Animation

[buffy500]

Does anyone know if its possible to animate something on a train model, that is always on ? (ie there is no requirement to turn it off)

I thought that if you named it something other than the normal animation part names it might do it, but so far I'm stumped

[steve33108]

i dont understand wot you mean there, maybe its me, would an example be windscreen wipers?

[buffy500]

No, windscreen wipers would be turned off, which I specifically said I did not need, so I'm thinking of something else such as a 'fan' or something that is not speed related, I just want it to spin all the time.

[steve33108]

now i get wot you mean, i'll have a think and get back to you

[buffy500]

Had much experience in animating in TSM have you ?

[ForburyLion]

An idea just popped into my head which sounds a bit rubbish to me and I have no experience at all of making stock and even doubt this will be workable.... But could you do something linked to engine revs, like the smoke animation.... This may need two "locos" within the same model, The second dummy one with constant revs whatever the speed and no sounds associated to it?

[kevmt]

Buffy,

I,ve been trying to do exactly the same thing as yourself but have had no luck. I think all the animations seemed to be linked to train movement or on/off switches only.

Kevin

[mikesimpson]

Hi Buffy,

I have seen U.S. diesels with rotating fans, although have not done it myself (prefer steam being of that vintage myself).

I have a feeling that if you actually animate the locomotives wheels manually as you have to in a steamer, then you can use the Wheels11/Wheels12 names for the fans and they will rotate at least while the loco moves.

[trackdancer]

Absolutely it is possible to animate something on a train (like an exhaust fan) without it turning off. Do the following (I am assuming U are using TSM):

(1) Once you got your object modeled, place this at its proper location on the model and make sure that the pivot point is reset (so its pointing the right way) and centered on the object. It is also generally a good idea to texture your object before proceeding.

(2) Go to properties and set the last animation frame to whatever you need.

(3) Name this object anything you like, but DO NOT use one of the reserved names. If you use long names (like I do), follow the following convention:

Instead of "Roof Top Fan", use "RoofTopFan" or "Roof_Top_Fan" or "Roof.Top.Fan" - ie. no spaces

(4) Make the parent object MAIN.

(5) Set-up your the animation frames as normal.

In the sim, the object will animate continously assuming you did everything right.

Do note that TSM can do strange things with animation. If something animates funny, go back into TSM and check each frame. 99% of the time, if something is wonky, it's because the pivot point has gone out of whack relative to the orientation of the object.

Hope this helps.

[BobLatimer]

For an interesting exercise in animation, check out http://communities.msn.com/MSTSfansiteforNZ

Bazza has done a passenger/cabview for one of his locos (Class X) with an animated engineer.

[SteelixB]

It's probably possible to create an animated food trolly too. The problem with that though is it will keep going back and fore instead of waiting for a while, unless you create about 40 or more frames of just standing in one place at each side. This would need about 82 frames for the whole animation sequence (the extra two for back and fore movement). I don't suppose anyone would attempt this though ?

[buffy500]

Having done exactly as described by Trackdancer, I can only get it to work with the wipers..hmmmm
B*gger !