Track Building

OK, I've dibbled and I've dabbled, but still I can't seem to make anything remotely resembling a roller coaster in NL.

Does anyone know if there's some sorta tutorial out there (other than the help file!) to give a decent overview of creating pretty features?

If not, why don't we get a tutorial section on this here site? Could prove popular if it's one of a few out there

The main things I'm struggling to work out would be:

o When I download a track with textures and stuff, I don't have a clue what to do with them...
o From what I've read, it seems we can have 3ds models in our tracks. Is this limited in any way, or are the possibilities endless? IE, can we create buildings, track pieces, trains, "props" etc?

Thanks for any advice y'all have

Steve

PS Forgive me if I appear stupid, I've just spent more time reading and less time designing so far

You don't appear stupid, I was as clueless as you about these same things before. Ok, for the textures and stuff, what you do with them when you extract them, you place them into their correct folders. For example, Cartextures go into cartextures folder and stuff. And 3d's are just extremely hard. If you want to attempt this extremely difficult building technique that have side effects such as extreme headaches, then you can go to www.anim8or.com or www.blender.org wich either one you choose, its VERY VERY hard, so be prepared. Tutorials: Don't know. Hope my advice helps!

-IntaminFan397

Thanks for the reply

Is it 3DS (As in 3D Studio) or 3Ds, as in multiple instances of three dimensions?

That's where I've got stuck I think. If it's 3D Studio then I'm already halfway there

a .3ds file is a 3d object that has been exported from a 3d program. this is different from a .max file witch can only be opened in 3ds max. If you have a 3ds file that comes with a coaster, just put it and any textures that go with it, into the objects folder in your NL folder. As for building your own 3d objects, I'd recomend getting more familiar with NL, since your build in 3d there. The two programs that Intaminfan talked about are very good. Blender can compete with the top programs for many things, but has a setup that can make it a difficult program to get into.

[Oscar]

maybe I can make an articles/tutorials section here in the site and people can write the tutorials and submitt them here. Would you guys like that? I think I can find that code for free on the web.

I think that that would be a good idea[approve]

that would be an excellent idea!! I could use some tutorials myself...

If only the site was coded in PHP, I'd be able to write it for you