This fall there will be a new member of the 3D Canvas line of products: 3D Canvas Trainworks (tm)

Trainworks will be a special version of 3D Canvas designed specifically for those creating models for train simulators.

It will include all of the popular train building plug-ins (thank you Paul!), plus official support for more train simulators.

The goal is to support all existing train simulators equally. This will require co-operation from the publishers of the train simulators. I think most, if not all, publishers will be helpful.

3D Canvas Trainworks will sell for $49.95 US and will be available this fall.

All train related features included with Trainworks will be made available to 3D Canvas Pro users. 3D Canvas Pro users can optionally use Trainworks instead of Pro if they choose. It probably won't be possible to have both installed concurrently.

I hope to include train related sample models, part libraries, and textures with 3D Canvas Trainworks. But, that still remains to be seen.

I'm quite excited about this new product. I'm looking forward to providing a product that is THE choice for train modellers.

Great. I look forward to it.

With the new train sim(s) on the horizon, this will be most welcome.
Cheers, Fender

This sounds great - is it possible, at this stage, to say whether this version will be able to import textured TSD models? This is still my biggest stumbling block in switching from TrainSimDesigner to 3D Canvas, namely the enormous amout of time that would be required to repaint everything I have built using TSD.

I have a huge stock of Swiss and German models and parts, which I would be willing to supply for inclusion in TrainSimWorks if required - just let me know.

Thanks for the offer. I may well take you up on it.

It's very unlikely that I'll be able to import TSM textures. It uses a texture system that is incompatible with 3D Canvas (and I suspect all other modelling systems).

To import them I'd have to figure out how to replicate their texturing calculations. Possible, but probably really hard.

I must admit I didn't know that TSM had a texturing system that was so different from the other packages, so yes, it would be hard work to replicate it . However, if you actually managed to pull this off, you would have created the means by which a truly huge amount of content could be made available for KRS. There are so many users of TSM that are just hoping this can be made to work, I for one would be forever indebted to you if it did.

Forever indebted? I like the sound of that!

If I recall correctly the textures are applied via a direction rather than UV mapped. It looked hard to replicate, but maybe it isn't as hard as it seems.

I can't promise anything, but I'll have another look.

Well it's fall time,so when do we get the new train modler.I have TSM and GMAX.I find TSM not strong enough and GMAX to complicated so i'm hopeing 3D Canvas trainworks will be just right.Just like the three bears.Thanks in advance wvman.

Well... sometime before December 22nd.

Initially you won't see many difference between 3D Canvas Pro and 3D Canvas Trainworks. At first, Trainworks will simply be 3D Canvas Pro with only the tools needed for train modelling and the "extra" plug-ins integrated.

In the future there will be exports for other train simulators and the Train Simulator Wizard will work for all supported train simulators.

Trainworks is probably of more interest to people who are beginning modelling who don't yet have 3D Canvas Pro.

Sorry but I am to become a little confused with Trainworks.
Presently I am using 3DCanvas Pro with plugin to export to MSTS and shortly with the new plugin to export to Railsimulator.
What to do in the futur ?
- Have I to buy Trainworks or can I still use 3DCanvas Pro en export with plugin ?
- If I have to pay 50 $ for Trainworks, is there more possibilities or facilities for me than now (using 3DCanvas Pro wit export plugins) ?
Thank you for your answer.

quote:

Originally posted by jjracordon:
- Have I to buy Trainworks or can I still use 3DCanvas Pro en export with plugin ?

From what I understand here:

quote:

Originally posted by Amabilis Support:
Trainworks is probably of more interest to people who are beginning modelling who don't yet have 3D Canvas Pro.

… Trainworks won't be useful: with 3D Canvas Pro, you'll have all you need.

From what I gather from Richard, it will be a bit like the plus version with all my plugins included and maybe a couple of other extra features, which should also get put into pro.

ok, thanks for your answer : wait and see what append !

I've just released the exporter for Rail Simulator. This is a major component of Trainworks.

Now, I'm going to look into integrating the export into the Train Simulator Wizard. I'm not exactly sure how it will work. Rail Simulator and Train Simulator are quite different. I'd like to have a consistent export function, but that may be difficult.

I've been busy integrating Paul's train related plug-ins, and a Rail3D export function.

In the initial release of Trainworks, it will likely be almost indistinguishable from 3D Canvas Pro, except for somewhat reduced functionality.

Unfortunately, I just don't have the time currently to differentiate the two products as much as I would like. It's all that I can do to get Trainworks out "this fall".

Today I worked on "genericizing" the Microsoft Train Simulator wizard. Making progress. Everything takes longer than expected.

I'm a little bit concerned that I won't be finished "this fall". I've still got a lot of work to do. Certainly I won't have any "extras" in the initial release of Trainworks. It will be bare bones, and expanded upon over time.