speters_0501
Member
How do people create or even start on a locomotive. Lets say I want to start on a GP9, what do I do to start?
Help would be appreciated...
Help would be appreciated...
Starting with Gmax
- Thread starter speters_0501
- Start date
PatrickTaylor89
New member
Creating a locomotive is a fairly complicated thing, so if you're just starting out with content creation, that might not be the ideal place to start.
I don't actually use GMAX, but when I start any model in 3D Canvas, I usually build it one part at a time. With locomotives, that means starting with the frame. I usually use a reference drawing to guide me, as well as some basic measurements. I'm sure there are more elaborate ways to go about it, but I'm not exactly a seasoned professional when it comes to content creation.
If you're looking for tutorials to get started, I'd highly suggest you check out some of Phil's great tutorials here:
www.worldoftrainz.com
Good luck!
Patrick
I don't actually use GMAX, but when I start any model in 3D Canvas, I usually build it one part at a time. With locomotives, that means starting with the frame. I usually use a reference drawing to guide me, as well as some basic measurements. I'm sure there are more elaborate ways to go about it, but I'm not exactly a seasoned professional when it comes to content creation.
If you're looking for tutorials to get started, I'd highly suggest you check out some of Phil's great tutorials here:
www.worldoftrainz.com
Good luck!
Patrick
conrail6373
Content Creator
NO, don' go to worldoftrainz, those tutorials are so hard to follow
Might as well...
Self-learning a computer-aided drafting design software is complicated...any effort is some effort...
Though some say gmax is to complicated & even a no-longer valid tool, it is an introduction to AutoDesk 3dsMax, that is used in serious commercial gaming content creation like TS2009.
The latest rave is Blender.
And then comes texture mapping...
Self-learning a computer-aided drafting design software is complicated...any effort is some effort...Though some say gmax is to complicated & even a no-longer valid tool, it is an introduction to AutoDesk 3dsMax, that is used in serious commercial gaming content creation like TS2009.
The latest rave is Blender.
And then comes texture mapping...
There are links to a number of tutorials (not all asset creation) on the Learning Centre page. Most people find the Brick Box tutorial the best to start with.
There's a lot of useful information in the Asset Creation section of the Trainz wikibook.
For a physical printed book on gmax, try gmax Bible, written by Kelly Murdock, but it's expensive.
Neither gmax nor Blender are simple to learn. Opinions vary regarding which is more difficult.
John
There's a lot of useful information in the Asset Creation section of the Trainz wikibook.
For a physical printed book on gmax, try gmax Bible, written by Kelly Murdock, but it's expensive.
Neither gmax nor Blender are simple to learn. Opinions vary regarding which is more difficult.
John
PatrickTaylor89
New member
Why don't you let him decide for himself?
You are free to suggest alternatives, but I see that you haven't. Phil has been kind enough to provide these tutorials to us, and I think he deserves a lot of respect for that. They certainly helped me, and I don't even use the program they were intended for.
Patrick
This is an illogical statement! If these tutorials are too hard for you to learn, others might have a different ability to grasp these fine tutorials created by Phil_C aka Phil Campell. I learned from his tutorials how to animate fans and bogies, how to create the pictures for my creations that show in Surveyor's list among others of his very detailed and explained tutorials about creating for Trainz.
Another way to learn is to d/load from the internet any other tutorials pertaining to GMax or 3DS Max as these two programs are siblings created by the same stable. I am sure there are quite a few other creators that have been enriched by Phil_C's tutorials.
Or go to EBay or Amazon books and buy second hand books of GMax or 3DS Max as they work somewhat similar. I did so for less than $50 to get some 5-6 books from these web sites, which are very valuable as reference guides.
Then there is the Help in GMax or 3DS Max, which does explain a lot, albeit in VERY dry terms but it saved my bacon a few times.
Last but not least by any means is this forum, where knowledgeable people helped me in the past with all my questions about creating when things did not go the way they should and I got stuck.
Finally, as pointed out above, please try to start with something simple if you want to proceed to learn with any 3D program, after all you learn how to use it as you go along and getting to know what you can do and what you can't. Further down the road start with more complicated items and sooner or later you will be creating anything you desire to create for Trainz
Thank you Phil, I owe you a lot :wave:
Cheers
VinnyBarb
Hi
First of all, I find Phil's tutorial invaluable, and a terrific help to starters and experienced users alike.
As others have stated, I wouldn't recommend starting out by constructing a loco, Try something simple, A building perhaps, until you get to grips with the program.
If you are completely new at creating, I would suggest giving Gmax a miss and start out with Blender. The reason is most programs, including the latest version of Trainz, now use this type of program.
While I got relatively good with Gmax (still no expert), to keep up I now have to learn how to use Blender, so its like starting another learning curve. Its worth keeping this in mind if your starting out.
Cheers
Pete.
First of all, I find Phil's tutorial invaluable, and a terrific help to starters and experienced users alike.
As others have stated, I wouldn't recommend starting out by constructing a loco, Try something simple, A building perhaps, until you get to grips with the program.
If you are completely new at creating, I would suggest giving Gmax a miss and start out with Blender. The reason is most programs, including the latest version of Trainz, now use this type of program.
While I got relatively good with Gmax (still no expert), to keep up I now have to learn how to use Blender, so its like starting another learning curve. Its worth keeping this in mind if your starting out.
Cheers
Pete.
Although it's satisfying to "Build Your Own", you should avoid re-inventing the wheel. Most popular locomotives are already available for nix at the DLS so it would be a great shame to waste the hours and losing your hair creating them again from scratch. The guys are right, you should start with something rediculously simple and work your way from there as your confidence grows.
Consider using Sketchup 7 to build simple houses and the like first. The free version of Sketchup doesn't convert to Trainz easily, but hopefully a conversion tool is not too far away. Sketchup has dozens of video tutorials, plus there's a host of tutorials on YouTube, as there is for gMax and 3ds max.
Sketchup site http://sketchup.google.com/
Videos http://sketchup.google.com/training/videos.html (Not the tutorials I mentioned)
I'd love to see a "Lego style" program for Trainz et al. Just simple building blocks in a multitude of shapes that you position and lock together to create a locomotive or house in seconds instead of hours. The program I invisage is so simple I'm surprised it hasn't been invented before. The best I can find is the one on the actual lego site, but it's all so "lego". With such a program, contributors could offer additional shapes to add to the collection. A bit like the structual steel components in Sketchup.
I have spoken to a few people about creating such a program which in my opinion would have a very wide appeal. No luck so far unfortunately.
Consider using Sketchup 7 to build simple houses and the like first. The free version of Sketchup doesn't convert to Trainz easily, but hopefully a conversion tool is not too far away. Sketchup has dozens of video tutorials, plus there's a host of tutorials on YouTube, as there is for gMax and 3ds max.
Sketchup site http://sketchup.google.com/
Videos http://sketchup.google.com/training/videos.html (Not the tutorials I mentioned)
I'd love to see a "Lego style" program for Trainz et al. Just simple building blocks in a multitude of shapes that you position and lock together to create a locomotive or house in seconds instead of hours. The program I invisage is so simple I'm surprised it hasn't been invented before. The best I can find is the one on the actual lego site, but it's all so "lego". With such a program, contributors could offer additional shapes to add to the collection. A bit like the structual steel components in Sketchup.
I have spoken to a few people about creating such a program which in my opinion would have a very wide appeal. No luck so far unfortunately.
Hi,
If you're looking for tutorials to get started, I'd highly suggest you check out some of Phil's great tutorials here:
www.worldoftrainz.com
This is where many of us started! Also, as a few suggested, start small, like creating boxes, buildings, etc ... and then move on to your loco. Patience will serve you and help you.
Take your time, one step each day, and the reward will be great at the end!!
Best of luck!
Ish:wave:
What a wonderful idea!
Have you discovered Roblox? It's an online virtual Lego-like building system where people can share their creations. Nowhere near up to Trainz standards but quite interesting in its own right.
For buildings I'd love to see a virtual version of Bayko, if anyone else remembers that product.
Sorry, drifting off topic and waffling, I know.
John
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I did write one for GMax, but there was so little interest in it I gave up on expanding it. People were also extremely unwilling to share submeshes that could have been integrated into it.
All is not lost though, as the Blender library system will do what you want. The submeshes are stored in a normal .blend file and can be merged into your working model. The submeshes can be positioned at the current 3D cursor position and the snapping tools make it really easy to position the parts correctly. You'll still need to learn how to use Blender though.
Paul
John259, it might be off topic, but very informative! I was born in '42 but I had never heard of Bayco until now. What an amazing product! My father did a great job keeping me away from that one. Bayco is very close to what I had in mind and here's a 270 page web site with 2000 pics that give you some idea of its ability. Some of the buildings are quite amazing. http://www.baykoman.com/
Roblox is very basic, but I noticed that some people are trying to sell their contributions.
Paulhobbs. I'm sorry I missed your gMax attempt. It sounds like a Blender submesh does much the same as Sketchup's components, but I understand that Blender has a very steep learning curve. There's a small design program for MSTS but I've forgotten the name. It took an interesting approach to loco building in particular, but it too was very limited. If I think of the name I'll publish it here.
My concept is based on an easy learning curve and plenty of power. I'd really love to see someone develop it. Maye I'll dust off the file and have another go at getting someone to work on it.
speters_0501, I'm compiling a list of all the gMaX tutorials I know about, but it's still a couple of weeks from being finished. Look for a post around Christmas time.
Roblox is very basic, but I noticed that some people are trying to sell their contributions.
Paulhobbs. I'm sorry I missed your gMax attempt. It sounds like a Blender submesh does much the same as Sketchup's components, but I understand that Blender has a very steep learning curve. There's a small design program for MSTS but I've forgotten the name. It took an interesting approach to loco building in particular, but it too was very limited. If I think of the name I'll publish it here.
My concept is based on an easy learning curve and plenty of power. I'd really love to see someone develop it. Maye I'll dust off the file and have another go at getting someone to work on it.
speters_0501, I'm compiling a list of all the gMaX tutorials I know about, but it's still a couple of weeks from being finished. Look for a post around Christmas time.
Found it:
Abacus Train Sim Modeler http://www.abacuspub.com/ts/catalog/s461.htm
And here's a good startig tutorial:
http://www.vmbollig.de/msts/tut_en/construction_1/construction_1.html
It's for MSTS but it will work with Trainz also.
Abacus Train Sim Modeler http://www.abacuspub.com/ts/catalog/s461.htm
And here's a good startig tutorial:
http://www.vmbollig.de/msts/tut_en/construction_1/construction_1.html
It's for MSTS but it will work with Trainz also.
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speters_0501
Member
Thanks for the replying guys. I have taken a look on those tutorials. Complicated at best, but it will take getting use to.
I have another question.
Where do creators find there measurements to work with? For locos and such?
I have another question.
Where do creators find there measurements to work with? For locos and such?
This is an interesting question and I'm also looking forward to seeing what the guys come up with. My "yet to be released" web site actually contains dozens of places you can go, but until I get it on line you can start here:
http://www.rr-fallenflags.org/nyc/nyc-eng.html
On this page you will find several links to hundreds of diesel locomotive diagrams that contain all vital dimensions. It says NYC, bt it covers other railroad locomotive types also. The fallen flags site is very difficult to navigate around so I've given you a direct link to one of the best pages.
The home page is: http://www.rr-fallenflags.org
This is another wonderful resourse but no measurements but they're pretty much to scale. (Usually HO)
http://paintshop.railfan.net/
Good luck. You will love my new site which should go live in a week.
http://www.rr-fallenflags.org/nyc/nyc-eng.html
On this page you will find several links to hundreds of diesel locomotive diagrams that contain all vital dimensions. It says NYC, bt it covers other railroad locomotive types also. The fallen flags site is very difficult to navigate around so I've given you a direct link to one of the best pages.
The home page is: http://www.rr-fallenflags.org
This is another wonderful resourse but no measurements but they're pretty much to scale. (Usually HO)
http://paintshop.railfan.net/
Good luck. You will love my new site which should go live in a week.
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Hi
Apart from Johnk's excellent links, its worth remembering (where there are no actual measurements available) that most items have a fixed size. Doors Etc. If you have a good photograph you can scale the rest of the model from these. Not as good as having an actual 'Blueprint' but its a method used by many.
Hope this helps a bit
Cheers
Pete
Here's another brilliant link. It has just about everything!
http://prr.railfan.net/freight/PRRdiagrams.html
All PRR stuff, but most items would be standard across the system.
http://prr.railfan.net/freight/PRRdiagrams.html
All PRR stuff, but most items would be standard across the system.