Post by Tom Constantine on Dec 30, 2013 21:13:44 GMT -5
Building Quick Drive Consists with RW_Tools Part 3: A Consist
Now its time to get something onto the tracks. Open RW_Tools again and click Scenarios, then Build QD Consists or Fragments. See Fig.4
There is a lot in Fig.5, so try to view it at 100%. First, notice the bottom window.This is the result of our index file made earlier. I click on Provider to sort the table in alphabetical order by Developer name. In the picture I have then scrolled down to IHH, specifically to Steam & Tender categories (last column.)
In the middle window are the fragments I have in my preload folder. I have Freight_Mixed_Lng_Fragment highlighted. Using this one file saves me from needing to scroll up and down the bottom window assembling a train one car at a time. You can create your own fragments of course. More about that later.
So, look in the top window and you will see I have entered (by clicking on them in either of the lower windows, a steam engine, a tender (don't forget the tender LOL) and a fragment of freight cars. That's all I need.
On the upper right hand corner there is an inset. You can see on the top menu the Build Consists selection. Click that and then click Build QD Consist. You can see the fragment choice is in the same spot if you decide to build some custom fragments. (There's a good reason for that coming later.)
When you click Build QD Consist, another window will open. See Fig.6
Again there is a lot happening. In the top box you create a filename for your consist. It needs to be something YOU can identify.
In the next box is the engine name. This is the name you will find the QD under when you go to drive it. I made sure it was the same that Paul (IHH) used when he made the QD consists that came with the engine.
The 3rd box is a description of the consist. When you select the engine in QD, there will be a list of consists (perhaps ony one) There is a number 2 after mine because IHH have already made one with a similar name.
Very important, check Locomotive is drivable. Or it won't move...
Next box is labeled Route name. No clues given, BUT if you want the consist to be available as AI on certain routes, select them here. I've highlighted 2 steam era routes.
I always fill in 1900 for a start year, though some think it is unnecessary.
The last box is Consist type. Very important for AI & Static consists because when building a QD scenario you select a consist category to spawn at a certain location. Default is Passenger Regional, I selected Custom 5.
I can make a dozen steam freight consists and assign them all to Custom 5 and they will appear randomly in my QD scenario. AI and/or static consists can be spawned this way.
One more trick and I'm done for now:
Consists of freight cars etc in yards or on sidings can be made the same way. Just skip the engine. In other words, I could make a consist to use for static display on a siding by just selecting the Freight_Mixed_Lng_fragment, (or assemble my own consist from the index) leave the Locomotive Name & Display Name boxes blank, choose say Custom 8, set the routes I want it available for and create. It won't show up in your QD selection screen but it will spawn and add freight cars to your scenarios. By making several with the same Custom8 Consist type, the yards will look different every time you pass by.
Now its time to get something onto the tracks. Open RW_Tools again and click Scenarios, then Build QD Consists or Fragments. See Fig.4
There is a lot in Fig.5, so try to view it at 100%. First, notice the bottom window.This is the result of our index file made earlier. I click on Provider to sort the table in alphabetical order by Developer name. In the picture I have then scrolled down to IHH, specifically to Steam & Tender categories (last column.)
In the middle window are the fragments I have in my preload folder. I have Freight_Mixed_Lng_Fragment highlighted. Using this one file saves me from needing to scroll up and down the bottom window assembling a train one car at a time. You can create your own fragments of course. More about that later.
So, look in the top window and you will see I have entered (by clicking on them in either of the lower windows, a steam engine, a tender (don't forget the tender LOL) and a fragment of freight cars. That's all I need.
On the upper right hand corner there is an inset. You can see on the top menu the Build Consists selection. Click that and then click Build QD Consist. You can see the fragment choice is in the same spot if you decide to build some custom fragments. (There's a good reason for that coming later.)
When you click Build QD Consist, another window will open. See Fig.6
Again there is a lot happening. In the top box you create a filename for your consist. It needs to be something YOU can identify.
In the next box is the engine name. This is the name you will find the QD under when you go to drive it. I made sure it was the same that Paul (IHH) used when he made the QD consists that came with the engine.
The 3rd box is a description of the consist. When you select the engine in QD, there will be a list of consists (perhaps ony one) There is a number 2 after mine because IHH have already made one with a similar name.
Very important, check Locomotive is drivable. Or it won't move...
Next box is labeled Route name. No clues given, BUT if you want the consist to be available as AI on certain routes, select them here. I've highlighted 2 steam era routes.
I always fill in 1900 for a start year, though some think it is unnecessary.
The last box is Consist type. Very important for AI & Static consists because when building a QD scenario you select a consist category to spawn at a certain location. Default is Passenger Regional, I selected Custom 5.
I can make a dozen steam freight consists and assign them all to Custom 5 and they will appear randomly in my QD scenario. AI and/or static consists can be spawned this way.
One more trick and I'm done for now:
Consists of freight cars etc in yards or on sidings can be made the same way. Just skip the engine. In other words, I could make a consist to use for static display on a siding by just selecting the Freight_Mixed_Lng_fragment, (or assemble my own consist from the index) leave the Locomotive Name & Display Name boxes blank, choose say Custom 8, set the routes I want it available for and create. It won't show up in your QD selection screen but it will spawn and add freight cars to your scenarios. By making several with the same Custom8 Consist type, the yards will look different every time you pass by.