Subway Stairs Help needed !

[sfinlay]

Hi

How do I get subway stairs to look right on an island platform ? I've search the DLS but the only thing I could find was an "Island Platform Curved" by chrisas.
This has a staircase ready built into the platform but being curved, the platform its self isn't suitable for my needs. I did find a set of "plymouth subway stairs" but whenever I try to "sink" them into any platform they just disappear ??
Any help appreciated
Thanks

 

[clam1952]

When raising or lowering hold the shift or ctrl key down to get smaller increments, should be able to do it then. Ones smaller than the other, can never remember which.

 

[itareus]

...whenever I try to "sink" them into any platform they just disappear...

Did you know that by holding down the "Shift" or "Ctrl" keys when adjusting the height you can make very small adjustments, rather than the default 1m ?

Or am I misunderstanding your problem ?

Edit: Snap Malc !

 

[Lewiscc65]

I think he needs to use "dig a hole" above the platform before adding the stairs.

 

[sfinlay]

Thanks Guys

The problem isn't so much the degree of height adjustment. Imagine the platform is a body of water, then lowering an object into it. This is the effect i'm experiencing.
I'm pretty sure there is a technique to this, otherwise the asset wouldn't have been built ??
Lewiscc65 - I tried to "dig" out an area of the platform but this only deformed the platform.
Even a 2d object that could be laid over the platform to represent steps going down would be more prototypical than nothing at all but I can't find anything like that on the DLS. If anyone knows different please let me know.

 

[martinvk]

Dighole will not help in this case. It was designed to cut a hole in the terrain to enable tunneling, not to make holes in existing objects.

In this case the platform needs a hole cut in it so you can see the stairs going down. For that you would need to ask the creator of the platform to modify the mesh or make your own. Unless you're adept at creation, it might be easier to try the following work around.

One work around is to build your platform from several smaller pieces, Two continuous track side pieces and two shorter middle pieces that you don't join, thereby leaving a hole for the stair object.

++++++track++++++
================= platform
====[stairs]===== platform
================= platform
++++++track++++++

 

[ray_whiley]

There are some 'dummy' subway entrances available on the DS - ie. they use a simulation of steps down, gradually becoming darker and can be placed directly on the platform without any holes etc. They look quite reasonable. I believe the username begins 'LNER ...' but I haven't used them for some time.

Ray

Just checked - the one I have installed is 'LNER subway entrance' by kemplen, KUID:84609:28160. I first used this in TRS2004 so is probably build 2.something. If I remember correctly from my 2004 days, there are one or two others by the same author.

Failing that, 2010 has some entrances for French (I believe) platforms built-in, which consist of a short length of platform (scenic object) with stairs etc. and matching platform splines.

 

[itareus]

Martin's suggestion may well do the trick if you can find a suitable platform set.

Or as Ray has suggested use one of the "dummy" subway entrances, search for "subway" on the DLS.

JayHolland did a couple of SR/BR ones recently <KUID:381430:2291> and <KUID:381430:2292> which are actual "3D" subways with a short fixed platform as a scenery object and matching platform splines. Just search the DLS for author "JayHolland", lots of useful stuff.

 

[sfinlay]

Thanks again folks.
Will try out the useful suggestions.

You might not believe it but I had originally searched and searched on the download station but couldn't find any of the above. I really need to hone my search skills on the DLS ????

 

[itareus]

...searched on the download station but couldn't find any of the above...

Do you use Content Manager in TS12 to search for and download content? If not then you should give it a try as it has far better search options than the web DLS and I find it much easier to use.

 

[sfinlay]

I used DLS in this case but generally use CM. To be honest the results for me are much the same in either. Must be down to my choice of keywords ??

 

[JCitron]

The German developers have made various sets of long stairways. I can't remember what the German word is for stairs at the moment, but they are quite nicely made. They can be adjusted using the normal methods outlined above. I have found that using layers very helpful in situations like this so you can place your objects without disturbing the others.

To use the layers for this, I suggest creating a new layer that you can merge later on into the Route layer. When you don't want to move an object, change the layer that the object belongs to. You just need to remember to change the layers back for the next object you are placing. This is the downfall of the layers. Instead of defaulting back to the last layer, it will forever use the newly created layer for the newer objects you've placed.

At any rate, with the surrounding objects locked, you can manipulate all kinds of surrounding objects such as luggage, benches, and even stairways without moving everything else around the platform.

John