Atomic Systems

Hi, I'm after some advice on creating more realistic embankments and cuttings. I can comfortably create both using the 'snap to track' tool. However, my question is this. Is it possible to make both embankments and cuttings more accurate in appearance? What I mean is that the default embankment seems to have a top width that is considerably wider than the real thing. Ie, most real railway embankments are quite narrow on top and are not a great deal wider than the rails on top. The standard Rw embankment seems to create a top width that is wide enough to accommodate two or three tracks when all I want is one. I should point out that I am also trying to get the bottom of the embankment to be uniform in width along its whole length.

When I try to reduce the width, I end up with bits of track floating in thin air or some sections of embankment missing. I think this is to do with Rw creating terrain in squares. Does anyone know how I can create an accurate looking, narrow embankment or cutting without any square bits?

Thanks in advance, James.

The only Nice way to do it is to use one of the many lofts available, the default one : Grass Bank Loft, There is one really good one on the Isle of whight network also a fair one with Falmouth branch, the only down side of these is the relativly low height of them.

Hi

Embankments can be made fairly easily using the embankment loft section which will follow the curve of the track if you use the offset tool. You have to do each side of the embankment separately but this does enable one or two tracks to be used.

Cuttings are a bit more of a problem. My own solution is to create scenery cutting sides which are placed in the route to cover up the jagged edges that the terrain tool leaves but you need to have a little modelling experience to do that. I believe someone did create some lofted cutting sides which may be in the UKTS library.

The terrain mesh really is my biggest gripe with Railworks, it is worse than MSTS in this respect and probably doubles the time to make a route.

Lofts are the only fix - there is a default grass embankment loft, but as Geoff says cuttings are harder to do.

The ones I've used are available here: http://rw-trainsim.co.uk/forums/index.p ... w;down=114 but are also included in Brendan's Dublin-Cork asset pack and also in the CKPR assets (including a reskin to a more subtle green). Unfortunately the author is no longer involved in the sim, but did grant permission to one of our number on a freeware basis.

They appear under RSBarnes - offset by 3m ish from the track and use the point tool set at 8m to lose as many triangles as you can.

Hope that helps, with a bit of practice it is possible to make a passable cutting, but disguising with foliage (and I'd recommend SAD's freeware pack in the library) will help!

B

There is also these embankments and cuttings http://www.railworks.cz/ (second item down), which i believe permission http://forums.uktrainsim.com/viewtopic. ... 8&t=121878 has been given to be included in the freeware packs, they might be in there already.

Ah good spot. And now I have a lot of route to reembankment!

B

There not in the freeware packs yet but will be in the next update. Just got to get the WCML-N scenario pack done first

You didn't get the bridges too by any chance Jim? Rather a neat system there and would save hours!

B

Hi Ben,

The permission I received was very very generous. I have permission to include in the freeware packs items from railworks.cz if they are made by any of the following authors Josef72, Roman72, Vlastik, mube.

I think that covers the bridges. I am always impressed by peoples generosity and the guys over at railworks.cz were really very generous with the permissions they granted.

As soon as I get the WCML-N Scenario Pack out the way I shall be trying to get the Scenic Asset packs updated. Quite a lot of additional content to be added.

Hi Jim I have downloaded the cz embankments but have trouble working out which are which are you going to re name them, so they are a little more understandable , if so I will wait to use them until then.

I will be transferring all items to the Freeware Pack folder structure which will also involve renaming them to something more appropriate. I am getting close to starting work on updating the scenic asset packs but it is a big job so you could be waiting a few weeks.

Jim

Happy to pick that task up for you Jim if it would help. Very generous of our Czech friends indeed

B

It would help Ben

At the moment though I need to work out what naming structure I am going to use. In the same way as the rolling stock packs got updated and renamed recently to make them much easier to find I intend to do the same with the scenic packs.

With such a big change I need to make a good start on it myself before I really know the method I am going to use. I'll be in touch

Jim

Excellent! Thanks for the links chaps, this is exactly what I have been looking for.

Thanks again, James