I hope to create a tutorial that demonstrates the process of creating a forward facing tree in blender for use in TrainSimulator. The videos will be pretty much as they happen (so I apologise straight away for any long pauses, umm's, ahh's etc whilst I work out what I am doing!). I am not a Blender expert by any stretch of the imagination but hopefully I can pass on a little of what I have learnt.
There is a lot to be said for the feeling of satisfaction when you get your first object into the game.
Here is the complete playlist of videos from Part 1 to 5.
Note:
The source files for everything you see created in the various videos is available at the bottom of this post.
Part 1: Downloading and Installing Blender
- Download blender
- Install Blender
Part 2: Installing the TS20XX Exporter
- Download the blender exporter
- Extract the contents of the ZIP
- Copy and paste the following two files to your blender addons folder (normally C:\Program Files\Blender Foundation\Blender\**VERSION**\scripts\addons)
- io_export_ia.py
- io_export_igs.py
- Enable the exporter addons by:
- Selecting File --> User Preferences
- Addons Tab
- Click "Refresh" button at bottom
- Enable the two addons called Import-Export: IA Model Format (.ia) and Import-Export: IGS Model Format (.igs)
Part 3: Creating your Forward Facing Tree
- Delete the cube that is loaded automatically as part of the default blender new object (right click and press X)
- Press CTRL + Num Pad 1 to change to back view
- Add a new plane, align it to view. This will be the forward facing plane
- Save at this point into your source folder as follows:
Railworks\Source\**DEVELOPER**\**PRODUCT**\Scenary\**WHAT EVER YOU WANT** - Name the new object according to the TrainSimulator requirements (1_1000_FFTree for example)
- Resize the plane as needed (switch to edit mode using TAB, select the vertex's using box select, press G to grab them and lock them to one of the axis using X, Y or Z)
- Create a new material for the plane
- Assign a shader in the first texture slot called: TrainUprightViewFacingFlora.fx
- Create a simple texture and save it into a subfolder called Textures (attached is my simple texture if you prefer)
- Assign your texture in the second slot.
- Enable the alpha channel for the texture and the 3D renderer (watch video as several stages involved)
- Create a new Cube object. This will be the selection box.
- Name the new object according to the TrainSimulator requirements (1_1000_Select for example)
- Assing a new material to the object
- Assign a shader in the first texture slot called Invisible
- Assign the texture you used for the plane in the second slot (a texture is needed even though it is invisible)
- Select the plane in object view and apply rotation and scale transforms (CTRL + A --> Apply Rotation and Scale)
- Repeat the above step for the selection box
- Move the object origin for each object to the geometry centre (Select the object in object mode, Object Menu --> Transform --> Origin to Geometry)
- Save the model
Part 4: Exporting the Forward Facing Tree
- Choose File --> Export --> TS20XX IGS (.igs)
Part 5: Creating the Blueprint and Exporting into Train Simulator
- Load up blueprint editor 2 (BlueprintEditor2.exe in your RailWorks folder)
- Create a new Scenery Blueprint
- Give it a name, browser name and assign the igs file to the geometry setting
- Use RWAceTool to convert your png texture to an ACE format
- Export the blueprint
- Load TrainSimulator
- Create a new test route
- Enable your developer filter
- Cross fingers and find you tree in the asset list
- If it works feel a sense of accomplishment at your hard work! If not don't give up. Try again or ask for help on TrainSimDev.com