Jump to content
Sign in to follow this  
quack74

WIP painted train tracks

Recommended Posts

Trying to paint the tracks directly onto the tiles is tough. Especially the curved sections. These are just test shots. The curved sections aren't very smooth. But it seems to be working. It will save a lot in fame rates this way instead of laying  track objects ( which would also take forever!). they are great with Stephen1918's new Armored train that is set at ground level. But the other trains are set above ground to fit on the 3D tracks. Anyone one know who made the trains for the SF terrains? Wrench, I know you do!. Anyway here are a few pics from my Verdun terrain.

 

BTW, I'm working on a "Movement" for the train too. It would use the "TRUCK" movement for the long straight tracks. Ofcourse you would have to do something else with your trucks. We'll figure it all out.

 

post-33545-0-08704600-1387894484_thumb.jpgpost-33545-0-16408100-1387894485_thumb.jpgpost-33545-0-10075700-1387894486_thumb.jpgpost-33545-0-14183900-1387894487_thumb.jpgpost-33545-0-12207600-1387894488_thumb.jpgpost-33545-0-12821900-1387894489_thumb.jpgpost-33545-0-07257700-1387894490_thumb.jpgpost-33545-0-98414300-1387894490_thumb.jpgpost-33545-0-99637800-1387894491_thumb.jpgpost-33545-0-00017400-1387894493_thumb.jpg

 


The tracks seem a bit wide but it's the only way they wont over distort and blur around the curves. The trains tiles had to be 2048x2048 o paint the tracks.

  • Like 4

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

These look fantastic! Even with no trains on them, they add a new level of realism to FE. (Of course, trains would be better!) I'm looking forward to the new Verdun!

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

Since I have no idea how to place alpha and solid objects, I used some river .tga's . I converted them to .bmp's and filled in the water with farm textures. The paths are perfectly wide enough so that the tracks will not have any trees or buildings on them.  Road tiles are too wavy and narrow. But there wont be any telephone poles on along some of the track tiles. I think we can live with that.

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

don't remember exactly, but either Gepard or Kesselbrut made the train items (pretty sure it was Gepard, though)

 

loading into the TE and using just the stock alpha and solids is NOT that hard! Really!!!

 

A great trick using the river tiles as a base! I'd have never thought of that!! So, for example, city-farm-river becomes city-farm-rail! (in desert tiling parlance; in GCE/VNSEA GC-Rail) Very cool!!

I may have to steal that Idea ™ at some point!! :biggrin:

Edited by Wrench
  • Like 1

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

Can just one tile be open in TE at a time without opening the whole terrain? Can I just edit one new tile as long as it's stated in the TextureList? Is there a tutorial out there for just Alpha object and solid object placement? Without all the other terrain stuff. DEMS and stuff.

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

you still need the terrain's TFD and HFD, as the TE 'needs' the HFD to look at (as far as I understand it!), Why it needs the TFD, I can only assume to 'see' the terrain all assembled. 

The full texture list, all the tiles, etc. Then just open normally; selecting the ***.HFD, and go the edit 'texture map list', select the tile, open it, make sure the solid and alpha object boxes are 'active', with the items listed, then go to "Place Object".

I usually us 200% zoom, and just follow the 'dark green' areas for trees.

Don't forget, after saving, use max zoom, and check the lower left corner. The cursed thing ALWAYS places something down there, and you'll have to delete it, and re-save.

"Save texturelist", will generate the new TOD in that terrain's folder. But I ALWAYS use the 'SAVE', and then "SAVE ALL" buttons because I'm paranoid!! :biggrin:

Then, its a simple copy/paste of the new TOD into the terrain folder. (making sure the alpha and solid object statements are in that tile's listing in the terrain's _data ini.

Fly and check

 

(had to do this twice yesterday, rebuilding a couple city city/port tiles for Kiel)

 

DEMs only for new terrain creation.

 

I'll try and work up some screenshots over the weekend, if that'll help!

Edited by Wrench

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

I think I have all roads and tracks laid out. Just need to touch up all new tiles in Photoshop.

 

 

post-33545-0-22590000-1388507768_thumb.jpgpost-33545-0-27466700-1388507769_thumb.jpgpost-33545-0-40628800-1388507770_thumb.jpgpost-33545-0-50094900-1388507771_thumb.jpgpost-33545-0-84921100-1388507772_thumb.jpgpost-33545-0-99237900-1388507774_thumb.jpgpost-33545-0-04427000-1388507776_thumb.jpgpost-33545-0-85130500-1388507776_thumb.jpgpost-33545-0-77549700-1388507777_thumb.jpgpost-33545-0-71840400-1388507778_thumb.jpg

  • Like 2

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

Brilliant! Not worried about moving trains - but railways played such a major role in WW1 that their omission from FE's landscapes has always been the big gap there. In particular, stations and goods yards were always such a major bombing target. It would be a great step forward, visually and operationally, to have railways and station targets added to terrains and campaigns. Railway lines and bridges, stations and goods yards with rolling stock you can attack or defend...drool!

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

this is so great. the landscape is just comming along beautifully. Any chance that there will be truck and wagon "trafic" on the roads too?

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

la da di, la da da ...

  • Like 1

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

I know I Know! I'm on it. Rail Stations are coming up soon. I ran out of space apparently in the TFD tool. It only reads up to 768 targets from the terrains' Targets.ini. I'm well over that! I still need to finish placing trains and stations. I might need to start a new Targets.ini and start from 001. Then copy and paste into the original Targets.INI and renumber the new inputs. l can still place targets but I cant see them in the TFD tool. What a pain in the rump shaker! I guess everything has its limits.

  • Like 2

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

Hello,

 

Very beautiful Mister Quack!!!!

 

I've FE2 but not very developped with mods...

 

What is the terrain (trees, tiles, buildings) update mod used?

 

Best regards,

 

Coupi. 

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

Wrench, where is that big train depot building? Which terrain?

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

you'll get it Quack74

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

I see rail guns an flak trains an targets , oh my.

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

Yep.. Rails are something we had completely lack of... Most interesting to me.

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

like stary said ... he made it on my request for WW2, from one of his generic hangars. Did a hell of a job too!

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

Fantastic indeed! It never ceases to amaze me how people like Quack74, Stary the Wrench and the other creative individuals manage to fulfill the potential of TK's sims and then share all their hard work. I think I'll have to re-install FE just to shoot up some trains -- or maybe just go sightseeing!

 

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

Sadly no. Not yet anyway. I've been too busy with real life this past summer. Havn't had much time to work on any FE stuff. It was a huge project so I hope I can get it done soon.

  • Like 1

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

Create an account or sign in to comment

You need to be a member in order to leave a comment

Create an account

Sign up for a new account in our community. It's easy!

Register a new account

Sign in

Already have an account? Sign in here.

Sign In Now
Sign in to follow this  

×

Important Information

By using this site, you agree to our Terms of Use, Privacy Policy, and We have placed cookies on your device to help make this website better. You can adjust your cookie settings, otherwise we'll assume you're okay to continue..