Pivot Point Clarification

John’s link to the Jet docs and sample file were very helpful, I have made a few advances. Still a long way to go yet though.

Hi All…

Still working on some tutorials…

I could use some clarification on ‘Pivot Point’…

As per Paul’s tutorial –

‘One other addition to the plan I like to make is the location of the pivot point, as a single coloured line, half way between the ends of the footplate/frame. This is useful for measuring distances that are used in 3DC.
For Tender locos that do not have rear buffers, this point needs to be shifted by half a buffer length forward or the gap to the tender will be large (shift the other way for the Tender model)’

Is the ‘Pivot Point’ simply halving the overal dimmensions of the locomotive ?

I would tend to think that the ‘Pivot Point’ in MSTS would be like the center of the drivers – where the engine would pivot in a turn…

I have a line specifying the exact cenetr of the loco on my plan – does that coincide with the ‘Pivot Point’ for the plug in…

Would the ‘Pivot Point’ also be the ‘0’ position ?

What I am attempting to achieve – is to get Pauls plugin and my scale drawing to match up…

I know these are basic questions – yet this seems like the hardest part – getting all your references matched up…

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Thanks,
Scott

OK…

Just read it again… Maybe I am doing something wrong…

I planned on seperating the locomotive from the tender and model each on thier own… Should I be doing both at the same time ???

Thanks,
Scott

Hi Scott,

The ‘pivot point’ is as you guessed, the zero point.

It is a point on the ground, half way in the x direction (width) and half way in the z (length) direction – of the ‘solebar’ object that is created by the plugin.

On your plan, this should be the back of the frames to the front of the frames – or where the front and rear buffers attach.
For US locos this may be a bit different to the UK style, basically ignore small bits that stick out the front (buffers, cow catchers? etc)
Forward of this point, Z values are positive, behind, negative.
If there are no rear buffers, move the pivot point on the plan forward by half a buffer length – this will correct the centre of the loco so the tender will be coupled closely. (reverse the process for the tender)

Use the measured values for the wheel centres relative to this line when you enter the values in the engineer plugin.

You should do each part separately as 2 models.

Hi…

Thanks guys !!!

Nice to see you here Pete – you sure helped me a bunch learning to paint with PSP !

Paul – I have been playing with your plug-in and all I can say is un freak’n believable… Seems like it does half the steam loco for you – the hardest half – WOW… Thanks for all your help and work on the plug-ins – seems like a newb may have a chance at this…

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Regards,
Scott

Hi Scott,

Good to hear you are making progress.

The more 3DC evangelists we have the better. (Pete is the high priest <!– s;) –><img src="{SMILIES_PATH}/icon_e_wink.gif" alt="" title="Wink" /><!– s;) –> )

Don’t forget, everyone, if you have any enhancements or ideas you would like to any plugins that might make life easier, let me know and I will consider them.

3DC is the way forward for train sims…

[BLOCKQUOTE class=’ip-ubbcode-quote’][font size=’-1′]quote:[/font][HR] 3DC is the way forward for train sims [HR][/BLOCKQUOTE]

Let’s hope we can someday convert the followers trainz to the true path of the 3DC enlightened. hehe, just kidding.

Any luck on that trainz plugin idea?