I`m after your essential mods for TS? I think I`ll give the signal lens flare one a go, any others you could recommend? small tweaks or big mods? Nothing that will impact too much on performance as I`m already giving my laptop a workout Thanks
AP track Enhancement and AP sky & weather are a definite if payware. If you have US content there's alot of great community made mods over at Train Sim Community. https://www.trainsimcommunity.com/mods/c1-train-simulator Searchlight simulations also offer a couple of free sound packs, while others are payware, they are relatively cheap. https://www.store.searchlight-simulations.com/products
I am in agreement that the track pack seems superfluous. This is a simulator, not a realism replication device. Simulating with track that might be more optimized and less laggy on PCs is probably acceptable.
On the subject of mods, does upgrading to the 3dTrains HR versions of ScaleRail, ScaleRoad, etc. make a noticeable difference? I have had the free ones forever and have recently thought about picking them up. Thoughts?
I've never got round to buying the track pack as I never figured I'd notice it but that screenshot comparison presents a rather compelling case ...
Indeed. I have no idea why people seem to think it's a useless add-on. I hear it all the time, and it baffles me. The only complaint is that it doesn't support every route, but the list is large. Also, there are patches on ATS that patch many unsupported routes, and also pretty much anything that uses the Just Trains common library. The screenshot above is from an "unsupported" freeware route, but it uses the JT library, so the pack works with it.
The claim wasn't that it was useless, but that it was overrated. Which I agree with. I got it, installed it, then uninstalled it. In my view it adds only a little to the visuals when outside, introduces an unpleasant Moiré effect when in the cab (at least on my rig) and in some locations doesn't blend well with the underlying scenery. It also makes all my screenshots ineligible for DTG's screen shot competition, which is something I like to take part in. In my view it is a far from being an essential modification, which is what the OP was asking about.
Alters the track? No, not at all. I like the weather enhancement pack. It has a much more widespread effect on the game and can also be applied to many more routes than the ones listed. This is very useful for continental European and US routes.
Yes, any 3rd party addons will disqualify you from the screenshot competition. I play for my pleasure, not to have a screenshot on the splash screen for a few seconds. I don't even look at them, and since the advent of Fastload, most routes have loaded before you seem them all anyway.
That will also disqualify you from the screenshot competition. It can be applied to literally any route.