Winterizing Rolling Stock

[peterman]

Howdy!

I've been working on a personal project of winterizing my rolling stock and it's going well. Today I learned that rolling stock that uses include files (.inc ) are not able to be winterized because they do not have this line - "ESD_Alternative_Texture", not that I can find anyway. Does anyone know of a way around this? I have retextured the .dds files and when they didn't show up in the Sim, I remembered that I needed to alter the "ESD_Alternative_Texture ( 0 )". That's when I realized that there is no such line.

Peter

[rdayt]

I think that line belongs in the .sd file. Similar to scenic items.
You'll have to copy the .sd file to your OR folder.

Randy

[peterman]

I think that line belongs in the .sd file. Similar to scenic items.
You'll have to copy the .sd file to your OR folder.

Randy

Hi Randy,

This is the rolling stock - "NAVS_Flatcar-GS-Type-53-6_BASE". The folder has, .s files, .wag files, .inc files and .dds files, however no .sd files. My route is set up as a mini-route with all my rolling stock in the Trainset folder... NO OR folder necessary. I will attempt to make an .sd file and insert it into the "NAVS_Flatcar-GS-Type-53-6_BASE" folder, but I'm having doubts that it will work.

Peter

[Erick_Cantu]

Shape Data files weren't included with those models because they're not necessary in OR. The only purpose they serve is for special effects, of which the only one I have found useful so far is the bell animation length on locomotives.

In the case of those freight cars, I didn't include .sd files because it would have been additional clutter for no real benefit as I don't find any of the alternate texture features to be particularly convincing on rolling stock. I elected to omit the feature rather than expend a lot of effort to end up right in the middle of the uncanny valley. This this is the same reason why I don't have rotating fans on my locomotives.

Long story short - you'll have to build your own. See "how to write shape data files" from the MSTS tech docs - there should be plenty of sample .sd files lying around in a typical OR installation to use for reference.

[eric]

There's really not much to a SD file. You can easily copy another SD and change the applicable data field for shapefile and then add your ESD property.

[charland]

Hi Peter,

I've done this to things like bridges but never rolling stock but the "ESD_Alternative_Texture ( 0 )" line would need to become "ESD_Alternative_Texture ( 1 )" in order to trigger a winter texture, "ESD_Alternative_Texture ( 252 )" for four seasonal textures.

Paul :-)

[peterman]

Hi Erick,

Having worked on my own route for many years with extra attention to texturing for more realism, I get frustrated when I run a winter activity during a blinding snowstorm for two hours and I pull into the yard with many consists and all the wagons look like they just came out of the paint shop. Not my preferred choice for realism. I really do like your work. I have been able to get the winterized wagons to show in OR, however the freight animations (loads) are being stubborn and not showing. As you are probably already aware, none of your wagons show up in any shape viewer other than TSRE5 consist editor.

Hi Eric,

Easy - Peazy... Lemon squeezy!


Hi Paul,

Over at ET, you asked me in a thread to humour you about the .sd files. Did it work?... 😉

I have absolutely no issues with rolling stock not showing that are using .sd and .ace files (MSTS configuration). One day I may attempt to modify a piece of rolling stock to use inc. files and .ace files together.

Have a great day!
Peter

[charland]

I'm still building everything the old fashion way and it's still working so can't see any reason to change myself!

Paul :-)