Railworks America

I am wondering how many route designers actually follow vegetation patterns, or just fudge them. I would like to recreate some certain lines, but am discouraged because I'd like to get certain vegetation areas correct, despite being miles away from the inspiration areas. Google Earth seems alright to see from the top, but are there any better utilities where you can find heights of certain areas of vegetation growth?

Sometime Google Earth Street View can help if there is a road near by.

Look up the promo material on the parks in the area; there will be plenty of photographs. Also, I use the photos people embed in G.Earth as well as on photo sharing sites... just seach the archives for towns or events in the area you're modeling.

Tori

Fudge, definitely. Building a route in any train sim is a bit like designing a movie set, you need to focus on the bits your audience will see even if it is a flat-front supported by scaffolding behind! In some ways the advent of Google Maps/Earth has been a boon to the route builder but it's also a curse. Too easy to get fixated on micro detail when most of it will be glimpsed - if at all - from the cab at 60 MPH. Things like field patterns can definitely be genericised. In Railworks the visual cut off point from the cab/train for detailed textures and scenery is 2km anyway - beyond that it goes to "distant mountains". I generally tend to work with a 500m funnel either side of the line where I will look to provide reasonable detail, with a significant drop off beyond that out to the 2km mark.

I appreciate the responses. I was away from Railworks because I focused on MSTS "again". Mainly, I want it to look realistic from an outsider view. I work riding trains for a living. I want to capture the railfan experience, but also be able to capture the working aspect. I also want the visual arena to look fairly accurate. I suppose it is more of an exuse why I don't do something. Where to begin??? My goals:
1. Green Bay and Western- Entire Line
2. CNW- Fox River and Shore Line- CNW era, not WC.

I feel if I can accomplish these goals, I will feel a lot better about myself. I am not sure I am capable of doing it.

Hi! The problem I found with scenicing is the lack of proper assets. I try to get the vegetation in the right areas, but the type of vegetation itself is wrong. Cheers; Chuck F.

Good luck on your routes. I have a "home version" of the now abandoned CNW from Marshfield to Wausau Junction. Lots of fun, but nobody else cares.

Pete