RW2 Ground Mesh and Terrain Texture Resolution

[pauls]

Hi,

I was just experimenting making cuttings with RW1 and was getting frustrated about the low resolution ground mesh producing poor results. I know that Trainz have gone to an higher resolution and was wondering if RW2 had this feature ?

I've been trying embankment and cutting assets from BarnsRS and one I made myself. As anyone tried the cutting assets using terrain snap to make a cutting follow the terrain profile rather than aligning it with the track ? - I used the gradient tool to refine the result to fine tune the terrain following and the result was quite pleasing. As anyone else used this technique ? are there any problems I've not anticipated ? - but then I was hoping that an higher terrain mesh resolution in RW2 would mean I didn't need these assets!

Cheers
Paul

[bigvern]

I don't think anything has changed in this respect.

[pauls]

I don't think anything has changed in this respect.

[longbow]

Pauls, I'd be interested to see a screenshot of your embankments.

[Squatch]

Me too - I really struggle to create narrow, steep embankments, especially if they're on a curve.

[spontin]

I used the Cutting and Embankments from BarnsRS (sorry can't remember your first name) in my narrow gauge Talyllyn route and I think it looked ok. They certainly improved the look and feel over my attempts to mould the terrain as I too found the resolution inadequate especially for NG work.
I used the Align with Track mode having laid all the track to the right gradient and then added the embankments and pulled the terrain to suit.
I'd recommend using the BarnsRS assets anytime.

Steve

[pauls]

Pauls, I'd be interested to see a screenshot of your embankments.

Hi Longbow,





Please keep in mind that this is a Mk1 embankment - its a loft as expected , but I decided to use texture tile mapping to try and improve the texture resolution of those done by BarnsRS. Obvious things wrong........

1) Needs a bit more curvature at the top of the embankment.

2) Needs a softer transition between the ballast and the grass

3) Would need lots more ground textures to match those available in RW.

4) Some tiling artifacts evident ........ but hopefully, bushes, grass etc placed to break up the effect would be a reasonable solution ?

5) Might need revised grass texture to reduce tiling effect ?

As an experiment I used this embankment to try making cuttings. Instead of following the track I followed the terrain - then used the gradient tool to more closely match the terrain - then I moved the ground mesh around to rest below the track and 'inside' the wall of the embankment object as much as possible - I thought it looked a lot neater than just using the terrain mesh. However it would need a revised shape for cuttings and I think a separate ballast loft to fit between the two cuttings under the track to cover up the lumpy ground mesh ? - If only RW2 had the high groundmesh resolution like Trainz and there would be no need to do this embankment / cutting loft nonsense.

Cheers
Paul

[pauls]

Cutting experiment............





I just did one side of the cutting to see if the idea outlined above would work.......

Tiling is a bit more obvious this time......... but it seems to smooth the cutting side wall quite nicely ..... again bushes, grass, etc should improve the tiling artifacts and the transition between mesh and loft textures ?

Cheers
Paul

[longbow]

So how do you tackle a cutting with an uneven top? If you try to bend the barnsRS embankments in a convex curve,you get gaps.

[rivimey]

Does anyone know if increasing the resolution (from IIRC 9m to e.g. 5m) is possible without making lots of preexisting routes etc redundant?

It would be very nice to be able to specify the base resolution (from a small set of options) as part of the route data, so that for example smaller routes could use higher resolutions.

Ruth

[longbow]

Does anyone know if increasing the resolution (from IIRC 9m to e.g. 5m) is possible

It isn't. That's something else on the wish list.

[pauls]

So how do you tackle a cutting with an uneven top? If you try to bend the barnsRS embankments in a convex curve,you get gaps.

Hi,

I just treated it like track - I split the loft as required and then used the gradient tool to make it follow the terrain contour.

Cheers
Paul

[pauls]

So how do you tackle a cutting with an uneven top? If you try to bend the barnsRS embankments in a convex curve,you get gaps.

Hi,

I checked this out - You are using the wrong technique - just use the gradient tool - don't split the asset.

Cheers
Paul

[longbow]

OK, that works, thank you. I can now align the top of the cutting loft with the adjacent terrain but this means the bottom of the cutting does not follow the track, which looks a bit wrong.

Incidentally, Laying a horizontal cutting section alongside the first using the offset tool is a good way to hide the join with the terrain.

[Neptune50006]

So how do you tackle a cutting with an uneven top? If you try to bend the barnsRS embankments in a convex curve,you get gaps.

Hi,

I checked this out - You are using the wrong technique - just use the gradient tool - don't split the asset.

Cheers
Paul

I find the gradient tool has to be used with extreme caution at times. Splitting the section you are going to work on ensures the rest of the loft doesn't suddenly level out. I always save my work before using the gradient tool, just in case!