Series 3 BTC Tipples
SPR Signal System
BTC Type 2 Stations
BTC Loco Sheds
Track Laying Tools
These current projects have come about as part of my desire to learn Blender, and in an effort to get back up to date with the latest asset creation standards.
Try Our New Dark Mode
Important Update to Bondys Trainz
I have finally made the decision to start uploading ALL my assets to the Trainz Download Station. The reasons are quite simple really.
Firstly and most importantly is cost, My web host has just raised their prices again to the point where I just can’t justify the expenditure much longer for what is basically a hobby site.
Secondly is the commitment in time. This is a much more complex issue, but it boils down to the fact that currently my partner and I work 7 days a week 11-12 hours a day, and while it may seem simple creating the pages for asset download the fact is that with their graphics and file links it is in fact very time consuming.
I have also had the issue twice in the last couple of years where someone has either actually hacked my site, or just recently injected a rather nasty piece if malware, the first needing a complete site rebuild and the second taking many hours of my time to remove.
My plan at the moment is to downsize my site to a point where it will only show information about my projects and some pointers on how to use them correctly, The only downloads that I will make available here will be the files available in the “Tutorials Section”
I was intending to do an in depth explanation of my current creation process and keep you up to date as to when things will change.
I have decided that probably isn’t really required and that I can quite easily explain what I do right here.
So at present most of the assets I am creating range between build version 3.7 and 4.6 and because of cost restrictions I and doing the basic modelling in Blender 4.x, but because exporting from blender requires PBR textures I export my Blender models as an *.fbx file which I then import into 3DSmax 2012 so that I can correctly assign *.m.onetex textures to the model before exporting those files as trainz compatible *.im files.
This means that my only real concern at the moment is creating and using PBR textures so that I can export files directly from blender using the *.fbx – to – *.trainzmesh format, and I have to say that I have tried this method several times without much success. I wont give up though and I am sure that sooner or later I will figure it out.
[ * While I test all my assets in Trainz 2022, because of the build versions I am creating assets for I can not guarantee that these assets will work in future versions of Trainz. I will do my best to update them as required though. ]
Series 3 BTC Tipples
For anyone that remembers my series 2 tipples, you will know that there were 45 tipples in total, separated in groups of 15 single hopper, 15 double hopper and 15 twin hopper style tipples
Due to new load and doorway configurations the series 3 tipples are somewhat different, at present I am working on the single hopper and the twin hopper style tipples, and all up there will be 600 models just in these two sets.
So I am not 100% sure yet whether I will extend the series to the double hopper style, but chances are I will.
Series 2 BTC Tipples
Not sure why you would need too, but if anyone is still interested I can and will make my series 2 tipples available again upon request, but I probably won’t upload them to this website.
Tipple Warning Lights
When I first created the BTC Tipple Warning Lights back in series 2, I designed them to operate in a similar way to a level crossing and to utilise some of (boatz) ATLS System assets including:
- “ATLS Controller TRS19”
- “ATLS Slave(TF) TRS19”
- “ATLS Trigger TRS19”
While (boats) ATLS System contains a multitude of great assets, these three were the ones that i required to achieve the desired effect even though they had way more functionality that I would ever require.
So with series 3 bringing some long needed changes, I have decided to create simplified versions of the 3 ATLS assets created by (boat) that I specifically need for the BTC Tipple Warning Lights.
And Because of the new geometry I am using with the Series 3 Tipples there will be a completely new set of warning light assets as well as the attachment tools that make the whole system easy to use.
SPR Signal System (BTC)
Bondys Trainz Creations is producing a full track side signalling and speed control system.
This is being done specifically for our SouthPine Rail routes, but all assets within this collection will work with any route you want to create.
All assets will be created in left mounted and right mounted variants.
Any and all speedboards will be created in both KPH and MPH formats.
Test render taken in Blender during asset creation process.
Please note : Lights are not indicative of Trainz asset.
BTC Station Building 1
BTC Type 2 Stations
As part of my SPR project I started creating a set of passenger station assets and as they progress I will make these assets available.
Currently the set only consists of 5 single straight track platforms ranging in length from 120m to 280m and 8 station buildings that connect to the platforms in several different configurations.
It is my plan to extend the project over time. However this project is not high on the priority list.
BTC Locomotive Sheds
Bondys Trainz Creations is producing a set of industry enabled Locomotive Sheds. It may be interesting to note that I am building and will release these in what might seem like the reverse order, in that I will start with what is currently the physically largest set being our 8 Bay Engine Sheds in both 60m and 100m lengths. …. More information Coming Soon.
Test render taken in Blender during asset creation process.
BTC Track Laying Tools
BTC Track Laying Tools
As part of my SPR layout design project I felt the need to create my own track laying tools. This set currently contains.-
4 x Straight Guides.
3 x Yard Ladder Templates.
41 x Curve Guides
The “Curve Guides” actually bare a great resemblance to a set made some time ago by a creator named Mr.Den and even though I really liked some of the conventions he employed, and the fact that I used his curve guides myself for quite a while. I decided to create a set of my own that I felt suited my requirements just a little better.
If you are a route builder who is looking for a great set of guides that are already available through Content Manager, I would highly recommend the set from Mr.Den as it may be a while before I make mine available here.
The dedicated project page for my track laying tools, once available, will go into much more detail about the subtle differences between my set and Mr.Den’s.