Tracks or Land First?
- Thread starter MattMan569
- Start date
Hello MattMan569
Welcome to the time pit we call Trainz.
If you're doing a mountain or grade I find it better to lay the track first then use the tool (sorry, not home at the moment) to bring the ground level up to the track.
This is how I built a lot of my mountain scenes.
I thought about doing some video tutorials just for fun on building stuff.
Nice layout JRT. Looks great.
BTW, if you'd like to see some of my old layouts, you can go here. never know, it might help.
http://www.worldoftrainz.com/garyp/layout2/layout2a.htm
Welcome to the time pit we call Trainz.
If you're doing a mountain or grade I find it better to lay the track first then use the tool (sorry, not home at the moment) to bring the ground level up to the track.
This is how I built a lot of my mountain scenes.
I thought about doing some video tutorials just for fun on building stuff.
Nice layout JRT. Looks great.
BTW, if you'd like to see some of my old layouts, you can go here. never know, it might help.
http://www.worldoftrainz.com/garyp/layout2/layout2a.htm
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I think I will start with an inspired but not representation. I plan on doing a small passenger railway in a valley with a river based on where I live. Are there any popular tips that will help me build my first large route? Again, all help is appreciated.
Don't lay all the track at once then get overwhelmed by all that blank terrain to fill. Maybe work in 5 - 10 mile sections, psychologically the fact you are finishing entire sections at a time means (possibly) you are less likely to get fed up with the project and ditch it. All too easy to see 4 or 5 miles textured and 3D objects in place, only 65 to go - yeesh can't be bothered and off to the recycle bin it goes.
FlyingScottmond
Rural Haul layout-1%
Hello, I am a brand new Trainz user and started out with 2010. I want to build a ski/mountain/snow themed route. But I am completely lost on what to do first, make/shape the land first, or lay the rail first. And how to do so effectively. I am 13 years old so don't get too complicated please, but don't think I'm stupid either, I have straight A's. Any help is much appreciated! Thanks in advance.
It's nice to see a trainzer my age for once. I to am rather intelligent but don't get the sweet A's because I don't pull my weight. In my opinion, I would lay track and sculpt landscape simultaneously and do every thing else, basebaord by baseboard. This allows me to see a complete effect in a single area.
For example, if I was making a coal yard 3x1 baseboards(800metres by 2400metres) I would dash down rusty track, a coal mine and add fence perimeters. Then I would use my divine sculpting tools to add all the hills and ditches I want. If I want to add a couple of sheds, just change the track within the perimeter marked (unless space is left at the start) then I after that I add terrain with the final step being flora such as small bushes/shrubs(VERY important scenery too be used everywhere no matter what, small bushes break up the flatness of the textures you put) and dead trees.
If I wanted a canyon rail:
Set the 'use height' tool to say, 100.00
I would use the advanced settings to set to mountain 1.
Lay it all out then use the ditch tool to level out the cliffs onto an open field.
Then I set the use height tool to 0.00 and drag it along where the rail will go.
Place the track in this little crevice I have made.
Textures.
*BUSHES*
Hope that isn't too hard to understand without pictures.
EDIT: What I say is supported by JRT on the very end of Page 1. Also, I swear the the top of the last picture of JRT's post was real until I scrolled down to reveal the spline points.
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If it feels boring then lower the ground into a valley and add a bridge.
Bridges are fun.
Vern is right though. I have a 6 baseboard layout that is finished and needs texturing. Been texturing it for a while, then lost interest in Trainz.
I wish I was 13 again. We had real HO trains back then. And I never saw a computer until after High school. You guys have it made.
Bridges are fun.
Vern is right though. I have a 6 baseboard layout that is finished and needs texturing. Been texturing it for a while, then lost interest in Trainz.
I wish I was 13 again. We had real HO trains back then. And I never saw a computer until after High school. You guys have it made.
MattMan569
New member
Thanks for all the tips and suggestions. I was using image shack and it must not have worked,
I will try photobucket later. I have actualy trashed my first route. (This was the first time I made a route so it was bound to happen) But it looked good in my opinion. I added speed trees but they created to much lag for my laptop. I will stick to regular trees I guess. But what type of route is 'noob' friendly? (e.g. logging, passenger etc.) Thanks for all your interest in getting me started in Trainz.
I will try photobucket later. I have actualy trashed my first route. (This was the first time I made a route so it was bound to happen) But it looked good in my opinion. I added speed trees but they created to much lag for my laptop. I will stick to regular trees I guess. But what type of route is 'noob' friendly? (e.g. logging, passenger etc.) Thanks for all your interest in getting me started in Trainz.MattMan569: Another suggestion if you don't mind..I have found that individual trees vs spline trees, work better than the splines..I think you save frame rate using individual things..I say this because, you can put in a bank of spline trees and then put in a bank of individual trees, and when engine goes by you can tell the difference in the frame rate..Splines have a tendency to slow it down..
Matt,
For your first route, start small and build up from there. 6 years later and my first route is now over 180 miles long, end-to-end. LOL!
I use a combination of terrain first, then tracks, and then in some areas tracks first, then terrain. It depends upon the circumstances. In some areas, I've just laid out the track, such as in terminals, for example then went back and did the rest. In other cases, such as the rolling countryside, I'll work on the landscape first, then add the track in later. This in some ways is more fun because you have to plan the route around the least amount of grades.
If you import blank baseboard routes, such as DEM maps by Fishlipsatwork, you'll have essentially a blank terrain with hills already done. All you do then is to add your track and scenery. There's a lot of trimming that has to be done though in order to make them useable because they cover a lot of area.
I've used a few of these when building my route. They give a whole new element to the program. The thing is don't get overwhelmed by the amount of landmass in the route. Use what you need and trim (see above).
With the DEM landscape, you can follow the TIGER lines and lay your track on them, using the guides for a realistic track, and you can put in your own branchlines as well by surveying the ground for the best route. I did this with an area of my route. The Sandy Point branch of my route is an add-on to a DEM of the Bangor to Bucksport, Maine route that I imported into mine.
Here are some hints that I hope you find helpfule:
When making hills and valleys, get your eye level down to the track level and look around so you can picture what you're doing, and how realistic the scene looks. CTRL+Y in Surveyor I think will do this. Hit ESC to exit.
What I find helpful is looking at maps and what things are like in the real world, and then trying to imitate what I see. In some cases though, it's difficult to copy exactly what I see, but I can get the basic feeling.
Also, I forgot to mention, stick with a theme - a plan so to speak. Is this a regional railroad? A shortline, perhaps that connects to a major carrier. Try to use rolling stock that matches that specific theme. This may mean older locomotives and freight cars. You don't necessarily have to resking them for your own roadname if you don't want to. Many shortlines use turned in equipment that they just run with the old names still showing. Others just paint over the name, but keep the rest of the paint job the same.
The landscape too should be realistic. In other words no airport right next to the city downtown, etc. Again look and see what's done in the real life.
Vary your textures, and watch for repeated patterns. Use the [] keys to swirl the textures around and mix them up as you lay them down.
When you lay track, ensure that it is actually on the ground and not floating. This may mean getting the terrain height then putting that number in the spline height of the track. You may also have to fiddle about with the ground a little here and there.
These are some things to think about. Check out the Tips and Tricks sticky in the forum here for more information.
John
For your first route, start small and build up from there. 6 years later and my first route is now over 180 miles long, end-to-end. LOL!
I use a combination of terrain first, then tracks, and then in some areas tracks first, then terrain. It depends upon the circumstances. In some areas, I've just laid out the track, such as in terminals, for example then went back and did the rest. In other cases, such as the rolling countryside, I'll work on the landscape first, then add the track in later. This in some ways is more fun because you have to plan the route around the least amount of grades.
If you import blank baseboard routes, such as DEM maps by Fishlipsatwork, you'll have essentially a blank terrain with hills already done. All you do then is to add your track and scenery. There's a lot of trimming that has to be done though in order to make them useable because they cover a lot of area.
I've used a few of these when building my route. They give a whole new element to the program. The thing is don't get overwhelmed by the amount of landmass in the route. Use what you need and trim (see above).
With the DEM landscape, you can follow the TIGER lines and lay your track on them, using the guides for a realistic track, and you can put in your own branchlines as well by surveying the ground for the best route. I did this with an area of my route. The Sandy Point branch of my route is an add-on to a DEM of the Bangor to Bucksport, Maine route that I imported into mine.
Here are some hints that I hope you find helpfule:
When making hills and valleys, get your eye level down to the track level and look around so you can picture what you're doing, and how realistic the scene looks. CTRL+Y in Surveyor I think will do this. Hit ESC to exit.
What I find helpful is looking at maps and what things are like in the real world, and then trying to imitate what I see. In some cases though, it's difficult to copy exactly what I see, but I can get the basic feeling.
Also, I forgot to mention, stick with a theme - a plan so to speak. Is this a regional railroad? A shortline, perhaps that connects to a major carrier. Try to use rolling stock that matches that specific theme. This may mean older locomotives and freight cars. You don't necessarily have to resking them for your own roadname if you don't want to. Many shortlines use turned in equipment that they just run with the old names still showing. Others just paint over the name, but keep the rest of the paint job the same.
The landscape too should be realistic. In other words no airport right next to the city downtown, etc. Again look and see what's done in the real life.
Vary your textures, and watch for repeated patterns. Use the [] keys to swirl the textures around and mix them up as you lay them down.
When you lay track, ensure that it is actually on the ground and not floating. This may mean getting the terrain height then putting that number in the spline height of the track. You may also have to fiddle about with the ground a little here and there.
These are some things to think about. Check out the Tips and Tricks sticky in the forum here for more information.
John
MattMan569
New member
Sorry
Sorry I was inactive. I was building, re-doing etc. I have started a new route and will get pictures out when I am near done.
Sorry I was inactive. I was building, re-doing etc. I have started a new route and will get pictures out when I am near done.
Good luck with your route!
I'm around 13 now, and have been playing trainz since i was somewhere around 8, but it's not until now i re-found Trainz, bought the 2009 version, and i'm now working on a new map...
It's a rural landscape, but i plan it to run into a metropolis a bit forward, and the trainline i do now is somewhat like the Paris RER.
I'm around 13 now, and have been playing trainz since i was somewhere around 8, but it's not until now i re-found Trainz, bought the 2009 version, and i'm now working on a new map...
It's a rural landscape, but i plan it to run into a metropolis a bit forward, and the trainline i do now is somewhat like the Paris RER.
It was happy for me too. Darn I wish I was even 20 again.
It was happy for me too. Darn I wish I was even 20 again.
:hehe: Time flies when you're having fun!!
MattMan569
New member
Almost Done
Isn't that true...I can think it's been a mere half hour, in reality it was 2 hours!
Anyway, I just have to complete the basic textures and I will release pictures. It is a very small 3x3 route. I have a mainline, 5-8 forestry, 1 lumber mill, and a pulp mill. Not very good looking but I think it is a good second or third attempt. I will try to get pictures out this week.
Isn't that true...I can think it's been a mere half hour, in reality it was 2 hours!
Anyway, I just have to complete the basic textures and I will release pictures. It is a very small 3x3 route. I have a mainline, 5-8 forestry, 1 lumber mill, and a pulp mill. Not very good looking but I think it is a good second or third attempt. I will try to get pictures out this week.
I'm just coming back after a few years. I can't believe how much content there is out there now. Wow, we had like 4 or so hi-rise buildings to choose from and now there's tons of them.
The hardest part is finding them. Some are written in different languages.
And we had 1 switch leaver. Now there's dozens of them.
The hardest part is finding them. Some are written in different languages.
And we had 1 switch leaver. Now there's dozens of them.
MattMan569
New member
Sorry, again.
So sorry that I have not gotten my route pics out. I have injured my neck and it may be a while. I will do my best. Thanks so much for all your support and patience.
So sorry that I have not gotten my route pics out. I have injured my neck and it may be a while. I will do my best. Thanks so much for all your support and patience.
Dont worry take your time.