3dtrains California Zephyr issue

[Rick-MONON]

This is odd, I never noticed this before.

The 3dtrains Super Chief set does not do this, but the 3dtrains California Zephyr set does do this.

Picture one is from shape viewer.
Picture 2 is from Open Rails.

The glass on the windows is not transparent anymore. I tried the same glass texture from the Super Chief set and no change.

The Open Rails log has no error for any of the passenger cars at all.

Anyone have any ideas....

Shape Viewer




Open Rails

[dreamcatcher1962]

Hi Rick ,

I remember reading about this, and I found some info on ET.

http://www.elvastower.com/forums/ind..._1#entry165634

Regards Claus

[Rick-MONON]

Well, there it is, thanks for digging that up over at Elvas Tower.............
It is an old set, but a classic......................

There is another set of California Zephyr cars at:

https://www.flysimware.com/website/MSTS_Zephyr.html

Can anyone provide any Open Rails feedback on them.............

[lateagain]

Well, there it is, thanks for digging that up over at Elvas Tower.............
It is an old set, but a classic......................

There is another set of California Zephyr cars at:

https://www.flysimware.com/website/MSTS_Zephyr.html

Can anyone provide any Open Rails feedback on them.............

These are a better buy for that sort of money (IMO)...
I have the Hiawatha set and the windows in those work just fine in OR

http://www.valleypass.com/Sales/DRGW.htm

Surprised you don't have them Rick? I'd have thought your Monon must have sold hundreds of BLW stock packs!

[Rick-MONON]

Thanks

I looked at them and like that set too, but I need the California Zephyr set not the Rio Grande.....

That set at https://www.flysimware.com/website/MSTS_Zephyr.html

comes withe the Rio Grande and California Zephyr Sets

PAINT THEMES

Rio Grande Western theme
California Zephyr them

[Rick-MONON]

I found this old thread which answers my question:

I will get this one or the BLW set and convert it to the CZ.

https://www.trainsim.com/vbts/showth...ifornia+Zephyr

[veemr]

What’s Shape File Viewer tell you the LOD distances are set to? SFV won’t automatically step through the LOD’s as you zoom out however; MSTS will. If the windows lose transparency at the 2nd LOD you can increase that distance with Shape Manager.

[Rick-MONON]

Well, here is my solution.

BTW, changing the distance of the LOD had no effect, but thanks for the idea.

I changed the CZ_Glass.ace as suggested but included the window shade and darkened the window.

I think it looks pretty good.....


---------- Before the change ----------




---------- After the change ----------

[lateagain]

I'm sure it's already been tried (?) ...but that alpha channel looks VERY light Rick? Is that modified too? ...or is that as it was in the original? Had some UK models where they'd used lighter alpha channels in cab views to show weathering. It was like trying to drive in a dense fog!!! Darkened everything (alpha channel) until the darkest part was just a tads lighter than black and the "weathering and wiper swept part effect was still there and the view far more "believable".

[Rick-MONON]

Thanks, but yeah I tried, in the sim this looks pretty good.

[llanning08]

Rick,

I've had the Flysimware DRG&W F7 Zephyr set for a couple of years. It shows transparent windows in Open Rails. I think that the Flysimware Zephyr set is a very nice rendition. Again, no problems that I've seen in Open Rails or MSTS,

Each if these trainsets is different.

Flysimware's Zephyr is an EMD F7 D&RGW Zephyr circa 1970-83 running in the Amtrak era when D&RGW continued to run it's own Zephyr.

3DTrains offers an EMD F3 version of the complete Zephyr series ... CB&Q, D&RGW and WP runnin in the late 1940s, 1950s.

BLW offers two D&RGW trainsets. First is the EMD F9 D&RGW Zephyr as run in 1970-83. Second is an ALCO PA1 powered Prospector and Royal Gorge consists running in the 1945-67 timeframe. BLW also includes bonus D&RGW PA1 and F7 trainsets.

Each of these sets looks very well done and each has its own niche. I have both the Flysimware F7 Zephyr and the 3DTrain F3 California Zephyr sets running. I also will buy the BLW D&RGW Passenger Set soonest. I really like the BLW/ZT trainsets and already have about half of them!

[Rick-MONON]

Lawerence

Thanks for the commentary on all of them.................

The Flysimware Zephyr set states has 2 paint schemes, does it have the full CB&Q passenger set minus engines included, or just a few CB&Q cars or none at all?

[llanning08]

Rick,

The Flysimware F7 California Zephyr only has DRG&W cars, as it models the 1970-83 era when CBQ and WP discontinued their portions of the California Zephyr, and Amtrak did not yet operate a California Zephyr. Only the DRG&W operated its section of the Zephyr during this period. In 1983 Amtrak began its version of the California Zephyr over a sdifferent route structure. The BLW-Zosa F9 California Zephyr set also models only the DRG&W cars as it also the 1970-83 era.

I do have some freeware CBQ & WP California Zephyr cars from the late '40s to mid '50s. Haven't tried them in Open Rails. They are from the Trainsim library.

[Rick-MONON]

Thanks Lawerence