June 13, 2003
at 12:00 pm /
#1380
I can’t get over how wonderful this plugin is. (It should be a part of native 3DC. andnbsp;
)
What really amazes me is how polygon efficient it is!!!
Now I’m going back and re-doing all of my older models that have handrails. andnbsp;I just finished andnbsp;shaving about 1200 polys off a tank car that was loaded with handrails I built from cube primitives…. andnbsp; and they didn’t even look better for all the extra poly’s…
Pete
June 13, 2003
at 12:00 pm /
#13054
Some of you may remember I started writing this a long time ago but I had a lot of problems with the junctions of all the objects.
I have just re-written it so that only a single object is generated…
[img:2m0xjpw3]http://album.atomic-systems.com/showPic.php/22531/pipes2.jpg[/img:2m0xjpw3]
It is still quite early days yet and there are a couple of bugs if you select a circular edge path, but for single paths it seems to work well, should be available in the next few days.
The theory is that it is a relatively simple task to build an object where the edges follow the course of the pipe you want to build (the above was done with boolean subtraction and chamfering in a couple of mins.
By selecting the edges you want and running the plugin, a pipe with a set number of facets and diameter is created.
This could potentially take hours off of more complex model handrails etc.
[i:2m0xjpw3]It is probably the last plugin I will be writing![/i:2m0xjpw3]
(because I think I have now written all that I need to quickly build steam locos – unless any one else comes up with a good idea)
There will however be updates and fixes to other plugins in the future <!– s:) –><img src="{SMILIES_PATH}/icon_e_smile.gif" alt="
" title="Smile" /><!– s:) –> (I am also working on an update to MSTS Engineer)
Paul
June 13, 2003
at 12:00 pm /
#13055
Major thanks for doing this Paul! This is pretty important for us structure builders too. Many factories have visible pipes of varying sizes and bends. This is a sorely needed feature. I tried using various methods to create a believeable bent pipe with 3dc but I wasn’t able to master any of them. Way to go! <!– s:-) –><img src="{SMILIES_PATH}/icon_e_smile.gif" alt="
" title="Smile" /><!– s:-) –>
Rich Garber
June 14, 2003
at 12:00 pm /
#13056
The bugs turned out to be simple fixes – it is now ready…
New Sphere, select all edges, run plugin…
[img:3cl931c5]http://album.atomic-systems.com/showPic.php/22531/sphere1.jpg[/img:3cl931c5]
I think that’s a pretty good test – 2021 faces in 5 seconds.
Version for 5.7 and 6 are available at:
[img:3cl931c5]http://www.highworth.freeuk.com[/img:3cl931c5]
<!– m –><a class="postlink" href="http://www.highworth.freeuk.com">http://www.highworth.freeuk.com</a><!– m –>
June 14, 2003
at 12:00 pm /
#13057
If you downloaded the plugin in the last half hour, try again… I made a slight mistake and the plugin did not appear in the menu, the new version should work…
June 16, 2003
at 12:00 pm /
#13058
Paul,
RE:
[i:33y3vrsg]It is probably the last plugin I will be writing!
(because I think I have now written all that I need to quickly build steam locos – unless any one else comes up with a good idea)
There will however be updates and fixes to other plugins in the future andnbsp;(I am also working on an update to MSTS Engineer)
[/i:33y3vrsg]
Let me take a moment to SAY andquot;T H A N K Sandquot;, You have helped to make 3DC the BEST way to produce MSTS models.
Pete
June 17, 2003
at 12:00 pm /
#13059
I think I’ve made it too easy now :
… perhaps we should have a gallery of uses for this plugin andnbsp;
June 17, 2003
at 12:00 pm /
#13060
This is EXACTLY what I needed!
Whoo Hoo!

Thank-You Again!
Pete