How do you create your own set of tracks?

[Kyrah Abattoir]

For a custom gauge for instance.

[Mr._Headshot]

For that you need to make a custom track rule.

For instance on the New York - New Haven route, the track rule has the following line about half way down:

<TrackGauge d:type="sFloat32" d:alt_encoding="0000000000F06140" d:precision="string">143.5</TrackGauge>

The value is represented in centimeters. So for the above rule, the gauge is 143.5cm wide (or 4ft and 8 1/2 inches)

[Kyrah Abattoir]

so you can only define the spacing?

[Mr._Headshot]

You can define a lot of stuff in a track rule. Track Gauge, spacing between parallel tracks, superelevation values, default speed limits...anything really.

[Kyrah Abattoir]

But can you model a completely new track profile?

[Mr._Headshot]

Yes, you can create a completely new track rule. But I highly suggest copying an existing track rule and modifying it to your needs. I suggest you edit it with a program called "RW Tools"

[Glenn]

I don't think the OP is really talking about the track rules - I suspect it is more about actually creating a brand new track model from scratch? If this is the case, it can certainly be done. I have made my own track - with 3D sleepers (ties) - using 3DS Max. If I am right and you are interested, take a look at some of the screenshots on my Steam profile page. Give me a shout if you need any further information.

[Kyrah Abattoir]

Originally posted by glennives60:

I don't think the OP is really talking about the track rules - I suspect it is more about actually creating a brand new track model from scratch? If this is the case, it can certainly be done. I have made my own track - with 3D sleepers (ties) - using 3DS Max. If I am right and you are interested, take a look at some of the screenshots on my Steam profile page. Give me a shout if you need any further information.

That's basically it, say i wanted to build a new kind of track with it's own junction design for a non standard train type (like the french aerotrain for instance, how should i proceed -> http://www.urban-exploration.com/forbidden-places/pictures/wasteland/aerotrain_bertin_chevilly_10.jpg

Is there an actual site where DTG/modders concentrated tutorials for creating completely new assets?

[Mr._Headshot]

You could try UKTrainSim.com or TrainSim.com

[Glenn]

DTG uses 3Ds Max - I am very lucky to have a copy of this also. There are many tutorials available for 3Ds. Sadly, it is far too expensive for many people. There is a free programme available. It is called Blender. It is quite good, I used it before moving to 3Ds. It is a little more tricky to set it up first time (it has to be matched with a certain version of python - again free) although there is plenty of information available on the Blender site. There are also a lot of tutorials available for it. Other progs used by some are Canvas & gimp etc. I have come accross many sites for tutorials, so I think your best friend is going to be Google (& youtube). Just be aware that if you have never done any 3D moddeling before, it can be quite a steep learning curve.

[Glenn]

By the way, I have not yet come accross any one site specific to TrainSim' modelling. In my own case it has been collecting different bits of information and help from various places and piecing it all together, with a lot of trial and error.

[Kyrah Abattoir]

Originally posted by glennives60:

DTG uses 3Ds Max - I am very lucky to have a copy of this also. There are many tutorials available for 3Ds. Sadly, it is far too expensive for many people. There is a free programme available. It is called Blender. It is quite good, I used it before moving to 3Ds. It is a little more tricky to set it up first time (it has to be matched with a certain version of python - again free) although there is plenty of information available on the Blender site. There are also a lot of tutorials available for it. Other progs used by some are Canvas & gimp etc. I have come accross many sites for tutorials, so I think your best friend is going to be Google (& youtube). Just be aware that if you have never done any 3D moddeling before, it can be quite a steep learning curve.

15 years of 3dsmax here, i'm mostly interested in what i have to "do" specifically :)

[Glenn]

Ok. My first question would be (hope that I am not insulting your intelligence here!) Have you read file 4.05 How to Create Track in the Developer docs folder? That was a good starting point for me. If you have not read it & if you do not have it, sadly it is no longer available (as far as I can make out anyway).

EDIT: Just found this> http://www.railsimulator.com/support.asp <lots of stuff to download at bottom of page.

Your post has got me thinking a bit, so over the next couple of days I might have a go at making something along the lines of the aerotrain just to see if it can be done (I suspect that junctions will prove rather difficult though!). If I come up with anything usefull I will be sure to let you know what happens.

[Kyrah Abattoir]

the aerotrain had a central rail so it's junctions really where just a pivoting piece.

And i did not realise we actually had docs in the manual folder for modding, silly me.

[Glenn]

ADDITION: I just went and tried some of the download links on that site I just provided but sadly they all appear to be dead links. Shame, there was some interesting looking stuff on there that I had not seen before.

[Glenn]

Those docs are not (were not) in the manuals folder - they were a seperate download from the railsim website