DCForum Discussion Forum - Weathering the SD40-2

I followed 3D Trains directions for weathering a unit, but it didn't quite work out on my Clinchfield SD40-2:
The long hood looks pretty good, but the cab is covered in pink and purple splotches. I know why it didn't work (mapping/"stretching" of the skin to fit the model), but I'm wondering if there is a way to get it to work. I don't usually weather my models so I'm seeking guidance from some ofthers of you who have. Thanks! Clayton

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RE: Weathering the SD40-2, joha107, May-20-02, 12:39 PM, (1) RE: Weathering the SD40-2, Siderod, May-20-02, 01:34 PM, (2) RE: Weathering the SD40-2, joha107, May-20-02, 01:54 PM, (3) RE: Weathering the SD40-2, yellowdog, May-20-02, 07:34 PM, (4) RE: Weathering the SD40-2, joha107, May-20-02, 11:26 PM, (5) RE: Weathering the SD40-2, yellowdog, May-21-02, 08:18 AM, (6) RE: Weathering the SD40-2, yellowdog, May-21-02, 08:26 PM, (7) RE: Weathering the SD40-2, jspittler, May-21-02, 10:30 PM, (8) RE: Weathering the SD40-2, yellowdog, May-22-02, 08:12 AM, (9) RE: Weathering the SD40-2, jspittler, May-22-02, 01:59 PM, (10)

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its a problem with the alpha channel or the transparent windows, one or the other. i had the same problem with my pc sd45. i can only do minimal weathering on the cab and nose section of the engine. when i tried some dirt on the engine it turned the base color to a maroon color similar to that which is on pennsylvania rr engines. i have a few ideas on how to work around it but i haven't tried them yet. joe

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LAST EDITED ON May-20-02 AT 01:36 PM (EDT)It appears that part of what you are experiencing is the loss of color depth which occurs between the ACE options: ACE(no alpha), ACE(-Trans), ACE(Alpha). ACE(no Alpha) files have the best color depth and ACE(Alpha) files have the least color depth.While you will loose the "tinted window" effect, if you load the ACE file in TGATool2 and "export" it as an ACE(-Trans) instead of ACE(Alpha) it should improve the appearance.There are ways to avoid this problem somewhat and still have tinted windows, but they are part of the modeling process. Once the model is built however, the "reskiner" only has the choice mentioned above on weathered models that have this color anamoly.
Bill

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i might actually be wrong. i went back and removed the extensive bit of weathering i did and it was still messed up. but originally when i did it the black color for both the long nose section and the cab/short nose section were the same. but in the game the black colors weren't the same shade so i lightened up the short nose section and added some weathering. so i went back and turned it to the original color same as the long nose and added the same type of weathering and there were no problems. which leads me to believe that it was a fluke, or some shades of color won't mix with others and come out nasty lookin, or i just got lucky. i don't know, i'll try to weather the entire thing and see if it works or if the same problem will occur again.joe

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>ACE(no Alpha) files have the best color depth and ACE(Alpha) >files have the least color depth.I appreciate this tip, but the loco in the pic above has no Alpha file. That particular version of the SD40-2 is the early version without windows, thus the painted on version (which I "stole" from Ken Wright over at the A-Line. ) So we'll have to rule out something besides the alpha causing this.Clayton

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its the shade of the gray. you might wanna try another shade of gray. i had the same problem on my sd45, some shades of gray worked and others did not and it came out similar to yours. did you use brown colors for the weathering?joe

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Yes, there is a "rust" shade that is a reddish-brown color. I figured I'd start by taking that one out and see what happens, but I haven't gotten to it yet. I'll check it out tonight and see what happens.

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Yep, taking out the rust layer definitely helped! Check it out: Thanks!The pics of CRR locos that I've seen don't show them with much rust anyway- -usually they're covered in coal dust! Have to go back over it with the GRIME layer a lot more!
Clayton

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In my experience, this blotchiness on ace files with alphas can be addressed to a certain extent by adding "noise" to the texture. What this does is "dither" the colors in a similar way to what an ink jet printer does when printing subtle color variations. You will have to experiment with the optimum amount of noise to add. I talk about this technique at my site:http://juddspittler.com/spittler_engineering/developers_steal_these_ideas!.htmGood luck!Judd Spittler

..Spittler Engineering
High Quality Freeware
for Microsoft Train Simulator

www.juddspittler.com/spittler_engineering/

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>this blotchiness on ace files with alphas can be addressedOnce again, thanks for the ideas on files containing alphas. However, the file that I used did NOT contain an alpha- -as I stated, this is an early version of the SD40-2 that did not have see-through windows, thus no alpha. But your tip will help on other locos. Thanks!Clayton

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Oh, sorry. I guess I didn't read carefully enough.Here is a possible idea, though. Is it possible that you are processing it as though it DID have an alpha channel? In this case it could end up having a "blank" alpha channel that did no good, but would still mess up the colors.Also, the "noise" technique I described may help reduce blotchiness regardless of whether it was caused by an alpha channel or not. You might give it a try anyway and see if it works for you.Judd Spittler

..Spittler Engineering
High Quality Freeware
for Microsoft Train Simulator

www.juddspittler.com/spittler_engineering/

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