Yesterday I had the privilege of a couple of minutes on the footplate of K190, and managed to take some photos that I might be able to use to build a replacement cabview for the K class I won in the screen shot comp. The D3 cabview is a fantastic cab, but it isn’t a K. I’ve never had the time to build in MSTS so am relatively clueless. Sometime in the not too distant future I’m hoping to have a go at this cabview. I have photo editing software so with some manipulation I’m hoping to have some suitable views. I guess the first step, once I’m happy with the photo’s, is to convert them into .ace files? What is the best freeware software for doing this? I assume I can build the cab with the Cabview Editor in Editors and Tools utility? I guess making it work with all relevant sound and animation is another story, but I’m willing to learn when I have the time. Any and all help is gratefully received. I am nevertheless, like many, looking forward to the TA release of the Ks, which will undoubtedly have great accurate cabs but in the meantime would love to drive my K with a K class cab. Thanks

G'day,

On Yuri's tutoriall page here;

http://steam4me.railpage.org.au/trainsi ... tml#models

...you'll find a link to a file called 'Cab View Tutorial', which covers it as well as anyone coud.

Cheers,
Matt

Thanks Matt, I had a feeling there ought to be a tutorial for cabs on S4M but had missed it. After a glance at the tutorial it looks doable.

Best is a relative term.

If you want freeware software I would suggest having a look at GIMP or Paint.NET.

My personal opinion is that paint.net is easier to learn but GIMP has more features. Try both and see what you think

Link to Paint.NET is:

http://www.getpaint.net/

Link to GIMP is:

http://www.gimp.org/



I use Notepad myself but I'm a control freak. I have found that the CabView editor can mangle the CVF files so keep backups.

Hope this helps.

Thanks for that info. Much appreciated. I already have Paintshop Pro so should be ok for getting my photo files to the point for converting to .ace files. How do I convert them to .ace files? I'm assuming that is detailed in the tutorial though.

Peter

Sorry Peter, I've got to stop speed-reading as I’m missing the important bits.

I use TGATool2A to convert my TGA files into ACE files.

http://www.softpedia.com/get/Multimedia ... ool2.shtml

If I’m not mistaken TGATool2 uses the ACEIT.EXE program, which is included in the route riter download.

http://steam4me.railpage.org.au/trainsi ... index.html

Hi Guys,
I use Aceit to convert .tga's to Ace - comes with Route Riter. Dead simple. Yes, I use TgaTools to convert from Ace to tga.
For simple 2D cab views, I copy my three new texture files into the Cabview folder ensuring their names match the names in the .cvf file, or change as necessary. I then make any fine adjustment for the angles of view. It is the quickest way. If you want working needles and dials, that will take a bit (heh, heh) longer.
Cheers
Allan

Thanks for all your suggestions and help so far. It will be a while before I am able to work on this project as I am in the process of preparing for moving my wife, kids and I up north OS in less than 2 weeks where it is far warmer that Melb right now. Internet connection is flaky at best there and will take some time to re connect to the forum, hence gleaning as much info now. I'll have a go at a straight 2D cab to begin with I think, but would like to progress to working gauges, regulator, reverser and whistle lever. What would I need to know about animating gauges and regulator etc, apart from taking a long time to figure it and get it right? Maybe its in the tutorial already mentioned, as I havn't had a chance to really look at it. Is there any other programs/utilities you could suggest as being vital/useful for this venture that I ought to download other than RR etc mentioned? Again, many thanks for your suggestions. I will endevour to post some screenies when I'm at a point where it is workable.

Thanks to Russell and Allan and others for all the amazing work you have put into locos, rollingstock and magnifient routes. Aussie MSTS is among other things a great education for my boys about railways here, when we are OS in a country that has no operating railways that I am aware of.

Cheers, Peter