PVClump - New pine clumps, brush, and a bonus tree

LAST EDITED ON Oct-10-04 AT 09:25 PM (EDT)

I have uploaded a collection of pine tree clumps that can be used as individual route editor objects, or can also be placed automatically using the included gantry.dat file. The pines are placed on either side of a line of brush (bushes). Thes brush is also available as a single "plant" or in a line or bushes approximately 30 meters long. A bonus pine tree is also included (firf.s)! The new pine is shown in the attached photo of PVClump2, with snow.Yes, in a weak moment, I created some snow textures for the trees and brush that are used by these clumps (fira, firb, firc, firf, and pvbrush1). They are not strictctly photo-realistic, as I've sprayed snow with a digital photo editor onto the existing tree and brush textures. In my own route work, I am still laying track and basic scenery and so I haven't been selfishly inspired to take up snow alternatives. In fact, some other folks have already made their own snow covered pines, so I hope these don't get too much in the way.Now, back to the automated clump plumping. I mention in the readme file, that initially the clumps take an elevation corresponding to the track height. So, if tracks pass through a cut, or over an embankment, the elevation of the clumps will need to be adjusted. Likewise if tracks are traveling along a hillside, those on one side may be too high, and on the opposite side, too low.BUT the speed with which forests can be put down alongside a track is so much faster than laying out forests, that it's worth trying. When I have put down a sequence of clumps in a tile, I make a pass facing one side of the tracks, adjusting elevations where necessary, then I turn and look at the opposite side and move back to where I began, again adjusting as necessary.It is certainly possible to lay out five or six clumps in a line, and then cut and paste them into place as a group, and while still selected as a group, press the "H" key to cause each separate clump to settle onto the terrain. However, even this method may need hand-adjustment when a clump is on a rising or falling gradient.A side benefit of this is that the right of way acquires a uniform width, which is hard to obtain with MSTS forests, due to the random distribution of trees. A second plus comes from the brush in each of the clumps, as well as the close spacing of the pines. When the camera is pointed towards the distant tracks, the impression of a dense forest is improved.However, as Jim Ward has already pointed out, using clumps or clusters of trees alone is not ideal. It is still a very good idea to put forests with several types of trees or brush to add some randomization to the look of the vegetation. Finally, backdrop trees (tree lines) finish off the appearance of traveling through a forested areas.Attached is a view of the two pine clumps, and a screenshot of the clumps in use. Notice the uniform right-of-way appearing in the distance.Later recollection: Where I've added these clumps to existing forested and sceneried areas, I have not noticed an effect on frame rates, or if there is it's only momentary and not substantial.

--- Phil Voxland

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http://www.train-sim.com/dcforum/User_files/4169d50d1a337fda.jpg

http://www.train-sim.com/dcforum/User_files/4169d5411aca7206.jpg

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RE: PVClump - New pine clumps, brush, and a bonus tree, robertreedy, Oct-10-04, 09:07 PM, (1) RE: PVClump - New pine clumps, brush, and a bonus tree, EMD_GE, Oct-10-04, 11:04 PM, (2) RE: PVClump - New pine clumps, brush, and a bonus tree, pvoxland, Oct-10-04, 11:35 PM, (3) RE: PVClump - New pine clumps, brush, and a bonus tree, Swissie, Oct-11-04, 02:58 AM, (4) RE: PVClump - New pine clumps, brush, and a bonus tree, lirc201, Oct-14-04, 01:56 PM, (5) RE: PVClump - New pine clumps, brush, and a bonus tree, pvoxland, Oct-14-04, 03:38 PM, (6) RE: PVClump - New pine clumps, brush, and a bonus tree, Vern, Oct-15-04, 01:48 PM, (7) RE: PVClump - New pine clumps, brush, and a bonus tree, OTTODAD, Oct-16-04, 07:42 PM, (8) RE: PVClump - New pine clumps, brush, and a bonus tree, Vern, Oct-17-04, 09:57 AM, (9)

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More Greenery .. more Snow .. ahh, Life is good! I'm never going to get this finished if you all keep this up .. but love it! Thanks much.RobertR .. ADF-M&RM at http://www.adfrr.com

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That's great news Phil,I've always been a fan of your trees,and now "snow"textures...Cool! ...Just curious,any plans for "grass" textures,and "short weeds"?

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I have started a weed (cat tails) experiment, but it's on the back burner. Some of the weeds that others have come up with are pretty succesful, but from the angle of the screenshots, I haven't been able to see what the secret shapes and textures look like. (Hello, Hack, ).I tried a grass texture too, but I'm not really thrilled with it. The 30 meter brush clump in this new set is also a very simple set of intersecting textures. It is at it's best when seen from a bit of a distance -- 20 meters or so from the track. As long as the viewer doesn't look down on it, then it works wonders. Same problem with the grassy thing I made, up close it didn't look like grass, it looked like flat panels with grass painted on it.Perhaps with a more efficient graphics engine, some future train-simulator will let routes have more complicated vegetation objects without penalizing frame rates.

--- Phil Voxland

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Hi Phil,nice looking results, love to use the autoplacement feature along selected portions of a route.May I add a suggestion: Another "nice to have" item using a similar placement technique would be junks of isolated brushes or weeds with some wooden or barbed wire fence sections running parallel to the track, to speed up the process of detailing the right of way along farmland. Just an idea?> I tried a grass texture too, but I'm not really thrilled with it. Have you tried out the grass objects by "Trunda" on http://sweb.cz/greenery/mstsg/mstsg.htm? Might be worth having a look at, and perhaps also worth having a talk from "expert to expert"?
"Time for the MoW gang to bring in the lawn mower, Herb, isn't it?"Lukas a.k.a Swissie

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Hello Phil,What track textures are you using in that picture?

Brian LaVelle
Cincinnati Terminal Route
http://belcommunications.net/msts

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The texture came from the same website mentioned in one of the above posts: http://sweb.cz/greenery/mstsg/mstsg.htmI'm really pleased with it. It doesn't have US "thingies" (plates?) to secure the track to the ties, but I was so pleased with the look of it all that I use it now. A rusty rail texture is also provided, and I think highly of it also.Sharp eyes notice details!!

--- Phil Voxland

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Phil - looks like just the ticket for my Swedish route. Great to see the snow textures too. Hawk has done some excellent grass/weed clumps which can be downloaded from a Swedish site, though maybe a tad tall to represent weeds between the tracks as is. I guess another forest entry with smaller dimensions will fix that.

Chief Track Welder

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Another great looking selection of Forest items from you, Phil ! I used your Fira trees for the MARIAS-KOOTENIA, replacing the USA-Default firs Frank Carver used, sizing them a bit wider and shorter and sprinkled the original "Tall Firs" all over the scenery to contrast with Jim Wards Spitpines. WHAT A DIFFERENCE that made !! Yes, I did put snow on them and others myself, but yours look a lot better !!! Pity these came to late to be included. Would have made the route's forests prettier still !!!Next time, if there is going to be another one ! Thanks for making your creations available to all !!!Take Care, O t t o.

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I made a start on adding these to my Inlandsbanan route in the manner Phil has suggested and can affirm the effects and technique gives excellent results. Using forest objects is okay but the uniform appearance has become a trademark of MSTS route building. I had already decided to go with a swathe of individual trees either side of the line but the availability of these excellent models will help keep the tile object count. One other added bonus of this system, is the effect of occasional distorted graphics sometimes noticeable when passing through forest objects (the inside out appearance) should be minimised.With all the new vegetation appearing, not just from Phil but the grasses from Hawk and that guy in Eastern Europe we are entering a new era of route building techniques!

Chief Track Welder

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