My Straighten Track Tool Is Not Working

For the life of me, I cant get the "Straighten Track Tool" to work for me. Ive tried everything as I laid a piece of straight track down and clicked on both vertex of that piece of track and then I did a curve and clicked on both vertex of that track. That is when I clicked on "Straighten Track Tool" and clicked on both tracks. Can someone tell me the proper procedure do use the "Straighten Track Tool" . It would be appreciated. Thanks in advance.

BTW, I am using the "Auran TRK 01 2 track" as I am more into double mainline routes than single mainline routes and I cant find any other track that will lay down 2 tracks at once except this one.

Eaglefan
 
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The straighten track tool does not work on multiple tracks, which is one reason most route builders use single track.
 
The straighten track tool does not work on multiple tracks, which is one reason most route builders use single track.

That explains why it wasnt working to begin with.

Now, The question is "Was I doing everything else right?" I click on the "Straighten Track Tool" after I lay both pieces down and click on all of their vertex. And can I just click on any part of the track? Thanks....
 
I was able to figure it out, But from the looks of this shot. It doesnt seem like the track is straight to me. It looks like it has a slight curve if you look closely at it

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I was able to figure it out, But from the looks of this shot. It doesnt seem like the track is straight to me. It looks like it has a slight curve if you look closely at it
There will usually be a slight curvature remaining depending on how tight the curves either side of the straight track are. BTW The way to get truly straight tracks and smooth curves is, put two short pieces of track either side of the curved track. Then straighten the two short pieces, and the curved part will have a smooth symetrical curve, and you can add straight track each end. Here's a rough diagram;

x's are spline points. Dots are track (not double or tunnels and bridges!)

x..straighten...x....................curve..........................x..straighten..x

Hope that is clear.

Mick Berg.
 
Where is the ruler button?

On a side note, While I dont want to start another thread about asking this question. Does anyone have any idea what the best western pine trees are for freeware routes? Im interested in having single pine trees instead of them as spines? Thanks in advance.
 
Eaglefan9727: The best one I have found is Kuid #33404:22828 Western Hemlock 20m..I think you made a wise choice too Plant Individual trees instead of using splines. because splines will use more energy then Individual trees..Helps on the frame rate..:wave:
 
Rulers are in the tools tab, click and drag to stretch a ruler, use the "move ruler" button to adjust.

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Set next to track with the ruler touching the two points you want to be the start and end of straight section.

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Insert more spline points as needed, drag spline points to align with ruler. Delete ruler button is the third one in the tools tab.
 
Search the DLS for kuid 37522:9998:1 by Beadyboy. He has a bunch of track laying templates that are excellent. This kuid is a 1000M straight template but a 1 mile one is available also. I use all his templates and they make track laying a snap.

Dave........
 
Blowed if I know why rulers and templates are necessary for straight track...

The slight kink in Post #5 is because one or both of the adjoining track segments are also 'straightened'. You can't 'straighten' two successive lengths of track, there must be an 'unstraightened' length between. Irrespective of the curves either end an isolated 'straightened' length of track is always straight.

To lay a long straight just drag out a single length of track. I have dragged out single lengths miles and miles long on Clovis. Straighten it. You can't leave it that way though, because long track lengths are performance killers.

Drop a new vertex in about 100 yards from either end - careful - one or other of the new vertexes will 'unstraighten' the long bit of track, if the first vertex you drop in unstraightens it, straighten it again before moving to the other end. Now 'straighten' the two short 100 meter lengths at the ends of the straight. ONLY the two short lengths are now 'straightened' but the long bit between will also still be straight (tho not 'straightened'). Now drop in as many vertexes as you want on the long bit - every two or three hundred yards is fine. It will stay straight - it has to...

Andy ;)
 
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Thanks guys for all the advice. Like I asked earlier, Does anyone know of what the best western pine trees are for freeware routes? Thanks.....
 
No matter what I do when it comes to laying track. I still get that slight kink in the rail. Im using the "Straighten Track Tool" on every other piece of track that I lay down and not every piece that I lay down. I just dont get it.
 
Post a screenie - zoom out far enough to see the problem, but stay close enough to see the vertexes...
 
Shot # 1 - I used the tool only on the curve section
Shot # 2 - I used the tool on the two straight sections

BTW, The mountain pass route that I have planned possibly in the future will not have many long straights.

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67098446.jpg
 
Re pine trees

I use Trees Hemlock, Trees Alaska Cedar, Trees Conifer, all built-in to TS2010. All are speedtrees and the ones I mentioned come in several different sizes. There are many more built in, but the advice I have heard is to limit the variety to avoid unfavorable performance hits, so my evergreen forest is limited to about 8 different ones.

My suggestion is to try many of them on a test route or a test baseboard, pick your favorites (half a dozen or a dozen), write them down for future reference.
You can always change your mind later using the asset/replace function.
 
Shot # 1 - I used the tool only on the curve section
Shot # 2 - I used the tool on the two straight sections

OK - Shot 1: Don't use the 'straighten' tool on curves, only on track you want ruler straight! Using it on curves just kinks up the geometry.

Shot 2: The 'straighten' has worked, it's the curve that is wrong. Drag the closest vertex of the far straight slightly to the left (or drag the farthest vertex to the right) and the curve will be perfect...

Andy ;)
 
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