Question on the new NAVS Hopper conversion kit

[qballbandit]

I am fumbling around with searches to find files related to this statement in the read-me file:
"Any of the excellent repaint packages for Jeff Auberpine's original FMC hopper".

Does this mean the Mark Giltz releases (which I have pretty much all of), or, are there other authors as well?

Thanks much,

[SD40-2]

I am fumbling around with searches to find files related to this statement in the read-me file:
"Any of the excellent repaint packages for Jeff Auberpine's original FMC hopper".

Does this mean the Mark Giltz releases (which I have pretty much all of), or, are there other authors as well?

Thanks much,

I think you're reading into it a bit too much. It's just a general catch all term, though Bernard's DRGW Reskins also do look nice, and I plan on converting those at some point.

[CSRX]

All FMC hoppers including from Mark, Myself, and a couple others, that used Jeff's original model, will work just fine with Ericks updated model.

[marklester01]

BTW now that it's started( though it was on Repaints ), would it be easy enough to change the .s name to accompany others within a same folder? How would that need to be done since it's web-in pathed?

[Unoriginal]

I've been updating some of shawns and bernards skins to the NAVS model and I really love the new models. Hoping erick makes more car kits like these for other older models.

[CSRX]

If there is anyone that has been updating any of mine onto the new model Erick produced, feel free to release them to the public on here, just give credit is all I ask. I've become pretty lazy when it comes to doing any paint work, to the point that, I simply don't even paint anymore.

I also tried to start the same with the railbox upgrades, but again, got super lazy and not interested in doing the project. So if anyone wants to take that on as well and release them, be my guest.

[geepster775]

The original Jeff A model for the FMC car had some shortcomings, namely no wheel flanges, no brake rigging and no lower corner stirrups. The new NAVS model presumably fixes most of this.

[geepster775]

The Curphey model of the PS car had some weird texture mapping near the top of the sides. In order to display on the model relatively well, one needed to stretch upwards the side photo near the top. Compare the 'Delaware" on the texture vs how it actually displays mapped to the car shape. And if one didnt stretch the side photo to compensate, any lettering across the top area on the car was scrunched downward. There are plenty of Giltz repaints out there with no pre-processing of the photos leading to scrunched wording across the top of the car.

[geepster775]

During the heyday of quick repaint packages popping up in the library every couple of days (6pack72.zip, the 72nd 6 pack of repaints), it became common for the 'shirt' to not match the 'pants', just because the crap was being cranked out so fast. Very little effort was put in to matching the side photo colors to the bottom bays and the car ends. The ends and bottoms were so reused and recycled that any dimensional data wording on them became laughingly unreadable. Compress.... compress.... compress again. Package it up and ship it out to the file library ASAP.

Just NO WAY these 3,900 poly cars from back in the day can ever compete with a 30,000 poly payware PS/2 today. IMO, not worth the effort to even lift a finger to salvage.

[geepster775]

A completely free version of the PS car, a cool MSTS-grade 12,000 polys, 3D side ribs, wheel flanges, see-thru roof walkway grating, 4x the poly count of the Curphey car, no awkward stretching of the sides, no shirt/pants color mismatch has been available for FREE as part of the various versions of the Scenic starter route. It is pure mental illness to celebrate the 'value' of the Curphey car at this late date, all 72 (or whatever) repaint packs worth. As a group, we have collectively not progressed beyond this? Really???





Current version of this car is 35,000 polys

[Erick_Cantu]

The original Jeff A model for the FMC car had some shortcomings, namely no wheel flanges, no brake rigging and no lower corner stirrups. The new NAVS model presumably fixes most of this.

All of it, actually:

07.jpg

A completely free version of the PS car, a cool MSTS-grade 12,000 polys, 3D side ribs, wheel flanges, see-thru roof walkway grating, 4x the poly count of the Curphey car, no awkward stretching of the sides, no shirt/pants color mismatch has been available for FREE as part of the various versions of the Scenic starter route. It is pure mental illness to celebrate the 'value' of the Curphey car at this late date, all 72 (or whatever) repaint packs worth. As a group, we have collectively not progressed beyond this? Really???

I have considered the possibility of building a replacement for either Ted's PS2CD or David Rowe's, but it really depends on the quality of the available textures. If I did, I would map the same way I always do, so cars that previously had distortion wouldn't, and cars that were compensated would become distorted. In truth, it would probably be easier for people to adapt existing photo data to my PS2CD 4750 model, since the paint kit is set up so that you can put photo layers above the shadow layer. I find that it's a whole lot more work to edit photo textures to look right than to just hand draw new textures - but I also enjoy weathering, so it's a different experience for everyone.

13.jpg

Insofar as poly counts go, I'd argue that the gestalt of the model is more important than the triangle count. The carbody on my PS2CD isn't any less detailed than the TS one, but I put a lot less detail into the trucks because I figured you'd never notice the difference at distances where the rest of the car holds up given the carbody resolution and texture resolution. But that's a call that each model builder makes for themselves, and I think each of us has a different design philosophy. Ultimately, I view each project as a puzzle given the constraints of the model series (I have a target of 5500-6000 for a Z-Series model and 12000-15000 for an N-Series model), and every A/B test between low and high detail parts comes down to a test of whether or not the higher detail is noticeable at the target viewing distance, which differs between the two "product lines," if I can be somewhat self-indulgent and call them that.

Ultimately the TS model is an excellent model with equally excellent texturing. But it was designed to a different set of principles. Ted's model is a product of its time and I am uncertain of whether or not it will be worth my time to make a replacement for it. Either way, I am primarily trying to clear out existing WIP at this point, which means finishing the default replacement cars as quickly as is feasible. In truth, the only backwards-compatible car I have planned for the near future is an upgrade kit for my old default replacement cement hopper, and only then because it was the only model of mine that was repainted in any real quantity (until Andrew started churning out hoppers by the dozen, that is ). It will stand separate from the new default replacement model, because I'm hand-drawing new textures for that car like the rest of the "new default" models.

Insofar as mental illness goes, the MN Board of Social work would be pretty upset if I tried to diagnose someone I'd never met in person... and I try to stay on their good side.

[Erick_Cantu]

BTW now that it's started( though it was on Repaints ), would it be easy enough to change the .s name to accompany others within a same folder? How would that need to be done since it's web-in pathed?

I'm not sure what you mean. These models are set up the be standalone in a car folder, so you have to edit the carbody texture name for each model as laid out in the directions. The only hard-coded paths are to the common textures for parts (brake rigging, triple valve, brake cylinder) that weren't on the original model and trucks (if so desired).

[qballbandit]

Thanks to all who set me straight with answers to my question.

[TrainSimJack]

(I have a target of 5500-6000 for a Z-Series model and 12000-15000 for an N-Series model)

Hi, I downloaded Open Rails yesterday, I have no idea what you mean here, can someone point me to a primer on what a Z series vs N series model is?

Also
geepster775 what is that tool you're using to view the poly counts in the cars? I assume the multiple values are for different Level of Detail settings?

[Erick_Cantu]

They're just two different NAVS product lines. The N-Series models have typically been payware and use higher-detail parts, whereas the Z-Series models are typically public domain and use lower-detail parts. Think of them as like Proto 1000 v. Proto 2000. I don't build too many higher-detail models these days because managing and mapping complex meshes plus building LODs for them grates on my nerves. I mostly sold payware when I was in college and needed a bit of extra income, but these days I prefer to build community assets instead.