Avenue Railroad Crossings

Frankie · April 07, 2007, 09:02:22 AM

Well, I was playing SC4 the other day, when I realized, I hate wig-wag style crossing gates. They are cool for older cities from the 1930's-1950's, but not for those of us with modern cities. Here's what I went for:

It looks good for urban areas no?

Here's what I got:

Fukuda was kind enough to mod the test models for me:

and now it looks like:

I was wondering if I could get some suggestions on how to make it better, or any other criticisms you may have (feel free to be as critical as you want, I want to hear it). I'm still a BAT beginner though, so have a little mercy

I have absolutely no idea how to animate, so I just made the lights static, same with a crossing gate if I do add one eventually.

Let me know what you think.

-Frankie

meinhosen · April 07, 2007, 09:18:57 AM

Frankie,

those crossing arms are looking pretty good. I've seen (have) a mod that changes those wig-wags into the regular crossing gates, and I'm pretty sure that you could make those show up on RR crossings.

One suggestion: add in a gate. No need to animate it, but it would add to the already excellent model you've produced.

Great work! I'll be keeping an eye on this

wouanagaine · April 07, 2007, 09:19:38 AM

Looks good to me
Maybe you can put an underground passage for sims ?

BigSlark · April 07, 2007, 11:46:22 AM

Great start Frankie! Now from the depths of my memory...

In the RHW thread on ST someone had made AMAZING models and there were plans to have them as Type 21's on the RHW. Unfortunately, I don't remember what happened to the project. I'd say its around page 35 or so if you want to check it out.

Good luck.

Cheers,
Kevin

Frankie · April 07, 2007, 11:50:30 AM

Meinhosen: I too have seen such a mod. However, usually busy city crossings have the gantry too

wouanagaine: please elaborate, do you mean a small pedestrian tunnel?

BigSlark: lol, I was posting an update when you posted. I recall pics on the RHW thread of these such gantrys, however I made my own anyway. I will look at the thread, if you find them first, feel free to post pics here

If the models are still floating about, then they can modded onto the avenue network tile.

Anyway, i made some gates, static of course, but they are gates none the less. Besides, most SC4 tracks are more empty than occupied anyway

I hope it's what you meant, meinhosen.

Now, with that, I believe these are already finished, they still seem to be missing something though...

-Frankie

sebes · April 07, 2007, 11:51:54 AM

They look goooood

Frankie · April 07, 2007, 08:46:05 PM

sebes: Thanks!

Oh, and progress:

Here's what I have (with thanks to fukuda for modding them

)

They also look quite good in a suburban setting:

Well, what do you all think?

derek_pearce · April 07, 2007, 09:10:11 PM

wow great job frankie perfecto

EDGE4194 · April 07, 2007, 09:17:54 PM

Frankie- I hadn't realized these were missing, you are so right! They look great- good job

Bobbo · April 07, 2007, 10:00:11 PM

I agree Frankie, I think this is excellent - great job!

Gecko · April 07, 2007, 10:10:30 PM

it is very nice, but shouldn't there be a striped bar that extends out when a train is coming, so the cars don't just drive out in front of the railcars?

Swamper77 · April 07, 2007, 11:19:02 PM

Gecko,

BAT models can't be animated. They are fixed (static) models.

-Swamper77

jeronij · April 08, 2007, 04:32:53 AM

Frankie, the models are looking really nice and eye-candy. I like them. How do you plan to release them?. A TE lot?, a mod that replaces all the rail/avenue intersections?, just curiosity

Shadow Assassin · April 08, 2007, 05:56:05 AM

QuoteBAT models can't be animated. They are fixed (static) models.

However, there is a way, but it involves rendering multiple models (ie. gate up, gate down - lights flashing), and putting them as an animation.

Frankie · April 08, 2007, 06:30:40 PM

I'll go ahead and make some quick responses:

derek_pearce: thanks!

EDGE4194: i couldn't help but notice they were missing! lol

Bobbo: Thank You! Took a bit of work getting these right, especially with the scaling issue

but I think they turned out quite well

Gecko: Well I did include the gates, in the upright position, animation is not exactly easy...(for me anyway)

Swamper77: Well they can be to an extent, but it is no easy process

jeronij: Thanks, i'm glad you like these

I plan to release them as a mod, completely replacing the default rail/avenue intersections

Shadow Assassin: Indeed, and rendering that many models is a slow and painful process, especially if one wanted to make it look good.

Currently trying to work out some kinks in the modding, should see some updates soon if all goes well.

bat · April 09, 2007, 02:39:30 AM

That is looking very great, Frankie!

EDGE4194 · April 09, 2007, 04:58:51 AM

The only problem with a mod, is that all will be replaced. These wouldn't look right in the rural/farming areas. I would like to use these but only in the urban areas and only for more more modern time periods. A TE lot would make it easier to control where they appear- just a suggestion...

Zaphod · April 10, 2007, 09:50:20 PM

Release these NOW!

now i say! nooowwwww!

lol

I wouldnt mind a mod converting all crossings to this type, though I understand some would want a TE lot

Swamper77 · April 11, 2007, 07:39:07 PM

Quote from: EDGE4194 on April 09, 2007, 04:58:51 AM
The only problem with a mod, is that all will be replaced. These wouldn't look right in the rural/farming areas. I would like to use these but only in the urban areas and only for more more modern time periods. A TE lot would make it easier to control where they appear- just a suggestion...

Actually, Network Tiles (which are what the Type 21 exemplars are) can be defined for specific zones and wealth levels. So a separate version will need to be created to not replace every instance of the avenue railroad crossings with the new gantries.

-Swamper77

ussagus · April 12, 2007, 11:09:34 AM

Very nice Frankie...It's great...

Saludos