Closed platform tile [Need 4 designer's opinion]

[Sir A. Boey]

I had this idea for quite some while now but I didn't knew how to draw sprites,
I've downloaded a drawing tutural and started to work on my idea...

The idea behind this project is that I've seen a lot of stations in Belgium where there were
several platforms closed for for ex.: work or just out of order...
So I wanted to create something that could recreate these situations in OTTD/TTDP/TTD.
I've started to look after several types of barricades and I've tried to recreate it.
[although this isn't the way the Belgian railways mark this, it's done by the station
platform displays but these can't be read in OTTD/TTDP nor in TTD, so this is why I did it with barricades]
[see first attachment]. This should be a type of station tile, and should not allow the
trains to pass, this way you could close a platform due to reconstruction works or something
else. Or it could also be implemented permanently for eye-candy purposes...

Here's what I've drown so far...

Test 1: This is the initial drawing, but I guess the red's to bright and could hurt some forumscreatures eyes .
Test 2: This is the wooden barricade but I think there's still a little work to be done on the shadings of the posts.
Test 3: This is my personal favorite although there's not much difference between the metal posts and the tracks.
Test 4: Fourth test white one not the best try I did. [second personal favorite]
Test 5: Tried to implement [see attachment 3] the word "CLOSE" not to visible I'm afraid.
[initialy I wanted to write CLOSED but the space was the short to write this ]
Test 6: Tried to implement the word "STOP".
Test 7: Second test with wooden posts. [Liked the first wooden test more]

Tell me which one you like and If you like the idea...
Also If you would like to see something changed tell it to me...

[MJS]

I think this would rather go with a specific station set, conforming to its overall design. It's almost impossible to make separate station tiles that will look well in all stations.

[Mchl]

http://www.pod-semaforkiem.aplus.pl/sign_wszt.php
The first sign on this page (D1) is used on Polish railways to indicate closed track

[FooBar]

That very same thing is used in the Netherlands, too. I always wondered how such a thing is supposed to stop a train, but it seems to do the trick

Therefor I don't think a barrier is very realistic for indicating a closed railroad. Maybe you could do something with two red signals and the aforementioned sign. That would be something I'd use. If I recall correctly, MB is doing something similar for his NewStations set.

[Mchl]

I always wondered how such a thing is supposed to stop a train.

It isn't. It is supported with derail where necessary.

[Dave]

In Britain all that stops a train is either a stopblock (literally a piece of 2 by 4 across the rails) or a little sign that says stop, in the European design of white writing and outline on a red octagon, and a red light, which (I think) flashes.

Don't know if there's a derailer in with that.

[Sir A. Boey]

That very same thing is used in the Netherlands, too. I always wondered how such a thing is supposed to stop a train, but it seems to do the trick

Therefor I don't think a barrier is very realistic for indicating a closed railroad. Maybe you could do something with two red signals and the aforementioned sign. That would be something I'd use. If I recall correctly, MB is doing something similar for his NewStations set.

I agree this can't possibly stop a train but when a train goes at it's maximum speed neither can a buffer...
but in Belgium they don't use these things they mention this on the platform displays but if tried to implement this idea into OTTD and this was my initial idea. Does anyone has another idea of how this could be drawn?

In Britain all that stops a train is either a stopblock (literally a piece of 2 by 4 across the rails) or a little sign that says stop, in the European design of white writing and outline on a red octagon, and a red light, which (I think) flashes.

Don't know if there's a derailer in with that.

This isn't so easy to draw onto such a small track or octagon, but I will try and dra somthing like that Dave...
Thanks for your reply

[Bilbo]

I think these barriers weren't designed to stop the train but instead warn the driver not to go there. They are useful only against shunters or draisines or such to warn the driver that he should stop before the barrier.

[Sir A. Boey]

well thanks bilbo because this is the reason I made these barriers
didn't know how to explain it

[Mchl]

Don't know if there's a derailer in with that.

As I said (in not much detail), the sign is accompanied with derailer only where it is necessary for increased safety. For example, when the closed track crosses the road, and a runaway car could run into road traffic.

[Timitry]

I think this is a nice idea, and these can not only be used with a specific grf set, but with anyone, as you have no station tiles with them but only the track with the sign across it... Should be great for eyecandying

[Sir A. Boey]

Will post my next tries tomorrow tried something with STOP written on it like one of the first examples
I've made before...

@ Timitry you're right it's more like eye-candy but as this is not yet possible (I guess) to implement this
than it's better to make this a station tile. And there are some other station tile who look just like a
single track so I guess this could be a station tiles without a platform.

Maybe I'll give it a try to draw some sort of platform but then I should also try and draw a normal
stationtile with just a platform but I've just began to draw and I must say it's not that easy...

The octagonal sign is for me not possible with the word STOP written in it, but I'll try and draw
a sign like that with a line in it... see attachment

[Sir A. Boey]

Here are my 2 next attempts, the first ones are like the barricades but than with the word STOP
integrated, and various types of posts. The second drawing is a single track with a "no access" sign in it
as shown in my previous post. I've drawn them on the 4 sides of the tracks. This could be somthing to add to the signals
in stead of a station tile... If someone has an other sugestion than please post them...

Maybe the drawings of the backside of the signs aren't my greatest drawing yet but it's a start, don't know if we need them though...

[Sir A. Boey]

Here are the "test" I've done with paint...
They do look much nicer in the game than in the little attachments..

[FooBar]

Maybe you should hold on to the perspective. Something like this:

[Ben_K]

I was going to say what Foobar said. You need the signs to face the drivers, not the 'camera'. Also, with the STOP signs, the letters are vertical yet the sign is isometric. You need to find a way to make the letters slope too. In fact, you may get a better result if you finish with a sprite where you cannot actually read the word, but everyone will *know* it says stop. Careful use of colours and blending is what you need there, and it takes a lot of experimenting!

[Sir A. Boey]

Many thanks for your comments Foobar & Ben_K I'll give it a go and post the result when finished

[FooBar]

Maybe you could place the 'no entry' sign in the middle of the track. No train will be using the track anyway, so this could save you some work as you'd only require two directions.

[Sir A. Boey]

That's a wonderfull idea... I'll get on with it on monday than I'll post them ASAP...

[Sir A. Boey]

Here's the second and third version of the No access signal,
the second version is the one with the signal in the middle of the
track, my personal favorite...
The third one is with the signal facing the train driver's vision

I'll open a poll the make you chose which one you like the most...