Possible new link and pin couplers.

[thegrindre]

Hi all,
I've tried to create a different kind of logging link and pin coupling system and would like your input.
I've based my design on pics from the net, (see below), painted them black as shown but, I found them to be too dark for visual aspects so, I re-painted them to be a rusted up white paint job instead.

Anybody think I should release these?
Do you think there is a need/want for this type?





I've made them 1 foot tall by 1 1/2 feet wide and protrude out about 1 foot in length.
The link and pin is a bit hockey looking but I've tried to keep the poly count down. I can, of course, 'smooth' out the roundness but it will make the polys shoot up dramatically. Polys are 356 for the one with the link and pin in it, now. Is this acceptable? I'd like to add a bit more detail with nuts and bolts and screws and stuff. LOL

I've tested them on most all of our 3' ng rolling stock and they seem to work just fine. There doesn't seem to be a uniform to height with everybody so I built these to fit every body's.

Comments, suggestions, and criticisms welcomed.

Thanks,

[jayo]

Nice, nice. You may want to consider working them differently from the ones on pencie's boxcars, so they will show up on Trainz Classics.

[bdaneal]

I suggest finding a way to make them look right while dark gray with a hint of red (there's your coloring hint). I've never seen white couplers of any kind. Always black or rusty gray.

[Pencil]

Looks good, Rick!

Nice, nice. You may want to consider working them differently from the ones on pencie's boxcars, so they will show up on Trainz Classics.

If you want to work around the TC 1&2 bug, leave off the :cull on the attachment point (in 3DC / GMAX). It's fixed in TC3, though, so I wouldn't worry about it one way or the other.

[thegrindre]

OK, I removed all the white and merged the rust layer onto a grimy gray background and came up with this;



Any better?

You guys aren't answering all my questions...

Anybody think I should release these?
Do you think there is a need/want for this type?
Polys are 356 for the one with the link and pin in it, now. Is this acceptable?
Can I go a bit higher on the polys?
What's recomended?

As far as making content for TC, I haven't got a clue. If anyone wants to alter my config files and re-release it, you're welcomed to do so. All my content has an open book policy on it. 'You may do with it as you please'.
So far, it's all I can do to get this stuff to work in '04 and '06, I'm not going out of my way to do any TC stuff. I don't have TC, I ain't gonna buy TC and, I threw my '06 in the trash because of that damn CMP.
I'm an '04 user, sorry.

Thanks, I appreciate the input,

[thegrindre]

I've completely rebuilt this asset, from the ground up, to look like this, now. It is about half the size of the first one, (above), and appears to be a bit more realistic although the back mounting plate is a little larger.
The back plate/mounting plate is now 1 1/4 feet square, (1' 3"), and will need at least that much mounting area.

I use in game peeps along with real measurements while building. It gives me a little better perspective on 'things'.



Do you think it's any better?

Thanks,

[Trainzsam]

Lets see, answer s to your questions(in the order you asked):
1. yes!
2. yes!
3. I really don't know...
4. see answer #3
5. see answer #4

Hope this helps,
Sam

[nwhitney]

The only style I've ever seen on RR cars is like what's at this link:
http://cprr.org/Museum/Ephemera/Link-Pin_Couplers.html. They were at the Kentucky rail museum. Yours look more like what would be on a locomotive. Seems like they'd be hard on the frame with no cushion, but that's just my observation and doesn't really mean anything.
That rusty white looks very realistic, great job, even if it isn't prototypical.
Norm
P.S. I've tried for a third time to email your trucks

[thegrindre]

OK, great info, Norm. I'll have to do a bit more research, I guess and, thanks for the input.

This new re-built I did, knocked off about 150 polys, btw.

[thegrindre]

Upon further investigation into this type of coupling system on rolling stock, I haven't been unable to find much if any. I believe Norm is right when saying that these things where on the locomotive only.

Therefore, this project has been canceled.

[Pencil]

I don't know that I would cancel it - it would be perfect for locomotives...

[thegrindre]

OK, it has been un-canceled. LOL But, it will be a WIP for awhile. No release date scheduled at this time...