Filling large areas of space?? (1024x768 images)

[colhad]

Hi folks

A common problem of mine is trying to come up with an effective way to fill large areas of space when constructing a route. I really get stuck for ideas, a lot of my routes never get finished due to this problem.

You know, I sit here and look at the area thinking without really knowing what to do.

I'm constructing a narrow gauge route (1000mm or metre gauge) and I have two places that need something. The first image shows an area that I need some ideas for. I'm thinking of putting an industry there but not sure what.



The second image, I may put more crops and farms here.



I have grass, trees and shrubs along the fence line near the tracks.



I think that's half my problem. I can build okay around the tracks, but then I get stuck when it comes to surrounding areas. What's a good method for filling large areas of space. I build most of my routes just from imagination, sometimes with the aid of pictures.

Just after ideas I guess, this is an area that causes me to burnout from TRS I think.

 

[Vern]

You could always plant some forests! Failing that, you can't go wrong with a good field pattern and some hedge or fence splines to break them up.

Seriously it can be a bit of an issue, particularly the further you get from the track, the more conscious you are of spending time on detail that may only be glimpsed if seen at all from trains driving by.

 

[paulzmay]

Can't go wrong with more trees! Even if you go for open fields, there are always trees along the margins and in clumps around the place. It also depends on where your route is set, in terms of filed size, crops, and whether you divide them with walls hedges or fences.

And of course the odd isolated farmhouse.

Paul

 

[titaniclover]

I have seen, in NY, countless of times areas of total emptiness with a clump of trees in it. Waste of space, but very interesting. It is those types of things that really show off a route I think. Even if they are weird.

Farm fields also have this a lot, sometimes with a broken tractor in the vicinity. Great little areas with lots of detail and interest, especially near the tracks. Ugh, you gave me an itch to start a little rural route I have been planning, yet Trainz is installing a patch, oh the agony! :hehe:

Cheers,
Adam

 

[SuperFudd]

How about a burnt over area? You could even have it smoldering a bit. Perhaps with fire crews on the scene?

 

[colhad]

Thanks guys for the suggestions. I have taken the idea of making open fields, thanks Paulzmay. I will have screenies later.

Big thanks to all who offered suggestions.

 

[angelah]

Google Earth

Getting stuck and lacking inspiration when not building an actual route is quite common, I often get 'creators block'.
I suggest that you go into Google Earth and go to an area similar to the one you are trying to portray and see what it's like. For instance, if narrow gauge then Welsh mountains, American or South African narrow gauge then prairies and mountains.
Remember too that even here in England Counties vary quite a lot in looks from vast areas of open hills and dales to tight small fields, towns to hamlets, forests to copses.
You can get a kick start by just looking.

Have fun.

Angela

 

[maxwerks]

I would argue that there's no need to fill that space -- or not completely, at any rate. Anything that isn't right up close to the tracks won't really be visible when you're driving trains anyway, so it's wasted unless you spend lots of time flying around in free roam mode. Plus, in my experience, the more objects there are in a given area, the more performance suffers in Driver mode.

Those wide-open fields in your screenshots look pretty nice to me. The only thing I'd add would be a few clumps of trees and/or shrubs here and there.

Good luck,

Max

 

[Starr_Man5]

I think it looks fine as it is, perhaps a few trees at the top of the fields there (where the light grass ends and the dark, hilly area begins). Aside from that it looks really good.

Regards,
Rikki.