I need a little help with chunky mesh track

[steamdrivre]

Hi all,
I'm having a bit of a problem with the texture. As you can see here, I've succeeded in making chunky mesh track.

First issue I have is, I don't understand why there is an .im file in every creators chunky mesh track I've looked at. If it's made by the chunky mesh principle, why is there an .im file???
Mine has no .im file.
Second issue I have is the texture. How do I texture this white thing???

I don't understand the whole process, obviously and, I would appreciate it very much if I could get a little advice and guidance from you guys.

Thanks a bunch,
Rick

 

[fuzzies]

Perhaps the .im file is the vehicle which has the correct mapping to show the textures as needed?


Just a guess,
Lenny

 

[Pendolino]

The purpose of the .im file is to show a preview in Surveyor. A small square plane is more than sufficient. I usually texture it with a captured image of the finished chunky mesh track taken from above.

The texture applied to the chunky mesh is usually contained in a separate folder (lets suppose it is called tex); the chunky_mesh tag in the config file points at that folder. The tex folder holds: the .tga image of the texture, the .bmp texture of the alpha channel and the .texture.txt file pointing at them (in this case, tex.texture.txt).

I made an extensive use of chunky meshes for rail and also for roads: the only real problem is to make a texture that matches on both sides, as mapping is quite strange: the first three quarters of the texture width are used for ballast and tie texture, and the last quarter is used for the sides and top of the rail. For example, in a 256x256 texture, the first 192 pixel are used for the ballast, and the last 64 for the rail. The centreline of the ballast texture, however, does not fall at 96 pixel, but at 100. This may seem a very small difference, but give it a try and you will see that is easy to notice. The only solution I found is the good old trial-and-error .

Regards

 

[steamdrivre]

This is a big help, Pendolino but, I still don't understand the .im file thing. Can I see a screen shot of what this thing is supposed to look like, please? I don't understand how I'm supposed to make it.
You say a small square plane is more than sufficient but I just can't visualize it.

Thanks, again,
Rick

 

[steamdrivre]

OK, got it! Thanks, guys...

Rick

 

[Pendolino]

Hello Rick,

I missed your last post . Is everything all right, now?

 

[steamdrivre]

Yup, thanks, Pen. I just needed it explained to me as if I were a 6th grader but, a little trial and error along with some experimenting did the job.

Here's what I've done so far. It's 3' NG for Shays only. Notice the oil and grease drippings on the outside of the rails;

.

 

[Pendolino]

Nice track :clap:: my first attempts at chunky-mesh track were horrible . Why only for Shays?

 

[steamdrivre]

Thanks, Pen.
It's my favorite loco and logging is my love and I saw this type of track in Cass W.V. last year and thought I'd model it.

I specialize in logging railroading and have been for over 50 years is all.

I'm just building all this stuff for me, anyway. I release it to the public if they want it but it's all really for my own satisfaction.

Rick

 

[fuzzies]

Thats some very nice track. I'm glad someone with the Correct information came along

Regards,
Lenny

 

[steamdrivre]

Thanks, Fuzzies.

Well, I did it! He he, here's the final version.

Not bad for a first try at it, huh?

I'll get it posted as soon as I work out a couple other things...

Oh, and thanks again, Curtis for letting me use one of your textures as a guide.