220hotwheels

Yet more learning this evening. That's great, thanks. I'll give it a try now. Pete

Hi Goetz As you rightly stated, it's not good to assume anything even if at the time it sounds logical. Your example above seems to be just the ticket, so to speak, I have only one extra small favour to ask. Would it be possible to provide a larger screen shot of your EV please. I can almost follow the one above but not too sure on one or two bits. Old eyesight does have it's drawbacks!! I'll let you know how I get on over the next day or so. Pete

HI Douglas Just taken a good look at the demo you sent me. Whilst it may well solve issues with general junctions for later I cannot figure out how to adapt it for traffic light control. Perhaps I'm missing something, you know me, at times a lead short of a pencil!!! Pete

Hi Douglas That's brilliant, many thanks. I'll take a look in the next hour and get back to you if I have any questions. My attempt thus far has got the vehicles to stop on red and go on green just so long as I operate the traffic lights manually, not really ideal. I'll get back to you later. Pete

Hi Everyone To many of you the question that I am about to ask will probably have a very simply and maybe obvious answer but I am afraid to me it does not. The basic principle would seem to be relatively logical but putting that into practice is proving to be less straightforward. I wish to set up a traffic light system to control road vehicles. Whilst my layout has many complicated junctions generated in V6 I have concluded that if I can sort out the basics for one simple 'T' junction using V7 components then all of the rest will follow even if it means redoing all other junctions. My conclusion thus far is to assume that control comes in two parts. The first to set the traffic lights to change from red to amber/green or visa versa. This I assume would be done in the form of a timer so that the two lights on the main road would be "connected" and therefore work simultaneously with the one controlling the traffic from the side road changing in reverse to the other two but still at the same time. Part two, I assume, is to tell the respective vehicles to stop or start at the appropriate time using a suitable variable. If the basic principle is right then I am at somewhat of a loss as to just how to achieve this in EV. I've looked through and tried various options but so far got no where. Any guidance that anyone can offer would be most appreciated but please keep said advice as simple as possible, assume you are dealing with a complete novice when it comes to EV work. I have attached a screenshot of the junction involved Kind regards Pete

Good morning to both Goetz and Simon Having slept on the above problem I concluded that I should remove the roundabout and replace it with a crossroads in an effort to see if that solved the problem of not being able to produce a complete round trip route that would provide a trouble free route for my bus. It has worked, eureka, and whilst that problem is solved it still begs the question why does the roundabout cause this issue? A problem for another day I think. Pete

Hi Simon and @Goetz Thanks for the additional information. It will prove to be most useful when I eventually get to that point. For now I continue with my struggle to solve the basics. Having spent all of last night working diligently through the route for my bus I did find that some of the road sections had nor converted over properly from V6 to V7 and so with the help of a spreadsheet I was able to check each section, methodically, and correct those that were not quite right. Having done so I was able to set a complete route from start to finish. However as there is a roundabout involved I found that the bus would negotiate the roundabout OK on it's way out but on it's return it got confused as to just which way to go. My solution was to set the route in two halves. A route out and a route back. In order to set the second part I found it necessary to delete the last waypoint for out route. With the return route set I waited for the bus to return to it's start point, which it did and stopped in the bus station for it's allotted time as per the E.M. All once again seemed fine. The bus set off once more on it's journey but as soon as it encountered the first junction, the one back into the bus station, it simply selected that route and returned. I have included screenshots that I hope will help to explain this. I have looked at the junction itself and it is set at '0' which should send the bus nicely on it's way. I first encountered this problem whilst the return route was highlighted in green and therefore deleted the final waypoint for that section, the stop contact in the bust station. Clearly there is something else that I need to do in order to complete and secure this route but at present I cannot figure it out. Any thoughts please. Kind regards Pete

Hi Douglas You should know me by now!! "Two feet into the pond Pete" is my nickname. I have always taken the view that the quickest way to learn anything is to jump in at the deep end, make all the mistakes imaginable and as you start to put them right then the solution sinks in quicker. Perhaps it is not the most scientific way, it certainly isn't the best use of time but then I have plenty of the latter. I will now move forward with the advice from Goetz and hope that I get my bus to completing it's round trip without too many disgruntled passengers!!! Yes I have included passengers in the bus this time, the bus tickets are much cheaper than those for the train!! kinr regards Pete

Brilliant. Many thanks for that. The drawing board awaits once again. The lack of a detailed manual is more than made up by you guidance, I just don't like to bother you or other members if I can avoid it. Many thanks Pete

Hi Goetz and @simonjackson1964 Perhaps I am overthinking setting waypoints, or perhaps I am simply missing the point of what constitutes a junction but thus far I have been unable to complete my circular route. The aim is to set a route for a bus from point A to B, C and then return to A. The route itself is quite involved and covers some distance. I can get from A to B to C and begin the return to A having only selected 4 track contacts (waypoints or junctions) I'm not sure. However as soon as I try to select another TC the route is lost and I am told there are too many junctions. What is just a little frustrating is the fact that of the so called 3 remaining "waypoints or junctions" to make up the so called 7 I would only need 2 to get back to my start point. Having completed the route up to point C I have then selected apply to see if that helps, which I assume saves the route but if I then try to continue from that point I simply delete all of the previous route. I am sure I would not be alone in saying that the most difficult part of learning this hobby is the lack of a detailed manual. That said I do fully understand the difficulties that producing such a document might entail. I recently bought a new Samsung smartphone, which came without any manual whatsoever. Much of the aspect of said phone are fairly straightforward to follow but to get the best out of it I decided to work through the manual, all 168 pages which I had to download. Having done so I have been able to learn much more about the phone and to remove all that I do not want whilst tweaking aspects that I do want. Anyway back to my current problem. I hate to take up anymore of your time but I would really appreciate an additional pointer in order to get me started on redoing much of my road functions. Sort out one round trip route and all others will follow in time. Kind regards Pete p.s. to Simon, your advice sounds most logical and as Goetz has already commented 'a smart approach'. I might be able to take advantage of it in a month or so !!!

Once again many thanks for that. The first option is clear and fully understood. The second might take me a little longer to fully understand but time is a great teacher so I'll sort out the first option as priority one and the second one in the fullness of time. Kind regards Pete

A most sensible approach, thank you. I have one further question if I may. The destination route is shown in green when the vehicle to follow that route is highlighted. When the vehicle is not highlighted the destination route does nor appear. I assume therefore that the initial control of the vehicle is within the E.M. I note that for the trains the orange route only appears when the actual route is chosen in the routes list but there is no such lists for vehicle and their destinations. Kind regards Pete

Hi Goetz Your description is not confusing at all. Many thanks for clarifying this point. Since posting my question I had begun to play around with the little target icon but in conjunction with the route also. I did eventually get to my destination but I think it was very much by chance rather than good management. I will now go back to the beginning and do it properly. One point that did keep coming up was an error message saying that there were, "too many junctions", I think that was it. No doubt I have been trying to do too much in one go so hopefully my next attempt will be somewhat more professional and successful. Many thanks Pete

Hi Having spent some time getting to grips with the new elements of scenery properties with V7 I have started to try to understand other elements and have begun with setting a simple road journey from point A to point B. Setting the actual route seemed straightforward enough and all seemed to be going well until I encountered a roundabout. As can be seem from the screenshot the route is clearly highlighted but as soon as a vehicle enters the roundabout it immediately heads for the first exit and ignores the given route. I have looked through some of the video's posted in an effort to see if I can find a solution but thus far all in vein. For my sins I regret I cannot speak German and whilst it is almost possible to follow the progress on the video the finer detail is somewhat lost as I cannot fully understand either the spoken word or follow too closely the drop down E.M elements. Anyway if I can solve one problem then it might just provide the solution to ongoing problems with these new routes and so if any of you very knowledgeable members can shed light on the solution to my immediate dilemma I would be very grateful. Kind regards Pete

Hi Neo Knuckles duly wrapped if I have jumped the gun but after only a very brief glace through V7 I have to say that it seems to have surpassed all expectations. Great improvement on V6, brilliant. I'm sure there are many like me who will put up with the fixes to follow element just to be able to explore the new version. Kind regards Pete

Hi to all my fellow enthusiasts. The long awaited V7 version is now available so for those interested in the upgrade here is a link that will get you started. https://community.3d-modellbahn.de/wiki/allgemein/%C3%BCbersicht-%C3%BCber-die-neuen-funktionen-v7-r33/ Enjoy. I'm sure I will, from a brief glance there are some amazing treats in store. I only hope those with larger layouts such as mine have been accommodated. Only time will tell as I work through all of the goodies. Pete

Hi Hubert Once again many thanks for at least considering this for a potential future build. I fully understand that it is not a priority but just a small seed for possible future consideration. Kind regards Pete

@hubert.visschedijk Hi hubert As promised I have put together a few photo's for you to consider. I fully understand there is no obligation on your part and even if you were to consider producing anything along these lines it is likely to be well into the future, so many, many thanks for even considering this request. Kind regards Pete

Hi Hubert Everything with me is usually by luck rather than good management, but hey if it works, no problem. Kind regards Pete

Hi Simon Many thanks for both of your replies. I assume Douglas will pick these up and comment further. This is not something that I am currently involved with but no doubt in the future I have this as a reference point. Kind regards Pete

Hi Hubert I'd wondered how that element worked having noticed such items in earlier posts. What do they say "A day without learning is a day lost" true, but with such good members as there are in MBS then not many days are lost. Many thanks for the pointer. I will get back to you with those photo's a.s.a.p. By the way I have added street lighting to your suspension bridge. It looks great. See attached. Your comment regarding the third track in the ferry. I hadn't noticed but now you have pointed this out I will have to reconsider that aspect. Kind regards Pete

Hi Douglas A very good friend of mine has seen your post and sent me a solution that he feels will solve your predicament. I'm not sure if this message is a duplication of one that I was compiling several minutes ago so if it is then my apologies but I could not find how to include an attachment in that one so it might simply have been deleted. Anyway attached is what my good friend feels should be OK. None of this is my work, I'm not cleaver enough (yet), perhaps in another 5 years!!! Hope it helps. Kind regards Pete Signal Speed distribution.mbp

Hi Hubert Yep I agree the Titanic is good. Perhaps because it is less modern than your containership the appeal is not as intense but I only include in my layouts those models that I find really appealing so I think a good result all round. Over the next few days I will sort out some pictures of the two items that I mention in earlier posts for your consideration, and yes I do appreciate if you were to consider making such items that it will not be a quick result. As they say "patience is a virtue". I might not be all that virtuous but I can be very patient. Your MS Aguamarin 11 ferry is excellent. I like the fact that you can load both vehicles and containers so it will stay in the layout no matter what. Kind regards Pete

Just a short postscript to the above. I realise that Ferry 2 is your design too, I'm using that in my layout as you know but compared to the look of Containership Ituana it does not have quite the same visual appeal. Perhaps my view is wrong to compare the two but in my humble opinion the detail in Ituana is greater than in Ferry 2. Having now dug myself into a very large hole I will jump in and operate the digger by remote !!! kind regards Pete

Hi Hubert It has only just dawned on me that you are the author of the containership Ituana. The number of times I have looked at that in the catalogue without it actually registering who had produced it. May I say that in my humble opinion it is the best model boat in the catalogue. The detail is spectacular, and the overall design is so realistic. Much like your Shell tanker. If I had a request for you to consider for the future it would be for you to apply your brilliant design ability to creating a similarly realistic small cruiser and ferry. Whilst the ones currently available are pretty good if you were able to produce something as perfect as Ituana for those models then I for one would be eternally grateful. I've looked at programs such as blender, gulped, decided that I definitely do not have the skill set to produce anything other than perhaps a box, hmmmm., and closed the program, got myself a brandy to pacify my inadequacy and move back to creating scenery which is more my style. Anyway all of the above is just a thought but I admire your skill never the less. Kind regards Pete