Railworks America

Using the freeware ScaleRail SP W1: Mainline track since I am extending Tomcat's Cajon Pass Mojave Desert route. The junctions are so ugly.



Is there anything that can be done? The track that makes up the junction is clearly coming from a different texture.

As far as I know that's because the way how TS handles the track loft on junctions.

Normally when you place a piece of track you have the (2D) ballast loft then the 3D ties and on top the rails. On junctions only the 2d loft will show up.

When I started with my Cheyenne route the tracks I used had the ties printed on the ballast loft and also 3D ties. That looks good until you have joins in the tracks or junctions and the 3D ties wouldn't match the printed ones. I had to put 3D ties from hand underneath the track and it often looks better but not that good.
Now with the Promontory tracks Mike removed the printed 2D ties from the ballast loft so I still have to place the ties from hand on joins and junctions but it now looks way better because I don't have to match the 3D ones with the 2D ones. But you have to keep in mind that this will make a lot of work when you create some bigger yards so I think that's the reason why your junction looks like this right now.

Thanks for that info. I’ll see if maybe the paid ScaleRail works better.

It's just how track lofts work. The paid version will only provide you with higher resolution textures but overall the look will not change.

Thanks very much. I'll just move on! I see it's that way on many routes. I'm disappointed since it is such an eye candy flaw. But then the system is "mature". It's also a total tour de force of programming!

Dakota wrote:It's also a total tour de force of programming!

But it's possible. As I said the rails used on the Promontory Summit route and on my route (with the next stage) have a loft with 3D ties. But on junctions you have only the rails and the ballast but no ties. You have to place the ties from hand and so you can avoid this problems but have a bit extra work to do.

But Scale Rail is quite old. I think from 2011 or 2012. But at this time it looked much better than the default stuff.

DanSSG wrote:

Dakota wrote:It's also a total tour de force of programming!

But it's possible. As I said the rails used on the Promontory Summit route and on my route (with the next stage) have a loft with 3D ties. But on junctions you have only the rails and the ballast but no ties. You have to place the ties from hand and so you can avoid this problems but have a bit extra work to do.

But Scale Rail is quite old. I think from 2011 or 2012. But at this time it looked much better than the default stuff.

Still does.

I think the Racetrack route comes with a slightly improved version of the ATSF payware track pack that gets rid of the out-of-place tie texture. It also comes with ScaleRoad if memory serves with the G-Trax cars instead of the old Kuju ones.

THanks for that info. I am extending an existing route, Cajon Pass Alpha, to include the Cima Subdivision (yeah I should be done in about two years ha ha). I'll stick with the track he already uses. It already refers to a load of DLC.