creating personalised stations using GMAX or Blender

[BigThing]

Hi there, i would love to make the stations along the Merseyrail route in the UK. However i have absolutely no idea of how to get around that. I am aware that the 2 main programs used are called GMAX and Blender.

Could someone suggest which program would be best for quite detailed models?

Also could you then direct me to a tutorial on how to make scenery items?

To save me asking later on... Is there a tutorial for making them passenger enabled as well?

With this, i should be able to make a nice route by the end of the year

 

[geoffwilliams]

Hi there, i would love to make the stations along the Merseyrail route in the UK. However i have absolutely no idea of how to get around that. I am aware that the 2 main programs used are called GMAX and Blender.

Could someone suggest which program would be best for quite detailed models?

Also could you then direct me to a tutorial on how to make scenery items?

To save me asking later on... Is there a tutorial for making them passenger enabled as well?

With this, i should be able to make a nice route by the end of the year

I have found Blender much easier to learn than gmax. Both programs are free to download. There is no longer any support for gmax, though there are a ton of tutorials out there. Blender is evolving all of the time, again there is an abundance of tutorials (quite a lot on you-tube).

As far as Trainz is concerened, by far the best tutorials for both gmax and bender are those of Paul Hobbs http://www.44090digitalmodels.co.uk/
These are mostly to do with modelling locomotives, but the principles are the same for scenery items.
These tutorials are so well done, a beginner should be able to follow them given a little time and patience.
Good Luck on your venture.
Geoff

 

[johnwhelan]

When I read the title my first thought was the idea was a number of components in Blender that could be combined to create an individual station.

It wouldn't be that difficult for a line since the architecture would be much the same for many of the different stations.

Your biggest problem will be research the second textures. The third will be balancing performance against detail.

Blender has twenty layers so you can dump something in a layer then copy it back into the working layer when desired. You can also group things then move the group around.

By exporting the entire station in one shot you save enormously on the performance side.

Cheerio John

 

[Mick_Berg]

I am about to start to do the same thing. I would definitely go with Blender, and use the latest version, 2.57. A much nicer interface than older versions.

There is a tutorial called "Leopold Lane House" that shows how to make and texture a building.

I've done a tutorial on how to export your model to Trainz, on my web site at www.mickberg.com.

I intend to use built-in platforms, as I don't see the advantage of making my own.

Mick Berg.

 

[johnwhelan]

I am about to start to do the same thing. I would definitely go with Blender, and use the latest version, 2.57. A much nicer interface than older versions.

There is a tutorial called "Leopold Lane House" that shows how to make and texture a building.

I've done a tutorial on how to export your model to Trainz, on my web site at www.mickberg.com.

I intend to use built-in platforms, as I don't see the advantage of making my own.

Mick Berg.

http://en.wikibooks.org/wiki/Trainz/Tutorial_for_Blender#Newcomers_start_here

Platforms I'd go with the invisible ones then add a none working platform over it.

Could we set up or use a repository for station buildings in Blender to do a station kit type thing? Save reinventing the wheel?

Thoughts?

Thanks John

 

[BigThing]

Thank you for the replies! (and i apologize for the delay in getting back to you)

From the advice above it seems that Blender is the ideal choice as it is easier to use and i can keep the size of the file down. I will begin experimenting and let you know how i get on.

Thank you so much!