220hotwheels

Hi Hubert I forgot to mention the content ID which is: C0AC34C3-653A-4B16-B492-41883E849F1C Kind regards Pete

Hi Hubert I worked out how to upload Fairmont2 so have now posted it on to the site. Your comments, good or bad will be appreciated. Kind regards Pete

Hi Hubert Many thanks once again. You do realise that you have now given me more work to do but I do think it will be worth it. So from me a definite thumbs up to the roadside texturing. As for posting my Fairmont2 layout as is. I have no problem with that if I knew how to do so. I seem to think that Goetz or Simonjackson1964 might have told me how but I really can't remember. Perhaps it might instil a few constructive comments and advice as well as potential criticism but all would be welcomed. They don't call me rhino hide for nothing. All I ask is that you bear in mind that there is much unfinished and plenty half finished. Like a butterfly I flit from one bit to another as I have a different idea. Very shortly I hope to tackle some of my junctions after which I should be able to introduce more vehicles but for now I limit them to certain tasks. So if you would kindly remind me how to post said layout without sending it as an mbp I would be most grateful. Kind regards Pete

Hi Hubert Many thanks for that. Like a true dinosaur I overlook the obvious and do everything the hard way. I know the follow me tool is there I just hadn't thought to use it. No wonder most things take me hours to work through. So now it's time to experiment. I started my Fairmont layout back in 2019 using V4. As the layout got bigger I sort of lost interest in it and started a new layout, Belfort, which I think you have already seen my progress there but to a point. With much to do on that particular layout in terms of turning it into a more professional one I keep moving between it and Fairmont. The latter taking up more time though now as I am keen to get more of it running better as I learn different techniques. This layout is 14000 x 6500 'N' scale with over 8200 objects and and 5,938,336 polygons so at times thing run a little slow but generally speaking with a bit of careful juggling I can keep fps to 30fps and above. Modifying scenery is the bit that takes time now but I am hopeful that V7 will have sufficient modification to improve on this. Presently I have around 70 'T' junctions most of which work in a fashion but I have also been experimenting with my own version of a proper working junction and feel that I am almost there. For me vehicles approaching junctions have to perform as they would in real life. Some move quicker than others, some take longer to make turns as do others including pulling out at junctions. A car will pull out much faster than a truck or bus. In my experimental junctions there are perhaps 30 different elements. Perhaps someone with a much greater knowledge of these sorts of EM work would be able to cut this down but I'm learning on the job, so to speak and enjoying every minute. You are right too about the European nature of my layouts. Initially I set everything up to run as in the UK but could not accept my bus passengers having to embark and disembark into the middle of the road so I switch everything to EU format. The only thing I have not switch is the rail track layout. My trains are still running as in the UK. I had set much of this track and completed a lot of the EM before I realised this so for now we are a mixed hobbyist !!!! Once again many thanks for your further advice. Kind regards Pete

Hi Hubert Just thought you might like to see the result of your very kind advice so I have attached a screenshot of a very small section of my Fairmont2 layout with the crash barriers in place. I think they fit in really well so thanks again. Kind regards Pete

Hi Hubert Just tried your recommended metal crash barriers. They look good. A metallic grey would be preferable to white as the white looks a bit like a picket fence from a distance but beggars can't be too choosy now can they.!! As I mentioned earlier what took me around 4 hours with the fmkBerlin barriers I was able to redo in just over ten minutes. To get it to fit perfectly using Leitplanke 4 to do both sides of the road at the same time simply meant adjusting the size from 1 to 1.1. A great result, a brilliant suggestion, many thanks once again. Kind regards Pete

Hi Hubert Many thanks for your reply and advice. I was aware of the concrete ones and suggestions 2 & 3 but I had not spotted your last suggestion. Having taken a look at them I do admit that it would be the best alternative to those I have currently been using. It would be much quicker, perhaps more accurate than my attempts with those offered by fmkBerlin but I must also admit that the latter are perhaps still the most realistic especially for country roads. If I was looking for crash barriers for a motorway or dual carriageway then the concrete ones would be a better choice. Before posting my request I completed a section of road, which was on an incline and with several curves. Having used 25 sections of the fmkBerlin items and having spent around 1 hour 30 mins completing this I decided to copy and past on to the other side of the road. All went fine apart from a few minor adjustments until I suddenly noticed that the barriers on that side of the road were the wrong way round. What a muppet I thought. Of course they would be if you simply copied and pasted and so they were deleted and I redid that side the hard way. It now looks fine but three hours work is rather time consuming, especially after calculating that I have approximately another 280 barriers still to include. I will simply have to try your suggestion on a section of road and see how it looks along with all of the other scenery. Once again many thanks for taking the time to reply and to offer the alternatives. Kind regards Pete

Hi I'm not too sure how, or if it is possible, to direct this question to the publisher of the crash barriers going back to 2015, fmkBerlin, but in the hope that this does reach said person I would like to know if it is at all possible for these to be designed in such a way as to allow for a flexible application. My layout is now quite large, I have many areas that will benefit from the inclusion of crash barriers and whilst the items currently in the catalogue are perfectly suited to this task the time taken to ensure a perfect fit, especially on inclines, is proving quite extensive. Always wanting to look for a more time efficient method then flexible elements would be a brilliant solution. It's just a thought, it might not be possible or practical but if you don't ask the question then you will never know. Kind regards Pete

Hi Frenkyboy A good friend of mine and MBS guru has been reading your thread and sent me this solution, which I attach. I take no credit for this, I'm not clever enough yet. This was sent to me 18 hours ago and I have only just picked it up so perhaps your problem is already solved but see what you think anyway. Having looked at both mbp files all seems to be quite straight forward, just as long as you have the knowledge to fully understand it. For my sins it will take me a little while to fully work out the whole solution being offered as I try to implement it into my own layout which is why I send this to you in the format that I received it in. Regrettably I do not speak German, I'm just a lazy Brit when it comes to languages, so I'm sure you will have no problem in fully understand all. Good hunting. Kind regards Pete (T.D.) Stopereien sehr kompackt.mbp Stoppereien.mbp

Hi Neo Brilliant. What more can I say. I look forward to V7 with great interest. Many thanks Kind regards Pete

Hi to all in the know regarding V7 I notice from comments made in certain sections of the forum that some of the goodies to be expected in V7 are clearly being trialled. Whilst I am happy to wait for V7 to become available to all I wonder whether anyone can tell me if this new version will have marked improvements for larger layouts. A while ago Neo mentioned that he was hoping to make such an improvement in V7 so fingers crossed this will happen. My layout is now starting to struggle just a little and I have much remaining to complete all present elements to a satisfactory level without adding anything else. Having taken professional advice in order to establish if the problem is hardware related I am now satisfied that this is not the case as I have been able to run my layout on a very sophisticated computer only to find I had the same issues. This only leaves a possibility for greater optimisation of the actual program which I hope we might get with V7. So if anyone can enlighten me further on this point I would be most grateful. In the meantime I will continue my learning curve with improvements and hope that the model railway unions don't decide to call a go slow. Depending on the layout view, fps can drop to 17 which makes you feel as though you have had too many beers!! Careful manipulation can keep things around 30fps +, much better for my failing eyesight. Kind regards Pete

Brilliant. I'll give that a try and let you know how I get on. Once again many thanks for taking the trouble to come up with a solution. Pete

Hi Simon Your solution is great. Many thanks for taking the trouble to come up with this solution. It may seem like a daft request but how do I open your draft version. Clearly I'm not used to undertaking such tasks. Yet another learning curve required. I also had a very similar solution sent to me by a very good friend and member, but in *.mbp format, who has become rather disillusioned, shall I say, with some elements of the forum but who is still clearly maintaining an interest in finding solutions. The solution that he has sent me is quite brilliant. I haven't yet installed it into my layout, it takes me a while to work through his quite intricate EM but he has produced a rolling bow wave as well as a stern wake which is EM controlled. Once I have been able to master this and hopefully incorporated some of your solution I will seek his permission to post the results for the benefit of all. I have to say that some of his ideas are really great. His solution to helicopter take off and landing are genius and very realistic. It is largely down to his guidance that I have managed to get thus far with much of my layout although variables, and many other elements of EM work for me are still very much in their infancy. Like yours and Goetz advice with carriage door opening and closing I pick suggestions up and thus learn a bit more. Pete Pete

Hi All I may well be hoping to take realism just a bit too far but seeing a ship float across the surface of water without creating either a bow wave of wake just doesn't look right somehow. Has anyone got a solution to this problem or does anyone know if it is even possible to create such an effect. Steam trains without smoke don't look right so I'm hoping that there is some clever member out there with a solution for boats. I've tried creating a sort of wake using Brunnenwasser but it's not very realistic and I wouldn't know where to start trying to control such an effect for different speeds. All suggestions would be most welcome, short of using a torpedo!!! Pete

Good morning all I seem to have solved the query regarding the Rodem.Notifier.wpf. Having spoken to a friend, who has much more tech knowledge than myself, he was able to explain how I could locate this program. It would seem that it was part of the installation process for my Brother Iprint/scan application and that for some reason it was running constantly. Having removed the program, rebooted the computer and reinstalled the program for said printer it is no longer running all the time so I am only left with 3D Train Studio running at Very High. Whether this will solve the program crash issue only time will tell. Cheers Pete

Hi to all I'm curious. Over the last week to 10 days I have experienced a rather annoying phenomena and wonder if this is a general issue and therefore experienced by others or whether it is peculiar to just me. I have to say that the layout that I am currently immersed in is quite large, currently 4100 KB, and certain parts of the program are now starting to run slower than they did but I am now experiencing a basic crash of the program. I load the layout, work on it and then have to answer emails or do other work so I minimise the program and leave it on the taskbar. For some strange reason, I might be working on emails or in another unrelated program when my computer screen suddenly goes black. When it comes back on I get an error message telling me that there has been an unexplained error and that the program must close, which it does immediately. Any work not backed up is lost. This means that I am constantly backing up every 30mins or even more frequently. I know it is not an issue with the computer as I am constantly checking how it is coping with my usage through the task Manager. Processor usage is minimum, memory is around 25% usage. One aspect that I do not understand is an item called Rodem.notifier.wpf (32 bit) which is running using 12.2% of CPU and shows "very high" under power usage. Anyway I just wondered if any of you really smart techy guys could throw any light on this annoying problem. Any advice, short of attacking the computer with a large hammer, would be greatly appreciated. Pete

Hi Simon You're right it does work, phew, so onward and upwards. Even the crane seems happy now!!! Thanks for your comments Pete

Ooops Now I feel a bit like Picocchio. I think the answer might just have been under my nose "enable/disable event module" I will give it a try. If it works, great, I'll wipe the egg off my face. If not then !!!!! Pete

Hi to Goetz, Herman, Simon and Dad3353 You each very kindly offered assistance with my multi event issue, which is now to a large extent sorted. It has taken me several days, many different attempts and a fare amount of alcoholic beverages to get to the present stage of operation. However I do still have a rather annoying aspect that my knowledge thus far just won't allow me to solve through EV. Whilst I still need to streamline some of the overall operation the basic one of unloading the containers from the ferry to either trucks or to the quayside is working perfectly. In reverse the containers are unloaded from either the trucks, after they return, or from the quayside back onto the ferry. However the only way that I can get this to work correctly is by manually deactivating the 'loading' EV instruction so that the unloading works fine and visa versa. If I don't do this then the crane is clearly confused as to just what it should do at any given point and decides to throw a tantrum, picking up, dropping off or simply leaving containers in mid air before deciding to go back to sleep and reset itself. I've tried talking nicely to the crane, I've called it names and promised to remove it from my layout but all to no avail. No doubt elements like variables, iterations and the like will probably hold the key unless of course there is a way of including in the EV an instruction to either turn off or on the activation for each particular part of the program but my knowledge of the former and my search through elements of the EV haven't as yet shone any light on my problem so if any of you can point me in the right direction I would be most grateful. I have attached three screen shots which I hope might provide some clue as to where I am going wrong. Pete

Hi All advice is most helpful and very welcomed I therefore thank you for yours, which I must say carries much logical weight along with pure and simple common sense. Generally speaking I do start off with a basic plan on paper before I embark on EV work but then once started enthusiasm gets the better of me and off I go on different tangents. Having owned and run my own Freight Forwarding and haulage company for many years along with other businesses I do have a pretty good grasp on what I need to achieve to get this element of my layout functioning properly. That's the theory. Where I fall down is the lack of know how to put my ideas into efficient practice in my EV. However practice makes perfect and making mistakes is the best way to learn. The answer stays with you longer that way. Thus far I have established that within my EV I have a clear conflict between the disembarkation side and the embarkation element which is confusing the crane no end so back to basics. I have deactivated all of the embarkation EV for the containers and will concentrate on making sure that the disembarkation part runs perfectly first before looking more closely at the rest of the process. As the saying goes "watch this space" Pete

Hi Simon It sounds as though we both have a similar dilemma, almost there but not quite. Your approach would seem to be very much more sophisticated than mine, I'm still getting into variables and iteration at a snails pace so my list of instructions for each operation get longer and longer which means that I have rather a lot of procedures running through my head and trying hard to ensure that they all operate in sequence. Touch wood, so far since beginning my revamp this morning I think I am almost there. Just a few more containers to enter into the EV and then see if everything works. The unloading bit did along with the disembarkation of all vehicles so I hope the same can be said for the embarkation element later. It just goes to show that the age old adage of a problem shared etc etc. Having spent a few hours last night pondering on how to solve this problem it was only after posting my cry for help this morning that a solution appeared. One day my ability to streamline my EV might just make everything much simpler. In the meantime I'll simply continue to create a mountain of instructions following Murphy's Law. Many thanks for your reply. I hope you get your niggles sorted soon. Pete

Hi Herman and Goetz Many thanks for your replies. Since posting my question I have continued to try to solve my dilemma looking both at the addresses for each element as well as working through the overall EV. I couldn't find any problems with the addresses for each of the cargo pads but came to the conclusion that I was perhaps trying too hard to make the operation more simplistic by having more commands in the EV than perhaps I need. The crane operation was in 6 parts. 1)unloading from ship to truck one and partly to quayside, 2)unloading to 2nd truck and balance to quayside. Next crane operation was 1)to unload container from 1st truck to quayside, then from 2nd truck to quayside. Final crane operation was to load all containers back onto the ferry. I am now working through resetting the EV so that there is only one operation to fulfil the disembarking operation and one to fulfil the embarkation element. This is not yet completed but thus far I have managed to remove the multiple events element. If it works I will come back and let you both know. If it doesn't then you might hear a very loud expletive emanating from the U.K. Once again many thanks for your advice. If I continue to struggle then I'll see what I can muster up in the way of screenshots to try to show my continued problem more clearly. Pete

Good morning all I have a situation of multiple events under the following scenario. A ferry docks, the port crane unloads containers, some to vehicles some to the quay. So far no problems. After the vehicles have returned to the ferry to unload the containers from the trailers to the quay I then have multiple events highlighted. The operation still works OK but I am then adding further to this problem by creating another operation for the same crane to reload the containers from the quayside back on board the ferry. It would seem that at this point the crane doesn't know where to place the container once it has been uplifted simply returning it back to the quayside pad. The cargo pads on the ship have completely different names to those on the quayside. Clearly the multiple events issue is to do with the instruction to the crane at the point when the EV chooses when the event will be triggered, (crane finishes lifting/lowering) but I am not clear how this can be remedied. Has anyone any suggestion please. Pete

Oh I see. Your application of events is clearly somewhat different to mine. I unload from either ship, train or truck. Place onto a different mode of transport and off they go to another destination where they are unloaded, stacked in one form or another and then in a given period of time simply reappear back at the start point. My layout is quite large so the magic trick works quite well as long as you don't sit and dwell on that element until the magic takes place. In my last message I did refer to this as my feeble attempt with Lua. That was not a strictly accurate description of the actual Lua instruction which was kindly given to me by another extremely knowledgeable member who's technical abilities I can currently only dream about. The feeble part is my interpretation of the application into my layout. Now that I've set that record straight I can return to a more peaceful state of mind!!! Good luck with your endeavours.

Hi Simon Well in that case many thanks to both you and Goetz, he has also helped me too in the past. He is certainly a source of great knowledge with regard to this hobby of our's. When I know half of what he seems to know I will feel that I have achieved much. In the meantime I shall continue to muddle through following both Heath Robinson and Murphy's law as a general rule but picking up tips here and there in order to correct my mistakes. How are you doing with your container stacking in reverse? I don't suppose my feeble attempt with Lua would be of any interest but I certainly manage to get all containers back to their original positions without too much hassle but then I am only stacking 2 up max. Anyway if it's of interest let me know and I'll send you a copy of my Lua script. Pete