About gmax
- Thread starter Beattie
- Start date
Yes, Gmax is free to use. You will need the Trainz exporter for Gmax to export to Trainz. There are a lot of threads on the fourm regarding Gmax and creating in Gmax. A lot of creators are moving to Blender instead of Gmax since Blender will support normal mapping and baking of textures, which Gmax doesn't support. I would suggest performing a search of the forum for Gmax help first.
A word of caution. Creating a steam locomotive is NOT for the uninitiated 3D creator. The valve gear animation alone can drive some creators batty. A well built steam locomotive can take hundreds of hours to complete. I would suggest starting with something simple if you haven't created before so that you don't get overloaded and frustrated.
Best of luck to you.
Mike
A word of caution. Creating a steam locomotive is NOT for the uninitiated 3D creator. The valve gear animation alone can drive some creators batty. A well built steam locomotive can take hundreds of hours to complete. I would suggest starting with something simple if you haven't created before so that you don't get overloaded and frustrated.
Best of luck to you.
Mike
grumplstink
New member
I agree with Mike, but have a try of Paul's tutorials, http://www.44090digitalmodels.co.uk/ and build the Primus loco 0-6-0. Started me off, in Gmax and then to Blender. I now prefer and use Blender, regards.
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johnwhelan
Well-known member
I'd try Blender first.
http://en.wikibooks.org/wiki/Trainz/Tutorial_for_Blender#Newcomers_start_here
Then move onto Paul Hobb's tutorials.Read through his first Blender tutorial before deciding which way to go and read his first GMAX tutorial before installing GMAX if you decide to go that route.
www.44090digitalmodels.co.uk
Note these tutorials use Blender 2.49b but there is now an exporter for 2.55. I'd stick with 2.49b for the moment.For WindWalkr's thoughts have a read in this thread http://forums.auran.com/trainz/showthread.php?t=63996&highlight=blender Windwalkr is N3V's head programmer.
You can use GMAX for locos but these days more complex items are thought to be easier in Blender.Cheerio John
http://en.wikibooks.org/wiki/Trainz/Tutorial_for_Blender#Newcomers_start_here
Then move onto Paul Hobb's tutorials.Read through his first Blender tutorial before deciding which way to go and read his first GMAX tutorial before installing GMAX if you decide to go that route.
www.44090digitalmodels.co.uk
Note these tutorials use Blender 2.49b but there is now an exporter for 2.55. I'd stick with 2.49b for the moment.For WindWalkr's thoughts have a read in this thread http://forums.auran.com/trainz/showthread.php?t=63996&highlight=blender Windwalkr is N3V's head programmer.
You can use GMAX for locos but these days more complex items are thought to be easier in Blender.Cheerio John
Welcome to content creation
Hi Beattie,
Welcome to the madhouse! Well, not quite, but it can drive you in that direction, lol.
I started in gmax which is free of course, just as Blender is.
Gmax needs TACS, Trainz Asset Creation Studio (also free) which will allow you to upload your work to Trainz and Auran. Not sure about Blender doing this or how it does it, somebody will come in and tell you I am sure as we all try to help each other.
When I decided do dump route creation I went over to gmax just before last Christmas (was it that long ago, seems like last week!) and have never looked back. I love it, it keeps me occupied and fills my days very nicely, and being retired and alone I seem to have more days than everybody else, so gmax was a Godsend.... ha ha
The hardest part in either utility will be texturing, I think we can all agree on that, and getting your head round this particular part of creation is vital. The cube or dice lesson is good for practice, and more practice and guess what, more practice, until you get the hang of it.
Ask your questions in the Content Creation section as I suspect most creators will visit there and it is p'roblem specific' rather than finding all sorts in the General section, in that it will only deal with creation difficulties. It is almost my first stop on the forum.
Good luck and lots of patience with whatever and whichever you decide to go for.
Angela
Hi Beattie,
Welcome to the madhouse! Well, not quite, but it can drive you in that direction, lol.
I started in gmax which is free of course, just as Blender is.
Gmax needs TACS, Trainz Asset Creation Studio (also free) which will allow you to upload your work to Trainz and Auran. Not sure about Blender doing this or how it does it, somebody will come in and tell you I am sure as we all try to help each other.
When I decided do dump route creation I went over to gmax just before last Christmas (was it that long ago, seems like last week!) and have never looked back. I love it, it keeps me occupied and fills my days very nicely, and being retired and alone I seem to have more days than everybody else, so gmax was a Godsend.... ha ha
The hardest part in either utility will be texturing, I think we can all agree on that, and getting your head round this particular part of creation is vital. The cube or dice lesson is good for practice, and more practice and guess what, more practice, until you get the hang of it.
Ask your questions in the Content Creation section as I suspect most creators will visit there and it is p'roblem specific' rather than finding all sorts in the General section, in that it will only deal with creation difficulties. It is almost my first stop on the forum.
Good luck and lots of patience with whatever and whichever you decide to go for.
Angela
johnwhelan
Well-known member
You probably don't need to touch the mesh source to do the corrections. Pev has some very good tools for handling the common problems and most problems can be addressed in the config.txt file.
Cheerio John
The problem is the engine specs are obsolete and I have a d&rgw passenger car that says the alpha texture is not the same size as the file I do plan on making some Denver and Rio Grande standard and Narrow gauge what trains prowler did not make like engine 658
johnwhelan
Well-known member
Engine spec is a text file so notepad works fine to adjust that. Alpha texture file being a different size just needs adjusting in a paint program such as GIMP or paint shop pro.
Cheerio John
