Modifying a track spline

S

steamboateng

New member
I really like George Fisher's 132lb US Wood MBTA track (KUID2:106916:10234:3 and KUID2:106916;10342:1) and I use it exclusively on my route. However, both versions come in only one flavor; spline. Is it possible to convert this track to discreet lengths, i.e. 25 feet, 50 feet, 100 feet, etc.? It would save a lot of time wiggle wagglin' track aroud to get straight junctions.
 
Methinks your track-laying technique is not quite right, the 'Straighten Track' tool needs to be used immediately before the lever vertex on every junction. Pretty sure the total time I've spent 'wiggle wagglin' track to get straight junctions is zero.....
 
I use the 'straighten track' tool. Still a bit of wigglin' to get get it straight on. A 25 or 50 foot section of straight track will avoid the annoyance and save time.
 
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Dermmy said:
Methinks your track-laying technique is not quite right, the 'Straighten Track' tool needs to be used immediately before the lever vertex on every junction. Pretty sure the total time I've spent 'wiggle wagglin' track to get straight junctions is zero.....
Click to expand...

I suspect you are creating junctions adding one track length after another, you will never get it straight that way! Lay and straighten a long length of track first, then insert the vertexes required for the junctions - guaranteed straight first time every time...
 
All that wigglin' n' wagglin' usually occurs in close yard ladder layouts like this:
http://i1251.photobucket.com/albums/hh557/steamboateng/steamboateng_20130127_0000_zpsdb1e0d82.jpg

I suppose I could be doin' sumthin' wrong. But I haven't figured out what, yet.
Building junctions off a unbendy section of straight track would be soo much easier.

Cascaderailroad, I like the track you show in the first two pix above. If they're on the DLS please provide KUID #'s; I'd like to try some out on my route.
 
steamboateng said:
All that wigglin' n' wagglin' usually occurs in close yard ladder layouts like this:
http://i1251.photobucket.com/albums/hh557/steamboateng/steamboateng_20130127_0000_zpsdb1e0d82.jpg

I suppose I could be doin' sumthin' wrong. But I haven't figured out what, yet.
Building junctions off a unbendy section of straight track would be soo much easier.

Cascaderailroad, I like the track you show in the first two pix above. If they're on the DLS please provide KUID #'s; I'd like to try some out on my route.
Click to expand...
The one is on USLW (which is available), and the other one is either TheGreenery, or RomanianTrainzStudio (Both sites appear to no longer in existance, or downloads are unavailable).

You can see that bout tracks have a 10m repaet rate, and leave unacceptable straight kinks in turnouts. I hate turnout Kinks !

I use a No Ballast track as a straight edge, as even my track turnouts are a bit weeble-wobbly, no matter how hard I lay, and straighten track sections, it always is a tad off. I lay the straight edge track @ 0.10m higher than the yard ladder turnout, and by looking straight down, I can slide and tug turnout spline points in to exactly straight positions with the straight edge track. (Note where the arrow is, near the red patch ... that track in front of Slabay's blue VRSX101 loco needs to be tugged closer to the rear spline point, so that it overlaps it like a figure "8").
http://i525.photobucket.com/albums/cc339/cascaderailroad/Screen_001-43.jpg
Knowing what tracks to straighten, and which ones to leave unstraitened is the key.
http://i525.photobucket.com/albums/cc339/cascaderailroad/Screen_007-18_zps3c869161.jpg
http://i525.photobucket.com/albums/cc339/cascaderailroad/Screen_003-15.jpg
http://i525.photobucket.com/albums/cc339/cascaderailroad/Screen_001-22.jpg
http://i525.photobucket.com/albums/cc339/cascaderailroad/SignsInTheGauge.jpg
http://i525.photobucket.com/albums/cc339/cascaderailroad/Screen_003-13.jpg
http://i525.photobucket.com/albums/cc339/cascaderailroad/Screen_001-19.jpg
http://i525.photobucket.com/albums/cc339/cascaderailroad/AltoInterlocking1.jpg
http://i525.photobucket.com/albums/cc339/cascaderailroad/AltoInterlocking.jpg
http://i525.photobucket.com/albums/cc339/cascaderailroad/SplinePoints2.jpg
http://i525.photobucket.com/albums/cc339/cascaderailroad/SplinePoints1.jpg
In this you will see the great old standby MP Wood v2, & MP Rusty tracks (the curve fantasticly, and for a chunky mesh track they are pretty detailed, and are very low poly.
http://i525.photobucket.com/albums/cc339/cascaderailroad/Screen_003-8.jpg
http://i525.photobucket.com/albums/cc339/cascaderailroad/SlopeTower2.jpg
I will tutor anyone on trackwork, and if you have a TRS2006 route, I will edit, straighten, and return your route with straitened turnouts (for Free).
 
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Laid down about 3 miles of track today. Seem to have a bit better luck at it. I guess I'll have to practice the techniques you guys have have kindly suggested. However, it seems to, me that short sections of straight track will solve the issue.
So, ......................who knows how to change a spline to straight track?
 
steamboateng said:
All that wigglin' n' wagglin' usually occurs in close yard ladder layouts like this:
http://i1251.photobucket.com/albums/hh557/steamboateng/steamboateng_20130127_0000_zpsdb1e0d82.jpg

I suppose I could be doin' sumthin' wrong. But I haven't figured out what, yet.
Building junctions off a unbendy section of straight track would be soo much easier.
Click to expand...

You don't have enough vertexes in each junction assembly. You need to create the straight road of the ladder with an additional vertex between each lever, then straighten the segment before each diverging vertex. Confused?

To get this:

mcc_028.jpg


...you need to do this...

straight.jpg


Andy :)
 
steamboateng said:
Laid down about 3 miles of track today. Seem to have a bit better luck at it. I guess I'll have to practice the techniques you guys have have kindly suggested. However, it seems to, me that short sections of straight track will solve the issue.
So, ......................who knows how to change a spline to straight track?
Click to expand...

I'm not sure, but I think you would have to alter the .im file, which means it can't be done legitimately by anyone other than the original creator.
Mick Berg.
 
Hi Mike,

I suppose you could clone the fixed track asset and use the texture from a spline.

Just thinking out load on this...

John
 
JCitron said:
...I suppose you could clone the fixed track asset and use the texture from a spline...
Click to expand...

That was the first thought I had John, but I know that spline track pretty well and it has a lot of 3d work in the mesh, it's not just 'all texture'. I doubt if there is a fixed track which would give the right effect.

The problem the OP is having is simply technique - he will get better results in the long run with spline track and the track he is using is really good, at least on a simple route. It will get pretty slow pretty quick in a big yard though! I was using the track on my I&O route and it does produce very good results. I don't have a picture of a yard ladder (there are no ladders on the original I&O LOL) but this is the best junction screenshot I can find...

screen_065.jpg


That goes all the way back to TRS04, Dave Drake trees and a 600 x 800 monitor! Those were the days.....

Andy :)
 
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Andy,

That looks great! I remember those days as well, but I wasn't as good as you are then and not even close now. TRS2004 was one sweet program and I sure miss how it worked. So simply and without too much of a fuss like everything is now.

I realized it too that it's all technique after reading the posts, but I thought that would help with the texturing of a fixed asset. I've been taking notes myself so I can go in and send out a track MOW crew to do some work. I have a few yards I need to fix along with quite a few other stretches of track that need some straightening. :)

I have used that track before and found the same issue you did. After quite a lot of use, the program lags as it loads up the scenery. Samplaire track is nice for yards, but the fishplates are incorrect because they're Polish. The TSM track is good too, nice textures and nice fishplates - very similar to the MBTA track shown above, but the ballast (or sand) is a bit too light.

The MBTA is our local transit authority, affectionately known as the "T" and they own the mainline track within the state. The ballast on the MBTA track is really this color, and this is not an affect of the texture coloring in Trainz. They use a rose-colored granite for ballast that comes from the Rose Quarry in Saugus, MA. They used to use trains to haul out, but Guilford Rail, now Pan Am Railways, embargoed the line quite a few years ago. The local freight company PanAm Railways runs the freight service and has some of the worst track in the area on the branch lines and yards. If it wasn't for Norfolk and Southern teaming up with them for the west end, freights would still be taking 12 hours or more to travel the 465 miles from North Maine Jct. There were so many slow orders on the Ayre to Mechanicville Yard that the trains were outlawing all over the place just like the old Rock Island did in the 1970s. So maybe we shouldn't worry too much about crooked sidings and yard tracks. The old crooked track is very appropriate for both Mike and me. We're both modeling the same area run by the same company. :D

John
 
Hi Guys,

For making yards, download CS Yard Template 1 from the DLS. It will give you the straight splines you need and lets you place spline points in the correct positions. I used it extensively in re-creating the Bailey Yards in Nebraska. There are also other templates for sidings, etc, that will help you achieve the desired results.


 
Hi, I usually don't use as many vertexes as most users. so long as your main yard track is straight and your sidings are straight you can let the linking tracks flow a bit.

bill69_20130128_0000_zpsb308dd21.jpg


Also I generally use the ruler to check that a row of spline points are all in line. The arrow head on the ruler works as a circle bisector, just place the two arrow head tails exactly on the spline circle.

bill69_20130128_0001_zps3c5aa134.jpg


Cheers,
Bill69
 
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Well, I've been playing with the trackwork for a day or two. All of you have been helpful, and I see I'm just gonna have to be more careful laying down track.
I can do this ok..........
http://i1251.photobucket.com/albums/hh557/steamboateng/steamboateng_20130129_0001_zps8dc3f4f3.jpg
Got another mile or so before lay another yard.

I figured that splines couldn't be changed to fixed track without getting into the mesh files. I don't see much of George Fisher on the Forums any more so I suppose getting in touch with him will be difficult. I still believe that 15', 25' and 50' fixed track sections will save time in laying out yards.
Regards to all and thanks for your insights.
 
That's looking great. :)

Here is some 132 lb rail you might be interested in. I got these from USLW.net Login required to download, but it's free. I put the author's username next to the asset number. The track looks like the great track that George created but it's not as system heavy. I swapped out the JR Dark Gray I was using for this because it has the little track joints on it. It also blends in nicely with the terrain so there's no floating splines (I hate them and get quite in a snit when I find them!). I only wish there was more really broken down dark and rusty looking track like we have, thanks to Guilford, I mean Pan Am.

132# Ballast Light Gray,<kuid:135229:100280> ----- dricketts
132# ballast (light grey w/ scrub),<kuid:135229:100250>
132# Jointed Rail Track,<kuid:156765:100053> ----- simulatortrain
132# Jointed Rail Track High Ballast,<kuid:156765:100079>
132# Jointed Rail Track High Ballast Squeal,<kuid:156765:100268> ----- simulatortrain
132# Jointed Rail Track Rail Only,<kuid:156765:100179>
132# Jointed Rail Track Rail Only Squeal,<kuid:156765:100180>
132# Jointed Rail Track Squeal,<kuid:156765:100181>
132# Jointed Rusty (Light Gray High Ballast),<kuid:135229:100286> ----- dricketts
132# Jointed Slightly Used (Light Gray Hgh Bllst) Squeal,<kuid2:135229:100287:2>
132# Jointed Slightly Used (Light Gray High Ballast),<kuid:135229:100018>

John
 
John, thaks a bunch. I've been looking for similar track, but lighter on the calories. I will investigate these.
I'm jealous you have a GTX 680 v card.
I don't!
I got a stinky 2 year old GTX 570................
I will remedy that.....
Later!
Regards
 
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