Creating Buildings for a Route

ChocIST1 · Post by **ChocIST1** » Sun Mar 09, 2003 11:10 am

Im building a fictional UK route on MSTS, and i would like to be able to include buildings from the North Wales Coast route (Where i live) and it would be nice to recreate this in MSTS, even though it's a fictional route i would still like to include a few stations from that "real" UK route.

Im looking for tutorials etc.
Has anybody got a personal (MSTS) site with downloads too?

Thanx
Choc

LucaZone · Post by **LucaZone** » Sun Mar 09, 2003 11:22 am

MSTS Tutorials = Most people only build their own stuff, so its very unlikely that u'l find models of what u want, unless someone has already made the route.

ChocIST1 · Post by **ChocIST1** » Sun Mar 09, 2003 1:52 pm

Ive had a look there and there's nothing there for creating buildings, "Most people only build their own stuff" i would like to create the buildings myself.

Choc

LucaZone · Post by **LucaZone** » Sun Mar 09, 2003 2:14 pm

Do u have any preference in 3d modelling? as there are a number of different programs that can be used to create the buildings.

Gmax
3D Canvas
TrainSim Modeller

ChocIST1 · Post by **ChocIST1** » Sun Mar 09, 2003 4:08 pm

i have no idea where to start, but i would like to start with the basics and then work up....if you get what i mean.

Choc

peterholton · Post by **peterholton** » Sun Mar 09, 2003 4:27 pm

Although I now model in Gmax exclusively, you can, in my opinion, do no better than to download 3dcanvas, pay for the lp or pro upgrade which enables the train sim exporter, and look for some of Ian Morgan's tutorials. That's how I started.
I've never tried TrainSim Modeller, but I'm reliably informed it's a good way to get started too, and there's loads of tutorials out there for it.

I honestly wouldn't advise starting out with Gmax: although it's free, the learning curve is vertical!

Peter

ChocIST1 · Post by **ChocIST1** » Sun Mar 09, 2003 5:18 pm

How much does the software cost?

Choc

peterholton · Post by **peterholton** » Sun Mar 09, 2003 5:33 pm

3dcanvas LP, which includes enough functionality and has the train simulator exporter costs $34.95 and can be purchased from

http://www.amabilis.com/onlineregistration.htm

You can download a free version which allows you to try the software, (albeit without being able to export into train simulator) from the above site.

I don't know about TrainSim Modeller, but it's available in stores.

You can download GMax, if you want to try it, from

http://www.discreet.com

and then download the Trainsim Gamepack from Microsoft.

Peter

alan2 · Post by **alan2** » Sun Mar 09, 2003 6:42 pm

Also If you use 3D Canvas, you can save your Building, Ask another Author who has the Export feature, and they may export the model for you.

I am currently Working in TSM, finding new feature's still, Come's with a very good Manual, written by a Moderator of these forum's.

It explain's the process of building quite well.

JohnKendrick · Post by **JohnKendrick** » Tue Mar 11, 2003 3:05 am

I have found TSM quite good for general MSTS modelling work. It may not be the best modelling program, but probably it is the easist to get started with.

I think you can download it from Abacus and use it as trial version before getting a registration. It could do with better documentation (no disrespect to anyone at UKTS) it is just that not all its features are explained. Also a few more pre modelled examples would be helpful (though there are enough to get you started on your own creations).

It is easy to send your new creations to a route without the need for too much technical knowledge.

It is also useful to have the program TGAtools2 (a free download) for looking at others' texture files and fixing your own if things go awry!

Use of a digital camera or scanner would be helpful to aid in the creation of textures for your buildings (presuming they are still there and you can photograph them).

John

qzdcg8 · Post by **qzdcg8** » Tue Mar 11, 2003 8:19 am

JohnKendrick wrote:Use of a digital camera or scanner would be helpful to aid in the creation of textures for your buildings (presuming they are still there and you can photograph them).
John

And a Spirit Level to make sure you get your pictures square on

(I've lost count of the number of times I've messed with rotate and skew transforms to fix this!)

JohnKendrick · Post by **JohnKendrick** » Tue Mar 11, 2003 6:57 pm

Some correction will be inevitable to correct for parallax errors - where you point the camera up to get a building all in, and the photo looks like the building's leaning backwards!!

It helps if your graphics software allows for very fine rotations (.1 of a degree). I use Ulead Photo Impact (freebie coverdisk version).

John

ChocIST1 · Post by **ChocIST1** » Tue Mar 11, 2003 7:12 pm

Thanx everybody, just wondering how big are the software because i have a 56k line and it'll takes ages for anything over 1Mb LMAO

Choc

JohnKendrick · Post by **JohnKendrick** » Tue Mar 11, 2003 7:54 pm

I'm using a 56k too, but can live with it - usually manage about 4,000 - 5,000 bps on the download timer. If it's really bad, try getting the phoneline bandwidth increased.

TSM is about 7 or 8 meg, but you can buy it in PC World or HMV (recently discounted). You'd still be best making sure you have v1.1 which is only on the Abacus downloads to have the latest version.

Sorry, don't know about the other suggestions. Try and find their web sites and see how large and what they do to compare them. Only you can decide which one is best for you!

John