Looking for a low-poly track

[shaneturner12]

Apologies if this is in the wrong forum. Unfortunately, I cannot access most of the Maintenance of Way section.

The question is this: What (in your opinion) would be the lowest poly single track available? I've tried several tracks, but in fairly built-up areas, the worst index count is at least 500,000 (and that's for the worst index count, the total vertices and indices are even higher).

Shane

EDIT: Version is TS2009 SP4.

 

[JCitron]

Shane,

There are a few out there you might be interested in.

There is MPWood series? They broke originally when TS2009 came out but the tracks were subsequently fixed shortly afterwards. The track looks pretty good and is good in both yards and main line areas.

Another alternative is the HR and HP series from Hungarian Trainz. This track comes with various textures and are all chunky mesh. I've used their rusty tracks for yards and sidings because the tracks have a nice coal/ash ballast. The problem with these tracks is the ballast is too shallow underneath and they tend to float because of the big alpha channel associated with the texture.

And finally there is also FMA tracks. These look and work pretty well. My only complaint is the track base is not thick enough and tends to float. Again, there are various series of grass, rusty, and clean.

Hope this helps. I know there are more, but I can't think of them at moment.

John

 

[shaneturner12]

I will have a look at the suggestions. The MPWood series seems to have a high index count when there is more than one in the area, same with the HP tracks.

I haven't tried the HR and FMA varieties yet though.

Shane

 

[shaneturner12]

Thankyou for the suggestions so far - the FMA track seems to be OK at the moment. I was previously using MP Track Wood v2.

Shane

 

[Scottish]

Shane, there is a good selection of low poly concrete and wood track here;

http://www.greenery.name/mstsgcz/mstsgd.htm?trainz,1

There are 18 or more in the pack and this is the same site for Trunda's trees.

They include normal, seldom used and rusty versions and you should also download the matching track ballast textures.

These are low poly chunky mesh tracks which work very well in 2009 and 2010, without needing modification. I use them in most of my maps.

I have also found them very easy to re-skin and I have made a number of my own versions using textures etc taken from higher poly tracks to give me low poly similar looking equivalents. Because they are chunky mesh they do not use LOD, because I hate the 'popping into view' of many new high poly track.

Scottish

 

[shaneturner12]

Hi Scottish,

Thankyou for your suggestion. Once I've sorted out some faulty assets in my installation, I will have a look.

Hi-poly track is also affecting my framerates as well as the 'popping' issue, hence why I'm looking for a low poly track.

Shane

 

[Scottish]

Shane, that is why I use these tracks. They are named G-Track and they give me the best framerates on any of the tracks I have used (even better that the well known MP track). A major plus factor to me is that a bit of simple re-skinning with Paint.net using textures pinched from other tracks (low or high poly) gives endless scope to make it look as you want. I often make a different skin to suit the map I am making at the time.

Scottish

 

[shaneturner12]

Sounds good to me. Once I've sorted out the faulty asset problem I've got, I will check them out (as I've got them locally installed).

Shane

 

[Scottish]

Shane, one last point from me. After collecting textures for ballast and sleepers (sometimes the rail itself, although not necessary) from any other trainz asset (eg other track, ballast textures, ground textures) or even photographs or downloaded image, it takes me about 15 minutes to re-skin to make my own track.

Scottish