NATURE SERIES 2 - TS2009

(Cliff splines / Rail Ledge Splines / Rock splines)

 
Thankyou for purchasing the NATURE SERIES 2 set. I know that you will have a lot of satisfaction from the additional realism that these will offer to your layout.

 

 
COPYRIGHT:

Please note that all items in the river spline set, including the texture files, are copyrighted by Michael Sutton. In downloading this set you agree to use them solely for your own personal use and not to distribute copies to any other person. While TRAINZ layouts containing these add-ons can be uploaded to any site these items must not be included with the layout.

 

 

   

 

TUTORIAL 1

CLIFF SPLINES

 

 
 
These cliff splines are designed to assist the modeller in creating more realistic terrain than TRAINZ offers. However they cannot simply be "dropped" into place. To achieve the most realistic result, care and patience is needed when placing the cliffs and moulding the terrain around them. The more time spent, and care taken, in doing this will be reflected in a higher standard of presentation

While the merging is important it is also important to use your imagination and refer to real scenery to see how the cliffs can be mixed and matched to obtain very impressive and realistic cliff faces. Also, if you purchased the Cliffs/Ledges/Rocks combo, take time to look closely at the "Clifton" sample layout for inspiration, for ideas and for examples of what can be achieved with experience.

NOTE

When inserting cliff splines the location of the "spline points" is important for height and position manipulation. If you cannot see the yellow spline lines, when in the Spline editing menu of Surveyor, you will need to press Ctrl-O to toggle the spline points on.

 

 


 

CONSTRUCTING A CLIFF

 

cliff-const1-500.jpg (51964 bytes) cliff-const4-500.jpg (56010 bytes)
STEP 1 Start by inserting a cliff spline section. (Each section is approximately 4.5 grid lines long)
STEP 2 Add additional spline sections. Mix the different splines randomly and avoid stretching a spline so that it auto-repeats.
cliff-const5-500.jpg (64546 bytes) cliff-const7-500.jpg (57942 bytes)
STEP 3 Adjust the spline point heights up or down to match your terrain requirement
STEP 4 Using the "Plateau" button lift the terrain just above the top of the cliff. Create the plateau as close to the front of the cliff as possible without the terrain appearing through the front of the cliff.
cliff-const8-500.jpg (57942 bytes) cliff-const9-500.jpg (57185 bytes)
STEP 5 Using the "height adjust" tool with the smallest radius pull the terrain "plateau" down until the terrain just feathers the cliff slope face. Avoid a straight edge if possible (EXERCISE AS MUCH CARE AS POSSIBLE TO CREATE A SMOOTH OVERLAP)
STEP 6 Texture the terrain to merge in with the cliff terrain.
 

 

ADDING A TUNNEL

 

tunnel_1-500.jpg (44498 bytes) tunnel_2-500.jpg (60228 bytes)

The low cliff section

STEP 1 Erase the cliff spline where you want to add the tunnel
tunnel_3-500.jpg (61096 bytes) tunnel_4-500.jpg (60436 bytes)
STEP 2 Join in the low cliff section in.
STEP 3 Add the tunnel spline
tunnel_5-500.jpg (64247 bytes) tunnel_6-500.jpg (64764 bytes)
STEP 4 Place another low cliff spline in front of the cliff and adjust the height. Drag the low cliff spline into place and carry out any final height correction
STEP 5 Place a further low cliff spline in front of the cliff and adjust the height. Drag the low cliff spline into place and carry out any final height correction
tunnel_9-500.jpg (67178 bytes) tunnel_cliff_10-500.jpg (59814 bytes)
STEP 6 Add additional cliff splines to fill the gaps on either side of the tunnel portal
STEP 7 Lift the terrain either side of the tunnel entrance and texture

 


 

ERASING A CLIFF SPLINE

 

cliff_erase-500.jpg (51103 bytes)
To erase a cliff spline pick the spline at a point just in front of the top of the cliff (between the spline arrow heads)
 
IMPORTANT TIPS
  1. When you first use enter Surveyor you may experience some delay with the Basic, End and Start sections appearing on your screen once placed. This delay is dependant on the speed of your hard-drive and the amount of content that you are loading into memory. ONCE ALL CONTENT HAS BEEN PLACED INTO MEMORY THIS DELAY WILL CEASE.
  2. If you want to start (or end) your spline close to the end of an "existing" spline, BUT DON'T WANT TO CONNECT TO THE EXISTING SPLINE, hold the "Shift" key down to keep them separate.
  3. When picking spline points close to existing splines (including track) hold the "shift" key down otherwise the spline point you pick will not work.

 

 

 

TUTORIAL 2

RAIL LEDGE SPLINES

 

 
 
This is just a guide and with experience you will develop an installation sequence that you are most comfortable with.

Aim to mix and match the different rail spline sections as much, and as randomly, as possible and avoid stretching a spline to the point where it auto-repeats

NOTE

When inserting cliff splines the location of the "spline points" is important for height and position manipulation. If you cannot see the yellow spline lines, when in the Spline editing menu of Surveyor, you will need to press Ctrl-O to toggle the spline points on.

ledge_end_install1-500.jpg (53170 bytes) ledge_end_install2-500.jpg (54301 bytes)
STEP 1 Place  "Cliff Ledge rail" start or end block (if required). This is a static object, not a tracked spline, and is found separately in Surveyor on the object menu under SG_Ledge
STEP 2 UTC - Lift the terrain height to lift the start/end blocks to their correct height

TRS2004 - Use the height adjustment button to lift the start/end blocks to their correct height. (If you require additional height you will need to lift the terrain as well)

ledge_end_install3-500.jpg (54234 bytes) ledge_end_install4-500.jpg (57206 bytes)
STEP 3 Place the Ledge Rail spline
STEP 4 Lift the Ledge Rail spline by adjusting the spline point at each end.
ledge_end_install5-500.jpg (63303 bytes) ledge_end_install6-500.jpg (64507 bytes)
STEP 5 Drag the spline into the Start/End block
STEP 6 Raise or lower the Start/End block until the track is just sitting on the plateau.
ledge_end_install7-500.jpg (63161 bytes)
STEP 7 If you've purchased the cliff splines you can add these as a backdrop to the Cliff Ledge Rail Splines for more realism.
 

 

IMPORTANT TIPS
  1. When you first use enter Surveyor you may experience some delay with the Basic, End and Start sections appearing on your screen once placed. This delay is dependant on the speed of your hard-drive and the amount of content that you are loading into memory. ONCE ALL CONTENT HAS BEEN PLACED INTO MEMORY THIS DELAY WILL CEASE.
  2. If you want to start (or end) your spline close to the end of an "existing" spline, BUT DON'T WANT TO CONNECT TO THE EXISTING SPLINE, hold the "Shift" key down to keep them separate.
  3. When picking spline points close to existing splines (including track) hold the "shift" key down otherwise the spline point you pick will not work.

ALTERNATE TRACK

Below is an example of a Config.txt file for the Cliff Ledge Rail Splines showing the line that will need to be changed if you wish to use an alternate track. If you are unsure of the kuid number of the ledges that you want to alter you can refer to the KUID REGISTER page on trainzone. (Use the search option on that page and type in the description name that shows in Surveyor for the specific ledge you wish to change)

To change the track all that has to be done is to change the kuid number, shown below in red, to that of the the track you wish to use. If you select a ledge type with track similar to the type you wish to replace it with you can avoid changing the "Trackoffsets"

(Note that  the track itself must also be installed for it to work)

 

 
 

kind bridge

region SG_ledge

type Standard 2T

category-class TB

height -10

length 36.576

istrack 1

bendy 1

repeats 1

bridgetrack <KUID:-1:15> Kuid number to be changed

trackoffsets -2.5,2.5

kuid-table {

}

obsolete-table {

}

trainz-build 1.3

category-region-0 UK

category-era-0

description Ledge Track

asset-filename ledge-a4-std2t

username ledge-a4-std2t

kuid <KUID:47439:38009> Do not alter this kuid number