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G.N. Hi-Line Navigation: H O M E—Back |
Advertisement for the GN Hi-Line, Version 3What will you get for nothing?The next version of the Hi-Line route will of course remain freeware... So, what can you expect to get for your investments—time, download frustrations, and so on? Please find a short summing up below: Highlights of Version 3:
Details...Go to......a schematic map and some basics....the pictures of the route! ...background information about some details such as custom objects. A schematic map and some basicsSchematic MapPlease click here to see a schematic overview of the lines and railroads included in the G.N. Hi-Line route!Route PicturesSweet Grass Subdivision finally driveable!All stations, speed limits, and signals will be ready set up on the Sweet Grass Sub (Shelby - Great Falls) and all its branches. That adds another about 300 miles of main- and branchline running to the route and another 12+ hours of scheduled passenger trains (1940 timetable). As of now, it still lacks *all* scenery, but in the end it will be mostly farmland and some arid, rocky canyons. Stations...Especially on Marias Pass, a lot of towns and stations will get some scenery updates. This will include, of course, a depot building, all kinds of clutter, animated people, and more. Take for example Columbia Falls, although technically already published in version 2. New Scenery!The main scenery focus in version 3 is clearly on Marias Pass again. This will be the first part of the route to be about done even with landscaping and town scenery. Most work still has to be done on Walton Hill, between Walton (Essex) and Glacier Park. Lots of trees have to be planted, tunnels drilled, and snow sheds erected. (Sept. 9) Some major progress on Marias Pass! All (or most) trees have been planted on the west slope of Marias Pass today. The scenery gap between Summit and Walton has been closed, so the line is now about completely scenicked from Whitefish to Summit. Some pictures about the newly done part: (Oct. 6) More detail, new scenery! Inspired by the not (yet?) released art of the Esquimalt and Nanaimo route, I began adding some custom grass-/shrubbery objects along the line. Have a look: New Graphics!After exploring the full functionality of Mosaic (A Digital Rails product), I finally have the opportunity to use prototypical terrain textures for showcase locations, such as Marias Pass or large cities. Also, Mosaic allows you to apply custom textures to Distant Mountains. The result is stunning, especially from far away. But have a look yourself: Background Information, DetailsCustom scenery!With the release of Google SketchUp and Paul Gausden's MSTS plugin for it, I finally managed to get into some simple 3D modeling. This way, I was able to create some of the desperately needed buidings which I could not simply substitute with default or other ones before, for example G.N. depots. Some modeling has also helped me to create some more variety in the landscaping items, like shrubs, grass, trees, etc. Growing grain fields!In version three you will also get real growing grain fields! With the help of some dense shapes, set up to have seasonal textures (like e.g. decidous trees), a grain field can be modeled to be green in spring, taller and yellow in summer, stubbly in fall, and gone in winter. It looks best when viewed from in-cab or trackside cameras, it might look a bit awkward when viewed from high above, though. Season ShotsSeasons: |
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