Tunnels and portals

[davidspooner]

I'm just building my first route and have added a tunnel under a hill. My problem is that at each end there is what looks like a large concrete block section that i can't seem to cover over with the surrounding land. How do i get the tunnel so that all you see is just one of the stone portals available rather than this huge concrete block entrance???


I've tried all sorts but whatever i do i can't cover over this part of the tunnel etc....




Cheers

Dave.

 

[cascaderailroad]

There are snap to grid, big block-head tunnels, (which never should have been invented ie: "Snap To Grid").

You can use a tunnel bore that has no portals, and use short sections of Stone Ach Viaduct as tunnel portals.

You can also alter in the config file height -1, which disables the snap to grid, and also disables the dighole (requring you to dig your self and apply your own dighole 1x1).

There are many alternatives to snap to grid, big block-head tunnels (I absawootwee' hatzga' them) !

My favorite set of 4 tunnels is by Fred24 including: Tunnel3_1voie (but they need for you to apply fix's to them for them to show up).

Tunnel4_1 voie
Tunnel3_1 voie
Tunnel2_1 voie
Tunnel 1 voie

They have an unlocatable track that needs to be replaced in the config file.

I can help walk you through the fix's.

These are 4 great looking tunnels, that I wish someone would fix in the DLS cleanup ... so everyone can enjoy them error free.

 

[davidspooner]

Thanks for the reply but i'm afraid you've totally lost me..... I'm totally lost with this now.....

Originally i got the tunnel to be underground but with those stupid big concrete sections i couldn't cover up at each end.... After looking on the net i found topics using AJS Tunnels and digholes so had a go with that instead.

I tried to use the AJS tunnels and digholes in a new bare route just to see how they work but whatever i do the AJS tunnel just sits on top of the land.



I've tried laying the tunnel first then raising the land over it.... Results in tunnel just moving up with the land and staying on the surface.

I've tried raising the land and putting AJS digholes where i want the tunnel to go in and out at each end.... Results again in the tunnel just following the level of the land and remaining on the surface.

I've tried putting digholes on every square that the tunnel track is laid on and still it just follows the level of the land and remains on the surface.

When i place the digholes i can see through that section as though it isn't there but the track still just sits up in mid air as though the land was still there.


What am i doing wrong or what setting do i need to alter to just get the tunnel to go under the land and not over it!!!



Cheers

Dave.

 

[cascaderailroad]

Without altering the config file of the tunnel in CM, Snap To Grid Big Block-head tunnels are not hideable, and they will always be wavy, obtrusive, and cumbersome.

Always "Clone" an asset, and make config expriments on the clone asset.

Via PM ... I could give instuctions on how to alter a tunnel cloned assets config file

 

[jrfolco]

Thanks for the reply but i'm afraid you've totally lost me..... I'm totally lost with this now.....

Originally i got the tunnel to be underground but with those stupid big concrete sections i couldn't cover up at each end.... After looking on the net i found topics using AJS Tunnels and digholes so had a go with that instead.

I tried to use the AJS tunnels and digholes in a new bare route just to see how they work but whatever i do the AJS tunnel just sits on top of the land.



I've tried laying the tunnel first then raising the land over it.... Results in tunnel just moving up with the land and staying on the surface.

I've tried raising the land and putting AJS digholes where i want the tunnel to go in and out at each end.... Results again in the tunnel just following the level of the land and remaining on the surface.

I've tried putting digholes on every square that the tunnel track is laid on and still it just follows the level of the land and remains on the surface.

When i place the digholes i can see through that section as though it isn't there but the track still just sits up in mid air as though the land was still there.


What am i doing wrong or what setting do i need to alter to just get the tunnel to go under the land and not over it!!!



Cheers

Dave.

Dave

Run the track up to the dig holes at both ends of the mountain. Now, run the tunnel through the mountain, and set the elevation, at both ends of the mountain the same as the track.

This should lower the tunnel so that it passes through the mountain. If this doesn't work, go into 'wire frame mode', add a spline point in the middle, and set the elevation of this spline the same as the track elevation at each dig hole. You can now remove this spline point if necessary.

This works with AJS's tunnels with or without track.

Joe

 

[davidspooner]

Thanks again but I'm thinking that maybe i have a setting incorrectly set somewhere though.......

The AJS tutorial pdf file says it is easiest to lay tunnels by just laying track on the base board and then raising the land over the tracks..... Seems simple enough but whenever i raise the land the track raises with it. Now i'm assuming that, as the tutorial says the land should raise up above the track, that the track should just stay at a constant flat level which mine isn't. Example if i raise the land up to a near vertical point the track runs flat along the baseboard upto that point then goes straight up the near verticle incline.





Hope that makes some sense to you guys?




Cheers

Dave.

 

[davidspooner]

Dave

Run the track up to the dig holes at both ends of the mountain. Now, run the tunnel through the mountain, and set the elevation, at both ends of the mountain the same as the track.

This should lower the tunnel so that it passes through the mountain. If this doesn't work, go into 'wire frame mode', add a spline point in the middle, and set the elevation of this spline the same as the track elevation at each dig hole. You can now remove this spline point if necessary.

This works with AJS's tunnels with or without track.

Joe

As per my reply just now i can't get the track at any point to do anything other than follow the level of the land. Whatever the height or gradient the track just follows it all the time. If i put digholes in the track still raises up as though the digholes weren't there and floats in mid air.



Cheers

Dave.

 

[cascaderailroad]

Using the HOLDSHIFT key you can place an item without it clicking like a magnet.

And tugging up/down on the tunnel portal will make it go inside (through) the mountain.

There are many other techniques also.

 

[jrfolco]

Thanks again but I'm thinking that maybe i have a setting incorrectly set somewhere though.......

The AJS tutorial pdf file says it is easiest to lay tunnels by just laying track on the base board and then raising the land over the tracks..... Seems simple enough but whenever i raise the land the track raises with it. Now i'm assuming that, as the tutorial says the land should raise up above the track, that the track should just stay at a constant flat level which mine isn't. Example if i raise the land up to a near vertical point the track runs flat along the baseboard upto that point then goes straight up the near verticle incline.

Hope that makes some sense to you guys?

cheers

Dave.

Dave

You probably don't have the 'Fixed track Vertex Height' box checked.

Open your route. Click on 'Main Menu', and click on 'Options''. Go to 'Surveyor Settings', and tick the 'Fixed track Vertex Height' box.

Now, when you lay a section of track, the starting elevation will remain constant when you complete the track length at the other end, and the track will go right through the mountain.

Joe

 

[davidspooner]

I still don't understand what you mean..... I've attached three pictures of what i'm trying to explain and whether it is normal etc...

Picture 1 is a flat terrain with a section of track laid.

Picture 2 is after i raised the terrain. Notice the track hasn't stayed flat and been covered by the terrain it has stuck to the surface and is also at the same crazy gradient.

Picture 3 is with digholes placed notice the track is still following the level of the land even though it is not there anymore.

I hope this helps with what i'm trying to explain. As it stands at the minute the only way i can get a tunnel to work is with the version that has the big concrete end sections which i don't want. I just need to work out why the track isn't taking any notice of digholes etc.....




Cheers

Dave.

 

[davidspooner]

Dave

You probably don't have the 'Fixed track Vertex Height' box checked.

Open your route. Click on 'Main Menu', and click on 'Options''. Go to 'Surveyor Settings', and tick the 'Fixed track Vertex Height' box.

Now, when you lay a section of track, the starting elevation will remain constant when you complete the track length at the other end, and the track will go right through the mountain.

Joe

Thankyou!!!!!

I just saw your post after i posted my pics. I went back into Surveyer and that option was indeed unticked. I have ticked it and the track now goes through the mountain as i wanted.





Cheers

Dave.

 

[jrfolco]

Thankyou!!!!!

I just saw your post after i posted my pics. I went back into Surveyer and that option was indeed unticked. I have ticked it and the track now goes through the mountain as i wanted.

Cheers

Dave.

Now all you have to do is add dig holes and portals and you're in business.

Joe

 

[4ndylloyd]

Dave, Something else to do is use the height adjustment tool in the tracks tab and click on the rotating spline circles. They will turn from white to yellow and will now be fixed at the height that they were when you clicked them and flatten the track between them.

In your second screenie if you had clicked either of the spline points either side of the mountain then your track would have dropped back to the level of the spline points (which in your case is the flat baseboard level)

Andy

 

[davidspooner]

Dave, Something else to do is use the height adjustment tool in the tracks tab and click on the rotating spline circles. They will turn from white to yellow and will now be fixed at the height that they were when you clicked them and flatten the track between them.

In your second screenie if you had clicked either of the spline points either side of the mountain then your track would have dropped back to the level of the spline points (which in your case is the flat baseboard level)

Andy

Thanks for that tip too.




Cheers

Dave.