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taggy
Assistant Commissioner
Joined: Feb 06, 2006
Last Visited: Dec 1, 2008
Location: Wollongong NSW
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Posted: Thu Jan 18, 2007 1:10 pm
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Hey guys,
Just downloaded Gmax. I am hoping to build a new Tangara model. If anyone can offer any help, it would be greatly appeciated
Aaron
3801, pure beauty.
People are like slinkies, they have no purpose but bring a smile to your face when you push them down the stairs.
http://photobucket.com/nswgr38pics
Member of NSWRTM.
Bruce: "And thats the way the cookie crumbles" |
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podolski
Train Controller
Joined: Oct 06, 2005
Last Visited: Apr 30, 2008
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Posted: Thu Jan 18, 2007 2:15 pm
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| superheatedsteam wrote: | It’s good to see some new 3D modellers picking up the gauntlet and I salute you.
When you first see the gmax screen in can be very intimidating but rest assured it’s not as bad as it looks.
Most people would be lucky to use even 10% of the functions in Microsoft Word yet a work of art can be created just by using your brain and a few menu options. It’s the same with gmax (or any of the MSTS 3D modelling packages). Once you know what functions you need you’ll wonder what all the fuss was about.
If you persist with gmax then as well as the tutorials at steam4me I would strongly suggest that you look at Volker’s tutorial.
http://www.vmbollig.de/msts/tut_en/index.html
It takes you step by step in creating a loco for MSTS. It took me a number of days but it’s a great feeling once you get your first object working in MSTS. Once you do then there’s no turning back.
If you wish to read up further on gmax a cheep source is your local library. Most will have a ‘How To’ type books in the computing sections for the 3D Studio MAX program. Gmax is basically Version 4 of 3DS MAX. The interface and menu options are reasonably consistent throughout the versions and all will have a chapter on ‘mesh modelling’ which is the sort of modelling you will be doing to create MSTS models. They are normally thick but you only need to read 3-4 chapters relating to user interface, mesh modelling and texture mapping.
If you have any problems you know where to post.
Have fun.  |
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savy3801
Chief Train Controller
Joined: Jul 20, 2005
Last Visited: Nov 24, 2008
Location: Home of the Header Taylor's Territory
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Posted: Thu Jan 18, 2007 2:19 pm
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| taggy wrote: | Hey guys,
Just downloaded Gmax. I am hoping to build a new Tangara model. If anyone can offer any help, it would be greatly appeciated |
Never heard of Gmax, Is that like TrainSim Modeler except better 
Savy3801 -
I Might Not be a Battered Sav that you get from a Take-Away Food shop , But I'm a big fan of the 3801.
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podolski
Train Controller
Joined: Oct 06, 2005
Last Visited: Apr 30, 2008
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Posted: Thu Jan 18, 2007 2:27 pm
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| savy3801 wrote: | | taggy wrote: | Hey guys,
Just downloaded Gmax. I am hoping to build a new Tangara model. If anyone can offer any help, it would be greatly appeciated |
Never heard of Gmax, Is that like TrainSim Modeler except better |
It's a program which basically does the same thing as TSM - Allows you to build a virtual model of something. The difference is that TSM can only be used to build MSTS models (I believe) whereas gmax is used by many many games worldwide to create extra add-ons. TSM is built for MSTS models so it handles exporting and compiling better than gmax, I believe.
Gmax
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savy3801
Chief Train Controller
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Last Visited: Nov 24, 2008
Location: Home of the Header Taylor's Territory
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Posted: Thu Jan 18, 2007 2:36 pm
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| podolski wrote: |
It's a program which basically does the same thing as TSM - Allows you to build a virtual model of something. The difference is that TSM can only be used to build MSTS models (I believe) whereas gmax is used by many many games worldwide to create extra add-ons. TSM is built for MSTS models so it handles exporting and compiling better than gmax, I believe.
Gmax |
Right Right! It must be a tough program even for starters,
It was even tough when I used TSM for the first time and got the hang on it.
I recon Gmax just might be a similar one too.
Savy3801 -
I Might Not be a Battered Sav that you get from a Take-Away Food shop , But I'm a big fan of the 3801.
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S 301
Chief Commissioner
Joined: Dec 02, 2003
Last Visited: Dec 1, 2008
Location: in front of the computer
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Posted: Thu Jan 18, 2007 11:36 pm
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I was told GMax was bloody hard to learn to use. That turned me off it for around 2 years... Then I started making stuff in it and haven't really stopped for around 1 year now. Got a couple of items to work in Sviewer, nothing into MSTS yet (Working on it), but it is a great program. Price is even better...
S301
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taggy
Assistant Commissioner
Joined: Feb 06, 2006
Last Visited: Dec 1, 2008
Location: Wollongong NSW
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Posted: Fri Jan 19, 2007 7:35 am
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Yes the price was great. 
Aaron
3801, pure beauty.
People are like slinkies, they have no purpose but bring a smile to your face when you push them down the stairs.
http://photobucket.com/nswgr38pics
Member of NSWRTM.
Bruce: "And thats the way the cookie crumbles" |
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superheatedsteam
Chief Train Controller
Joined: May 19, 2004
Last Visited: Dec 1, 2008
Location: Perth, WA
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Posted: Fri Jan 19, 2007 12:04 pm
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It's not so much the program as much as the concepts that are tough to get a hang of. 3D modelling like any skill can take a while to learn bearing in mind different people have different learning abilities. If you have had previous exposure to technical drawing and/or an understanding of basic geometry it can make it a bit easier. Most of all a commitment and a desire to learn is what is needed.
Once you know how to model in 3D you can use any 3D modelling program, it's just a matter of learning where the required functions are and the idiosyncrasies of the different user interfaces.
If you are going to use gmax then you must do Volker's tutorial. Think of it as a right of passage. If you follow it step by step then you end up with a model 'you' made running in MSTS.
The following is the way that I build my models which ensures they always run in MSTS.
For a Co-Co loco I build a box to the loco body overall dimensions. Create a couple of boxes for the bogies and place them in the appropriate positions under the body box. Create a pair of wheels using the cylinder shape, clone them to make up the 6 wheels sets. Move 3 wheel sets each to the correct locations next to the bogie boxes. Apply a texture to all the parts. Ensure the pivot points are in correct positions for all parts. Link the wheels to the bogies and link the bogies to the body.
Save the model and then export to a shape file. If all is OK I should be able to view the loco [sic] in Shape Viewer. If I can view in Shape Viewer then I create a new folder in the MSTS Trainset folder and copy sound and cabview folders as well as sd and eng files from a similar locomotive. Edit the wag and sd files so that they reference your shape file.
Create a consist for your loco and take it out for a spin. If you cant see it in MSTS then something has gone wrong and you need to do some detective work to determine what step you missed out.
If you can see it in MSTS then Yuck! 3 boxes and 6 cylinders with an indiscriminate texture slapped over the top. OK its not pretty but I now have the bare minimum for a loco as a starting point that I know works in MSTS.
Now back to the modelling program. Add a few details, save with an incremental file name then export the shape file and test in Shape Viewer. At the end of the modelling session (or during if you desire), copy the shape file to MSTS and test to ensure it still works in MSTS.
I always save my models with incremental file names. Normally I add a number to the end. This way if you make a change to your model and it suddenly wont work in MSTS you know it was the last change that you made to the model that caused it. You can then go back to the last file that did work in MSTS and redo your last changes.
Another reason for incremental backups is that on rare occasions I have not been able to load a previously saved file due to corruption. In this case I just open the previous saved file. If you use the same file name, then you spend a number of months on your project only to find one day you cant open the file anymore you will not be happy (unless you have a recent backup in another location). I find incremental saves and backing up those saves regularly to removable media (CD, DVD etc) gives me peace of mind and at worst I have lost 2 hours work.
I would also suggest all budding modellers examine other builders models in Shape Viewer available from:
http://steam4me.railpage.org.au/trainsim/sviewr.html
Use the backspace key to toggle between wire frame/texture mode and see how other models are built. From these you can use the ideas and techniques used by other builders and incorporate the features you like into your models.
Good luck.
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superheatedsteam
Chief Train Controller
Joined: May 19, 2004
Last Visited: Dec 1, 2008
Location: Perth, WA
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Posted: Fri Jan 19, 2007 12:47 pm
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| S 301 wrote: | | Got a couple of items to work in Sviewer, nothing into MSTS yet |
What sort of problems are you having getting it running in MSTS?
If the model is pretty much complete you could try using the merge (File->Merge) function. Create a new project and then import just the wheels/bogies/body from your problem project. Check the naming conventions and ensure the objects are linked in the correct order. Then export the shape file and test in MSTS.
If the wheels/bogies/body display OK in MSTS then back to gmax and import another object and test again in MSTS. When MSTS fails to load your shape you will then know it was the last object you merged that is causing the problem.
Hope this helps.
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taggy
Assistant Commissioner
Joined: Feb 06, 2006
Last Visited: Dec 1, 2008
Location: Wollongong NSW
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Posted: Fri Jan 19, 2007 2:30 pm
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Ok thank you
Aaron
3801, pure beauty.
People are like slinkies, they have no purpose but bring a smile to your face when you push them down the stairs.
http://photobucket.com/nswgr38pics
Member of NSWRTM.
Bruce: "And thats the way the cookie crumbles" |
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