Animating side doors

[eyore]

Working on a YBQ sturgeon and was wondering if the side doors could be animated to open when the consist is at a work site?

The animation is simple, but I guess the passenger stock animated door system won't work as the consist won't be at a platform. So, a keyboard call to run the animation seems the likely way to go, but my knowledge of lua is famously awful, so wondered if anyone could comment on the possibility of this idea working?

[AndiS]

I can only comment on your image not working.
All I see is "You are not authorised to view this image!"
I never came across this. But then again, I just upload as attachment.

The answer to the original question will be: Yes you can. But how exactly it is set up to work is not something I could say from the top of my head. I guess you need a controller that reacts to the key press and then some OnControllerChange to start the animation if the controller state changed because of your key press and then you inch the animation forward in Update. You can copy this last bit from semaphores, but better from some example of rolling stock that will be nearer to what you do here.

[VictoryWorks]

The problem is that the wagon itself doesn't have controls you can interact with of any kind, so the firing control would need to be added to the loco that pulls it and then could be passed to the wagon - either via consist messages, which is risky as those can break if a wagon in between doesn't pass messages on, or by the reliable global consist control which is what we use on the TPO coaches.

If you can think of a standard control that could be used then it's possible for all player locos to do it - 3 short toots on a whistle/horn for example. Otherwise every engine that you want to have the capability will need to be modified with the added control and key combo to fire it which is not very practical in this case.

The other thought is to have an option in the wagon numbering so at least when a group of them are placed as scenery at a work site you can set them to appear as open.

[eyore]

Thanks Pete, I guess that explains why it hasn't been done before.

[AndiS]

Now you know why I referred to others. I had been under the impression that you can have controllers in wagons or coaches. But maybe that was just the build-in door controls? No idea.

Yeah, messages are a pain because scenario creators will not love to run lists of what is compatible with what.

Nice idea with the number to control static stock.
Recently it dawned to me how much variability we give away be not having all the scenery with some scenario-dependent feature - exactly like open doors. Of course, it would require a bit of scripting. But imagine all the near buildings having windows and doors open or closed to taste of scenario creator, or midground buildings having different windows lit at different times. Or workshops being lit in the evening but not at night.

Maybe just dream mode, but the wagon at hand is a good example of the steps towards realism that are just within reach, or just beyond.

[Auscgu]

The shunting wagon from Sim Nation has an opening tool box door linked to the Hand brake
I asked if is could be made independent but the answer came back this is the only way to activate for a wagon
The control blue print is for the brake
The animation for the brake has the door animation as well
Certainly works and the only opening door that I know off
You can apply the brake through the HUD on the loco before uncoupling
Easy as and an existing control point for a wagon
Check out the image

Hope this helps
Ausc

[eyore]

Thanks for that information - worked a treat!

[VictoryWorks]

Well done, looks very nice indeed.

[sumitsingh]

Great modeling.

[neoma]

One question Phill ...
how did you manage to animate the sides of the wagon?
Is there a LUA script to insert?

Thanks