Object Builders

[guillyman]

I'm just getting the hang of building objects by hand through writing csv files. (Thanks to Dennis Lance and others for the excellent tutorials!)
But this is very long-winded compared to graphical means. There used to be a link to a "b3d object builder" program, but this seems to have gone. Has anybody out there actually got this download that they could PM me please, or even any other program? There are others, I know, such as Google Sketchup, or Milkshape, but these all need conversion utilities, not the most efficient way of doing things.
Hoping somebody can help, thanks and best regards, Alan.

 

[eezypeazy]

Hi,

I never managed to get B3D Object Builder to work - from my memory, this program had been around for quite a while, certainly about two years ago.

Personally, I find .b3d easier to code than .csv objects - less typing, for a start! There are a number of conversion programs that will convert (I think) b3d to csv to .x format, should you so wish - although the only .x format files I've needed to make are for signals for BVE 4.

Bear in mind that what appear to be complex objects can be made relatively simply. For example, I'm working on ECML:Northumberland, which includes this former signal box and cabin at Belford:

Which I've modelled using a photograph, a slice of which is repeated, and some color blocks...

The .b3d file containing the coding is less than 2K....

Regards

eezypeazy

 

[guillyman]

Thanks for that, eezy, it's given me hope. Currently I'm working on a project for a mate to create a virtual tour of an old Devon mine. (Nothing to do with railways, but there was once a mineral line there linking it to the main line near Liskeard, so maybe in the future...?) It occurred to me that with all the typing necessary, not to mention the processing required to create transparencies in bitmaps, and that only for Holmans shaft, that there must be an easier way. How you guys manage when you're creating an entire main line I just don't know! Respect!
The next time I'm passing I'll post some results of the work so far, maybe you'll be able to use it in the Tyne Valley?
Your signal cabin at Belford is a stunning piece of work, as is your station building you posted a short while ago. The latter reminds me of an old Superquick card model which was once on the market, and leads me to a further piece of inspiration. The words "scanning" and "plagiarism" come to mind, but then I'm sure the likes of Superquick et al wouldn't object to their work appearing on a worldwide market, with full credit and permission of course!
Thanks once again for your reply, eezy, and power to your keyboard!
Kind regards, Alan.