Afternoon all Im currently working on a couple of routes both are gwr era, i have most of the buildings and signals etc but i thought it would be nice to have some custom name boards on each station. I have read that existing ones can be reskinned but its apparently quite complex? Does anyone know if there are any that can be edited easier or have the rough dimensions then i can have a go at making some in blender. Thanks
Reskinning an existing asset is a lot simpler than creating something from scratch. The basic approach is to copy the bin, geopcdx and tgpcdx files (renaming of course) and then use RWTools (or similar) to change the internal names of the bin and geopcdx to match the new names you have given (so the name in the bin shows up in-game, it points to your new geopcdx, the geopcdx points to the new tgpcdx). Then use RWtools to edit the tgpcdx to put in your new station name. Takes a few minutes per sign once you get the hang of it.
There was a re skinning kit by Cunning on the UKTS site: UKTS_27325_Station_signs_v1.1 UKTS_27326_RBAC_1.0.4 I just checked the Trainsim.com site and they've been transferred over so if you are a member, you can download them from there.
Before i attempt this i wanted to make sure ive got the basics right so is this correct? Find the asset i want to reskin then copy the bin file but leave it in the same folder as the existing bin file? And rename the new bin folder Then edit the geopcdx and tgpcdx files with the new station names in rwtools then save and it should show up in the game?
It depends who did the original files and if you plan to distribute them. If the originals are open for anyone to clone and distribute (as per mine on UKTS_27325) then you can copy them wherever you like. It makes sense to use your own relevant folder structure so that is cool, and keeps things clean and separate. You need new copies of one each of the bin, geopcdx and tgpcdx per station/signalbox/whatever. I strongly suggest that the you rename each of them to clearly show the station name. It is this new name that you need to put into each file so that it knows where to find the next piece (bin points to geopcdx, geopcdx points to tgpcdx). IF the original files are subject to copyright and you aren't allowed to make free with them then the process is different. You should create a new folder structure with your copy of the edited bin file (which you can clone and distribute as you like) but it points at an UN-EDITED copy of the geopcdx. This points at 'textures\[00]orignalname' and expects to find a subfolder called textures with a tgpcdx called 'originalname.tgpcdx' (where 'originalname' will be whatever the creator originally called the asset). So you put your edited tgpcdx in the subfolder called textures under your new folder structure. If you are cloning lots of instances of the same original asset then you will need a set of parallel folder structures, one for each new sign. Your distribution method is to package up all your new folders and edited assets EXCEPT the geopcdx (since these are subject to copyright) and then instruct the end-user to simply copy the geopcdx from its orignal folder to each of your new folders. So in conclusion - choose a freeware asset to clone and your life is much simpler ;-)
Hi yes it will be a freeware asset( svr from steam sounds supreme as they are the style i need). I wouldnt have the knowledge or time to redistribute them.
I've always wondered if it's possible to type the railway station name onto a sign in TSC! I know it's possible in Trainz, all you have to do is place the sign in the editor and open the properties and write in the railway station name onto the sign, it's easy enough. If it was possible to write both the railway station names and the rail corridor title on signs in TSC, I'd be happy to know! Saves me exporting several signs from Blender.. Note, the sign isn't correctly scaled. I just can't remember what the scale was when I originally imported it into TSC, even though I wrote it down somewhere!
I was just about to state that it isn't possible - but then realised that for track-linked objects it is certainly possible (e.g. altering mileposts, signal numbers etc). I never thought about that before - and don't know how those blueprints work so cannot say how easy or otherwise it might be. A fascinating idea!
There are notes in the developers documentation, but I have not tried it. Here for example is the document for mileposts http://tscdevdocs.co.uk/reference-m...asset-authoring-guidelines.html#TOC-Mileposts
Thanks I'm probably best of texturing all the signs for the railway stations. If I used either the milepost or speed sign 'primary digits' setup for station signs, I don't think the game would like it! Probably thinking it's either a milepost or speed sign on the gradient line? Who knows..
There is another guide on how to add text to scenic assets,but I couldn't find it. Anyway I did all my station signs as textured images, much easier, once the boards are built.
Renameable station signs was something I asked for years ago and it was promised but never delivered. The problem is if you create your own or even reskin an existing one, the route will not be able to go on Steam Workshop as it only accepts referenced assets which are part of core or official unmodified assets.
You can also reskin assets by using a reskin bluprint. In that you identify the name of asset and the texture you want to replace and the name of the texture you want to replace it with. I use it for many of my vehicles where the model is the same but there are lots of different coloured cars. There is a single "master car" with a "master texture". all the other colours are simply bluprints that replace "master texture" with "new blue texture" for instance.
Finally got round to having ago at doing these, do they have to be done in excel? The reason i ask is because microsoft want me to buy excel before i can edit anything. I have tried the free web version but cant seem to upload a existing document
LibreOffice is my choice. Though you can create CSV (comma-separated-values) files using a simple text editor.
Hi Mark, Are you trying to use my dodgy cloner tool? I'd caution against it unless you are doing lots of signs. It has its own foibles and you may save time just getting slick with the manual approach (as per my mutterings in a previous post). Neil
Hi yes i was looking at using the quick clone tool as im not clued up on using ts tools but im eager to learn as im looking to create some assets for a couple of routes im working on
Ok - well read the instructions and look at the example control files. Note that it reads .csv files so you can create those with Notepad if you don't have a suitable csv tool (any of the spreadsheet tools should be able to handle csv). As always - test on something you've backed up! And bear in mind - you still need to edit the texture files manually - it only takes away the pain of mass cloning and renaming.
So ive done what i thought was correct but i cant find it in game, does this look right? The closest i got was the name showing until i realised the texure file was still the original
There should be a .bin file in your folder - this should be uniquely named and have the display name that you want to see in-game. It needs to point to your new geopcdx which in turn needs to point at your edited tgpcdx file. Have a look at a Kuju or RSC example that you already know to see who they link together. Be careful that you use the correct name for each reference including the filetype (or absence of).
Tried again with various degrees of success, first attempt the sign showed in game but had the original name so i went back into ts tools fiddled a bit more then went back into ts and the sign no longer showed in game. This is the process i use First find the object i wany to reskin then copy the bin, geopdx and tcgpdx into my folder then rename them with the name i want before i go into ts tools. Next i start with the bin file and anywhere i see the old name i replace it with the name i want and save the file. The geopdx is next and use the same process as above and save file Finally is the tcgpdx which seems to have less to edit then save again I then go into the game and make sure my folder is selected in the object filter on the right hand side.
Sounds good overall but there is obviously something(s) not right. Send me the files and I'll check them. I'll pm my email to you.
