Best track/ballast combo?

[Approach_Medium]

Hi;
I am disappointed at how unreal most of the ballasted tracks appear when laying along a route with ballast as a ground texture. Rarely does the ground texture match the track ballast close enough to look realistic. What I have been doing of late is using the unballasted "SAM Track - Rails & sleepers" <kuid:132952:141933>. Then I bring the ground up to the sleepers - trying to get it so that the sleepers are actually laying in the ground, and not on it. Then I paint the ballast - I have been using "SAM ballast -2" <kuid2:132952:100329:2>, but any high-res ballast that looks good up close would do.
The track I really like best is "132lb US Wood MBTA MRT" <kuid2:106916:10234:3>, but even with the so-called matching ballast the appearance is not very realistic. The ballast created by the creator of the MRT track is low-res, and the track ballast is hi-res, so they just don't blend.

At one time in the past, I had a nice set of matching track and ballast, created by Andi06, but I can no longer find that track or the ballast. I will try looking directly on his website again, but when I checked last night, I didn't see anything I don't already have installed. Perhaps I created a custom track from one of his (supplied with his junction kit), or maybe it was another track that I am missing. In any case, that combo of track and ballast looked great!

If N3V could get their act together and make it easier to create custom content right in the game, I think I could do this myself. But with the encrypted/compressed file format that is used by N3V, I am not able to edit most content on my own. I am not very artistic when it comes to creating my own content, however - this might be my best option. I have dabbled with Blender a few times, but never seemed to have the interest to really learn the program. That is why I prefer to work with another CC's creation.

If anyone knows of a track/ballast combo that would fit my needs, please let me know. I might even be willing to pay for this, as I can use one track on most mainline in the USA, and maybe an additional couple of track/ballast for branch lines and yards.
In the meantime, I am going to re-check Andi06, and other 3rd party sites for what I am looking for.

Thanks for your help.

CP

 

[mezzoprezzo]

I find that the ballast provided with any realistic track is enough. The addition of perfectly matching ballast to surround the immediate area is, IMHO, unnecessary and probably unwanted.

The bits of terrain each side of the ballasted area are usually flat track bed which will generally be a different colour. It usually also has other variable things going on. Amongst several other possibilities these marginal areas may have dry dust, damp moss, weeds, mud, wet areas etc. Geographical location, age/condition of the track, maintenance and so on, will also be a factor.

When trying to represent reality I quite like the track assets which feather out into the edges. This allows a much less conspicuous transition between the ballast stones provided with the track creator’s asset and the track bed texture which the user can creatively apply in Surveyor to suit the conditions being modelled.

 

[JCitron]

I use the SAM series track and matching ballast. There is a matching set between one of the gray ballast textures and some track. The match is pretty good and it is difficult to tell where the track ends and the texture begins. The frame rates are excellent with this track too. The old MRT track tends to be clunky it seems.

John

 

[Approach_Medium]

I use the SAM series track and matching ballast. There is a matching set between one of the gray ballast textures and some track. The match is pretty good and it is difficult to tell where the track ends and the texture begins. The frame rates are excellent with this track too. The old MRT track tends to be clunky it seems.

John

I noticed that too. The MRT track changes as you drive down the road, and sometimes I can see the change from up-close detailed to distant - less detail. I also believe that this type of track is more demanding on resources. So far I have had good luck with the SAM track.

CP

 

[Approach_Medium]

I found the AJS track I was looking for. It's the AJS Perchpole Track Grey (single 2m) <kuid:44988:4103>. It doesn't blend with the ballast texture, but I think I'm going to compromise on this, because the AJS track will match perfectly with the JK Junctions that I will be using.

CP

 

[frogpipe]

I like 132# tracks and matching texture - see my Oregon, Pacific and Eastern screenshots where I used it, it's on the DLS.

 

[dricketts]

Search my username for track and a couple of matching ballast textures. I skinned them with just what you had in mind in your original post. Check out some of the later screen shots of my route linked in my banner for examples. I don't have access to my PC now or I'd post the kuids.

 

[Approach_Medium]

I like 132# tracks and matching texture - see my Oregon, Pacific and Eastern screenshots where I used it, it's on the DLS.

I found your M&P route, but not the Oregon, Pacific, and Eastern. In that route however, I did see the 132# track with matching ballast. Looks great! So much detail in that M&P route. I seem to always get caught up with large routes that I can never hope to finish - let alone to that much detail.

CP

 

[frogpipe]

Oh! I meant the track was on the DLS, the OP&E is very much a Work In Progress.

Thanks for the kind words on the Ma and Pa - folks said they enjoyed the session for it too, which is just a simple AI traffic on the B&O and Pennsy with a scattering of M&P locos and rolling stock to play with - no objectives, just do what you like.