Working on a route!

[MrEMD]

I am working on making a route (Brooklyn Subdivision; Located in Oregon) and I need someone (Or some people) to help me with it.
I've been looking on other forums and haven't had any luck. Lets change that!

Almost all I need are just a bunch of models/trains.
I have pictures, but they arent yet uploaded... So heres some I grabbed from Google:
Mostly the engies, but theres alot with good shot of route too!

Anyone wanting to help?

[RvA944]

Well you could post a little more information on what your needed, I.E. Route Name, types and names of the needed assets era your planning on building under and so forth and so on. And how far you have gotten on the route itself.

[Chacal]

Welcome!
As RvA944 said, you need to provide some context, then ask specific questions or ask for specific assets (including real-world pictures if possible).

Several people here have the skills you need. Some are modelers, some are repainters, some are both. Some specialize in engines, others in rolling stock, others in buildings. Some specialize in certain time periods. They are all hobbyists, meaning that they do this for fun, and their skills are in high demand, meaning that they can't accept every call for help.

They will decide if the project is interesting enough. It is up to you to convince them to help you.

Also you need to show that you are serious and able to complete the route. Not to sound discouraging, but you will find in these forums several abandoned route projects, all of them starting with enthusiastic posts. Then reality hits: building a route is a long and difficult project. Don't expect to complete in just a few months. So you need to show some progress, WIP pictures, you need to have a plan and show that you know what you are doing. Nobody wants to work for a project that doesn't look promising.

Good luck!

[mrbob19]

Also, I don't know if you already worked with the route editor, but you might just want to toy with it for a while so you know what you can and can't do. I did that for a while and just started my first real RW project 2 months back. I'm telling this because a Crashed route is one of the most reasons to abandon a project.

well, anyway good luck with you're project and have fun! It will take a lot of time, but then again not even a train is made in a day... Take you're time, don't rush things, work on it untill you are fully happy with it.


Cheers,
Bob

[MrEMD]

Thank you all for the nice replies!
I will update my origional post (such as add name, mabey some pics, etc.)
The route im making is most likely not know anywhere! But be assured its a very active, functional, and beutiful route.

As to say how far i've gotten... It kinda depends, once I found out that TS was adding google overlay, I stopped everything and waited (I want it to be perfect, so why make stuff just to redo it?) I was working on one, But if possible. I want all or most everything create sepreatly (I.E. no copying houses from HSC, shrubs from packs, etc)

1st) I would need track, to see the track, maps.google.com and go to Albany, OR and use the track there as an Idea to model after. (Albany is Center Of Op. for 1 of the main RR comanies in the route.)


- P. S. - Sorry for the delayed post, i've been doing other thing but now have time for my route (YAY)

[imnew]

Welcome MrEMD

I saw your wanted list over at trainsim.com, impressive list

Just to follow up on what Chacal and mrbob19 mentioned, my "advice" list to new route builders are:

1. Backup after every session. Do not backup to one drive only, have an external drive as a backup as well.
2. Do not lay down tracks for miles and miles and miles, then later on place scenery items, you might burn out with that approach. Placing scenery items takes a lot of time. The way I do it is, lay down tracks, then place scenery as I go along. It does take time, but at least you know you are done with the area for good.
3. Wait with signals, there are some promising signals and scripts coming with RCAP.
4. Backup backup

Just a thought... You can easily spend five to six hours placing asset/scenery items in a small town/urban area only to have the users speed by that very same place in fifteen seconds. Im almost three years into my own route project so I know a little about "what it takes". Remember to have to fun, don`t burn out and don`t promise the moon.

Good luck.

[MrEMD]

Thank you on how to build the route, Yes I am familiar with the ingame editor (I use it all the time!)
Would anyone make me a track model to begin with?

[RvA944]

MrEMD,

Well, I see no one has responded to your request for track, well let me step up to the plate try and explain something here as best I can.

Now I'm not trying to bust your bubble or anything like that, but, we have only a few 3d modelers around these here parts, and they will take on freeware projects they find interesting, fun, challenging or just sparkes there intrest in general. I know you want everything in route to be a one off, but to be blunt, unless you take up 3d modeling and do it yourself, or hire a team of builders, that just ain'ta gonna happen. And no I'm not trying to be an smart a** here, I'm just being realistic.

Why because building assets is very time consuming endeavor, you can spends days building the mesh for one little item. Once the mess is compleated you then have to make the blueprint for the sim. Once the blueprint is finished or atleast working you can then get the item into the sim tweak the item from there. Change the shape here a little, change a color there and so on.

Now, you say you’re working a freeware route, so why not use the freeware that’s already out there? Take for instance track, 3dTrains has some great track and the best part is they have a free set, that, most everyone already has (or soon will.) So use that track for your route and tick that one off your list, it's done already.

The way I have seen most route builders take is they have one install for their main route, and another one for their assets (less payware items of course.) Is it a PITA for the route builder, well somewhat, but at least if you do things this way you will make sure of two things, one you have made it as easy as possible for the user's to install your route (not spending weeks trying to find an obscure model or route,) and two, you will make sure that all the assets you put into the route are there (no broken scenarios or milk bottles laying around.)

Best of luck to you on your route,

Roger