8. Customization

TrainSim.Com Train Simulator FAQ

Frequently Asked Questions About MSTS

8. CUSTOMIZATION

WHAT GAME SETTINGS ARE AVAILABLE?





Lots! The options menus available include:



OPTIONS

-------



Realism                     Driving Aids At Startup

  Simple Control              Controls/Gauges

  Derailments on/off          Track Monitor

  Alerter on/off              Next Station

  Auto Fireman                Switching Aid





KEYBOARD ASSIGNMENT

-------------------



Allows you to view and change keyboard commands.





SOUND

-----



Master Volume

Train Volume

Ambient Sounds Volume

Sound Quality

Show Text Captions





DISPLAY

-------



Resolution (settings from 640x480 to 1600x1200)

Overall Quality





ADVANCED DISPLAY

----------------



A large number of sliders to control different aspects of the image quality.



Also a large number of check boxes to turn on and off various display

features.







HOW DO I IMPORT OTHER ROUTES/LOCOMOTIVES/ROLLINGSTOCK INTO THE GAME?





To add locomotives and cars usually all you need to is unzip the entire

contents of the file you've downloaded into a new folder that you create

under:



C:\Program Files\Microsoft Games\Train Simulator\TRAINS\TRAINSET



For locomotives you may need to copy some files from one of the default

locomotives; many locomotives are based on one of the default locomotives

and use the same cabview and sound folders.



But most important:  READ THE DOCS! The designer is the only one who can

tell you exactly how any individual file needs to be installed.







HOW DO I USE CARS/LOCOMOTIVES ONCE THEY ARE INSTALLED (CONSIST EDITOR)?





To use any add-on cars or locomotives (or to create different

consists even with just the default ones) you use the consist editor.



Unfortunately, the consist editor is difficult to find, as it's

actually a subsection of the activity editor. When you installed

Train Simulator you should have gotten two desktop icons, one for the

sim itself and another labeled "launcher"; launcher is the one that

starts up the editors. Double click on it and then from the menu

select activity editor. If you don't have the second icon, use the

Windows start button and look in Programs | Microsoft Games |

Train Simulator for Train Simulator Editor And Tools and click on

that.



Once the editor starts, open the File menu and select new. You'll be

prompted for some information about the new activity you're about to

create but just use the defaults, as you are not actually going to

save the activity anyway.



Now, look at the right side of the editor main window, for the

section labeled "Player Services"; technically a consist is a player

resource. Under this section click the "new" button and that will

open yet another window. In the middle of this window is a section

labeled "Consists" and another "new" button; click this and the

consist editor will load.



To create a consist, choose a file name for your consist and a screen

name.  The screen name is what will show up within the sim when you

open the consist drop down box. Then, simply choose the locomotives

and cars you want in your consist and save when you're done.



Tips: Consists are organized according to the lead locomotive. If you

make the BNSF Dash 9 the first locomotive in your consist when you

run the sim you will find your consist by first selecting the BNSF

Dash 9 and then looking in the consist drop down box. If you have

more than one locomotive in your consist you can reverse the

direction they point by right clicking on them.







HOW DO I REMOVE CARS FROM A CONSIST?





You do this in the consist editor. Load the consist you want to work on.

Then, notice the icon that looks sort of like a coupler, on the right side

of the window below the word "Couplings"? That's the delete icon. Use the

left mouse button to drag and drop the locomotive or car you want to remove;

point to the car/locomotive, hold down the left mouse button, and drag the

cursor over the icon. It's now removed from the consist.







WHAT PROGRAM(S) ARE REQUIRED TO CREATE YOUR OWN TRAIN?





A 3D modeling program is required to make the model, and these can be

expensive. A graphics editor is required to create or modify the

paint job on a locomotive.  MSTS does not include a program to create

your own locomotive.



When Train Simulator was first released 3D Studio Max was the only

program known to work for creating original 3D models. For doing

repaints of existing models both Adobe PhotoShop and Paint Shop Pro

are known to work.



A 3D designer called "3D Canvas" also offers MSTS support.



3D Canvas 5.0.5 (and higher) now includes a Microsoft Train Simulator

Wizard that creates all of the files required for a model to be

loaded into Microsoft Train Simulator. Creating an engine from a 3D

Canvas model is now simply a matter of running the Wizard and

creating a consist for the model in Train Simulator. 



The Train Simulator Wizard also assists in identifying and organizing

parts using Train Simulator standards, placement of special effects

and lighting, and automatic animation of steam engine wheels and the

link between them.  Seven Train Simulator specific tutorials are

included in the on-line help that cover everything from model

orientation and placement required by Train Simulator to animation of

steam engine rods.



For information, visit their web site:



http://www.amabilis.com/msts.htm



Also suitable is "Train Sim Modeler" from Abacus, a 3D design tool based

on their popular designer for flightsims.



"TSM" is designed specifically for Microsoft Train Simulator and so offers

features that train-sim modelers need. For more information, visit their

web site:



http://trainsimulatorworld.com