RWA repaint... SP 100t Hopper & Flatbed

[PapaXpress]

Slowly but surely I am getting to the end of my quest...

Just about complete. I am looking up a few more details to see if I can fit them on

SP_hopper1.jpg

Can someone tell me how I can move the auto numbers? I can't figure this out. I would like to move them down and slightly to the right.

SP_flatbed.jpg

[Kali]

Slowly but surely I am getting to the end of my quest...

Just about complete. I am looking up a few more details to see if I can fit them on

Good stuff... don't get like me & start obsessing over minutae :)

Can someone tell me how I can move the auto numbers? I can't figure this out. I would like to move them down and slightly to the right.

You ask whoever made the model to move them down and slightly to the right, and then send you a new model.

I have an idea involving child objects, but I haven't got round to trying it out yet.

[PapaXpress]

Actually I wonder why RS didn't allow us to easily manipulate the placement of the numbers since they are slightly different for every railroad.

I understand a fair amount of XML from what I do at work (though it mainly relates to client/server messaging). What's your idea?

[Trainguy76]

Actually I wonder why RS didn't allow us to easily manipulate the placement of the numbers since they are slightly different for every railroad.

I understand a fair amount of XML from what I do at work (though it mainly relates to client/server messaging). What's your idea?

Numbers are actually part of the model, they are called on to display when you type them into the box in the right hand flyout.

[Kali]

My way involves turning on and off child object panels with number textures on each of them, as you can see it's a bit of a last resort :p however it should be a portable last resort.

[PapaXpress]

Did a little more repainting tonight, this time the Woodchip gondola. Needs just a bit of adjustment on the logo. I will also see if I can change the font for the auto numbering. This is the last of the RWA wagons that needed to be repainted since I will not be repainting the 40' Hi-Cube (SP hand only a handful ever and there are no pictures anywhere... they did have tons of 50' Hi-cubes). Then I have the two NW2's to finish up, and on to repackaging.

SP_Woodchip.jpg

[Kali]

I like the bent panels in that one, is that part of the original paint or did you do all that?

[PapaXpress]

Its part of the original. To be honest I have no idea how to do something like that.

[MadMike1024]

Looking good! Keep at it, you'll get the knack.

[PapaXpress]

Thanks Mike.

[Kali]

Its part of the original. To be honest I have no idea how to do something like that.

Make a new layer on top, find a brush with soft edges - the softer the better -, set the flow and opacity really low and gradually spray or paint some blobs of sort of light grey or white, making sure the edges aren't as filled as the centre. If you were using photoshop at this point I'd suggest layer effects, but iirc you're not. Once you're done, set the layer mode to screen or lighten or something similar and play with the layer opacity, and it should at some point give you gradually lightening blobs.

Alternatively daub some blobs in the middle and then use a blur filter with a pretty big setting, you'll end up with the same blurry edges but it depends on the filter whether they'll be as nicely gradiated as you need.

[PapaXpress]

Thank you! Now I need to practice, practice, practice...

BTW I did get my CS3 working (after years!) and have been using it for all my repaints. Its a lot easier than using PSE.

[Kali]

Ah, good. The outer/inner glow layer effects are really handy, usually if you set them to a dark colour and multiply.

Also gradient fill layers with vector masks, they're really great for shading.

[Toripony]

A tiny aside here on the topic of the Woodchip Hopper.... how did they empty that thing???! What era is it? I never saw one like that; on the C&O/Chessie they look just like tall coal hoppers with the usual bottom buckets.

??????

[PapaXpress]

No idea how they emptied it. When I get home I will post what the captions are for these wagons, SP had more than a few