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Post by Eddie on Sept 23, 2019 15:30:34 GMT
Watching a video stream by Alex Mole I was surprised to see he'd managed to patch our route into using the AP track enhancement program. A clever guy by the name of Jake Fuller has written this patch for users with both the VDL and the AP TE program. As I bought this a while ago I installed it and it does look far better IMHO. It is available for free on ATS here: alanthomsonsim.com/?download=ap-track-patch-for-virtual-district-line-phase-2
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Post by Xavier on Sept 23, 2019 15:36:06 GMT
It does look very good.
However, as a route builder, I have resisted using it because I'm not comfortable with a pack that masks the default track of DLC. Then I don't know what I'm 'actually' using when I lay down track.
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Post by Eddie on Sept 23, 2019 18:25:44 GMT
Easiest thing to do when laying further track is to overwrite it by reinstalling the route and subsequent patches whilst route editing...............then reapply once finished? I do get your point though.
EDIT
I couldn't have been more wrong. Getting rid of this is not easy at all. I suggest BEFORE you install this patch, you take the precaution of copying the main route folder in Content/ Routes beginning d59 etc etc.
Make a folder on your desktop called VDL Back, or some such and copy the route folder into that. Copy your JT assets folder and your VirtualDistrictTeam assets folder and place them in the above back folder.
If you decide you don't like the 2D track and want the original 3D back you now just delete the Just Trains and VDT assets folder in your TS root folder and replace them with the originals. A right pain.
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Post by Eddie on Sept 24, 2019 14:23:22 GMT
I decided to have a much closer look at the effect of this patch once I saw it in game. I wasn't convinced it was actually better than our original track. To recap : when we started extending the route from Putney Bridge towards Wimbledon as tracklayer I wanted to use a more realistic track than the IOW which we'd used on V1. After much discussion we decided to use a Just Trains 3D track called Concrete Clean. This had very nice running rails with 3D clips and nicely textured rust on the flanged section. The ballast textures were faily close to an actual real photograph I took at South Kensington. The breakthrough for us came when Xavier managed to swap out all our IOW for this track so I had could use it for fresh track laying purposes. Looking at this patched track it is obvious to me, at least, that this is backward step in realism. It is not 3D at all, but 2D track and as such I feel it a retrograde step. I show the following screenshots : AP PATCHED TRACKJT 3D CONCRETE PRE-AP PATCHSee which one you prefer is the more realistic. I prefer the original, as do other team members.
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Post by Eddie on Sept 24, 2019 18:03:00 GMT
This next shot of the ORIGINAL VDL track shows just how much detail there is when you get up really close. Note the red 3D sleeper clips, the concrete sleepers, and a nice mix of rust and brake dust staining the ballast under the running rails. This is a very realistic track, why would you want to downgrade it ?
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Post by Darren on Sept 24, 2019 18:29:28 GMT
Well I won't be changing mine. It's a user preference thing this. If you like it, then go for it.
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