you are brave enough to go for it, just do your best - no one can ask any more of you than that. Most importantly, enjoy it!

[larrylane]

Just a quick reply as regards to your class 87. You ask if there are any problems with your model. As far as i can see there are no major problems with its apperance. The only slight thing is the cab roof but to be honest its not far off, you might just need to flatten the front corners down slighlty. But hey thats just my opinion from working around 87's and seeing them on days out. I am impressed with the bogies by the way !! To say its your first go you are doing excellent and i can only encourage you to keep working at it. I am a beginner myself and i am working on wagons at the moment, and its only with the help of others i am still here.

Kindest Regards Tim

[warriorgoku]

Thankyou for your kind comments, I have a few drawings so I just copied the outlines from that.

The edges will be softened down.

What I am going to work on tomorrow is adding wheels to the bogies and exporting it into trainsim just to see if it works out. If it all works out, I will add extra details such as the frames to the front windows as they will hopefully be relatively easy. I will then add the pantograph and animate it hopefully.

I nearly threw the monitor out the window though today as I thought I had lost it. Gmax seems to have a problem, if you select to hide an object and then maximise a viewport and minimise it again, the entire program vanishes. It is still using cpu cycles, but can not be opened.

[larrylane]

No problem Its great to see new people creating stuff. To be honest i am not familiar with Gmax myself as i use Abacus TS Modeler. I have found this very easy to use, in fact so easy i think i must be missing something. When i mean easy i mean to use as opposed to creating decent stuff . I bet you cannot wait to get it into train sim ? Actually if you get it up and running the sim it will be great, because if it works in there ok, you know your on to a winner. Try and watch the polygon rate (the overall polygon count after conversion) I am not sure it Gmax tells you the actual polygon count or not but if its similar to TS modeler the more polygons you use the lower the preformance on low end machines. I am struggling to keep polygons low myslef but i think i have sussed it.
Hope this helps, keep modeling
PS i am sure someone has allready made a working pantograph that you can actually download from this site

Kindest Regards Tim

[eddief]

Sure does look good so far. I recomend making a back up copy and update it every so often (like everytime you do a major step, such as animations). You don't have to get it right first time as you can always go back to improve it later on.

[kimdurose]

Keep at it mate. Don't let MSTS win !!!
I agree with Eddie, back up your work OFTEN, and don't get too dispondent when things don't go to plan.

Tip - work out on paper first how you are going to break the model down into managable pieces, saves a lot of heartache later.

[qzdcg8]

So gmax to MSTS is a goer yes? Or is this a Trainz model being built?

[warriorgoku]

I don't have trainz but if someone can export it over to trainz, I really wouldn't mind.


I did have a quick mess around and export it to trainsim, but it crashed when it was loading it .

Thats probably because everything isn't connected correctly and still haven't done animation. If anyone out there is using gmax and exported a model to msts, I might need your help.

What steps must I take to get the model ready to be exported?

The bogie, body and wheels are all seperate objects.
There is also no animation.


I will also update the main picture in my first post as time goes by.

[eddief]

Keep at it mate. Don't let MSTS win !!!
I agree with Eddie, back up your work OFTEN, and don't get too dispondent when things don't go to plan.
Tip - work out on paper first how you are going to break the model down into managable pieces, saves a lot of heartache later.

The voice of experience speaks up. I agree especially with breaking down the models, only problem is if you do it too much you get carried away. I caught myself looking at a steam engine on the NYMR trying to work out how to model it, oh well it does become an obsession eventually. (but a damn good obsession)

[warriorgoku]

Ok, I have attached all the parts together and exported them successfully from gmax trainsim pack with a lod of 500.

The copied it to a folder already in trainsim and deleted theold .s file and renamed my class87.s to the existing models name. They problem is I get an error when trying to load up the train.


Error message is (uid:200000). What does it mean and how do I fix it? I have not done any animation yet.

[markshipman]

I use 3DS max for all my models, and I am plannig to use gmax for all future stuff, as a test I have managed to export one of my locos into the sim, without too much hassle.

If you would like to send me the gmax file and the texture file I will have a look at it, I cant promise anything, I very much consider my self a clueless newby at this 3D lark.

Mark

m.shipman@ucl.ac.uk

[warriorgoku]

You have mail, mark

[larrylane]

As regards to making plans here is a teqnique i use. I find this helps me a great deal, however i am using TS Modeler. Here goes:

1) get a peice of A4 paper.
2) get a model of your project (it helps to be into model trains) I use 00 guage stock.
3) get your tape measure out
4) using 4mm to 1 foot start taking measurements.
5) basically on the paper draw rough plan views of said loco or wagon. ie side, end, top.
6) on the back of the A4 sheet work out all your measurements as i am not good at maths i basically draw a line to the required length eg the roof is 8cm long, draw an 8cm line making sure you mark the seperate cm's on it. Then add a little dash above every 4mm. For every 1cm you get 8mm which is 2 feet. You also get 2mm left over which is half a foot, mark this as a little 2 above each cm. So for every 1cm you get 2 and a half feet. Get it ? I hope so as i am not very good at explaining stuff
7) Finally add all your "converted" measurements to the drawrings on the other side of the sheet, making sure you put them down in FEET. There have been times i have used the measurement before conversion on the 3D model leading to much head scratching because its too small.
8. Once you have your main measurements written down you can start your 3D model
9) Do not be affraid to make some things up. You can pretty much guess a window frame for instance will be about 2 or 3 inches wide. So long as you get the lenghts, height and widths of the main parts right you will be ok.



I Hope this helps someone as after writing it i am convinced its all just drivvel But it might help someone out there. Sorry too if anyone feels its gone off topic so to speak, but i felt it was relevant somehow.

Kindest Regards Tim