Converting Models

[AndiS]

The information on 3DCanvas clearly states that the free version only exports .pov files.
Blender cannot read these files directly.

A quick Google drew up this page with many links, all dated 2006: http://blenderartists.org/forum/archive ... 79776.html

Other than the several alternatives listed there, I don't think there is a way to import .pov in Blender.
But stuff like this: http://mysite.verizon.net/sfg0000/ should be tried.

It is pretty clear that going via 3DCanvas to .pov and from there via some converter to .obj and into Blender may loose something. But for scenery, the loss will be less dramatic than for rolling stock, because there is no animation, gloss or bump map.

[pjt1974]

Hi Andy,
Like I said earlier, my dole money won't quite stretch to pay for the Pro version of 3D canvas at the moment so that's out of the question.

It seems unfortunate but despite such a great offer of help I'm gunna have to pass it up for the time being.
I'll just have to get the tutorials out and try to build models myself, just aslong as I can do it on the cheap.

[miglietto]

My 2 cents

Couple of year ago I faced the same problem.
I had to convert my old MSTS models to RS(RW) After some apptemts with poor results (RS/RW 3D models requires much more details and i didnt' find a way to preserve the texture mapping) I found far more convenient to rebuild them from scratch.

[AndiS]

Like I said earlier, my dole money won't quite stretch to pay for the Pro version of 3D canvas at the moment so that's out of the question.

That's why I focussed on the free version. The free version exports POV, and some of the links I gave offer converters from POV to OBJ and Blender reads OBJ and exports to RW using Henning's new Bigex exporter, all for free.

[pjt1974]

Sorry Andy,
I think what I said came over wrong, it was an early morning post so the brain wasn't working at full throttle.
I've had a good look at the options you gave me and going through them all as best I can but I'm keeping my options open for the time being.
I'm favouring on the side of trying to model my own assets at the moment although that aswell can be an expensive hobby,
Just have to wait and see

Again thanks for your interest
Phil

[karma99]

I'm favouring on the side of trying to model my own assets at the moment although that aswell can be an expensive hobby

If it gives you hope..

This lot..
http://uktrainsim.com/filelib-search.ph ... or=karma99
plus these..
http://forums.uktrainsim.com/viewtopic. ... &sk=t&sd=a
plus this..
http://forums.uktrainsim.com/viewtopic. ... &start=210

Total spent: £0.00

Total hours, I won't go into! But time is to be expected with these things.

With the impending release of Hennings updated Blender exporter that supports animation, there's nothing you can't model for RW for no cost other than your time.. and some grim determination probably helps too

[pjt1974]

Excellent work
I can't believe they are done with freeware programs. I'm using some of your great assets on my route, hope you don't mind, and didn't realise they were made for nothing.
At the moment, time I've got, money I ain't.
I'm off for a search on the forum and the web for tutorials for a novice.

Many Thanks
Phil

[ThTensen]

On this site from Paul Hobbs, there's a excellent tutorial for building a steam locomotive in Blender. Although it's meant for Trainz, the mesh-modelling works the same for Railworks.

Dick

[absufc2]

Hey everyone,

I've not posted for a while but I've been watching and reading the threads. It's good to see what Karma has achieved with the programs he's used and for no cost...

I was just wondering what programs are you using Karma, and how hard would you say to grasp it... If its worth it then I shall looking into modelling, I may even attempt to build a engine... As I feel its time I should offer something back to the RW community

Thanks Ash

[karma99]

Hi Ash, and thank you

I really don't want this to turn into a "Oo karma's great" thread, but I do like to knock the illusion that creating anything for RW costs the earth, on the head because it's just not true. And I can only really use myself as an example as I'm not 100% sure that others don't use some kind of paid software (even RW tools) along the way.
But £0.00 expenditure is very possible

This post here lists all that I use http://forums.uktrainsim.com/viewtopic. ... 0#p1296797
(Apologies for it's slightly ranty nature, I was rather sick of people moaning when I posted it!)

I use:
Blender - free - google it
Paint.NET -free - google it
GIMP - free - google it
RWAce - free - available on railsimulator.com

I started out just doing Blender tutorials, about anything! I made a house, a sword, a car, a walking gingerbread man(!), just about anything that would teach me the tool. I would add, I had a lot of fun doing that! I'm a kinesthetic learner, meaning stuff doesn't stick in my head unless I try it.. I can read about it all day but until I have a go it's not going to stick, so tutorials worked well for me. I even played with the liquid effects Blender can do - very cool, NO use at all in modelling, but fun and made me more comfortable with the tools.
I then made a water tower. I wanted to build a cab view, and then some wagons and maybe even a loco one day, but I started with basic scenery and worked up from there.
I hate that water tower now! It's a horrible model with horrible textures! But it's all about learning as you go and not biting off more than you can handle.

Best advice is grab Blender, do some tutorials and then make something simple of your own. Forget RW for the moment, just get comfortable with making things in Blender and learning how it works.
Make sure to do basic modelling and learning how to do unwrapping and UV texturing will be very handy too.
There are some tutorials knocking around about how to get scenery into the game - AndiS just posted a nice one in the Blender forum - and then go from there.
Ask when you need help, but make an effort to try yourself first. Once you've done that you'll probably find people willing to help with whatever you need.
Most of all, do it for fun and because you want to do it. Patience and determination in equal measure will see you to the end of a project. The promise of glory and praise won't.. although nice compliments do help along the way

[Trainguy76]

Just for reference - the source files are on offer, and they're in Train Sim Modeller .dst format if that helps

If they can be in any of these formats, I think you will end up fine?

I really don't want this to turn into a "Oo karma's great" thread, but I do like to knock the illusion that creating anything for RW costs the earth, on the head because it's just not true. And I can only really use myself as an example as I'm not 100% sure that others don't use some kind of paid software (even RW tools) along the way.
But £0.00 expenditure is very possible

I think Karma should get a high five.

[AndiS]

I also never understood why everyone went crazy for 3DSMax. But I must admit that for a long time, we only had a limited exporter for Blender. But now this is changed to the opposite, thanks to Henning.

I think that the big thing is to learn the techniques, the thinking behind it. I often read tutorials for PaintShop and then (not so often) try it out in Gimp. It is true that both Blender and Gimp have some funny traits in their user interface, but considering the price difference gave me 100% confidence in my choice of product. Even more so, I was tired of the industry and being their slave, having learnt Gmax in the past and a few other deceased programmes. Blender and Gimp have thriving open source communities behind them. They will not be bought by some company only to discontinue them. Or discontinued by their producer to make you "upgrade" to something more expensive.

In learning the techniques, an important thing is learning about yourself, your skills and your (real) interest. Basically, there is 2D and 3D and creating in either is an art. You can put great pictures on simple shapes, or simple pictures on great shapes. In terms of RW, there are various types of scenery items and rolling stock. Some are harder to do than others. You need to consider this when judging your learning curve.

Another thing to consider in the learning process is skill gain versus output volume. Again, it totally depends on your temper/psyche/nature. You can let the tutorials carry you away into the land of animated gingerbread men, and be happy about all the things you learnt, and the fun it is. Or you can focus on a certain target and strictly learn exactly what you find useful to achieve it. This judgement can be a bit difficult, but then again not if you match the tutorials with your target object. E.g., there are many tutorials about creating furniture which easily map to RW buildings, in terms of technology used. If you are a practical guy, you can learn how to create a house in no time and then produce 100, perfectly matching the style of your region and thus providing excellent value at very simple modelling technology.

Btw., don't forget to check out free textures. They are another big time saver.

[absufc2]

Thanks again fella..

I hope that the OP is able to transfer his items over to RW as I for one are curious as to what it is that he is bringing over...

Good Luck!