trainlunitic
New member
Aside from eyeballing it of course.
I want to model a 1950s Milwaukee. What's the best way to do this?
- Thread starter trainlunitic
- Start date
johnwhelan
Well-known member
A layout? A loco? are you thinking of bribing someone? Feel like doing it yourself?
Thanks John
Thanks John
To do this the right way, you need to use prototypical terrain and the best tool for that is TransDEM. This is a third-party program that will import USGS DEM data and topographic maps or orthographic images and put them in situ so that the final data can be exported as a base Trainz route. This route is then ready for laying tracks and placing objects. Keep in mind that there's a bit of a learning curve and there are many, many more options than you'll need.
online.ts2009.com
Now comes the tough part...
How much of the MILW do you want and what area?
Building a Trainz route of this magnitude is a huge, huge project not only in route size but also in scope. Routes like this take a long, long time to build. Given that a route such as this is a huge project, we highly recommend starting small, perhaps a few baseboards and build-up from there. Since TransDEM is based on UTM coordinates, you can cut the route anyway, as long as you don't alter the edges and splice in another section into the route at any time. This will allow you to cut, the majority out, work up that to perfection and then add more in and continue using the route merging capabilities built into Trainz.
Other issues include asset availability. Do you create custom assets or do you use DLS and third-party available only? Creating custom assets is another skillset needed and learning to create models the right way takes a lot of time.
Not to discourage you or anything, this is something to think about before deep-diving into a giant project like this. I'm currently struggling with a 23-mile prototype route that was wiped out by development and a couple of dams and believe me this is not an easy route to work on.
TransDEM - TrainzOnline
Now comes the tough part...
How much of the MILW do you want and what area?
Building a Trainz route of this magnitude is a huge, huge project not only in route size but also in scope. Routes like this take a long, long time to build. Given that a route such as this is a huge project, we highly recommend starting small, perhaps a few baseboards and build-up from there. Since TransDEM is based on UTM coordinates, you can cut the route anyway, as long as you don't alter the edges and splice in another section into the route at any time. This will allow you to cut, the majority out, work up that to perfection and then add more in and continue using the route merging capabilities built into Trainz.
Other issues include asset availability. Do you create custom assets or do you use DLS and third-party available only? Creating custom assets is another skillset needed and learning to create models the right way takes a lot of time.
Not to discourage you or anything, this is something to think about before deep-diving into a giant project like this. I'm currently struggling with a 23-mile prototype route that was wiped out by development and a couple of dams and believe me this is not an easy route to work on.
trainlunitic
New member
I plan on building where the old CNW Lake Front Depot used to be. I'm not nearly skilled enough to 3d model so I'm just using DLS content and any 3rd party stuff that matches. I know my skill level, so I won't get super beat up if it's not a perfect 1:1 recreation. Thanks for the tips.To do this the right way, you need to use prototypical terrain and the best tool for that is TransDEM. This is a third-party program that will import USGS DEM data and topographic maps or orthographic images and put them in situ so that the final data can be exported as a base Trainz route. This route is then ready for laying tracks and placing objects. Keep in mind that there's a bit of a learning curve and there are many, many more options than you'll need.
TransDEM - TrainzOnline
Now comes the tough part...
How much of the MILW do you want and what area?
Building a Trainz route of this magnitude is a huge, huge project not only in route size but also in scope. Routes like this take a long, long time to build. Given that a route such as this is a huge project, we highly recommend starting small, perhaps a few baseboards and build-up from there. Since TransDEM is based on UTM coordinates, you can cut the route anyway, as long as you don't alter the edges and splice in another section into the route at any time. This will allow you to cut, the majority out, work up that to perfection and then add more in and continue using the route merging capabilities built into Trainz.
Other issues include asset availability. Do you create custom assets or do you use DLS and third-party available only? Creating custom assets is another skillset needed and learning to create models the right way takes a lot of time.
Not to discourage you or anything, this is something to think about before deep-diving into a giant project like this. I'm currently struggling with a 23-mile prototype route that was wiped out by development and a couple of dams and believe me this is not an easy route to work on.
I started building the 1950’s CNW and the old North Shore route starting in Kenosha and the northern suburbs of Chicago. I wanted to eventually get to the huge Milwaukee yard in the valley west of downtown Milwaukee but I am still 25 miles south currently working on the city and auto plants in Kenosha. If you build it maybe we could connect them. I am using transdem. I grew up there and my brother worked for the Milwaukee road at the yard and on the rails. It’s fun but a lot of work. ETA for completion is years away if at all. But it is fun. I am currently playing and fixing Hinton to up my skills. Hinton is a great route by the way. Similar 1940’s 1950’s era.