I want to map door animation to pantograph animation (I know it can be done).

The animation works OK in 3DC (Pro 6.5.0.7) but after export, it doesn't work in MSTS.

For doors object I am using MSTS keywords : PantographTop1A, PantographMiddle1A, PantographBottom1A (for all left doors on one side) and PantographTop1B, PantographMiddle1B, PantographBottom1B (for all right doors on the same side).

During export to MSTS with the plugin, I tried both to skip the questions related to the pantograph (as I am using MSTS keywords) and to select the parts asked in the export. In both case it doesn't work in MSTS.

I use 4 animation keys.

I read a comment of Paul Gausden :
http://amabilis.com/eve/forums?q=Y&a=tpc&s=2396098374&f=7046019974&m=6876013894&p=1
"you may have to add another "main" group containing a single object (I usually use a downward facing triangle) and drag your hierarchy onto it - then export from the new main object."

Does this mean I must have a Main where my train car is and another main (at the same hierarchy level) with only the doors ?
Then I don't understand what's to be exported. One export for the train car itself and another for the doors and animation ? Then merge MSTS files ?

Thanks in advance for help !

Might be an obvious thing, but the Panto animation only works with a Electric loco.

Yes... I exported as an electric engine.

When exporting, the wizard is not asking me for pantograph parts. So naming should be OK.

3DCpanto.jpg (73 Kb, 163 downloads)

I build the animation using door named PantographBottom1A and then PantographBottom1B.
All other doors "follow" the animation because of the hierarchy.

On the animation view there is only one line with PantographBottom1A or PantographBottom1B (not 2 lines).
When I clic on play animation in 3DC it looks good.

There seems to be a little detail wrong. But it's hard to find out... even after many hours of test.

I tested in Shape viewer and in MSTS with a train made of 2 of the same car (one is a flipped version of the other), since I know doors will animate only in one way.

(I need to create Pantograph*2* objects to have opposite doors working in the other way of travel).

I had a quick mail exchange with smudge5609.


"Hi,

Looking at your last post, the naming of all the parts look fine to me. Like you say, if the wizard isn't asking to define any panto parts then its a pretty good indication that it should be ok.

The only concern would be to make sure the moving doors are on the correct axis(s). Ie, the coloured arrows (Red, Green, Blue) face the same directions as the MAIN part of your model.

All the same, looking a good detailed model.

Cheers, Chris"

Thanks, I am going to check the directions.

As smudge5609 agreed with the hierarchy and naming, I had to look at something else.

At some moment, I stopped testing in MSTS and I used only Shape viewer (much quicker to test).

Actually doors animation are not working in shape viewer (pantograph animation works).
When I tested again in MSTS, doors animation were working !

quote:

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Originally posted by DOM107:
As smudge5609 agreed with the hierarchy and naming, I had to look at something else.

At some moment, I stopped testing in MSTS and I used only Shape viewer (much quicker to test).

Actually doors animation are not working in shape viewer (pantograph animation works).
When I tested again in MSTS, doors animation were working !

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Excellent !
Very good work on your model too.

To avoid unneccessary confusion: Is your route electrified? The P Button works only on electrified routes. And, but not sure, the waggon needs to be an engine. MSTS looks for some keywords while parsing the eng file, to decide which effects to show. Afaik wipers work only on diesels and electric locos, pantos on electrics, exhaust on diesels and steamers, blower on steamers only etc...

Yes the route is electrified.

And yes all my cars will be exported as "electric engine" (I am building a commuter train with 2 types of cars).