Atomic Systems

I have just started construction on the 2-6-2 loco "Taw" of the Lynton And Barnstable, as seen below:



I have just changed over from TSM to 3D Canvas, as TSM was driving me mad with problems. The loco loads into the world ok, at the moment, but if you want to zoom in close to the loco - it crashes MSTS!! Whether this is an overload of detail, i don't know. This is happening on two machines which I have tried.
Can anyone shed any light on this problem? Do I need to do anything in 3d canvas to eliminate this problem?

Thanks for your time

Chris

Interesting loco.

Where does the driver sit?

I've heard people had a few problems with TSM, but i can't help you on that subject i'm afraid. Keep up the good work.

Hi

That looks SUPERB, just don't go overboard on the detail!

Chris

Hi,

Thanks for the replies, I am still no nearer to understanding why the loco crashes MSTS. Anyway, someone asked "where does the driver sit" - In the cab!!.......



Do people think the detail is over the top? I am interested in your opinions as this is my first loco. If you can produce this for MSTS....



Then how come I can't export my loco from 3D Canvas? It can't be too complicated - I've only just started.

Thanks

Chris

That's really the goods...!

I switched from 3DC to TSM some time ago for precisely the same reason as you switched the other way. Nine times out of ten, load failures are caused by hierarchy problems - in my experience at any rate.

If you would like to email me the TSM file, I'll have a look at it for you. On the other hand, if you want to keep going with 3DC, I can't help - but there are many who can, I'm sure - try a post in the 3DC forum.

I have plans for L&B freight stock, which I'm building in slow time - the 'freelance' wagons for Martin's route are based on them, regauged to 2'6.

Cheers

Mike

That's really the goods...!

I switched from 3DC to TSM some time ago for precisely the same reason as you switched the other way. Nine times out of ten, load failures are caused by hierarchy problems - in my experience at any rate.

If you would like to email me the TSM file, I'll have a look at it for you. On the other hand, if you want to keep going with 3DC, I can't help - but there are many who can, I'm sure - try a post in the 3DC forum.

I have plans for L&B freight stock, which I'm building in slow time - the 'freelance' wagons for Martin's route are based on them, regauged to 2'6.

Cheers

Mike

Looks very nice, Chris.
If you want to send me the Canvas files, I'll have a look at them for you and see if I can see the problem.

Kevin

Hi All, thanks for the compliments and all your help.

Kevin, I have sent you a PM with a link to the file.

Thanks again,

Chris

I think you will have problems because of being too complex and detailed. How many poly's have you got there already? (Use Dacapod's right-click utilities to find out)

You asked for what else you need for 3DC, and my first answer would be Decapod's MSTS Engineer add-on. It will create all the wheels for you in a poly-efficient fashion.

Also make sure that any 'faces' that will not be seen (eg underneath) are deleted. Use texturing to reporduce complex shapes on simple face shapes.

I am sure I have seen reported problems about crashing when viewed close up way back in the forums. I think rebuilding the models, with different groupings and less complexity sorted them out.

Chris,

I have sent you a PM and an e-mail.

Cheers
Kevin

It's a real shame if incredible detail and attention to detail results in problems as they look such brilliant models.

It's common knowledge that it's all a compromise but the work that's been put in here is obviously enormous.

Maybe MSTS2 will hold the answer.

I'm sure they'll turn out well eventually

Hi All,

Thanks again for all the compliments and help. Thanks to KevinMT, the problem is solved - the vaccum pipes being the cause of the problem. The poly count for the loco is incredible high, considering there is only a chassis as yet. I don't want to compromise on all the detail in the model, but some poly deleting will need to occur.

Anyway, I will have a play this week as I would like to complete it before the end of the year. If not I would like to finish it before the ffestioniog finish their Lyd Project!!

Thanks

Chris

Hehehe sounds like a spot of competition. If u released the taw frames you could have them sitting inside a virtual boston lodge when the ffes route comes out.

Looks excellent, and i look forward to playing with it..... Are there plans for the route?

Pitley,

Hi there, it looks beautiful but I would suggest you try and keep the loco under 5 figures total poly count, and really as low as you can, otherwise your downloaders with low end machines will be upset at the resulting slideshow. Do I detect 3D boltheads? Sorry but they really ought to go. You should delete every face you can't see, including all internal faces that butt up against other parts and all downward facing pieces below about 1m. This gets rid of lots of faces that the game spends time drawing (uselessly as you never see them).

While it's true that the L&B ran short trains and had no areas other than at Pilton where lots of stock would be on-screen at one time, because it is a simple line the scenery needs to be that much more interesting to make the drive absorbing for the user.

Are you building to 2x scale or TrueScale?

Hi,

The model is 2x scale and yes, you have detected 3d bolts. Not too sure if I want to give these up yet!! Maybe just leave them on the buffer beams - all depends on the overall poly count.

I have no plans to build the route as yet, as I have a half build snowdon mountain engine to finish and maybe a route for it. I have not even looked at route building yet, as I have had my share of problems with TSM and a few (luckily sorted) problems with 3d Canvas.

If anyone wants a set of frames for outside a future Boston Lodge works, let me know and I'll make a version with primer red frames!!!

Chris