How to do a simple task?

[NW 2156]

Hi,

It's been probably 2 years if not longer since I've done any dabbling in 3D modeling. I fired up Gmax with the simple goal of making a track section to replace that GODAWFUL UK track bumper everyone used to use with a more North American prototype consisting of the good old cross tie end of track.

Shape is mostly done except for texturing.

Except for one nagging issue.

How do I slice or cut off the bottom of the ties below the track bed plane? I forgot!
3d Modeling is a skill lost if not consistently used.

Untitled.jpg

I attached the project file for anyone interested in what is going on here.

[eric]

Let me flip the question... what's the harm leaving it below the trackbed?


Sent from my SM-S911U using Tapatalk

[NW 2156]

Eric,

None.

Just me being a perfectionist.

[rdayt]

Why does it have to be a track piece, why can't you just use a couple ties?

Randy

[NW 2156]

It's going to replace the UK style buffer.

Meant to be a quick drop in for the Global folder so all routes can benefit.

[eric]

Eric,

None.

Just me being a perfectionist.

Aren't actual crosstie bumpers partially buried? Leaving them would be prototypical...

I don't have GMax installed anymore, but its labeled as a loop cut, edge loop or something like that to create new vertices, and then a matter of deleting the unwanted polys by eliminating the end vertices.

You could just model ties as a standard object and make it a collision object. I did that with steel wheelstops. Bounding box extends to coupler height for the collision to take effect. Here's an old discussion thread on just that. Wish some of those names were still around. Enjoyed Jean Brisson's work but he has completely disappeared...

https://trainsim.com/forums/forum/microsoft-train-simulator/msts-modeling-and-physics/msts-scenery-object-design/128596-replacing-a-default-track-shape#post128596

[NW 2156]

Thanks. I'll research those features in Gmax.

I have the 2 published books somewhere as well.

I wish "Long Haired Wizard" was still around. Or at the very least had published the huge steel mill project for the Canton Route. His's refinery is still a masterpiece!

[pwillard]

I agree as well, but I'm pretty certain that Bill would be using Blender at this point.

[eric]

It would be relatively simple in Blender to cut the bottoms off...

[pwillard]

Well, people will insist on using really painfully old clunky tools for familiarity reasons... but I agree... some of these old tools make simple tasks hard.

I made these in 20 minutes in Blender *because* there are just better tools available. image.png

[scottb613]

Hi Pete,

Nice work - my humbling Blender test - is an F/E hood unit - for the life of me - I can never get the cab curves right.

My hats off to Marc who mastered it so long ago - with more primitive tools.

I must be missing something...

I've tried... People have tried to help me - - - no joy...

Complex curves have bested me...

It's truly humbling...


Regards,
Scott

[pwillard]

Maybe?

https://youtu.be/702TpBZpvUA

Or

https://superhivemarket.com/products...urves/?ref=834

could help.

[eric]

I must be missing something...

Well, would you look who the cat dragged in. We've missed you around here.

[scottb613]

Hi Pete,

Thanks for that - I'll give it a watch - Artisans of Vaul is one of my favorites...

Regards,
Scott

[scottb613]

Well, would you look who the cat dragged in. We've missed you around here.

Hi Eric,

Thanks for noticing - I hope everyone is doing well.


Yeah - my absence has been a bit longer than usual - suffice to say 2026 has been eventful. I keep my head in around here - I haven't fired up ORTS in months - last time I did - Steam Locos were a bit of a mess - I don't know where they stand now.

I am doing a bunch of hobby coding with AI - now CODEX - and as I have chatted with Pete privately - I am blown away. I just updated my Blender plugins for the new Blender - you grant CODEX access to your dir - and - it works the code on your PC - no longer even having to upload and download files. It can even run Blender on your PC to see if your changes work correctly. It's a brave new world - certainly a bit scary and subject to monumental abuse - love it or hate it - it's here to stay. I hope the tiny pool of ORTS developers attempts to leverage this technology - it could potentially magnify their impact well beyond their headcount.

Just my two cents...

Regards,
Scott