I have just completed my first piece of MSTS rolling stock using 3DCanvas. The basic shape was drawn in Rhino but everything else was done with 3DC.

Well, for some reason the attachment didn't make it so here is a link:

www.silcon.com/~lgoss/3DModels/N&W50ftBox.jpg

Ah!  I had seen that on the train-sim forum, I think.  I didn't realize that you did it, or that it was done in 3DC.  It looks great!  Good work!

Excellent work! Glad to see you could still use Rhino and 3DC to get your model out.

I think that is a first. Someone switching (at least partially) from Rhino to 3D Canvas. I like it , even if you likely arrived kicking and screaming.

Richard

No kicking or screaming involved - I really like 3D Canvas. Rhino does not have the UV mapping and animation support required by MSTS and generates the dummy nodes that conv3ds chokes on. My first project was a 40ft boxcar done with Rhino, Corel Photo-Paint, and a demo of 3ds max4. This one used Rhino, Paint Shop Pro, and 3D Canvas Pro so 3DC was actually taking the place of Max in the process and did so very well I might add.

My only concern is that, since I am conscentrating on fairly detailed rolling stock which will likely be used in quantity in MSTS, at some point I will probably need to provide models with multiple levels of detail to keep user's frame rates reasonable.

Larry

Wow, taking the place of 3D Studio Max! Even better! (No offense to Rhino)

I'm glad to hear that you are enjoying 3D Canvas.

Stay tuned on LOD  

Richard