Building help

[drelyea]

Hi,

Ron Picardi has done models of parts of the complex on the far side of the tracks. There's a model that shipped with MSTS that is similar to the near complex, but has 2 wooden towers instead, unless that's actually two separate operations.
Biggest thing I see if I were trying to model that, the complexes at West Ogden, will be the textures. The mesh looks like it would be fairly straight forward. just complex and needing time.
Textures.com has a free membership, and I use the small, free textures. I've had a free membership for over 5 years and have not had any problems. Their images are not public domain, but are royalty free.
There's also Sketchup Texture Club, but I haven't tried them yet.
I use a photo editor to adjust shading and tinting. Paint.net can be used to add layers such as grime, soot, grafitti, etc.

Yes, an entire block is likely out of the question. The original SU plugin has a limit of 9900 polys on export. I don't know if Dave Nelson's plugin can handle more.

Sanborn Maps less than 70 years old are likely to come with a price tag.

Doug Relyea

[eolesen]

Silos and elevators aren't difficult at all and probably are a good learning experience. It's a couple of 12-18 sided cylinders for the main silos, and some 4-sided tubes for the auger runs.

The auger runs are some of the easiest things to do in Sketchup --- you run a "wire" from start to finish, draw the end of your 4-sided tube, and then use the "follow-me" function to extrude the tube. Curved-at-the-top chutes can be done that way.

Things like support wires probably won't be visible, so I don't worry about those.

[Don6218]

Here is a reasonable, I think, representation of that pic you (cnwfan) posted. It is put together with the fine work done by others on here and made ready. Of course you would have to find something close to what you need. Exact reproductions are not needed as long as the scene gives you the "Feeling" of the original scene. I think this represents the photo.
Of course a lot of work & time goes into these fine structures, but they are available.
SRV Elevator scene.jpg

[cnwfan]

Im wanting exact renderings, since Ive started with several buildings with another member who has not returned any of my emails or forum inbox, He did wonders of the exact match of depots, some elevators. These are just a example
Boone Elevator2 Annex End View.jpgBoone Elevator3 elevator end view.jpg

[Don6218]

Those are really nice. But where problem exists so does a solution, however temporary.

[cnwfan]

Those are really nice. But where problem exists so does a solution, however temporary.

Temporary yes, Im hoping that he will see these posts and get back to me, or until I get started with this on my own I can get some stuff done until he steps back in.

[NW 2156]

TSM is free and very easy to learn for making static scenery. It's well worth learning how to make objects if your building a high precision route project. Our numbers are dwindling and those that are still active are busy already.

Robert

[cnwfan]

I’ve been working on this route for a few years off and on .I want to release it as we’re desperately in need of some new freeware content, I’ve talked to a bunch of people behind the scenes asking for help as I don’t know how to make buildings and got nowhere, please if anyone would be willing to assist me with making buildings or teaching how to I’d be grateful, would definitely share the route when it was done, I believed in the concept of community involvement and just feel really frustrated by the lack of assistance as of late when reaching out for help.

[drelyea]

First, decide which will easier for you to learn, a keyboard driven modeling program (TSM, Gmax game pack, older Blender) or mouse driven (Sketchup, newer Blender). We can't help without knowing which one.

If mouse driven, then the choice becomes will you ever want to animate. (Make rolling stock and/or animated 'static' scenery) The newer Blender will allow animations. The plug-in for Sketchup does not.

Stuff I've finished since August:
HarrimanNY_ERIE3.jpgRingwoodJctAds2.jpgNYGLPomptonPlains.jpg

As well as all the other NY&GL stations except Ringwood, NJ. It was inside the Ringwood Company's company store, storefronts being yet another Kettle of fish.

Doug Relyea

[ckawahara]

I have used both TSM and Sketchup (free version). I prefer Sketchup for static shapes as it allows a more freestyle method of shape development. What if's are easy to do with just a push or pull. Lots of extensions too for creating radius edges, tangent arcs, piping, etc. Most extensions are free. The MSTS Exporter also allows for model checking.