[august1929]

Been fiddling around with scenery on a "shelf layout" version of part of the MacTier sub which was extended and detailed by Ted Kocyla (available over at the Trainsim library). Ted knows about the work being done and is happy about the modifications (thinking here about the forum rules re modifications to another's work).

What was in the route before was good detailed modelling using dem, standard terrtex tiles with variations for 1/4, 1/2, 3/4 textures, transfers and, in places, large 3D blocks for fields. Excellent detailed work for a virtual railroad that you can actually run activities on (in other words, to give you decent framerates) - this has a different function and is mainly about scene setting and modelling. Most objects replaced or repositioned except for yard lights and the intermodal warehouses (and of course the track). Some reforming of the landscape to level or raise heights.

The area that is being tackled is only about 2 and a bit tiles, but includes Vaughan Intermodal facilities near Ontario. A bit modern era for these boards, but the point about the mods isn't so much the era, more the railroad detailing.

Being an intermodal facility there is obviously going to be a high object count in certain areas, and the main tile is now up to around 2,300. For some strange reason I have had no crashes, and I haven't had to call on my fix stickied at the top of the MSTS forum - tho I am prepared for it when it happens.

Using Google Maps and Streetview for reference - what a tool Streetview is (when the car has actually driven where you want it to go!) It can also be frustrating too - I had worked one area more or less on what I saw from the map, but Strreetview soon put me right and I had to rework it. The equivalent of ripping the scenery off a baseboard.

I will try and get some logical sequence to the shots that follow, but that is likely to degenerate quite quickly as I lose track of where I am!

Nuff of this jawing - all I will say to finish is it is a real hoot diving back into MSTS - not had so much virtual railroading fun for years.

Rod

Four early shots, when the ground textures were just getting going - some further mods been carried out since, and some parts still not finished

http://i4.photobucket.com/albums/y109/August1929/Mactier/NewIntermodal1.jpg

http://i4.photobucket.com/albums/y109/August1929/Mactier/NewIntermodal3.jpg

http://i4.photobucket.com/albums/y109/August1929/Mactier/NewIntermodal13.jpg

http://i4.photobucket.com/albums/y109/August1929/Mactier/NewIntermodal14.jpg

A bit more modelling, off to the left of the last shot.

http://i4.photobucket.com/albums/y109/August1929/Mactier/BEW2.jpg

A go at some Winter textures - not taken very far yet

http://i4.photobucket.com/albums/y109/August1929/Mactier/Winter1.jpg

http://i4.photobucket.com/albums/y109/August1929/Mactier/Winter2.jpg

http://i4.photobucket.com/albums/y109/August1929/Mactier/Winter3.jpg

Under slightly different lighting - a bit more how intended

http://i4.photobucket.com/albums/y109/August1929/Mactier/ds4.jpg

http://i4.photobucket.com/albums/y109/August1929/Mactier/Evening6.jpg

[Gman347]

Beautiful Shots! ;)

The shots look like real photos! The ground textures are really fantastic. And the vegetation...marvelous!

The winter shots actually gave me the chills. ;)

Love the sky colors too!

Like I said Beautiful Shots. ;)

Great work. Thanks for sharing with us. :bigboss:

Best Regards,

Paul G.

[august1929]

Thanks Paul :bigboss:

Before moving on up to the North, a few shots taken in OR - different quality...

http://i4.photobucket.com/albums/y109/August1929/Mactier/DifferentQuality1.jpg

http://i4.photobucket.com/albums/y109/August1929/Mactier/DifferentQuality2.jpg

http://i4.photobucket.com/albums/y109/August1929/Mactier/DifferentQuality3.jpg

http://i4.photobucket.com/albums/y109/August1929/Mactier/DifferentQuality4.jpg

http://i4.photobucket.com/albums/y109/August1929/Mactier/DifferentQuality5.jpg

http://i4.photobucket.com/albums/y109/August1929/Mactier/DifferentQuality6.jpg

http://i4.photobucket.com/albums/y109/August1929/Mactier/DifferentQuality7.jpg

http://i4.photobucket.com/albums/y109/August1929/Mactier/GreyHours1.jpg

Rod

[august1929]

Moving up to the North end...

a couple of small enclosures - I assume used for repair and storage of crippled trailers etc.

http://i4.photobucket.com/albums/y109/August1929/Mactier/NorthEnd0.jpg

http://i4.photobucket.com/albums/y109/August1929/Mactier/NorthEnd1.jpg

http://i4.photobucket.com/albums/y109/August1929/Mactier/NorthEnd2.jpg

http://i4.photobucket.com/albums/y109/August1929/Mactier/NorthEnd3.jpg

http://i4.photobucket.com/albums/y109/August1929/Mactier/NorthEnd4.jpg

http://i4.photobucket.com/albums/y109/August1929/Mactier/NorthEnd5.jpg

http://i4.photobucket.com/albums/y109/August1929/Mactier/NorthEnd6.jpg

http://i4.photobucket.com/albums/y109/August1929/Mactier/NorthEnd7.jpg

http://i4.photobucket.com/albums/y109/August1929/Mactier/NorthEnd8.jpg

http://i4.photobucket.com/albums/y109/August1929/Mactier/NorthEnd9.jpg

http://i4.photobucket.com/albums/y109/August1929/Mactier/NorthEnd10.jpg

Rod

[august1929]

Trackside views and some first field work...

http://i4.photobucket.com/albums/y109/August1929/Mactier/NorthEnd11.jpg

http://i4.photobucket.com/albums/y109/August1929/Mactier/NorthEnd12.jpg

http://i4.photobucket.com/albums/y109/August1929/Mactier/NorthEnd15.jpg

Rod

[johnfrum]

Rod,

That's fine work. I've also been enjoying your many screenshots of the Vaughn terminal over at Train-sim.com and I must say that you've perfectly captured the flavour of the area -- not easy for someone who doesn't live on the same continent!

Your winter scenes look great too, but the frustrating thing about them is the same issue I've struggled with: the trains always look too pristine. Canadian rolling stock gets caked with snow, ice and muddy slush all winter long -- has sort of a rugged beauty:



I've had the idea from time to time to retexture all of my rolling stock with a view to having alternate versions with a winter look, but thinking about the massive amount of time it would take has always stopped me. And to do a really effective job shapes would also need to be altered to show the big cakes of ice and piles of crusted snow that build up.

So I've chickened out and confined myself to summer trainsimming. Summer in Ontario is a beautiful season and running summer trains is pleasant and relaxing (like a day at the cottage) but it misses out on the real essence of Canadian railroading, which is a constant battle against blizzards and ice for much of the year.

-JF-

[Noisemaker]

EXCEPTIONAL work Rod! :bigboss: You captured the area and essence wonderfully. I know Ken, Ted, myself and many others have been forever trying to capture that 'pristine Canadian scene' And I think we all get focused on a particular area for some reason. Big or small. I'd say for Mactier, even though Ted did a great overall job - his focus seemed to really be in the area between Utopia and Barrie and the abandoned track area in there, which he did great with the over growth textures and all. But to take on Vaughn like you did, and not being the most 'post card perfect area' either in way of objects and vegetation - you really made it come alive!

Just superb! ;)

[Gman347]

You force me to use a word that I have declared overused because I can't think of another. Those shots are STUNNING! The combined ground textures and plant growth have to be some of the best that I have ever seen. I have seen so many great shots here at Elvas and I hesitate to say "the best" There are so many "bests" here! But these shots definitely stand out. I love the way you've got the weeds growing up around the parked trailers and pallets laying on the ground. The scenes feel so real,,,WOW.

Truly remarkable work Rod. :oldstry:

Paul G.

[august1929]

John, Steven & Paul, Thank you very much.

Steven I am going to have to take a look at the area you mention - I have only really seen Vaughan Intermodal, certainly over the last month or so!

Google Earth & Streetview certainly make it possible to see things how they really are and as I said in the opening post, that can lead to hard decisions. I will show some scenes below that I decided had to be ripped up - took a bit of thinking about (but I did back up the route before, just in case I realised I had made the wrong decision.

On what is being done, the texture work and placement is a big part of what is being seen, but none of it would work without the model makers - if you think about what Tim Muir does in his modelling, for example, where he makes the structures then the scene - that is real modelling. This is equivalent to going down the store, buying some good models, flock, glue etc. and putting the whole together - maybe kitbashing a model or two to make something unique (by joining several buildings together.

Nonetheless, it shows what can still be done with this "old" sim.

Below is one of the parts I ripped up - Google earth showed a trailer and container yard - For some reason I decided to start off with part of it, and I guess I also didn't pay too much attention to the scale of it. Net result was the first yard being only about quarter size - now gone.

http://i4.photobucket.com/albums/y109/August1929/Mactier/NorthEnd18.jpg

http://i4.photobucket.com/albums/y109/August1929/Mactier/NorthEnd20.jpg

http://i4.photobucket.com/albums/y109/August1929/Mactier/NorthEnd22.jpg

After a bit of remodelling it is something closer to the real thing, even down to the odd shaped second yard. Just like in model railroading, I was able to reuse some of the parts I had already put together. Found out yesterday though that there is a house I have missed.....

I also need to mucky up the yard surface a bit more - first attempt ended up too light.

http://i4.photobucket.com/albums/y109/August1929/Mactier/NorthEndrevisited7.jpg

http://i4.photobucket.com/albums/y109/August1929/Mactier/NorthEndrevisited1.jpg

http://i4.photobucket.com/albums/y109/August1929/Mactier/NorthEndrevisited2.jpg

http://i4.photobucket.com/albums/y109/August1929/Mactier/NorthEndrevisited3.jpg

http://i4.photobucket.com/albums/y109/August1929/Mactier/NorthEndrevisited4.jpg

http://i4.photobucket.com/albums/y109/August1929/Mactier/NorthEndrevisited8.jpg

http://i4.photobucket.com/albums/y109/August1929/Mactier/NorthEndrevisited9.jpg

[august1929]

3 general area shots, not particularly good, but they show the setting for the above.

Unfortunately highlights the need for texture detail on the intermodal pan.

Rod

http://i4.photobucket.com/albums/y109/August1929/Mactier/NorthEndrevisited5.jpg

http://i4.photobucket.com/albums/y109/August1929/Mactier/NorthEndrevisited10.jpg

http://i4.photobucket.com/albums/y109/August1929/Mactier/NorthEndrevisited6.jpg