Baseboard Overlay - TR2009

[TomBauman]

I have been following a superb tutorial on loading overlays to baseboards in Trainz Layouts. This tutorial was written for TR2004 but I am hoping it will still work in TR2009 World Builder.

I have gotten the ground file created in HOG but I'm stuck at step 15 of the tutorial.

http://freepages.misc.rootsweb.ance...d/Topology/TerrainGeneration/Using-Trainz.htm

I have created a single board layout in TR2009 and saved it as instructed on page 5 of 16.

When I go to c:\program files\auran\tr2009\world\custom\maps folder...the maps folder is not there. Also I did a search of c: drive and cannot find the saved file anywhere.

I'm stuck and don't know where to go from here.

Any guidance would be much appreciated.

Tom

 

[Dermmy]

TRS06 and upwards saves the route data differently to 04. You can only access the route folder via CM2 where it will be easiest to find under the 'My Content' tab. Right click and select 'Edit > Edit in Explorer'

The route file names are also different than in 04, you must name the HOG-created gnd file identically to the ground file in the 06 route folder. Move the HOG file into the route folder, allow the over-write, close the 'Edit' folder.

Don't forget to 'Commit' the altered route. You should now have the HOG created route in 06...

Andy

 

[TomBauman]

Hi Dermmy,

Thanks for the quick reply. It took a bit of searching but I was able to find the GND file associated with my single board layout. It was located at: "c:\program files\auran\tr2009\local\hash-90\content w6s5v7nv6\mapfile.gnd." I renamed the HOG file and replaced the single board file. Yep, It worked! The layout now shows track, major roads and waterways.

I'm a little disappointed though. I guess my expectation was too high. I expected far more detail. How do I know how many tracks to lay? Where are the non major highways? Do I need to print the Google Earth Maps for this detail? Guess I should be happy with not having to calculate distance since the scale is there.

Thanks again & Merry Christmas.

Tom

 

[geophil]

The classic MicroDEM/Hog approach paints the ground in per ground vertex, 1 pixel per 10m. This is sufficient for maps up to 1:50,000. TIGER, the vector data source which made this approach popular in the US, is 1:160,000.

Ortho-imagery like Google Earth requires 1:10,000 or more to be of any value to route construction. Ground texture overlay appears totally blurred at such scale. There is manual solution here, with painting and placing texture carrier objects. One such object kit is called "BaseMaps". However, it is left to you to find the proper position for each texture carrier object.

There is a more automated way, but it's not free.

 

[Dermmy]

Tom

The 'TIGER' data used by HOG provides little more than a rough guide as to where the terrain features should be. You will probably find it is not even in the exact right place, rivers should obviously be in the lowest part of the valley, it is quite normal to find them painted half way up a hillside. I generally work out where the river should be, then calculate rough offsets to match where rail and road should go. While it is possible to import screencaps from Google Earth or images of higher detailed maps into Trainz via 'Basemaps' (search the forum for more info) I personally find them cumbersome to use and awkward to place. Generally when working on a HOG map I have printed paper maps or printed Google Earth images on the desk for reference. But then I have a pretty easy-going attitude to route creation, I try to capture the 'look' of the location rather than produce an exact copy.

Goephil is gently offering his excellent TransDEM as an option. This payware utility imports high detail maps direct onto the ground texture (and does much much more besides) and with a little care will give absolute accuracy. Without doubt if you mean to create routes for Trainz it is worth every penny...

Andy