Saving 3d Files for General Use

[Johnybotto]

Hello.
I'm slogging my way through Railworks and Blender trying to make 2 freight cars. I have been using Blender for a while and feel comfortable with it. I know others uses different 3d programs and that is great. What I would like to do is save common pieces of the cars in a generic 3d format that anyone can open in their chosen 3d program. (trucks(bogies), ladders and the like) I was thinking of saving them out as Wavefront .obj, it seem most programs can import this format. These would be made available as free files and hopefully speed the creation of new rolling stock and give beginners some of the more difficult pieces for their creations.

If there are already free bogies and parts available please let me know, but I have not been able to locate them.
Any feed back on this idea would be appreciated.
Thank you,
John

[Bananarama]

OBJ would be a good bet, especially for keeping the UV mapping intact upon import.

[pwillard]

I'm feeling like I should share some parts... I'm not a superb or detailed modeler, but I've always been generous towards the hobby.

on the other hand...

The downside is that I go through periods of feeling very abused by a community that has members with no concept of saying "thank-you".

Example: Maybe I'm just looney and assuming too much... I mean, not a single Railworks creator has ever contacted me or credited me regarding using any fonts I've created. I mean... sure, maybe it's true that nobody has ever used my fonts for a Railworks project (maybe they are not good enough quality and my lettering is really only good for MSTS) and that is just the truth of it... but then maybe not. I have never made a single penny off of my work in the hobby and the only thing I've ever mentioned was wanting a little credit.

If I shared parts... I'd feel the same way and that's what has held me back so far.

[Hawk]

Well, here's one anyway Pete.

viewtopic.php?f=6&t=3576&p=32981&hilit=willard#p32981

[MadMike1024]

I'm feeling like I should share some parts... I'm not a superb or detailed modeler, but I've always been generous towards the hobby.

on the other hand...

The downside is that I go through periods of feeling very abused by a community that has members with no concept of saying "thank-you".

Example: Maybe I'm just looney and assuming too much... I mean, not a single Railworks creator has ever contacted me or credited me regarding using any fonts I've created. I mean... sure, maybe it's true that nobody has ever used my fonts for a Railworks project (maybe they are not good enough quality and my lettering is really only good for MSTS) and that is just the truth of it... but then maybe not. I have never made a single penny off of my work in the hobby and the only thing I've ever mentioned was wanting a little credit.

If I shared parts... I'd feel the same way and that's what has held me back so far.

Pete, I use your fonts all the time, it saves me a lot of grief. I know you saw the Frisco GP7 I did, and I gave you props for the font there. It seems we all have periods where folks just take, and never seem to remember to thank someone for their work. Chin up, and we'll see where the new stuff leads us!

[PapaXpress]

Pete, I have your fonts, and their great. Unfortunatly I haven't released anything yet which utilizes them.

However, I have read your tutorial and i found it very informative (even with 3DC v9.1).

[shicoe30]

Pete, your fonts were essential in my SOO repaints! Thanks a bunch for your contributions. I surely won't pass up recognizing you in my upcoming stuff (seeing as I am using your fonts for my custom Horn Lake Rail route logos and lettering).

[Csxgp38-2]

I'm feeling like I should share some parts... I'm not a superb or detailed modeler, but I've always been generous towards the hobby.

on the other hand...

The downside is that I go through periods of feeling very abused by a community that has members with no concept of saying "thank-you".

Example: Maybe I'm just looney and assuming too much... I mean, not a single Railworks creator has ever contacted me or credited me regarding using any fonts I've created. I mean... sure, maybe it's true that nobody has ever used my fonts for a Railworks project (maybe they are not good enough quality and my lettering is really only good for MSTS) and that is just the truth of it... but then maybe not. I have never made a single penny off of my work in the hobby and the only thing I've ever mentioned was wanting a little credit.

If I shared parts... I'd feel the same way and that's what has held me back so far.

Pete, without your fonts, I would never have accomplished my new HSM Co reskins (should be uploaded to RWA soon)! I love the carknocker font, and your Chessie fonts have been used on numerous school projects of mine. (Bet you never thought your fonts would be used in a calendar project, huh? Well last year, my 7th grade teacher made us do a calendar, and guess whos fonts were used as the month names?) You should be proud that members young and old alike are using your fonts for all sorts of things, some not even related to RW! I would love to see parts from you, as long as they are the same quality as your fonts!
-Harrison

[pwillard]

ok. so here is the followup question. what is useful? trucks... couplers... stanchions...brake details... fans... handgrabs? some are
easy to get together...some not so much.

[dick8299]

I would vote for trucks (bogies).

[Csxgp38-2]

We already have some nice couplers from Dick (KCJones), some good trucks would be nice, maybe some parts that can easily be added to default locos, say the SD40-2, to customize the locomotive like a model railroader would. You know, say you're doing a Santa Fe repaint, it would really look complete if you could just have a beacon on top.

[Johnybotto]

This is a great dialog!
Yes, I think trucks would be a great start and here are my reasons.
1.There are a few common types used from the 1900s to present day.
2. They are time consuming to build in any 3d program
3. There is no use in reinventing the wheel (pun intended) if you have one that works
4. I think it could give more people a chance at building models, we all benefit from that.

As for other parts: headlights, beacons, bells, air-conditioning units, winterization hatches, freight car doors, roof walks. Just some ideas.

As to free vs payware; I think that is up to the individual developer to decide, both are welcome. But I think a solid free library of proven common files would spur development and enhance all of our playtime in Railworks.

And a bit of a back ground on my situation. I was running windows on my iMac for the soul purpose of running Railworks. Windows seems to run hotter than osx and my hard drive was fried. I don't want to do that again so I'm saving for a windows only pc. Right now I can build all I want on my mac but can not test anything in Railworks. So I'm at a stand-still in my model building until I get my pc.
Things I have in the wings are an SP phone booth, a Helium car, and a 50' Airslide hopper. These are first attempts and I will need help with getting the blueprint files and texture up and running, but this is what I have been working on.

Thanks for a great discussion on this topic and remember to thank and credit the developers you use.

John

[PapaXpress]

As for other parts: headlights, beacons, bells, air-conditioning units, winterization hatches, freight car doors, roof walks. Just some ideas.

QFT

Also ditch lights.

[MadMike1024]

QFT
Also ditch lights.

And some SP style wing numberboards that can be used as children. I have a Milwaukee RSD5 near finished that really needs those to be a correct model.

[PapaXpress]

And some SP style wing numberboards that can be used as children. I have a Milwaukee RSD5 near finished that really needs those to be a correct model.

Actually those wing boards are all over the place. SW2's on up, and Steamers.