Rail3D*

 

Creating Track Models

see also Track Format

Track models are ASCII text files with .STT extensions.

To create a track model

Prepare a texture skin in BMP format (or use an existing skin texture)

  • Open the Rail3D stock editor, and select the "Track" Tab of the navigator
  • Select "New" from the "File" menu
  • Enter the Name of your new track type, the TRACK2 keyword and the name of the texture skin you want to use
  • You can optionally add a <SWITCH> block to the file if you wish at this point


Note that the editor saves the file with a .STK extension by default, you need to change the file type to "All" and manually add the .STT extension, otherwise the track will not appear in the selection box

  • Save the file in your Rail3D track folders, with .STT extension
  • Close the editor and re-open it.
     (This is necessary to get the track model to appear
    in the editor selector and preview window)

 When the editor reopens, select the track tab, and your new model should appear in the navigator:

 

If the model does not appear in the list, check that it has been saved in the correct folder and with a .STT extension.  Close the editor and re-open

  • Select the Track item and open it in the editor
  • Open the preview window (it will be empty at first)

We can now start adding the elements of the track.

  • Add an element for the ballast bed:

    FILL  200/0/-35   -200/0/-35  @0,0.25

    This specifies a section from 2 metres to -2 metres (across the track) and 0.35m below the rail top, it is textured with the part of the texture from 0 to 25% across 

I've used the $Track_Wood.bmp texture in this example, which looks like 

so the result of the above FILL in the preview window is:

  • We can add side edges to the ballast:

    FILL  250/0/-50   200/0/-35  @0,0.25
    FILL  -200/0/-50  -250/0/-50 @0,0.25

Note that the order of the two position terms is critical, it controls which side of the panel shows.  IF you can't see the element you created, or it is the wrong side, try swapping the two terms

  • Next we add an element for the sleeper section:

    FILL 140/0/-30 -140/0/-30 @0.25,0.5

  • and we can add edges to the sleepers as well:

    FILL 140/0/-35 140/0/-30 @0.25,0.5
    FILL -140/0/-20 -140/0/-35 @0.25,0.5

  • And now we can add the rails

    RAIL 90/0/0 76/0/0 @0.75,0.7
    RAIL 90/0/-20 90/0/0 @0.625,0.7
    RAIL 76/33/0 76/33/-20 @0.7,0.625

The RAIL term is just the same as the FILL term.  The difference is that a RAIL is modified by the program to form the switch blades and gaps.  FILL terms are not.

  • And we can repeat for the other rail.

    RAIL -76/0/0 -90/0/0 @0.75,0.7
    RAIL -90/0/0 -90/0/-20 @0.625,0.7
    RAIL -76/0/-20 -76/0/0 @0.7,0.625

  • Save the File.

Making a 3D track model

We can add a 3D track version of the track if required.

  • Make the 2D track version as above and save the 2D file
  • Open the 2D version and change the name by adding the .3D prefix.
  • Add the TRACK3D keyword
  • Save the file with a new name eg "ExampleTrack.3D.stt" (and the .STT extension)

  • Reopen the original 2D file, and add the <TRACK> block:




  • Close the editor and reopen.

  • When the editor reopens, open the new 3D model and open the preview window.

Initially, the 3D version will look the same as the 2D model we copied.  We need to customise it to the 3D version.

  •  Select the FILLs that define the sleepers and delete them:

  • Add a <TRACK> block that specifies the sleeper model and spacing required:

    <TRACK>
    unfortunatly the editor ignores the track block, so the sleepers won't show in the preview.  You have to load the track type in Rail3D to see the sleepers

        Sleeper STDWoodSleeper
        Spacing 80
    </TRACK>
    Note the sleeper model uses the same texture as specified in the track model


  • Save the model.

  • And try it in Rail3D

the texture I've chosen is not the right one for the sleeper model - hence the grey colouring on the sleepers

 

Please share your new model with the Rail3D community

 

Track

MRG 06/02/2015 12:36:47