creating with Google sketchup??

[jamal17]

is it ok if i create a train with google sketchup or do i have to use gmax because thats another program i have?

 

[pware]

Sketchup is probably the easiest 3D modelling program around and (because it is free) one of the best value ones available. However GMax and Blender (both also free) are the preferred packages for creating Trainz assets. GMax and Blender have far steeper learning curves than Sketchup.

Search the forums for Sketchup and you will find some discussion on the issue of using it to create Trainz assets. But the lack of software needed to convert the Sketchup data files into Trainz format and to create the necessary config.txt files is the biggest problem.

 

[PerRock]

bassically you will need to know how to use gmax even if you do your models in Sketchup as you will have to move them from SU to GMAX, then tweak them for TRS & finally export them for TRS. By then you might as well just learn how to model in GMAX.

Blender can be used instead of GMAX, it is free as well!

peter

 

[clam1952]

Yes you could use Google Sketchup but you would need to import the model into either Gmax, 3ds or Blender to texture it and export it to IM format, there is no exporter for Goggle Sketch up and to be honest having had a quick play with it I wouldn't bother.
It's probably one of the poorest 3d applications I've ever tried.
Gmax, as you have it is the better option if you have used it before or maybe Blender, also free, if you are starting from scratch. Personally I prefer 3ds or Gmax as I am more familiar with the interface, Blender is somewhat different and a bit confusing if you are used to any other 3d program, shouldn't be a problem if you are just starting out though.

Edit:
Ooops! partly beaten to it there.

 

[johnwhelan]

is it ok if i create a train with google sketchup or do i have to use gmax because thats another program i have?

Trainz needs to be rendered in real time and that means both the number of polys, and the number and size of textures has an impact on performance. Sketchup doesn't give you a lot of control over these.

There are ways to emulate polys by using normal mapping etc which are available in 3DS and Blender. Some people have got these to work in GMAX as well. If you are starting fresh the suggestion is start with Blender 2.49b and en.wikibooks.org/wiki/Trainz/Tutorial_for_Blender#Newcomers_start_here is probably a good place to start. It takes you through from creating a house to making into a wagon. There are more advanced tutorials from Paul Hobbs around for when you have more experience.

Cheerio John

 

[N5VAV]

Google Earth to TRAINZ

What I'd like to try someday, or someone else can, is get some buildings off of Google Earth in an area that is being modeled, then by some sort of conversion, get them into TRAINZ!

Not sure though of the detail level and accuracy, so it may not be worth it at all anyway...

 

[johnwhelan]

What I'd like to try someday, or someone else can, is get some buildings off of Google Earth in an area that is being modeled, then by some sort of conversion, get them into TRAINZ!

Not sure though of the detail level and accuracy, so it may not be worth it at all anyway...

Those textures are copyrighted and you need permission to do this. I haven't heard of Google giving permission so far.

Cheerio John

 

[Johnk]

here's a link to a tutorial that shows you how to export Sketchup stuff to Blebder. It works with the free version of Sketchup, but the end result can vary from model to model. I did Disney's Magic Kingdom okay, but not the Monorail station. Others have had more success.

Link

As John W says, the textures are copyright, but I can't see too many problems using a building outline as long as the building exists in real life. After all, if you and I both created an existing building accurately in Sketchup, the models should be identical anyway.

Just use your own textures.