Help - Getting started 3d modelling for TS12

[bwiemers]

Hi,

Does anybody know if there are any good tutorials that are TS12 specific for creating 3d models (static models) and importing them into TS12?

I've found some for previous versions of Trainz, but they don't work when it comes to getting the models into Trainz 2012.

It would be great if anyone could point me in the right direction to get me started, as this is one of my main interests in Trainz.

 

[wheelsonfire]

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

 

[RRSignal]

Start with the first 4 of these video tutorials:

http://cgcookie.com/blender/get-started-with-blender/

They are very good. Next, Mick Berg's tutorial discusses how to set Blender up to export to Trainz:

http://www.mickberg.com/blenderexport1.html

Blender has fairly recently been upgraded from 2.49 to newer versions; I think the latest is 2.62 with 2.63 coming out soon. The interface of the newer versions is substantially different. I find it much easier to use, although some people liked the older version more. A lot of the tutorials around, including some of the Trainz ones, are for the older version, so it's a little tricky.

Lastly, here's a set of tutorials on modelling:

http://www.katsbits.com/tutorials/#blender

I recommend the chair tutorial, especially the part on making the mesh of the chair itself. When doing the texturing, remember that after you assign an image to be used as a texture, there is an arrow under "Mapping" for the coordinate system to use. Click this and set the mapping from Generated to UV and you should be in business. This will save you HOURS of aggravation and wasted time!