What do you build with

[Timcourt1]

Just interested to see what modelers use to build with and what regular uploaders use

[buffy500]

TSM for me.

Love it, just wish they would fix some of the major missing / not working parts.
But love it none the less.

[decapod]

3D Canvas - the product is relatively easy to use, just keeps getting better and better, the support is great.

[small plug]
and my new automatic rolling stock builder plugin makes it even easier....
[end of plug]

[kevmt]

Definately 3D Canvas.

It's much easier and faster to use once you get the hang of it,
It,s continually being updated and improved,
The "aftersales service" is by far the best of any product I have owned.
It allows effects that are not possible in TSM (eg being able to see background objects through windows)

Kevin

[Goingnorth]

We did this poll Tim not so long ago under 'pixel pushers of choice'...I think Canvas was first, TSM second, GMax last.

I use Cinema 4d (if it's a complex object) then import into Canvas to texture and export.

Only thing I don't like about canvas is that it's sloowwwww...especially compared to pro kit. But for the price you can't beat it.

[Timcourt1]

sorry rob ,

Been buried in Route for so long its like being on a desert island and I had never really paid it much attention.

I have an alterior motive too since I have just got psp7 and was looking for another 3d package since TSM is good for buildings etc but I really wanted to build some more detailed models and wondered what was the best way to go.

[PaulH2]

I use TSM at the moment having used its previous encarnation in the flight sim world. I too am getting a bit fed up with some of the bugs and missing features and think Abacus need to pull their finger out now that Gmax is a free option. That said TSM is very easy to use and is fine for many things, but as the standards keep getting pushed TSMs lack of advanced features is starting to show...

I have downloaded Gmax recently and had a look, but I personally don't find it too intuitive. It is obviously extremely powerful, and in the right hands is probably the best tool of all. I have only tried 3D Canvas very briefly, but I think I found it to be a sort of half way house - reasonbly simple to use (if not very intuitive, to me at least) but also having some good advanced features missing from TSM.

Paul

[robin]

Definately 3D Canvas.

It's much easier and faster to use once you get the hang of it,
It,s continually being updated and improved,
The "aftersales service" is by far the best of any product I have owned.
It allows effects that are not possible in TSM (eg being able to see background objects through windows)

Kevin

You can get models made in TSM to show background you just need to allocate the part with the attribute of transnorm instead of alphanorm. In anycase its MSTS that dicates what can or can't be shown depending on what is decribed in the .S file.

I use TSM not particularly because I think it is the best as I rather suspect its not but it was the easiest I found to get to grips with (I tried free version of 3d canvas) and I am used to it now.

[Timcourt1]

yep, well i've got the modelling bug now and find it pretty satisfying really, was looking for a new package I can expand into since I am enjoying the challenge so far!

I dont think it will replace the route building but I might take some time out to build the trans pennine unit.

[kevmt]

Robin,
The only problem using the transnorm attribute instead of alphanorm is that you lose the "glass" effect.

This is particularly important to me as narrow gauge carriage windows take up a relatively larger area of a carriage side than do std gauge windows and it is much easier to see the loss of objects through windows.

Kevin

[mikesimpson]

I have to agree with Paul that 3D Canvas is the only way to go. At least if a bug is found, it is fixed within hours rather than just ignored. With Paul's new plug-in, you do not even have to build half the model, just fill in how many wheels, how big etc and it does it all for you.

Whoever wrote TSM apparently did not know what a mouse was for. You can not even zoom in/out using the mouse? TSM has no 'fill' option for texturing, so you have to search the whole thing for untextured polys, frankly I found it a pain to use.

[wrightsie]

well, i've looked at the above posts and cant really pick out useful information, i was going to buy tsm to eventually attempt a 450 desiro, but now i'm not so sure, what would you people recommend, tsm was recommended to me by dave babb/buffy 500, i guess he must of used it on his models and their all of a good standard.

[saddletank]

A good model doesn't mean a good modelling package - it means a good modeller!

As 3DC (unregistered) is freeware you can d/l and try it out http://www.amabilis.com TSM is buy before you try.

[buffy500]

That'll be a compliment then I guess ? Cool

But moving on, I'm more than willing to accept that 3DC is the better product, but I just have got on well with TSM, and like the way it works.

I think that with most software, how you get on with it is almost as important as how good a product it is......
ie Think personal opinion is almost as important as software ability

[PaulH2]

I'd have to agree with Martin there. The main problem with TSM for new users is that you can't try it out before you buy it wheras you can with 3D Canvas (and Gmax is free anyway). Pity really, but unless you know somebody who has had extensive experience with all of them, it is going to be difficult to decide without trying (as most people are going to suggest what they use as they probably have little if any experience with other packages).

There's a suggestion for NeutronIC actually, how about a comparitive review of TSM, 3DCanvas and Gmax? If you can't try all three, that would probably the next best thing from the perspective of somebody starting out down the MSTS modelling road (poor souls ).

Paul