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Ok I am trying to figure out which parts on the roof are absolutely needed and which one can be left off. I would like my model not be a frame rate hog, but still look good. I have been looking at the electric/interurban equipment here and it would appear that the bracing in the pantographs have been left out. Now is this because there was not any or because...? Also on the trolley pole do I need to include the springs at the base or is there a happy medium in there some where. I know that I am the artist, but I respect the input you folks here in the traction forum can give. I am including a few pictures so you may see what I am looking at. One is of the roof plans I have and the other is of what I have done so far. The only things holding me up really are steps, handrails, cow catcher thing and the roof top assecories. I look at the roof plans and then go find something else to do, but I do not like to quit and I want this to be done with.ThankyouErik Pierson Sacramento, Ca SP_MSTS Member http://groups.yahoo.com/group/SP_MSTSwww.sacramentolocomotiveworks.com Bringing 1940s Southern Pacific to the digital age.
Erik, I have some experience modeling pantographs and may be able to help. I would recommend that you do model the cross braces on your pan. I think it is an important feature on this style of pan. You don't see them on my models only because cross bracing wasn't used on my prototypes. At first glance, the arms with bracing look like a good candidate for combining onto a single face rendered with transparancy. However, diagonal features don't render well unless the texture sheet is large - so I recommend that you model them with discrete shapes. I think I would use a three or four sided cylinder for the arms and drop to a 2 sided cylinder ( a strip ) for each cross brace. Here is a closeup of one of my pans to give you an idea of what you may want to include. This was an early model for me and probably has more poly's than I would use if I were to redo it today. Springs are dealt with by rendering them with textures onto a low poly cylinder. Most of the rods shown here are 3 sided cylinders.Good luck with it.Wayne
Wayne, Thanks for the quick reply, I will add the cross bracing and thanks for the info on the springs. Hopefully I will have it done soon. Another quick question though, I thought there was a tutorial some where regarding the animation of pan?Erik Pierson Sacramento, Ca SP_MSTS Member http://groups.yahoo.com/group/SP_MSTS www.sacramentolocomotiveworks.com Bringing 1940s Southern Pacific to the digital age.
Erik, Please don't give up on this project! I think it's looking great so far. I was wondering how your 650 was coming along, and was hoping it didn't get "binned", so seeing this post whets my appetite again. With Wayne's talents helping you with the pan, I feel confident you'll get this motor up'n'running soon. Keep up the great work! It will be worth it in the end! By the way, have you considered the Cabviews yet? Thanks for your hard work, looking forward to another GE steeplecab!Tim
Tim, You wanted me to include a cab view, darn it I wish someone had told me earlier. Well actually I am not even worrying about that yet. Let me get the pan, the trolley pole and associated roof top parts on and then we will worry about that. I was thinking I might be able to borrow some one elses until I created a cab from the pictures I took of the ones at Rio Vista. Now do not even ask about the sounds, those are further off. The 650s they have at the Rio Vista(ca) museum are not running, 654 is being restored and the other,652, is being used as parts, just as the SN used her for parts near the end.Regards, Erik Pierson Sacramento, Ca SP_MSTS Member http://groups.yahoo.com/group/SP_MSTSwww.sacramentolocomotiveworks.com Bringing 1940s Southern Pacific to the digital age.
