[Frank Musick]

Since most of the grunt work is done I thought I'd post some shots of SUSQUEHANNA. The lettering's not visible yet. Have figured out how to do an alpha in Blender yet.

The tenders on these things are huge, longer than the locomotive (like Pennsy long distance tenders). The fireman's platform is quite bizarre but was required to feed the odd firebox. The upper platform is for feeding the chutes for the front of the firebox. As I worked on this it occurred to me that two fireman might have been required. One for each level.

Like most of my models this one is an approximation. There is no way a n as delivered camel was this gaudy. Even after be updated and/or modified by the purchasing railroad they tended to look a bit worse for wear. This one is totally freelanced, a camel for my fictional Allegheny Eastern Railroad, so i'm pleading artistic license http://www.elvastower.com/forums/public/style_emoticons/default/naughty.gif

https://i.pinimg.com/originals/24/ef/5b/24ef5b761828caa74eb108eb0de6387d.jpg


https://i.pinimg.com/originals/56/da/93/56da939aa1bb403cc5570dc537fbe048.jpg


https://i.pinimg.com/originals/9c/8d/3a/9c8d3a2a82d1f4d3a27a89f5200ed14d.jpg


https://i.pinimg.com/originals/23/82/9a/23829aad6392b381533784ba3e43578b.jpg

[superheatedsteam]

 Frank Musick, on 12 January 2022 - 09:00 PM, said:

Have figured out how to do an alpha in Blender yet.

The instructions that came with the MSTS/OR Export tool has this information in Section 7. MSTS Materials Panel.

When exporting your model, change the 'Transparency' drop down and instead of Solid Opaque, choose which transparency type one you want.

[Frank Musick]

 superheatedsteam, on 13 January 2022 - 01:49 AM, said:

The instructions that came with the MSTS/OR Export tool has this information in Section 7. MSTS Materials Panel.

When exporting your model, change the 'Transparency' drop down and instead of Solid Opaque, choose which transparency type one you want.

What, you expect I should read the damn manual? http://www.elvastower.com/forums/public/style_emoticons/default/wacko.gif

All kidding aside, I will look this up. Thank you.

[Frank Musick]

 superheatedsteam, on 13 January 2022 - 01:49 AM, said:

The instructions that came with the MSTS/OR Export tool has this information in Section 7. MSTS Materials Panel.

When exporting your model, change the 'Transparency' drop down and instead of Solid Opaque, choose which transparency type one you want.

Tried ALL the settings. Even made sure I didn't have the alpha reversed...Black is transparent, white is solid. This worked on my cab views, so I got it correct.

Created a plain cube by itself and textured all sides with names.
https://i.pinimg.com/originals/f3/da/e7/f3dae7cde9e84c43b773a9cb6c934899.jpg





This is what I got in Shape Viewer.
https://i.pinimg.com/originals/e6/20/70/e620700654eb911d1f06261564042e66.jpg


Based on the above deleted all parts except lettering in Blender
https://i.pinimg.com/originals/69/fb/ed/69fbedf7ec558f089c6b32475a06b5e3.jpg


Shape Viewer shows
https://i.pinimg.com/originals/4b/45/38/4b4538495f10e6e92036ba9809a7a223.jpg


Muffled scream http://www.elvastower.com/forums/public/style_emoticons/default/ko2.gif

[wacampbell]

Double check your .ace file conversion. Make sure it has an alpha channel. What tool are you using to make the .ace?

[Frank Musick]

 wacampbell, on 13 January 2022 - 09:15 AM, said:

Double check your .ace file conversion. Make sure it has an alpha channel. What tool are you using to make the .ace?

TGATOOL V2A. The file is being exported as alpha
https://i.pinimg.com/originals/9a/db/05/9adb0527c0a21afc8055e67420bc4ad8.jpg


I double checxked on the alpha also buy looking at other ace files. Black is transparent, white is solid. Correct?

[wacampbell]

I still feel you are having a texture problem. When shapeviewer can't find the texture it shows as white. And thats what your cube shows. Double check its in the correct directory. And that it is square and power of 2 sized ( eg 256x256, 512x512 etc ). If you don't find it, share your .blend for the cube and .tga and .ace and .s and I'll take a closer look.

[Frank Musick]

 wacampbell, on 13 January 2022 - 09:48 AM, said:

I still feel you are having a texture problem. When shapeviewer can't find the texture it shows as white. And thats what your cube shows. Double check its in the correct directory. And that it is square and power of 2 sized ( eg 256x256, 512x512 etc ). If you don't find it, share your .blend for the cube and .tga and .ace and .s and I'll take a closer look.

Shoot me now....DUH!!!

https://i.pinimg.com/originals/f7/87/c1/f787c168fa3c27a459435e20b1844b75.jpg



It helps if the file names are correct.....WinansNameplates.tga was exported as WinansNamplates.ace. The missing E was the issue.

Sorry for the bother. It is great that we have this forum to talk things out. Thanks Wayne for you patience and assistance. Thanks to everyone for your help.

Now to get the ENGG file working again.

[Frank Musick]

YAY!!!!!!!
https://i.pinimg.com/originals/19/c5/fd/19c5fdc054c70417f297519aeb32eb89.jpg

[wacampbell]

> It helps if the file names are correct.

We've all done that mistake a million times.

> YAY!!!!!!!

Glad that bit is working for you now.