PaulvMontfort Bridges

PaulvMontfort · September 21, 2007, 02:30:03 PM

I made this recreation of a railroad bridge in the south of France not to far north of the Millau Viaduct. It was built by Gustav Eiffel. I was wondering if it is possible to mod it for use in Simcity. There's one problem though. The deck is wide enough for only one railway track. The real one is single track as well. Is it possible to have a bridge with a single track in Simcity? There might be some other issues as well.

Anyway, here are some pics.

Xiziz · September 21, 2007, 02:52:20 PM

I sure hope its possible, that Viaduct looks really nice! id love to see it ingame ^__^

Kitsune · September 21, 2007, 05:58:06 PM

Well the start piece would have to blend the two tracks into one, but can one track be transit enabled for two way traffic, I think that would be the issue.

Shadow Assassin · September 21, 2007, 06:58:51 PM

It could probably be widened to two tracks, which is probably an easy thing to do?

PaulvMontfort · September 22, 2007, 01:39:16 AM

Quote from: Shadow Assassin on September 21, 2007, 06:58:51 PM
It could probably be widened to two tracks, which is probably an easy thing to do?

I did thought about that, but I really don't want to ruin the esthetics of the bridge...

Tarkus · September 22, 2007, 02:06:41 AM

This is a very nice bridge you have here, PaulvMontfort.

Regarding the issues with the Rail network, with all this puzzle drag technology that we've been messing around with for the NAM, it's definitely possible that we could use it to create a "new" single-track railroad network. The idea has been tossed around some already. This would be the perfect excuse to do it

(though we would need a texture artist).

-Alex (Tarkus)

Yoman · September 22, 2007, 08:20:40 AM

Ive known about this bridge forever, kind of the prototype for Gustav Eiffel's work with iron on the Effiel tower. And you've modeled it spot on, very impressive

Madeira aka Constantina · September 22, 2007, 10:33:56 AM

very accurate and impressive

threestooges · September 22, 2007, 01:10:01 PM

Very impressive and detailed work. As far as I am aware, single track working rail is not a function thing yet (if in fact anyone is working on it). However, Expanding that to two tracks wouldn't necessarily be all that bad, and would be a great addition to the game. How long did that take you to model anyway?

Xiziz · September 22, 2007, 01:44:07 PM

im guessing it should be able to mod the paths with a "stoplight" that visually stops trains from running across in one direction while a train is traveling the other and vice versa.
Though ive never even touched the path things, so i dont really know if its possible

jeronij · September 22, 2007, 02:18:20 PM

Hello Paul, this is a very detailed and nice model. It would be great to see it in the game

However, SC4 is very strict when it comes to transit networks and sizes

The bridge should be created with 16x16 meters pieces in mind. Every section of the bridge must be 16 meters long, or a multiple of this number, 32, 48 ... and 16 meters width.
The bridge should be changed into a double railroadbridge to have a chance to see it in the game. Puzzle pieces and probably something more would be necessary... adn at least in theBridge Engineering Departement there is no such a capability

I dont know if these changes are posible technically ( specilly due to the real bridge model dimensions which are unknown ) and I shoud have to have a look to the model to see if it would be possible ( you can PM a link to the model if you want, MAX7/GMAX) .
I would not worry much about the aesthetics of the bridge... anyway the SC4 perspective will ruin it

PaulvMontfort · September 22, 2007, 02:46:39 PM

I modelled the bridge keeping the 16m rules in mind, so that shouldn't be a problem

.
here's a screen to show you how. The grid is set to 16m:

Sorry I can't send you a model. I made it with 3dsmax 9.

EDIT: I could send you a 3ds file though

jeronij · September 22, 2007, 03:00:31 PM

Quote from: PaulvMontfort on September 22, 2007, 02:46:39 PM
EDIT: I could send you a 3ds file though

Why not

?¿

PaulvMontfort · September 22, 2007, 03:48:33 PM

ok, i sent you a PM

jeronij · September 29, 2007, 07:28:56 AM

For the members still interested in this project....

This is an alternative version to the original one. I still have tofigure out how to mod other less geometrical versions....

Yes, I know, these are some worried testing pictures, just to fix everything, the bridge pieces, the way the LODs fit with the terrain and the water, correcting the Maxis pylons dimensions to make them fit with the bridge ones, and how the bridge behaves both in land and in water.... I hope you dont mind....

This is only a test render version I made to be able to create the mod. PaulvMontfort will make the final render, hopefully better than this one

PaulvMontfort · September 29, 2007, 07:35:01 AM

Thanks Jeronij. It might take a while for me to come up with the final result since I'm still experimenting with Mental Ray settings and nightlighting. BTW, I really like those textures you used. Are you willing to send them to me? That way I can make use them on the bridge since my own textures aren't very good

jeronij · September 29, 2007, 08:05:37 AM

I made a previous render using Catmull-Rom as the renderer, but the final result was not good with this model. Way too edged in game

. For the pictures I used the area filter, but the result is not exactly spectacular

... I hope you find the way to render it properly

I will pack and send you the textures asap

Kitsune · September 29, 2007, 08:16:36 AM

Will the arch still get thrown in somehow?

Pat · September 29, 2007, 09:05:07 AM

Ooooooh wow paul and jeroni that bridge is simply amazing!!!!

Shadow Assassin · September 30, 2007, 02:59:06 AM

Looks wonderful.

Jeronij, have you thought about using a custom retaining wall for that bridge? It'd look much better than the default blocky pylons.