Anyway to add overhead wire to make track one item (NOT just add wire to the track)

[Red_Rattler]

Is their way to add overhead wire to make it just one item, before you start using it in surveyor?

Note that I don't mean just adding overhead wire to track in surveyor. The reason is to save a lot of time of adjusting the wire, and adjusting the wire height, etc.

Adding wire separately like this takes a long time. And similar for train overhead wire like this.

And no, I don't know how to make track, or make track with wires.

 

[JCitron]

This has been done a few times already. Motorman66 (I think that's his name) did that already. You then simply place tram poles next to the track. The problem is with these assets the wires are at a fixed height based on that particular prototype they modeled and the wires don't bend well with the track.

I agree that placing wires now is awfully painful with all the spline points needed to keep things lined up and look good. This also makes adjusting tracks later on difficult due to the wire spline points getting in the way, and then the wires being out of place and needing adjustment all over again.

My thought would be to have wires as a track parameter which can be added. Click on a catenary option in a small dialog box and this will add catenary. There could be various options ranging from mainline type wires to a simple trolley wire with various height adjustments done through a slider. This would allow adding catenary to existing tracks or removing catenary from sidings and places where it isn't needed.

John

 

[Red_Rattler]

Are you saying that their is no way to make existing track & overhead wires as one item?

But then again, how easy or hard is it to make track?

I know that included wire on curve track doesn't really "bend" well, but it's better than nothing.

 

[JCitron]

Are you saying that their is no way to make existing track & overhead wires as one item?

But then again, how easy or hard is it to make track?

I know that included wire on curve track doesn't really "bend" well, but it's better than nothing.

I'm not saying it can't be done. The setup is just poor. I can't fault the content creators either because I've seen this from numerous people and they all look poor. I have absolutely no idea how difficult or easy it is to make track. The best I can do is reskin a house and then my quality is questionable. Perhaps someone with more experience can help you.

John

 

[martinvk]

It can be done BUT the since the track sections are generally much shorter than the pole spacing, you would end up with too many poles too close together. Plus, the bending properties of the wire should be different from the track, track curves, wire is straight from pole to pole. I tried once for places with long straight runs which can use very long track sections but every curve had to be done with normal track and separate catenary. Barely worth the small saving in time.

If special track properties could be made available to handle all the variables then it might bee interesting. There would still be many situations that could be a challenge: exact pole placement that doesn't interfere with other objects; tensioners required at regular intervals; switches; horizontal wiggle to equalize wear on the pickup shoes; etc.