The Joyz of Trainz - Exporting a Cube with FBX and PBR (Blender) Tutorial

Today in this tutorial we will be looking at exporting a cube from Blender 2.79 using PBR materials. If I missed anything or you are unclear, please leave a comment below and I'll do my best to help you.
The files we used in today's episode: www.dropbox.com/sh/if1smfo591...
Trainz Content Utilities:
contentcreation.trainzsimulat...
For more extra help check out these resources:
N3V Games KZbin Channel: / n3vgames
Trainz Content Creation Discord: / discord
Trainz Content Creation Wiki: contentcreation.trainzsimulat...
Trainz Dev Wiki: online.ts2009.com/mediaWiki/in...
Trainz Content Utilities:
contentcreation.trainzsimulat...

[@kibristuber]

Great that N3V are at last realising that many content creators use Blender. I'd like to see N3V create a whole range of assets in Blender (rather than just a cube) so that other content creators can use them as a template for their own creations. A lot of older content creators have given up because it's been difficult to keep up with the number of changing methods of content creation, most recently in the field of textures.

[@trainzcontentcreation9435]

What do you mean by a range of assets? Do you mean example locomotives, buildings, track, etc for users to look at for reference?

[@kibristuber]

@@trainzcontentcreation9435 Yes, exactly that. N3V have moved the goalposts so often that many older modellers have lost track.

[@trainzcontentcreation9435]

@@kibristuber I see. When I get to doing Locomotives/Rollingstock I will definitely include the source so I hope that will be helpful. N3V has some of their old sources on the Trainz Dev Wiki, such as the TS2009 SD40-2.

[@Trainfan1055Janathan]

I'm moving from GMAX to Blender. I've successfully made a replica of the Bodie Island Lighthouse.

[@frankb4793]

This is great, just what I was looking for, thanks.

[@JBVector]

Using Quixel Mixer for creating textures, and following your steps, I created my first trainz asset! It also appears to work in blender 2.8. Thank you very much!

[@ThomasFan2002]

Very nice to see this tutorial come out. It's very clear what needs to be done, so big thanks for that. If you don't mind me asking, would it be possible to make a tutorial how to export animations in FBX and how to make them work in Trainz? Thanks in advance!

[@trainzcontentcreation9435]

Yes, that one will be in a bogey animation tutorial coming soon.

[@ohshoottre5262]

Lol when this guy comments, I can perfectly hear his voice through his comments. Not an insult, but I thought it was a little funny. Also, good tutorial

[@ThomasFan2002]

In this video, you say that the alpha option should be ticked in the normal texture, but at the Trainz wikia, it is told that it should be unticked. What's the right setting?

[@trainzcontentcreation9435]

Since we want to use an alpha map for the normal (it provides the height map for us) we want it ticked. From my experience, the importer doesn't really care too much about this setting, except for the albedo when using it for glass materials.

[@trainman264]

Thanks so much

[@deleteduser3424]

I followed every step but I get like 10 errors, Failed to compile texture.txt file, material in mesh is missing for mandatory texture slot etcetc :/

[@user-bi4nr1lc5j]

My original asset model is missing, but there is a problem with the asset. I need to modify it. What should I do

[@railwaycrossingproductions]

How do I make a locomotive in blender 2.9 and then exported to trainz 2019

[@berniewiemers728]

Thanks for creating a fantastic tutorial. I hope you create more in the future. I would like to see how to create a spline bridge, tunnel etc. in blender. Maybe a tutorial bringing the cube into TANE? or is it the same process minus PBR?

[@ohshoottre5262]

Is it possible to export using blender 2.9?

[@kevinseipel5130]

So do you know how to import or export props from other games like from L4d2, tf2, gmod stuff like that? Like the Rick May Statue, or the wrecked cars and trucks in l4d2 into trainz 2019? I wanna learn how to do so.

[@trainzmania2022ricardo]

Does this also works on TANE?

[@norzalinaabubakar7003]

does it only work on ts2019 and tane??????

[@MarkozalGaming]

I has try follow the step by step but after export to fbx the config.txt and thumbnail cant show in that folder. i use blender 2.79. Could u help me to find solution? thanks

[@trainzcontentcreation9435]

The config and thumbnail will not show in the Blender export window since it is not the same file type. There are a sample config and thumbnail in the description of the video for you to use if you cannot make your own one.

[@notnightfury6088]

just a question, is there a way to get the models from in game and put them in blender?

[@ohshoottre5262]

does the exporter work with mac?

[@NicolasCruz3493]

I Can't Find The Mapping & The Influence Properties

[@evanthepleaseimsorry4663]

Could you please make a tutorial on how to make the different parameters and apply them to an actual train?

[@NCXDesigns]

Can you do a tutorial on how to do a locomotive? Like I want to make a locomotive using other dependencies but I will make the body from the ground up. This includes making a passenger car.

[@darkopahic]

Hi. Great tutorial. But your cube cast no shadows in TRS2019. Why?

[@dieseld261]

I'd love to see a tutorial on LODs and how to go about them on more advanced meshes such as a small locomotive so that I know how to make the UV maps work on the same texture.

[@trainzcontentcreation9435]

That is definitely planned for a future episode!

[@dieseld261]

@@trainzcontentcreation9435 Good to know. Looking forward to it.

[@boomeraus0073]

Ok just a quick Question for someone that is still using T:ANE this will be useless to them? Not played around with Blender for a long time.

[@trainzcontentcreation9435]

This tutorial is not useless for TANE users, but you will not be able to use the PBR materials. Instead, you can use one of the legacy materials listed here: online.ts2009.com/mediaWiki/index.php/Material_Types#Legacy_Material_Types The entire procedure is the same except the material ending will be different. So for example that uses the onetex material, instead of .m.pbrmetal, it will be .m.onetex .

[@donaldcollins8551]

Show us how to make the parameter file, that's what I have a problem with.

[@trainman264]

where do you get other PBR Materials from?

[@nathanw7114]

Look online (there are plenty of sites that offer free PBR materials).

[@doublepickup2064]

I have imported a tunnel_portal into 2019 as a basic scenery(PBRmetal 3dsmax SP baking) , and it looks strange, all the map are fliped to the inside ,even I tried to turned over the normal but it is not working,what's the problem?

[@trainzcontentcreation9435]

That sometimes happens with assets and I cannot find a perfect solution how to fix it. Try giving the surface some thickness by extruding it a bit (or solidifying it). It doesn't have to be very much, it could be extruded 0.001.

[@Heino5010]

Make sure the faces (normals) are facing outwards.

[@Jasper_jobs_13]

Bro how to export Trainz CDP into Trainz 12 Android

[@ironphilly2366]

how to move a trainz model to blender

[@ITSG2370]

How to generate parameter texture for our own texture?

[@trainzcontentcreation9435]

You can create a paramater texture using any photo editing software of your choice. Each color channel represents a purpose in-game, so each channel shouldn't necessarily be the same. Follow the m.pbrmetal article on the Trainz Dev wiki for more information.

[@ITSG2370]

@@trainzcontentcreation9435 Ok but how to generate roughness and metalness map?

[@trainzcontentcreation9435]

@@ITSG2370 You can generate those using a program such as Materialize, or by hand in a photo editing software.

[@dghcpumpernickeldeluxe7391]

where is the sample config file

[@Richardblue1963]

10:13

[@karma9681]

didnt help at all

[@trainzcontentcreation9435]

What didn't help specifically? Where did you get stuck?

[@daltondick5223]

You missed half of what is needed to be discussed. how to make the materials and set them, how do i texture, and how do you get it in the game?