Isle of Man Progress

[pjt1974]

Route building on hold for a week or three. No work done at all last week due to working on a bike getting it ready for the Manx Grand Prix. Practice this week and Races next so there won't be much scope for more updates till after then.

[pjt1974]

I've decided to simplify the route. After the release of Bob's Leafy Suburbs route and Vern's Vale of Rhienol, I'm going to use them as reference and an example of how to populate a route. It's unfortunate that this will result in a delay in release but it's all the part of learning and gaining experience in the art of route building by looking at the methods of more experienced builders.
Not only will the change in building technique speed up the actual building of the rest of the route, once I get to it, but it will also reduce the pc resources needed to run it by any end user.
Now the bikes are finished it's time now to get my head down.

[bigvern]

There is indeed a very fine line when it comes to detail. I still like to work on the basis of what can be seen from the cab or very close to it. I know there are some who feel that it should be possible to view detail 5 miles from the lineside but being practical most route builders opt for a compromise with the focus on infrastructure and immediate surroundings. I actually find BVE routes a good benchmark, admittedly you don't have the distraction (so much) of climbing out the cab and viewing from outside though OpenBVE does afford that facility but - for example - the Newcastle to Berwick ECML is a superb example of infrastructure vs scenery which utterly convinces you are there, yet this is all done with objects placed to around 200m from the track and backdrops!

Anyhow good luck with the onward progress of the route.

[pjt1974]

Nearly there. just needs a few finishing touches.
I decided to keep the route pretty much as it is this time and do any adjustments on extended versions.
Although the route is only 9 miles so far, there's still a few 'other' assets. Most of which, I have the permission to distribute with the route. The only extra downloads needed are the RSC's IOW, Project Platform and SAD's ALTENBURG - WILDAU route and assets.
Although the route will be extended I don't foresee any reason to increase the amount of extra downloads needed, so if you've got enough to run this version, you'll have enough to run any subsequent release.
Should be ready to go for testing over the weekend or early next week.

[pjt1974]

Route's out to test at the moment, a few teething problems reported back already, mostly missing textures which I think I've rectified. Hoping to get a release date before Kieth and his WCML.
A release any time after will go unnoticed as you'll all be taking the Pendolino from Carlisle to Glasgow instead of a 0 4 0 ST 'g girl' from Ramsey to Kirk Micheal.
Only kidding, right nervous at the moment that all works well and I can get it released at some point.

[pjt1974]

latest update:
Changed a few thing due to reports back from testers, most of the changes are regarding high definition trees and replacing some with mid or far trees to help with frame rates.
As far as has been noticed, all the texture problem have now been sorted so that just leave's the scenario's getting tested to breaking point.
Upload soon

[markandjohn]

I just ran the route.... from end to end and for me thats rare. Its a fantastic route and I am hugely greatful for it. Especially with the introductory scenarios and all!

Truly wonderful stuff

Thanks once again

John

[pjt1974]

Hi John
Thanks for the comments, it makes all the hours spent worth it and a great incentive to put scenery on the other 7 miles of the Northern Line to St.Johns.

Regards
Phil

[pjt1974]

We are go again,
Since my unfortunate incident with my steam installation I've reopened the Isle of Man route although I haven't headed South from Kirk Micheal yet.

I've installed an extra line 'loosely' following the route of the originally proposed path of the Manx Northern Railway from Ballaugh to Ramsey.
On leaving Ramsey you will travel 1 1/2 mile to Lezayre station then split north taking in St.Judes, Sandygate and Ballaugh Cronk before heading south to join the Manx Northern Heritage Line just before Ballaugh. this adds and extra 7 miles or so to the route. I've also added a 3 1/2 mile branch from Sandygate to the large village of Andreas with a 1 mile link south of Andreas to allow easier passage to Ramsey from the village.
The north of the Isle of Man is reasonably flat but there will be some inclines up the northern glacial sand hill for the G-girls to negotiate, especially on it's way to Andreas.

With the North of the Island being mostly rural and agricultural, the scope for goods or industrial traffic is minimal apart from delivering goods vans to the villages or the movement of livestock into Ramsey for the Mart.
I hope I'm not breaking too many copyright laws showing this but the original Heritage line is in green with the extra in yellow.

[chrisreb]

Goods news asI enjoy the initial release.

[pjt1974]

Cheers Chris,
Glad to see the original route is still fresh in peoples minds.
I'm hoping this will add extra life to the line and add more options in terms of scenario building.
I'm also taking in some excellent advice from Vern regarding the vegetation and the use of near trees and bushes in places where a simple 'treeline - dense' or a row of mid hawthorn bushes would suffice. It should bring down the resources to run the route. Considering the extension north is never more than a couple of miles from the original line, loading and running the route may get resource heavy.

Phil

[hertsbob]

Good news, Phil.

Glad to see you've started this off again. Very much looking forward to watching your progress.

Cheers

Bob

[pjt1974]

I'm starting to realise that this 'fictional' extension is a better idea than I first thought. Due to the very nature of the land, the northern plain is very open and has alot less trees and foliage than the hill hugging original route. I could get technical as to why but that'll bore the pants off the lot of you.
It's a bit like two different lines in one. One very close and a bit claustrophobic and the other very open by comparison.

Partly built village of Andreas

[pjt1974]

Just a comparison update
From this

to this

trying to create something like this

[kennyb]

It`s looking good - very good -- Sorry about the job !!!!
.
Ken