Railworks America

Like the subject line says:

What free or very cheap 3D software is a good place to start for a total noob who wants to learn how to make his own repaints and/or scenery assets? Or other stuff for RW?

I see Blender discussed. What else is there? What pros and cons for different products?

Remember the "cheap/free" thing, I'm currently only employed part time and don't have much money.

Thanks!

I would advise 3D Crafter Pro and Google Sketchup. Preferably 3D Crafter Pro. The price is $70 but it's worth the money.

Blender might be free, but it's also very difficult to learn and not even I could figure it out.

Perhaps for now, you could always start out by repainting RW buildings.

Maybe this thread over at the other place will help a little.

http://www.trainsim.com/vbts/showthread ... t=3dcanvas

Gasp! Go to the...the..... FORUMS at The Site That Must Not Be Named?!?!?!

Are you MAD?!?!

Well, ok, since it's you making the recommend.

Thanks Hawk, that was VERY helpful.

I thought there was a discussion about the different modeling programs here at RWA, but I couldn't find it.

Help is help, wherever it comes from.

You don't realty need sketchup. Several of us use 3DC exclusivly. I even redid all my SU models in 3DC in a third of the time it took initially. yes there is a learning curve but short and steep, and then your done.

Personally I have no problem with Blender, but yes it is a little less intuitive than some other programs.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kj85KdDb4zE

I made this a while back, a quick review of starting in Blender and putting it in TS2012.

An igs/ia exporter for Blender 2.63 is now available. 2.63 has a number of improvements over 2.49. (imho) It's available here.

http://members.uktrainsim.com//filelib- ... leid=29522

Mike Adams