Using "flex" when placing dynamic track pieces.

[landnrailroader]

Supposedly, flex is supposed to make the dynamic piece fit a location quickly but I find that that is not often the case. If the turn of the curve exceeds about 15 degrees, flex seems to have a problem but it is not serious. I was laying a few pieces of track near Middlesboro, KY which will appear in the kdsubdivision route (2nd version of my original KDSuB on what amounts to an industrial track going to a couple of coal mines that are long gone and the track as well. However overlaying a topo map on Google Earth, easy to do now the topomap source includes kmz files as well, I was able to do the track except that at a couple of sidings, very sharp curves, like 120 or 150 meters are involved and we have no double track pieces in those radii. So I used 120 or 150 meters for the inside track and a dynamic for the outer. The first thing I found was that the dynamic has to be connected to the adjacent track at the beginning end, in such a way that it will automatically turn the correct direction, which is usually to the left like in MSTS. Then select "flex" and then select the exiting end piece which the generated curve is SUPPOSED to connect to. And it does come close, and it might work untouched but I fear the visual appearance would be bad, so I manually fine tune the radius, turn angle, and gradient. This is far quicker than the MSTS system where it all had to be done by guess & hope. And I do want to avoid using dynamic anywhere except industry tracks and such. One of these days when I release the "Virginian", Simon Van de Laak had done such an excellent work of art on the Mullans, WV yard area, with more dynamic pieces than I care to count, I'll leave them in place, otherwise nothing would fit. It is a very fine, very accurate rendering of the yard, but there are many curves. A shortline now comes into Mullins from the nother, while NS only comes there from the "Pokey", about 15 miles to the west. The line over Clarks Gap with it's big steel viaducts and several tunnels is mothballed.

Jerry Sullivan

[scottb613]

Hi Jerry,

Been messing around with the curved yard near Martins Creek PA - using quite a bit of Dynamic Track. The Flex Feature can be pretty helpful but it is a bit quirky. I think it only supports a single straight and a single curve section of Dynamic Track - when I’ve tried to connect more complex setups - the track goes off on weird loops and doesn’t make the connection. Sometimes the grade doesn’t work correctly and requires manual adjustment. It is not always clear why it doesn't work with a particular connection. When it works - it's beautiful.

I believe Goku’s ultimate plan was to make entire routes out of Dynamic or Procedural Track - I seem to recall a discussion with him - on same - some time ago.

The Flex Function is certainly a nice addition to the toolbox - I’d like to see it developed further.

I don't know why Dynamic Track has such a bad reputation. When following track lines on maps - it seems less realistic - trying to use varying radius curve sections or by inserting straight sectional track - in an attempt to match the real-world radius of the curve. Sure - there is a little texture distortion with Dynamic Track but I typically run superelevation - so I'm used to seeing that.

My perspective is from a track laying newb - so I don't have much experience.

Regards,
Scott

[landnrailroader]

Scott,

Laying track is my strong point, followed by bridges, & viaducts which I make with TSM. After that anyone that wishes can super-detail and re-release my routes. I have noticed all of your flex comments. Really odd when it forms a 360 degree loop of about 5 meter radius out in some random direction. In my comment I hoped to provide a over-view of the instructions required and yes, only one straight & one curve seem to be supported. I also found that beyond about 30 degrees of curvature, there were issues with it looping off into space.

Jerry

[scottb613]

Thanks Jerry.

Regards,
Scott