220hotwheels

Hi Andy Not too sure how to best understand your comment in the last paragraph, I'll just have to think about it a bit longer, that's the problem when your brain gets to 75 yrs, it slows down and need constant prodding or another beer!!! I have applied your suggestion though to my main layout and hey presto all works fine. Just one further thought. I have created quite a complex control panel in order to keep tabs on all moving objects with lights highlighting just where everything is, mainly car, trucks, busses, boats, cranes etc and now helicopters. So far I have used the switch that I added to my helicopter demo which seems to do the job of turning each thing on and off when required. Would you recommend that I consider changing these switches to your taster? Cheers Pete

Hi Andy What can I say other than brilliant. As with so many things in this life the solution is often so simple. I've spent around 4 hours trying to solve what you have clearly sorted in a matter of minutes. I look forward to the time when my knowledge base of this hobby is even partly comparable to guys like you. Once again many thanks. Cheers Pete

Hi everyone I am trying to introduce another element to my layout by adding a helicopter. Setting out a suitable flightpath is straightforward, the helicopter to follow said flightpath is also no problem. Where I am struggling is in getting the rotors to start and stop automatically. No matter what I have tried so far I just cannot get it right. If I use the "stop animation" as the helicopter comes into land then yes the rotors will stop but then the helicopter won't start up again. I am sure there is a very simple solution to this but so far it is escaping me so if anyone has the answer I would be most grateful. I have attached a small demo which I hope will show my problem. Cheers Pete Helicopter demo.mbp

That's brilliant, many thanks Goetz. Clearly I hadn't delved deep enough in order to find the solution. I've been noting some of your answers to other questions asked on the forum. You are clearly someone with an immense knowledge of this hobby which is most fortunate for those like me. Cheers Pete

Hi everyone Now this might be a daft question but I hope someone out there has a simple solution. In V6 there is the really useful facility as shown in the title to this enquiry. What I would like to know is can this be turned on and off through EM. At the moment if I reverse a car into a garage it stops too soon, before the contact. The same happens if a vehicle reverses up to a wall. I would therefore like to be able to incorporate turning this aspect off when undertaking such operations and then turn it back on as the vehicle leaves the garage. I've looked through the various elements of EM but cannot see anything that points to being able to do this. There is the ability to enable or disable coupling but that is quite different. Cheers Pete

You're so very right Eric I took semi retirement back in 2006 and have never really stopped since. MBS is, however, a really good distraction from much of every day life. I find that I spend anything up to 5, 6 hours each day/evening simply creating a layout that would be impossible to do so in reality. Like you when I started I found everything so strange. I read through the manual and experimented to learn how to create scenery, alter track and roads, place objects and if necessary adjust their sizes before getting into Event Management (EM) in order to program the automatic movement of trains, cars, people, cranes, level crossings etc. Even after almost two years I still have so much to learn and receive much assistance from others, much more knowledgeable than me. So stick with it, help is always at hand. All the very best Pete

Hi Eric I too am of a similar age to you. I found 3D Train Studio in early 2019, it was version 4 then, and I've been hooked ever since. My layouts too are a bit on the large size but my computer seems to cope although there were times when, with version 5 the frames per second began to nudge into the low 30's but version 6 seems to have improved this no end. Like you too I had many questions, which looking back were pretty daft as many of the answers were so simple once they were pointed out to you. I've had and am still getting invaluable help from fellow members who constantly point me in the right direction and show me the error of my ways. My philosophy has always been one of jump in with both feet. If you make a mess then it's easier to put right on a computer than in reality so just go for it. When you really get stuck just ask other members and as Goetz has already said we are all here to help. We like answering all the daft questions as well as the more awkward ones. I'm still a newbie at this game so my limitation might just be with the daft questions, guys like Goetz and many others are much more knowledgeable so when I get really stuck I just ask and someone will have the answer for you. Happy 3D Train modelling. Once you master the basics it really is great fun and it's surprising just what you can create with a bit of imagination, time and patience. Pete

Hi Hubert You are absolutely right there. The delete button and copy and paste are far less harmful than a hammer, nails and glue. As with most things to do with computers though you need at least half a brain and sometimes I think mine's gone into hibernation!!! Kind regards Pete Hi Hubert Sie sind genau richtig. Die Löschtaste und Kopieren und Einfügen sind weit weniger schädlich als ein Hammer, Nägel und Kleber. Wie bei den meisten Dingen, die mit Computern zu tun haben, obwohl du mindestens ein halbes Gehirn brauchst und manchmal denke ich, dass ich in den Winterschlaf gegangen bin!!! Herzliche Grüße Pete

Hi Hubert Thanks for the nice comment. It is still very much a work in progress with considerable improvement needed in many areas, but then that's what this hobby is all about, you start simple, you have an idea and then you start to change it as you gain greater knowledge. I must admit that I have received a lot of help and guidance from Tom (Metallix) he has so far kept me on a reasonably straight path although I do tend to stray at times!!!!! In the past I have never really got involved with forums, tending to keep myself very much to myself but I must admit that with this particular hobby the forum just draws you in. My main dilemma, apart from lack of time, is lack of knowledge and therefore lack of confidence. I read some of the questions and comments and feel as though I should be back at primary school, everyone seems to be so switched on with some of the terminology just going completely over my head. In time, no doubt, like most things you gain experience and knowledge and therefore feel confident to contribute more. Cheers, stay safe in these trying times. Pete

Hi Neo I hope the following info will help. I have three main layouts on the go. Fairmont - 2599 kb as mbp ( my first, started in V4 then moved to V5. Nothing much done on it for 9 months as fps too slow) the second is Belfort- 1904 kb (this one I am currently working on the most) fps not too bad seems better with V6 than in V5, the third is Portland - 1370 kb (very much at the early stages). In V5 I have run all three layouts with the delay times after selecting an item of Fairmont 3 secs, Belfort 2 secs and Portland 1 sec. In V6 from the example screen shot that I sent you the delay is 10 secs. My only observation when comparing V5 and V6 is that V5 does not have the event "Train/Vehicle stops" which of course I am using in V6 I have run a similar test in V6 selecting something not covered by the "Train/vehicle stops" and the delay is usually about 3 secs. If there is anything else that I can do to help to resolve this then just let me know. Kind regards Pete

Hi Neo Yes I'll see what I can do. I have to go out for about 2 hours so will have a look when I get back and let you know. Kind regards Pete

Hi Neo I have attached a screenshot which I hope explains. When I select target in order to choose the correct item it now seems to take much longer to select it than it did before, either that or I have got much more inpatient. Either way now I seem to have time for a sip of coffee and a bit of biscuit whereas before I struggled to get the sip of coffee!! Kind regards Pete

Hi Neo Brilliant. That will be a lot quicker than my solution so many thanks for that and for the explanation. Is there a similar simple solution to the delay in selecting items from my database when working with EV. I have only just started to do additional work in this area setting up crane operations and noted that when selecting items it can take much longer for them to be selected than before. Is this down to the size of the data I have amassed? my layouts are not exactly small!! Kind regards Peter

Hi Goetz Thanks for that. I've just tried it but because the latest version is V6 it won't let me open it in V5 and the only V5 version I have of this particular layout is back in July. That one I can load in V5. Clearly my backup process needs to be improved. What I should have done is keep the most recent V5 backup before converting to V6. We live and learn!!! I've already started to touch up my V6 layout, whilst making some improvements to my EV. By the time V7 comes out I might have sorted and got to grips with V6. Cheers Pete

Sorry about that. The only backup copy I have that will run in V5 is one from the 01/07/20, one that you kindly repaired for me. All others have already been converted to V6. Having looked at the attached copy from July I can see areas where the baseboard has not had the same degree of finished texture as in other areas but overall the effect is not as obvious as now. It's as though the depth of texture has blurred. I am also finding when working in EV that it is taking much longer to select items from the data list with V6 Kind regards Pete Belfort V5 for Neo dated 01_07_2020.mbp

Hi Neo I have attached a copy of the backup of V5 taken on the 15th October and the latest one which is V6. I don't seem able to open the V5 version as V5 it simply wants to convert to V6 so I cannot see myself the difference between the two versions. I just know that before V6 the base scenery was more normal. Pete Belfort.mbp Belfort.mbp

Hi Neo I have attached 3 screenshots, I've removed all of the trees and shrubs to give a clearer view, which I hope will give you an idea of my issue. Putting it right is not really a problem, just a bit time consuming although everything that I do at the moment seems to be a work in progress and is therefore constantly being changed. I view it as part of the learning curve but to understand why things happens is perhaps more than half of the battle. I await your views and recommendation. Kind regards Pete

Hi everyone Since upgrading to V6 I have noticed that quite a large amount of my base scenery seems to have developed what I can only describe as cloud or misty blotches. This can be rectified by "repainting" but it is going to take several hours to put right. Has anyone else noticed this or is it just me. Cheers Pete

Thanks for that Neo. Nice to know all is well with the program. I've not had too much time to get to grips with much that is new but I have certainly noticed how much smoother movement around the layout is. I had added some road sections to a trest layout that I am working on so attach this so you can see the problem although I think Metallix might just have given me the answer. He also very kindly pointed me in the right direction for sorting out a crane operation/cargo loading and unloading although I still haven't got the "magic" right to send all the cargo back to their respective start points yet. Many thanks Pete Test layout.mbp

This question sounds really stupid but having spent a couple of hours trying to solve it and getting nowhere I decided to seek help. On previous layouts I have had no problem with roads. I start off with a straight and then edit it to create curves etc. So, if I now take a section of "street" edit its length to say 500mm then add a curve of 150mm x 180 degrees I find that route '0' has changed but routes 1 and two have not. I can change them manually but can only guess at the length required. If I apply the same length as for '0' then the vehicle will not stay on the track. I have looked at road sections in older layouts and can see that the various routes have automatically changed the length to suite the curve. This phenomenon has only become apparent since downloading V6. That said I have gone back to look at layouts in V5 and the same problem is now affecting those layouts if I introduce additional road sections. I must admit that when downloading V6 I did get a malware message telling me not to continue with the download but I chose to ignore it. Perhaps this is my penalty for trusting the 3d Train Studio program rather than my security system. If any one can show me the error of my ways I would be most grateful. Pete

Thanks for that. I now note that V6 will be available in the next few weeks so will check it out then. In the meantime I will continue to refine my V5 version layouts. Cheers Pete

Hi Goetz That's great thanks. I'll have to see if I can upgrade from V5 to V6. I have automatic update enabled but presumably that does not include a version change. The picture of the Messerschmidt brings back memories of the first car that one of my friends bought. It too was one just like this. He used to drive it like an F1 driver and scared the life out of me. They were not the most stable of cars and he was no respecter of corners. His moto being 'flat out at all times' and keep your fingers and legs crossed at the bends. Once again many thanks for the advice. Pete

Hi I wonder if anyone can point me in the right direction of how to have different vehicles travelling on the same road, in the same direction but that they will stop or slow down when the one in front does so. I am aware that there are invisible spacers that will do this, to a point, but I am trying to achieve closer to reality than simply having one follow another like a robot. Ultimately I hope to be able to create a situation where one vehicle can join a road, follow other vehicles but then turn off when it's particular program dictates so that it can then follow a different designated route. Any advice would be greatly appreciated. Pete

Hi Tom It's been a long time since we last spoke. I hope you are well and not having problems with the dredded Coronavirus. Life here in the UK is a bit challenging but then I have 3 D Train Studio to keep me busy. That said I have spent around 1200 hours on the latest layout. I am learning plenty as I go and keep going back to modify earlier efforts when I find a more professional approach to a problem. All was going well until about four hours ago when, whilst doing a routine back up I got an error message telling me that something had gone wrong and to restart the program. No matter what I do I cannot get this particular layout back. I have sent a message back via the error message itself but am unable to send a copy of the layout backup as it is not in mbp format. The file is quite large, 4510 but not as big as the Fairmont one. I have asked if there is anyway that I can send them an email with the file as an attachment but have so far heard nothing. Have you encountered this problem yourself before and if so how did you get round it. It all started when I was modifying some virtual track for pedestrians. I decided that I didn't need two particular junctions and so removed them. Having done so I backed up and in doing so got this error message. I know the problem is not with the actual program because Fairmont will load OK. Any advice that will point me in the right direction would be greatly appreciated. Cheers Pete

Hi Tom I do already run two computers in order to compare certain aspects as I go. I would dearly love not to get involved with Lua and can normally find my way around the graphic EM but this time I was totally stumped as to how to achieve the "Multiple conditions bit in the first line of the Road Traffic events 'Track contact is triggered'. I do plan to redo this part of the EV over and over until I get it right. In the second event, 'Object variable is changed' the only thing that was missing was the word 'else' on the penultimate line so how I would have sorted that in the graphics EM I am not too sure. Over the next couple of days I will see if I can apply, from memory, all that I have now learnt into a simple crossings barrier function on part of my current layout, a simple single road in and out, around a single track and see how that pans out. I have already found out that both positioning of TC's and acceleration and deceleration of vehicles is critical too especially when attempting tricky maneuvers both into and out of depot's, but must confess that I have not yet tried any of this with more than one vehicle following another. I have noted that there are invisible spacers that can be used but then that will surely mean that all vehicles follow one another at the same distance all the time which isn't very realistic and never happens on any of the roads around my home area!!!! Once again thanks for your advice, I am most grateful. Cheers Pete