OpenGFX+ Trains development thread

[Xotic750]

After playing with the Dash model a little, I decided it really didn't look good with the corridor on the front and so instead I have changed the livery of the train and it now has a matching pax, mail and valuables wagon.

[Xotic750]

For anyone that is having issues when pulling from the openttdcoop repository, you can also try the backup repository that I am pushing to at bitbucket.

[Xotic750]

Many new sprites have been added to the project and most of the monorail wagon sprites are now there, though not all of them have been coded in nml yet. As a taster of the the monorail, I am posting the spritesheet for the monorail refrigerated wagon. Provided the nightly build happens tonight then it will be in there.

[colossal404]

Looks nice!
Are the monorail wagons has the same coupling machines as the normal rail wagons in reality?

[Xotic750]

Looks nice!
Are the monorail wagons has the same coupling machines as the normal rail wagons in reality?

I haven't actually found any photos but if I do then I will change it.

[colossal404]

How about make them looks like one unit with some kind of rubber tube(top left picture) between the cars (freight cars too) like the articulated buses?

[Xotic750]

How about make them looks like one unit with some kind of rubber tube(top left picture) between the cars (freight cars too) like the articulated buses?

I don't think that will work with many wagons, like the tanker, bulk, flatbeds, livestock, container. I think that would be a bit wierd

If you can find a photo of a monorail coupling then I will use it.

[V453000 :)]

Not even sure if that would work well with proper "box" cars - the rubber tube would still be between wagons and especially in curves I guess it would look strange, while being barely visible in the other views.

[Doorslammer]

This looks thrilling. Will definitely keep an eye open on progress.

[NekoMaster]

If monorails had couplers (IRL I think they're permanently connected like articulated trains/buses) I think they would probably use something like what they use on high speed trains or something similar, something that can handle high speed and heavier loads compared to passenger's.

[Xotic750]

Is this the kind of thing you would have in mind?

[FooBar]

That's a Scharfenberg coupler, nothing fancy, a design over a hundred years old. However, it's still used on high speed trains today, so why not?

[lawton27]

Is this the kind of thing you would have in mind?

That's a good idea that way it can clearly differentiate from rail, perhaps maglev should use the 'permanent' articulation look.

[Eddi]

that's not a "permanent" coupler...

it's an automatic coupler that is heavily in use on tram systems for 100 years, and recently got more and more common in MUs, that usually wouldn't be coupled with "regular" rail vehicles. they only have the buffer/coupler system for historical reasons, because the european rail association (RIC/RIV) couldn't agree on a more sensible system

[Xotic750]

What we are looking for is something that differentiates the 3 main types of rail systems in the game.

We are currently using the well known buffers for non-electrified and electrified stock.
We need something different for monorail.
We need something different again for maglev.

The game is not like real life due to the fact that we can build trains sets from what engines and wagons we like within the same/similar rail systems, so I will not be making permanent/articulated train sets.

What I need are suggestions, preferably with a photo, so that I can model them and make the different systems look recognisably different.

[FooBar]

preferably with a photo

For monorail that's virtually impossible. To my knowledge there exist no high speed monorail systems, and the low speed ones all use multiple units when there's multiple coupled parts at play.

[Xotic750]

That's why I was asking for suggestions. It can be any type that you can lay your hands on, so long as they are visually different. Or, if you prefer, you can supply some kind of sketch.

[FooBar]

To me it still makes sense to use the scharfenberg coupler on monorail wagons.

Current rail wagons generally don't have automatic couplers. Having one could be considered an improvement over rail. So why not something that still survives today?

If you want something different, I'd suggest looking at all automatic couplers that exist today in real life. Monorails in TTD are invented around 2000, so it doesn't need to be something futuristic. For maglev you can look at what currently existing maglevs have (if they have couplers to begin with)

[Xotic750]

Seems very sensible to me, so the scharfenberg it is for monorail. Now, we just need something for the maglevs.

I have now coded all the currently rendered monorail sprites and they will be in tonight's build (with buffers until I change the models and re-render)

Edit: here is a list of the 136 models created so far, so if you notice anything not working then please let us know.

[list]
# Temperate Trains
ginzua4
ginzua4_tender
dmu
dash
sh25
floss47
sh125
sh30
sh40
uu37
asia_star
tim
# Temperate Wagons
passenger
passenger_asia_star
passenger_tim
passenger_dash
passenger_dmu
mono_passenger
mail
mail_asia_star
mail_tim
mail_dash
mail_dmu
mono_mail
armoured
armoured_asia_star
armoured_tim
armoured_dash
armoured_dmu
mono_armoured
goods
refrigerated
livestock
mono_goods
mono_refrigerated
mono_livestock
# Temperate Wagons: Multi-load
tank
tank_water
tank_milk
tank_oil
tank_petrol
tank_refinery
mono_tank
mono_tank_water
mono_tank_milk
mono_tank_oil
mono_tank_petrol
mono_tank_refinery
flatbed
flatbed_nocc
flatbed_container
flatbed_sides
flatbed_oil_stage1
flatbed_oil_stage2
flatbed_oil_full
flatbed_refinery_stage1
flatbed_refinery_stage2
flatbed_refinery_full
flatbed_retainers
flatbed_wood_stage1
flatbed_wood_stage2
flatbed_wood_full
flatbed_paper_stage1
flatbed_paper_stage2
flatbed_paper_full
flatbed_steel_stage1
flatbed_steel_stage2
flatbed_steel_full
flatbed_steel2_stage1
flatbed_steel2_stage2
flatbed_steel2_full
flatbed_timber_stage1
flatbed_timber_stage2
flatbed_timber_full
flatbed_vehicles_full
flatbed_vehicles_stage1
flatbed_vehicles2_full
flatbed_vehicles2_stage1
flatbed_vehicles3_full
mono_flatbed
mono_flatbed_nocc
mono_flatbed_container
mono_flatbed_sides
mono_flatbed_oil_stage1
mono_flatbed_oil_stage2
mono_flatbed_oil_full
mono_flatbed_refinery_stage1
mono_flatbed_refinery_stage2
mono_flatbed_refinery_full
mono_flatbed_retainers
mono_flatbed_wood_stage1
mono_flatbed_wood_stage2
mono_flatbed_wood_full
mono_flatbed_paper_stage1
mono_flatbed_paper_stage2
mono_flatbed_paper_full
mono_flatbed_steel_stage1
mono_flatbed_steel_stage2
mono_flatbed_steel_full
mono_flatbed_steel2_stage1
mono_flatbed_steel2_stage2
mono_flatbed_steel2_full
mono_flatbed_timber_stage1
mono_flatbed_timber_stage2
mono_flatbed_timber_full
mono_flatbed_vehicles_full
mono_flatbed_vehicles_stage1
mono_flatbed_vehicles2_full
mono_flatbed_vehicles2_stage1
mono_flatbed_vehicles3_full
bulk
bulk_coal
bulk_iron_ore
bulk_grain
bulk_bauxite
bulk_clay
bulk_copper_ore
bulk_sand
bulk_woodproducts
bulk_gravel
bulk_scrap_metal
bulk_fruit_veg
bulk_sugar_beet
mono_bulk
mono_bulk_coal
mono_bulk_iron_ore
mono_bulk_grain
mono_bulk_bauxite
mono_bulk_clay
mono_bulk_copper_ore
mono_bulk_sand
mono_bulk_woodproducts
mono_bulk_gravel
mono_bulk_scrap_metal
mono_bulk_fruit_veg
mono_bulk_sugar_beet
[/list]

[lawton27]

For maglev why not have some kind of magnetic coupler? Perhaps it could look like a cylinder, implying you have a superconducting coil / electromagnet within?