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Yes, I created 4 entire prototype routes in the Train Simulators, down to the degree of curvature, length of the tunnels, size of the yards, length of the bridges, you name it, it's a V scale copy of the real world railroad, but still it only exists on my computer or anyone else's computer that downloads the routes from the file library. I completely understand the maker movement. And while I found the research and construction of the routes in the V scale world interesting, I felt something was missing.
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I built one prototype route in Rail Works Train Simulator, that took approximately 2 years to construct. You now have dynamic weather and when it rains, you have to turn on the Windshield wipers among other advancements. The company that today is known as Dovetail games, purchased Rail Simulator and continued to improve the product. I built three prototype routes using MSTS, complete with working signals. No longer were you constrained by the four walls of your home. The biggest step forward with MSTS was the ability to build your own railroads.
RUN 8 TRAIN SIMULATOR LOCOMOTIVES MODELS PLUS
Not only could you escape the cab and watch your train roll past, the roads contained auto traffic, you had different seasons, plus day and night time operations. Then in 2001 Microsoft offer their Train Simulator. The only view you had was out the front window looking at a lifeless world. By todays standards the graphics were horrible, but you had sound and working signals. *Not saying Arduino has no place- I've taught that seminar too.īack in the mid 90's, I was still an HO modeler living in a an apartment, when I discovered a train simulator called Train Master.
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There is also a joy in watching a little locomotive run around (like a dream) doing actual work when there are real physical consequences if I mess up in my control. Those who have seen my circuit building threads know I am on a crusade to keep analog circuitry viable despite the encroaching tide of Arduino applications*.
RUN 8 TRAIN SIMULATOR LOCOMOTIVES MODELS HOW TO
I love learning how to shape plaster into convincing natural forms. I enjoy doing battle with my arch-enemies wood, paint and glue. Partially because of a lifetime so deeply immersed in digital things, the joy I find in modeling is getting my hands dirty and tackling real physical problems. (Not to mention coded.) Been there, done that, taught the seminar. It's just another computer application to me, and I have lost count of the number of applications in music and art and general computing I have used and abused. As far as I can tell, you merely assemble elements into a "perfect" layout, then run it. I personally am not attracted to virtual modeling because there are no challenges. I hope your tongue recovers from being jammed so deeply into your cheek. My kind of modeling is just a very specific one, there are also many other ways to live in both worlds.
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By doing so, we will also keep the youth interested. Our hobby will only have a future, if we manage to combine physical modeling with virtual realities in one or another way. So, this is also an example or how I see the future of our hobby. More examples, you find in my Flickr album to tell, whether this should be called model railroading or digital art. Here is a typical example I already posted earlier in another discussion: This way, the final scene is created on a computer and never existed in reality. Some of my model photos scenes are also a combination of real models and virtual realities by combining photos of model trains and structures with virtual backgrounds provided by edited photos or screenshots from computer games. For operation, I do indeed prefer virtual simulations. So, while I'm still an active modeler, I have more or less completely switched to non-operational dioramas or small shunting layouts. However, when it comes to operations, virtual worlds may give you a prototype experience not limited by the constraints of a physical layout. I'm quite sure virtual realities will never completely substitute the fascination of physical models.
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