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ronik24 (199 posts)
Feb-23-02, 04:09 PM (EST) "Problem with A2t 250r/500r track pieces!" Hi!I discovered a problem with MSTS' original A2t 250r or 500r track pieces:
Although two same pieces fit together on the "inner" track, and they have got the same grade (+/- 1.800), there is a gap in the "outer" track (which means: when driving on the left side, there are gaps in right curves, when driving on the right side, there are gaps in left curves).This is really bad, because when you drive over the gap there is a short but noticeable "jump".Is there already a fix for this available (maybe someone edited the shape appropriately)?Thanks for your help!Greetings,
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Subject Author Message Date ID RE: Problem with A2t 250r/500r trac... ronik24 Feb-23-02 1 RE: Problem with A2t 250r/500r trac... roeter Feb-24-02 2 RE: Problem with A2t 250r/500r trac... ronik24 Feb-24-02 3 RE: Problem with A2t 250r/500r trac... Mark1616 Feb-24-02 4 RE: Problem with A2t 250r/500r trac... mivone Feb-24-02 5 RE: Problem with A2t 250r/500r trac... ronik24 Feb-24-02 6 RE: Problem with A2t 250r/500r trac... mivone Feb-25-02 7 RE: Problem with A2t 250r/500r trac... rgarber Feb-25-02 8

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ronik24 (199 posts)
Feb-23-02, 06:14 PM (EST) 1. "RE: Problem with A2t 250r/500r track pieces!" XTracks seems to fix the problem...Greetings,
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roeter (11 posts)
Feb-24-02, 04:28 AM (EST) 2. "RE: Problem with A2t 250r/500r track pieces!" I fear that is a little too optimistic. I've looked into Xtrack, but is does nothing with these tracks-pieces. Moreover, the problem is not limited to just these tracks but occurs for all curved multiple track pieces which are laid on a gradient - it is actually worse for A4-tracks. Whether it is the inner or outer track which is misaligned depends on to which track the piece was connected when laid.
Now, my knowledge of 3D-geometry never lived up to its reputation, but I think this is a basic geometric problem. The tracks are designed to an exact fit when laid on level ground. When laid on a gradient, the actual 'distance' on ground-level is reduced, and this reduction will be different for the inner and outer track. This, I think, is what leads up to the misalignment.Thanks, Rob Roeterdink Remove | Alert Edit | Reply | Reply With Quote | Top
ronik24 (199 posts)
Feb-24-02, 07:55 AM (EST) 3. "RE: Problem with A2t 250r/500r track pieces!" Yes, you're right, I thought the problem was fixed, but then I noticed it doesn't.Any ideas?Thanks for your help!Greetings,
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Mark1616 (8 posts)
Feb-24-02, 08:37 AM (EST) 4. "RE: Problem with A2t 250r/500r track pieces!" Hi,
if you use shorter sections (5 degree turns) the problem will be less obvious. The best way around I came up with is using the dynamic track. Then you can split the turn into one longer section with the gradient you want, and one shorter section, which will give you, after small adjustments of the radius, turn and slope, a perfect join.Hope this helps.Cheers,
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mivone (125 posts)
Feb-24-02, 10:51 AM (EST) 5. "RE: Problem with A2t 250r/500r track pieces!" As noted, this is a general problem in MSTS. The root of the problem is the following (warning: geometry ahead!). A sloping curved track section remains planar in MSTS, so that the far end is banked, even though the near end is not banked. To see this, consider a 90-degree curve sloping up 3 degrees (or whatever angle you wish): the far end will be banked by 3 degrees, but will have no slope to it! If you still don't see this, imagine driving up a planar inclined hillside, starting straight up, then turning 90 degrees to the left, then going straight again: after that turn, you will be driving at a constant level along the incline but banked sideways by 3 degrees (or whatever the incline slope is).The next track section that you want to link to the last one starts properly (not banked). There is the problem: you are adding an unbanked track section to a banked one, so there must be a mismatch.If this next track section is again sloped and curved, the problem repeats itself when you add one more section after it, etc.The best way to minimize this problem is to use short track sections (small turn angles), because that minimizes the bank angle of the far end of each track section. This is especially important for multi-track sections; in the worst cases (steepest slopes), avoid multi-track sections and lay individual track sections side by side.Michael Vone
- Step by Step Guide to Route Building for Microsoft Train Simulator (http://TrainSimulatorWorld.com/)
- Albula Line
- Rocky Island Route
- Cliff Hanger Route
http://avsim.com/hangar/utils/mvchallenges/ Remove | Alert Edit | Reply | Reply With Quote | Top
ronik24 (199 posts)
Feb-24-02, 02:25 PM (EST) 6. "RE: Problem with A2t 250r/500r track pieces!" Thanks, I already understood why this occurs by looking at the trackpieces, only question is, how do you avoid it without re-laying trackpieces?It doesn't have to fix the gaps in the rails visually, but I would like to avoid the jumps of the locomotive...Thanks,
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mivone (125 posts)
Feb-25-02, 00:24 AM (EST) 7. "RE: Problem with A2t 250r/500r track pieces!" >how do you avoid it without
>re-laying trackpieces? I think you can't do it without relaying tracks.>It doesn't have to fix the
>gaps in the rails visually,
>but I would like to
>avoid the jumps of the
>locomotive... The jumps are due to the gaps, so you would need to eliminate the gaps first. All you can do is reduce the gaps and the jumps; you can't avoid them totally.Michael Vone
- Step by Step Guide to Route Building for Microsoft Train Simulator (http://TrainSimulatorWorld.com/)
- Albula Line
- Rocky Island Route
- Cliff Hanger Route
http://avsim.com/hangar/utils/mvchallenges/ Remove | Alert Edit | Reply | Reply With Quote | Top
rgarber (1273 posts)
Feb-25-02, 00:30 AM (EST) 8. "RE: Problem with A2t 250r/500r track pieces!" I ran into this mess too with my new route. After laying alot of track I did a test drive and was surprised with all the bumps. I think it's real easy to get caught between a rock and a hard place with this, because the natural inclination is to follow the terrain when you are placing track. But you can't avoid these pieces altogether because sometimes you just have to use them. Even after encountering all the bumps on my route I said but I wouldn't have laid the track any other way so I just learned to live with it. In some places where I was able to redo the track to reduce the number of bumps.Rich Garber Remove | Alert Edit | Reply | Reply With Quote | Top

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