Bogies Not Displaying

[CajunRon50]

Well, although I swore up and down that I would NOT attempt to convert my MSTS steam models to RS due to the extremely difficult process of getting rolling stock into RS and my old brain probably not up to the challenge, I just couldn't go without giving it a try. Using information from Kuju's Developers Procedures and other articles, I've got my simplest MSTS model (Atlantic 4-4-0) all the way into RS....but no bogies or wheels are displaying. My bogies and wheels are included in my model's *.igs file (but not yet animated). They are named per naming convention, etc. etc. I discovered the "two axle" requirement for bogies and implemented it. I don't know what else to try.

I've researched the main three forums (Train-Sim, UKTrainSim and Kuju forums) and did find a little on the Bogie issue but not anything helpful. Anyone know of where I might find info on this problem or a better description of what each of the parameters mean and how to set them?

Thanks in advance for any help.

[Sly401]

Hi Ron

good on yer for having a go... I know it seems difficult, but once the logic kicks in is actually incredibly easy.

If you can supply some more details and I am sure we can get this sorted and driving around very quickly.

Are you using Max or canvas ?

Is the loco centred at 0,0 ?

Any chance of a screen shot of your hierarchy ?

you will either have to make a simple animation ( wheels going round ) or redo the blueprint at a later stage.. (I can get it to show without an anim if you really want )

wheel dia and gauge for all wheels
the positions of the axles relative to the loco centre
the names of the bogies ( includ your "main" loco )
Overall length and width (again relative to the origin)

Thats about all you need

Let me know if I can be of any help, here or PM

Good luck with the project

Sly

[CajunRon50]

Sly, thanks for the reply. See my responses and comments imbedded below

Hi Ron

good on yer for having a go... I know it seems difficult, but once the logic kicks in is actually incredibly easy.

If you can supply some more details and I am sure we can get this sorted and driving around very quickly.

Are you using Max or canvas ? Model was made with gmax and converted to max. (with loss of animation)

Is the loco centred at 0,0 ? Yes it is. I left the height at 0 also until I can figure out the proper height (the default in the tutorial of 1.25 m seem much too high)

Any chance of a screen shot of your hierarchy ? Sorry I can't upload graphics without paying a premium

you will either have to make a simple animation ( wheels going round ) or redo the blueprint at a later stage.. (I can get it to show without an anim if you really want ) Yes, I do realize that but wanted to first have success getting it into RS before spending alot of time re-animating

wheel dia and gauge for all wheels I measure these using max and entered the values (used tutorial's gauge value)
the positions of the axles relative to the loco centre This may be a problem. I thought it was relative to center of repective bogies. I'll double check this
the names of the bogies ( includ your "main" loco ) Used Kuju naming conventions in Max and blueprint
Overall length and width (again relative to the origin) I'm sorry, I don't quite understand. length and width of what?

Thats about all you need

[Let me know if I can be of any help, here or PM

Good luck with the project

Sly

One deviation from the norm is that my model uses alpha channel texturing on a 2D plane to model the rear bogie (to save on poly's in MSTS). I figured it would not work with RS but thought that initially it would still model as a box. I thought of removing all of the 2D plane alpha channel textured modeling to see if that had any bearing

Again, thanks for the help

[Sly401]

Hi Ron

In all probability the lack of bogies showing is a Hierarchy problem, I will pm you my email.

In the meantime, If you want to see what your model looks like.. make a scenery blue print (temporary within your existing engine folder)

You only need to give it a name.......... suggest giving it a 1A_ prefix.. this means it appears at the top of lists

Leave its group as unclassified

Make sure it is Pickable

Point it to your exported IGS file

make it visable at max and minimum settings of 10

export and you should have a scenery object (selectable in the world editor not scenario editor ) 1A_XXXXXXx

Cheers

Sly

[CajunRon50]

Sly, as I mentioned in my last e-mail. I found cause and solution of the problem. For the benefit of any others...basically I had numerous parts of the loco which still had their old MSTS name. I had not converter their names to the Kuju naming convention (1_0500_partname). For some reason these were preventing the bogies and wheels from displaying. When I removed all parts not having Kuju names. The bogies and wheels displayed. I wasn't aware that the Kuju naming convention was an absolute necessity.

As I mentioned in the email your input on the hiearchy is what started me thinking and experimenting and lead me to the solution. Thank once again for the help.

Now, of course there's another problem. I'll start a new thread on it to make future searches / research easier.

[longbow]

Good on both of you - encouraging MSTS modellers to bring their stuff into RS is one of the best ways to promote this sim. Hopefully some of them will then be encouraged to build specifically for RS.

[RSderek]

For some reason these were preventing the bogies and wheels from displaying. When I removed all parts not having Kuju names.

Hi, As stated in the docs naming convention is very important. If even one object is named wrong RS will probably only render one object from the file.

regards

Derek

[M1ckran]

I've found that the alpha channel can also cause bits to disappear.

When experimenting with coach repaints, I managed to achieve a nice satin finish to the paintwork but lost the undercarriage and roof. The vehicles still worked in RS and probably gave the passengers a very smooth ride, but I had to be careful to pick dry weather.

All models are not affected in this way. It appears to depend on how the model is authored.

[RSderek]

Hi,

This is because some shaders use the alpha channel for the spec map. While some more basic shaders just it as an alpha channel.

So you are right it does depend on how the materials were authored.
regards

Derek