Railworks America

Here's a screen capture from my latest build, the Bandini & Eastern. Actually, it's the area around the BNSF Hobart Yard and the LAJ yard in Vernon, CA. My dad and I would spend many a Sunday exploring these areas back in the 1970's and 1980's. Anyways, this view is looking towards the Hobart Tower crossing with the BNSF and the UP. I'll post more shots as I continue making progress.

Results from tonight's work. Trying to replicate a concrete lined flood control channel. Looking for suggestions on how to make the embankments smooth as they curve. I've seen it done in other routes, but I've been unable to duplicate. If the embankment is parallel to the grid, it's not a problem. However, as the embankment curves, it gets the jagged look. Any help would be appreciated. Thanks!

Make the channel as a mesh, then place it and lower the ground to create the channel. Easier said than done, but that's my idea. Granted, I don't know much, so....

The embankment's jaggedness is a result of the grid size built into the program.

When MSTS came out, there was an option to adjust the number of points (polygons) in the grid for selected sub-tiles in order to enable greater detail in the immediate terrain than what would normally be enabled. With this program, there is no such option, and you are stuck with the grid size supplied. There is no way to make perfect embankments unless you build them into the track below the ballast.

Thanks for the replies. I've tried all the scenary height tools, with different settings. The best results so far have been to use the level tool, set with a brush width of 80, height of -7.1, and follow a marker path down the middle of the channel. I'm going to try to create a cross-section of the channel in Sketchup, and see if I can get a loft object created. The channel is key to the project, as there is a large amount of yard trackage parallel to the channel, along with numerous rail and highway bridges that cross it.

Here's my attempt at creating the river channel through Sketchup. This is about as far as I can go with my current computer setup, as neither Blender or 3DCrafter will work on my system. Would someone be willing to trade Sketchup skills for 3DCrafter skills? I would like to get this converted to an object so at least I can make sure it fits the allocated space within the route. If interested, please PM me. Thanks!

Just wanted to post an update pic from the route. Work is progressing slowly. I find myself redoing portions that I've worked on because I'm not happy with the results. However, I'm learning more and more everyday. More pics to come soon.

Its good to see you are still working on your route. Thanks for keeping us updated.

A couple of progress shots from the Bandini & Eastern. The concrete dividers that Papa posted are being put the good use at the intermodal facility. Still lots to do though.



In this pic, a UP switch job runs light to Hobart yard after dropping off a cut at the LAJ yard.

Nice, been there a few times

Wow that looks pretty realistic!