GP9 Xtra Kit Problem?

[dgallina]

Hi All,

Has anybody been able to complete a repaint of the reversed (long hood forward) high-hood passenger GP9 unit in the Xtra kit? I'm working on a repaint and am finding that this model seem to have some broken references & issues.

None of the external reskin files for any of the unit types will load & show from inside the unit's cabview. Basically you get the default skin nomatter what you replace it with & where (have tried all the types). Also noticed that the model claims to reference one version of the GP9_3 file, but actually uses another one of them instead. Finally, the model is missing hoses, though that's a very easy fix by copying the XML and parts from another unit. Suspect some bad XML someplace since RW tools bombs trying to enumerate all the required files for this model.

Appreciate any input from someone who's worked around these. Could repaint on the RSC engine of course, but it's getting long in the tooth and doesn't have the nice TSX features of the new Britkits update.

Thanks,
Diego

[KCJones]

Make sure you put your new textures in the Cabview and fittings "textures" folders.

Dick

[MadMike1024]

I've completed a Penn Central black long hood forward, and had no issues. As Mr.Cowen said, it does require the textures to be in all three folders.

[dgallina]

Yes, I had copied my textures to both of the other folders, but still wasn't working.

MadMike,

I'll definitely download your unit and take a look to see what I am missing!

Thanks for the help all,

Diego

[dgallina]

Hi MadMike,

I don't see the PC unit you referenced on the file library. Is it somewhere else or in the payware Britkit GP7 pack (which i haven't bought yet)?

Thanks,
Diego

[MadMike1024]

Hi MadMike,

I don't see the PC unit you referenced on the file library. Is it somewhere else or in the payware Britkit GP7 pack (which i haven't bought yet)?

Thanks,
Diego

For a couple of reasons, I haven't yet uploaded it. I'll do so in a few days.

[dgallina]

Thanks much. I'll keep a few eyes out for it :-)

Diego

[MadMike1024]

Thanks much. I'll keep a few eyes out for it :-)

Diego

Just uploaded it to Bob. He's really busy, so there may be some delay. (edit: now in the library)

[dgallina]

Thanks MadMike, your PC unit gave me the hints I needed to finish mine. I should be able to clean it up & post a reskin within the next few days.

IMO the high hood reversed passenger model could use some bug fixing work to the texture mapping. Some constructive comments based on my experience (sorry for the nit-picking):

1. You have to populate all the possible variant texture files to the usual directories, not just the ones that are appropriate for the specific model you are working with. The cab view, for example, seems to use the GP9-01L file where you'd think it would use GP9-01R_This-is-NOT-Freeware for this model. Similar inconsistencies occur with the fittings folder. Trial and error showed that the only really easy / reliable way is to make a complete set of all possible texture names and put them in all 3 folders, otherwise you'll pull your hair out trying to figure out why one fitting isn't picking up a texture :-)

2. The torpedo tube air tanks paint is double-mapped to the frame underside. This makes send when the air tanks are under the unit, but it makes it tough to get a decently dark frame on THIS model since it has to be balanced with the over-bright / over-exposed roof-top torpedo tubes. Think it'd make sense to map the frame to something else and lower the brightness on the air tanks, bell, and headlight surrounds. Those all seem pretty over-exposed.

3. There's some overlap / confusion between the fan textures that exist on both the -03 and gp9-grids textures. For this model, it appears that the fans are only taken from the -grids texture, but you wouldn't know that without stumbling upon it.

4. It took lots of trial / error to find the boiler housing top (not vent) paint on the -03 texture. IMO it'd be very useful to label the parts on the -03 and -grids repaint kit files. It seems to me that many paint schemes would need to modify those in addition to the primary texture.

5. The various rivet detail layers are a bit flaky. It takes some cut / pasting of parts from multiple layers to get a complete set. One or two of the rivet layers have parts that don't match the model so can't be used as-is. I noticed an extra louvered door mapped to the side of the cab, for example. The texture layers that are on by default don't include all the parts needed.

6. When the number boards are reversed to black numbers on white background (by reversing the alpha on the number_Xd and dummy texture files), the set of 4 numbers don't seem to fully fit the number board boxes. This isn't very noticeable when the numberboards are normal black.

7. The top-left and center-left sides of the primary texture also map into the edges of the radiator grids. It isn't obvious until you find the hidden grid layer on the -01 texture. Took me a long time to figure out why my white side-sills were ending up on the radiator grill frames.

This is a good looking & nicely running model once completed, but IMO a little difficult to work with due to the mapping complexity. Hopefully the comments will help somebody else who might have trouble with the GP9.

Thanks,
Diego

[PapaXpress]

Um... Diego, I am curious if you were addressing MadMike or Britkits (Mike is just a painter and has no say in how the models are developed)?

[dgallina]

Oh, sorry if not obvious. I was thanking Mike for the help but mostly addressing Dick with the list of comments since they are his models.

Thanks,
Diego

[KCJones]

To quote from my web site:-

"One of the reasons for the “kit” format is for you, the end user, to learn how to manipulate the various files needed to get rolling stock into Rail Simulator."

http://dickyjim.com/railworks.html

Thanks for the feedback

[dgallina]

A fair point of course.

My comments were mostly to the things that didn't seem to work the way you'd expect from the documentation, naming system, other kits, etc.

Doesn't mean one can't work through things with patience and occasional help from friends.

Thanks again :-)

Diego