On Thursday 01 February 2007 02:19, Zaug wrote: > leee wrote: > > Hi all, > > > > I'm trying help someone find some contemporary U.S.A. loco and rolling > > stock models for a university research program assessing the > > effectiveness of various designs of warning signs upon road users. > > Unfortunately I don't have the time to model it all myself, assuming I > > could find suitable drawings, so does anyone know any good places to > > look? > > > > The project may have some funds for purchasing models but if so, it won't > > be very much. > > > > The format doesn't matter too much, as long as I can get them into RS3D. > > > > TIA > > > > LeeE > > Hello Lee, > I have quite a few Model Railroader magazines, some from the last few > years that have some working drawings in them. Most stuff in the US has > not changed in many years. Also, I live close to a rail line and a town > with a switch (sorting) yard; I could shoot some photos for you. > Finally, I would help with some modeling, would not want much to do so; > would be a good entry for my currently microscopic resume ; ) and the > models would be done in RS. > > Let me know if I can help, > > Zaug > > P.S. I love trains ; D
Hi Zaug, thanks for the offer of reference info and help with modelling but I think that the amount of time and effort needed to model new stuff from scratch for this project would be way out of proportion to any funds that _might_ be available. Otherwise I'd have offered to do it myself:) For example, I found what seems to be a pretty reasonable package deal containing three locos and five different passanger/freight cars for $200 US. http://www.turbosquid.com/FullPreview/Index.cfm/ID/210254 Also, I think that 3ds models will be directly usable, without any need to export and re-texture them (any sizing and orientation can be done within the animation framework of the hosting 3D app). It would take a lot more than $200 worth of time and effort to come up with something comparable - it certainly took me more than that to do a single diesel loco, which still isn't finished:) Once again though, thanks very much for your offer of help. FWIW, the use of open-source s/w is very common in low-budget research projects, not only because of the initial outlay costs but very much also because it can be easily (assuming that the skills are available) tailored to meet specific requirements - finding an o/s project that interests you, and contributing to it is a great way to gain experience, meet new people and find out what they're doing. There's lot's of scope for collaborative working and while this can by both rewarding and frustrating, it's definitely valuable experience, LeeE
