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macey
Assistant Commissioner
Joined: Mar 18, 2005
Last Visited: Nov 21, 2008
Location: Looking for where you live....
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Posted: Sat Feb 09, 2008 12:02 pm
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What is the best 3D program to create locos and rollingstock for MSTS?
I was thinkin of having a go at it.
Was going to just download Gmax because its free.
What dose everyone else use? What is the best program?
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squeekywheel
Station Master
Joined: Dec 19, 2007
Last Visited: Oct 29, 2008
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Posted: Sat Feb 09, 2008 12:46 pm
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Dont listen to all the crud you might hear about other 3d programs they are all very hard to learn and by hard I mean REALLY HARD.
Yes they might be a bit better But!!!
Use TSM the learning curve isnt difficult and soon you will be pumping out models like they make cars at ford.
Oh I hear the purists say but you will not be able to use it with the new sims coming out....
BULL!!!
There are programs out there that will allow you to convert a TSM or .s file to other formats so do all the hard work in TSM, import to 3d canvas ect do a quick retexture and bang export to whatever, "so easy".
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macey
Assistant Commissioner
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Last Visited: Nov 21, 2008
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Posted: Sat Feb 09, 2008 1:12 pm
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Yeah i heard that TSM was the better program for begginers.
I have a pretty good idea how hard in general most programs are.
Are they all pretty much the same when it comes to exporting models to the game and trying to animate them?
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superheatedsteam
Chief Train Controller
Joined: May 19, 2004
Last Visited: Nov 21, 2008
Location: Perth, WA
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Posted: Sat Feb 09, 2008 1:52 pm
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| macey wrote: | | What is the best 3D program to create locos and rollingstock for MSTS? |
What is the best program?
The best program is one that ‘you’ can use. To counter squeekywheels advise I personally found gmax easier to use than TSM (and I purchased TSM first).
All 3D modelling programs (in relation to MSTS) do the same thing and that is allow you to create 3D geometry and apply textures to it. They use different user interfaces and they sometimes use different terminology but when it comes down to brass tacks all you are doing is creating and modifying boxes and cylinders in a 3D program and sticking it all together to make it look like a loco, wagon, etc.
If you are not sure if 3d modelling is for you then download the gmax program and try Volker’s gmax/msts tutorial.
http://www.vmbollig.de/msts/tut_en/
This will give you an idea if you want to invest the time into 3D modelling and if you are like most people you will be spending a lot of time learning.
If you find gmax to daunting then you should look to either TSM or 3D Canvas and both these programs are reasonably priced. I have tried both but have not committed the time to learn them as gmax does all I want at the moment. You need to pick the program that you are most comfortable with.
You can download a demo version of 3D Canvas to try before you buy. There a number of tutorials for 3D Canvas out there as well as an active and helpful community of users. There are utility scripts customised for MSTS that do the donkeywork in building wheels, boilers, handrails etc, as well as other utilities. nickeax has posted some 3D Canvas tutorials on youtube that you may find useful. 3D Canvas also exports to Rail Simulator while gmax and TSM dont.
TSM has not been updated for a while now and you will have to download 3rd party programs to overcome some shortcomings once your models get a bit more complex. I have read that that many people find it is the easiest of all the 3D modelling programs to learn. There are some very good tutorials on www.trainsim.com that take you through step by step in building a locomotive. I would suggest downloading these and reading them before you fork out any money for TSM.
A 3D modelling program is not unlike a 2D graphics program. Microsoft Paint is free and easy to learn. You can create textures for MSTS using Paint and some texture artists do. Then on the other hand you can you can go for a more complex 2D graphics program like Photoshop or Paint Shop Pro. These programs can be more daunting when you first encounter them but once you learn which menus and buttons you need to complete your work and ignore the rest then making textures can be easier in the higher end packages. Notice I said easier not necessarily better. Any tool is only as good as the person using it.
Read others opinions on which modelling program at Yuri’s site.
http://steam4me.railpage.org.au/trainsim/tutorials/which3d.html
Also read some of the 3D modelling tutorials at steam4me so you get an idea of what you are getting into.
Hope this helps. If you have any more questions don’t be shy.
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macey
Assistant Commissioner
Joined: Mar 18, 2005
Last Visited: Nov 21, 2008
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Posted: Sat Feb 09, 2008 2:56 pm
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Thanks for the advice.
I think i am going to try Gmax first. I dont have much money to spend on things i may not be able to use.
I will give Gmax a go. Fingers crossed i hope i can figure some of it out within a week or two.
How about animation, such as wheels and rods on steam locos? Can this be done with the same program? OR do i need a 2nd program to do this?
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