Atomic Systems

Now i don't remember where i heard this, but I've heard that you can take a locomotive or any piece of rolling stock and convert it from a working model to a static object.

Can anyone confirm if this is possible?

Yes it is. gptech described how to do it in a conversation about a year ago. I'll see if I can find it.

It does require a reasonable knowledge of TS file structures which is a little bit beyond me.

stlsf4003 wrote:Now i don't remember where i heard this, but I've heard that you can take a locomotive or any piece of rolling stock and convert it from a working model to a static object.

Can anyone confirm if this is possible?

What do you gain?

Any item of rolling stock placed in a scenario is static - unless coupled to a loco with a driver icon.
Any number of locos can also be placed in a scenario and unless they have instructions they will never move - so basically they are static.

Peter

You gain a lot, Peter, when you wish the item to be a part of the route. Examples are camping coaches. On NWC+Conwy Valley-BRB, we have a Static Loco on a plinth at Blaenau Ffestiniog Station

749006 wrote:Any item of rolling stock placed in a scenario is static

Yes, but that also includes (in theory) the potential to be loading up loads of unused scripting, leading to a loss of available system resources---not as huge a problem as it used to be, now we've mostly got higher spec PCs, but even then for really *busy* scenarios with yards etc realistically filled with wagons/coaches it can/could become something to watch out for.

IronBidder wrote:...how to do it in a conversation about a year ago

stlsf4003, the thread IronBidder has in mind....

http://forums.uktrainsim.com/viewtopic. ... lit=static

749006 wrote: What do you gain?

Any item of rolling stock placed in a scenario is static - unless coupled to a loco with a driver icon.
Any number of locos can also be placed in a scenario and unless they have instructions they will never move - so basically they are static.

Peter

It gives you the ability to edit a route so that static stock is always present in every scenario. This can be used to populate yards and depots, but it is also useful for places like railway heritage centres that can have lots of stock that rarely moves, or to model abandoned stock.

gptech wrote:

749006 wrote:Any item of rolling stock placed in a scenario is static

Yes, but that also includes (in theory) the potential to be loading up loads of unused scripting, leading to a loss of available system resources---not as huge a problem as it used to be, now we've mostly got higher spec PCs, but even then for really *busy* scenarios with yards etc realistically filled with wagons/coaches it can/could become something to watch out for.

IronBidder wrote:...how to do it in a conversation about a year ago

stlsf4003, the thread IronBidder has in mind....

http://forums.uktrainsim.com/viewtopic. ... lit=static

That answer's one question yet it raises another one. How would i do it?

I've do something similar to this before in MSTS/OR, but trainsim's a completely different ball game to me.

stlsf4003 wrote:That answer's one question yet it raises another one. How would i do it?

The thread at http://forums.uktrainsim.com/viewtopic. ... lit=static details how I've done it; have a play about and if you have bother just gimme a shout.

In my experience of converting to static models, the older ones ie the ones with less bells and whistles, convert more easily than newer. Rolling stock, in general, works OK but with newer locos with additional 'child' objects such as name plates, logos and variable numbering, it is far from perfect and is not really acceptable (to me) as a staic object.

jetstream wrote:the older ones ie the ones with less bells and whistles, convert more easily than newer.

But it's exactly the same procedure for any item of rolling stock, so it's no harder than a newer item from a "techie ability required" stance.

jetstream wrote:additional 'child' objects such as name plates, logos and variable numbering

Name plates and logos can be applied to the base texture; granted not with the highest of resolutions but the impression of "summat being there" is fairly easy to apply. Variable numbering has been as feature of the game since day 1 so that can't be cited as a *feature* of newer items.

jetstream wrote:it is far from perfect and is not really acceptable (to me) as a static object.

Nobody has claimed that it gives a *perfect* item, but just like 2D vegetation helps populate a route/scenario where a high degree of realism isn't exactly needed. Obviously something close to the player needs to look good, but a rake of stabled locos100 yards from the player viewpoint, partially hidden by other stock doesn't in most cases. Horses for courses in other words.

If you take an AP Mk2 and you wanted it as static stock there are multiple variations of the BR Blue lettering

How do you set the static version to show the one you want?

749006 wrote:there are multiple variations of the BR Blue lettering

How varied are they?....simply positioning, size and/or font?

gptech wrote:

749006 wrote:there are multiple variations of the BR Blue lettering

How varied are they?....simply positioning, size and/or font?

When you place a AP Mk2 in a scenario you get this effect I was unsure how the static vehicle knows which decal to use?

749006 wrote:When you place a AP Mk2 in a scenario you get this effect

That's all the decals for the coaches, such as Inter City, Buffet, Network South East, showing. I imagine the documentation that comes with the coaches will explain just how you determine which decal is actually used.
However, as the static version will not be calling for scripting or using the .bin file for the numbers it shouldn't show either; just what have you done?

gptech wrote:

749006 wrote:When you place a AP Mk2 in a scenario you get this effect

That's all the decals for the coaches, such as Inter City, Buffet, Network South East, showing. I imagine the documentation that comes with the coaches will explain just how you determine which decal is actually used.
However, as the static version will not be calling for scripting or using the .bin file for the numbers it shouldn't show either; just what have you done?

I have placed the coach I picked on the track.
Until I save it the coach looks like this - when I save it the correct decal is displayed

I presume you would need to do a separate static version for all those you might wish to have in sdgs?
And the correct decal would then be shown?

Peter