Ok guys, I'm having problems up to my eyes

[dkightley]

Photon66

If you'd have come and had a word with me at either of the two roadshows you've been to this year (as I think you may have been advised to do), I'd have spent fifteen minutes running through some of the things you're struggling with...and you'd be much further on with this model.

That's one of the reasons for the roadshows.....to be able to pass on advice - and actually show people how things are done.

[photons66]

You looked so busy Doug, plus you said it yourself. You were inundated with kids especially at Brighton.
Having no passenger view is no such bad thing. I can sympathise with modellers who just can't be bothered to do them.
When I'm at Ally Pally, I will definitely introduce myself. That is, if I'm still interested in 3DC.

[photons66]

Wmalder, doug, decapod.

I've centered the passenger view accordingly but its still displaying as above. Any idea why?

[wmalder]

Here's a quick visual tutorial on how to set the centre of an object for MSTS in 3DC.
I've taken a test cube 6'x6' centred 6'6" above the origin of my work area and inverted it so you're seeing the inside of the cube and the outside is invisible (nothing there). Note the Centre Gizmo of the object circled in the centre of the object.


Now observe the cube selected in Shift Mode (as indicated on the right side of the screen)


Lock your X and Z axes, hold down the Ctrl Key and drag the centre down to the track height (Approximately 6" in MSTS).


The working centre of the object is now set at track height and the objects apparent centre should appear 6' above the track.


I hope this illustrates what we're talking about. It took me a while to figure this out but it's straightforward once you've done it.

P.S.
The object will have to be a part of the Main Group not in a SubGroup.

[photons66]

Thanks wmalder. I've merged all my objects into one main object. Is this right?

[wmalder]

Define "Merged". As long as the primary object (e.g. the outside bodywork of a coach or the carbody of a diesel locomotive) is in the Main Group and everything else is in a sub-group to that, it should be fine. Below is an example of how I do it. Note that things such as Bogies must be Sub-Groups of the Main Group. I'm told that there needn't be anything in the Main Group itself however I find it prudent to have at least one item there - usually the Carbody of a Carbody diesel or the main hood shapes of a hood-type diesel.


For the most part I have these items grouped by function or relationship. Likewise I try to keep all items in one group using only one texture. I've found it's not a good thing to use multiple textures (i.e. .ace files) in a group let alone a single object.

Again I hope this clarifies things a bit.

[photons66]

Phew. It does. My hierarchy is the same.

I'll have another go. I've cured the transparency problem so I must be able to do this as well.

[photons66]

I've done it. Wahey! It was to do with centering the gizmo thingy to the proper height. Belated many thanks, wmalder.

[photons66]

And here it stands at the moment. Needs a lot more work:



Cheers now.

[NicolaFan06]

Might need a lot of work, but still better than any model I've ever worked on, you've got my respect (And lots of it, see your PM box)

[photons66]

Thanks NicolaFan06. I've got a shopping list of things to do on that model.

[photons66]

I have a couple of anomalies with my transparencies:

1) When I try and put seats 'inside' the box, the seats disappear

2) The other side of the cube isn't displaying.

Any ideas guys please?

Thanks.

[dkightley]

Search in this section for threads on "translucency" with posts by me. I've documented what's needed a couple of times....

[photons66]

Thanks Doug.