Follow along with the video below to see how to install our site as a web app on your home screen.
Note: This feature may not be available in some browsers.
MM. well a piece of advice first. Try something simpler like a house if you have never done any 3d modelling before. As to common programs used there is 3D Max, Blender, gmax and sketchup. I have put them in order of complexity starting with the most complex (at least some would agree).
I wouldn't be suprised if they use 3DS Max (which is not free).
Shane
Since I was told I needed to have a lot of custom content to sell a route, I figured I would learn. I was going to start off by making a locomotive. Is there a commonly used 3D design program to create locomotives for TS12?
You might want to give 3DCrafter a try - http://amabilis.com/?page_id=26363 - there is a freebie version of it you can try out, but you would need the pro (payware version of it), which is still relatively inexpensive for such a capable 3D program at about 40 quid, to be able to export models in the correct format since the freebie version does not have many plug ins that are necessary for exporting in the correct format for Trainz. Crafter has the advantage of being fairly easy to learn, and the pro version can export to MSTS and FSX too, so if you are looking at selling models, that might be of importance, since it opens up more market possibilities.
Be aware that 3DSMax is quite a steep learning curve, and I know that because I train people on it for a living! But, if you do want to give Max a go, you could try GMax, which is the free chopped down version of 3DSMax, 3DSMax itself being very pricey although students can get a discount. It is also possible to use Google Sketchup, but it is not ideal for creating stuff like trains. You would probably also need Photoshop for texture creation, although again there are freebie alternatives, such as Paint.net, which is very good.
There are a lot of freebie 3D programs you could use, you just have to be sure that they can either convert or export to the necessary file format. Here's a list of some good ones if you are feeling like exploring your options. All of these ones listed have a free version of some kind, so you can try them out and then if you need the full versions to export in the Trainz format, you will know whether you will end up liking the program, which is important, because it often comes down to personal preference as to which 3D program people end up using:
http://www.hongkiat.com/blog/25-free-3d-modelling-applications-you-should-not-miss/
That site link by the way(hongkiat.com), has a lot of Photoshop tutorials on it, in fact it's the one I send my students to when they ask about where to find decent Photoshop tutorials.
Al
You can simply incorporate items from the DLS in your route, you may not win friends doing it but according to N3V the DLS content is available for payware routes etc. Making good well performing content has a learning curve, typically a good steam loco will take some months to do and could well take longer.
Cheerio John
Where on earth did you dig that up from? Routes sold by N3V yes, but nobody else.You can simply incorporate items from the DLS in your route, you may not win friends doing it but according to N3V the DLS content is available for payware routes etc.
I'm looking for something relatively easy to use. I just tried Gmax and that program was very confusing. But I managed to make a cardboard box... I think I will try Crafter Now
Where on earth did you dig that up from? Routes sold by N3V yes, but nobody else.
Paul
Your understanding is what I also understood until WindWalkr's post.