Atomic Systems

Good Evening One & All
Can you help solve a mystery for me
Have Downloaded both the 3MT & 4MT Multipacks
The 3MT's are absolutely fine but the Std 4's do not have any bodywork (first time I have ever seen this)
Steam/Sounds etc are all there but No Body panels
Downloaded them again but same problem.
Haven't seen any other queries (unless I've missed it) on the forum so presume it is something I am doing.
Any suggestions would be appreciated.
Regards
Manty
PS If you reply tonight I probably won't see it until the morning, so please do not think me rude for not replying

Hi Manty,
I uploaded this file, so I am concerned about your problem. I've downloaded the zip file to ensure nothing is missing and there doesn't seem to be.
There should be a file like 80097_Body.ACE for each of the nine locos. this is where the external body mainly comes from. There are two other Multipack specific .ACE files, but they only relate to the shedcode on the front of the loco.

The directory in TRAINS\TRAINSET\ which is "BR Std 4 2-6-4T Camb MltPck" should contain 77 files (including Cabview).

Does the problem apply to all of the locos?

I haven't been made aware of anyone else having problems.

You could try downloading Paul Mitchell's original set of four locos (File ID: 18397) which I used to make these and see if they work OK on your machine.
It does say in Paul's original Read Me that they have a high poly count, so that might be relevant if you are using a low spec PC.



Cheers


Martin

Hi Martin
Thanks for your reply
Paul Mitchells Loco's work OK
All 77 files are in the folder
Ran everything through Trainstore etc
Still get the same problem
Basically I took your 'Slight Return' Activity changed the player loco and 3 other 3MT's to your Std 4's and they all have the bodywork problem. The 3MT's are fine. There is some cab ghosting (if that makes sense) but no boiler/smokebox etc.
Perhaps it is something to do with changing the loco's in your activity? Although not experienced it b4 with other acts
Bet it is something simple
Have enjoyed your Activities for the Cambrian so its not spoiling my enjoyment, just frustrating because I cannot cure it
Regards
Manty

80097_Body.ACE is a very large file. Could this be the problem?

David

Interesting.... I've just checked the locos in the pack (splendid models they are too) using Shape Viewer, on my Dell Desktop PC and they look fine. However, checking the same model on my Dell Inspiron Notebook, I've found the same problem - the near side of the loco is there but the far side, visible through the side of the cab, is complely missing so the background is visible. I'm using Nvidia GeForce cards and 2 Gb memory on both. Puzzling

Ash

Hi,
I've tried putting a Std 4 as the driving loco and replacing a couple of dead MT3's, but I still do not have any problem as far as I can see.
I was vaguely concerned when I started the scrapyard scenario (Slight Return is a small afterthought) whether joining up nine locos would work.
You can see just from the filesizes of the Std 4 locos that they are pretty intense. I will soon (Maybe next week) be releasing an activity to feature the Std 4 locos, but in the meantime, might it be worth amending the Early Morning Service from Pwllheli activity replacing the 3MT's?

I suspect that the combination of the high poly count and the locos strung together is the root cause of the problem.
I think that both David and Ash's comments are hinting this.



Cheers


Martin

Hi Martin

I wasn't actually hinting at the solution you've suggested since I haven't run that act yet so I'm unaware if there's a problem with it. The problem I found was through viewing just one of the Standard 4 pack in ShapeViewer, but on only one of my two PCs.

Not very helpful, I know, but I've no evidence to suggest that it's the stringing together of a lot of high poly locos in the act itself that's the cause, as I haven't yet tried it.

Ash

I've just had a look at one of the Standard 4s in Shape Viewer, and it looks fine as long as I don't try viewing from below rail height. When I do that I can see through the far side of the tanks, and as I move further below the loco I can see straight through the top of the boiler. I've not tried any of them in the sim yet.

No problem with the Slight Return activity - all 9 Standard 3s present and correct.

Hi Alan and Ash,

Many thanks for both of your inputs,
Re Alan's observation, yes I get exactly the same thing as I do with Paul Mitchell's original (not that I am trying to pass blame, but I don't think the observation has any relevance to the original problem).

With regard to Ash's response my opinion was based on the totally prejudiced view that a desktop will have much more clout than a notebook(wot dat?).

I still think that the problem is a computer resource one, but I am quite happy to be proved completely wrong!!


Cheers



Martin

Have you got train objects quality turned down in the options page?

This can have some strange effects.

My wagon buffers dissappear when it's turned down.

Hi Ian,
Thanks for that input, on my machine all the object quality settings are set on full blast.


Cheers


Martin

Good Morning Gentlemen,
Seems I have caused a bit of a headache (more tablets please)
Adding a bit more info (if it helps)
I have just gone into Explore Mode and used 80098 as the only loco, the problem is the same.
Paul MItchells Std4 is OK (as I mentioned b4)
Regards
Manty
PS: Have also tried Martins idea of changing the loco on the Early Morning Service - afraid its still the same

I've just experimented with the Standard 4 tanks in Explore mode on the Cambrian route - one first and then all nine in a consist, and the only problem I can see is the one I found in Shapeviewer. If you look at the locos from rail level or below you can see under the tanks and the opposite tank and the boiler and invisible. Otherwise they look fine to me.

That is with an Intel Dual Core 3 GHz processer, 2 Gb Ram, Samsung HD501LJ hard drive and NVidia Geforce 6800 graphics with all settings at maximum/checked.

Hi Alan,
I do get the same as you with the Multipack and Paul Mitchell's original locos, but they all look OK at a "normal" angle.
I notice my body .ACE files are slightly larger than Paul's original, I wondered if there might be a point at which a large .ACE file may start giving grief.

Otherwise I'm totally clueless!!



Cheers


Martin