Truck details

[Kali]

Is there a really detailed guide to freight trucks around? I've got a bunch of brief guides to broad types ( including a PDF which is one of the obvious google hits ), but every time I go and look for say, AAR cast frame 50t trucks they all still seem different! given it's a basic standard design that isn't too surprising, but it's pretty annoying when you're trying to construct one and you end up with a composite of several.

Basic shape I have fine, details not so much.

[_o_OOOO_oo-Kanawha]

Three piece freight trucks .... Trains magazine did an article on them, IIRC.
http://mrr.trains.com/~/media/import/files/pdf/4/c/c/mr_pi_5-06_freightcartrucks.ashx

The simple design is a century old and has come a long way since.
Here is some light reading: http://web.mscsoftware.com/support/library/conf/adams/rail/pdf/Freight%20Vehicle%20Suspensions.pdf
http://www.wheel-rail-seminars.com/hh-papers/hh-pdfs/09%20HeavyHaul_MONACO_AmstedRail_20140508.pdf
http://www.railwayage.com/index.php/mechanical/freight-cars/a-technical-and-commercial-balancing-act.html?channel=59

Barber, Bettendorf and probably other manufactures made and still make them.
Manufacturers/refurbishers:
http://www.railway-technology.com/contractors/bogies/sct-europe/
http://www.amstedrail.com/truck-assemblies

When you make a model, be sure to included the raised lettering that is cast into the sideframes in your textures.

[thebigroyboyski]

The biggest problem I found with making a truck was trying to find the right mix of detail and the poly count.
I made a 100t truck that looked good but when I realised there could be 200+ of them in a train I had to simplify it.

[Kali]

Cheers Kana. That first link was the one I've been working from - I've come to the conclusion that pretty much everyone else has no idea what type of trucks are what ( including the drawings I'm using which appear to be ASF ride control trucks even though they're labelled as AAR cast... )

Polycount: these days not actually quite as important to keep polycount down ( obviously without going nuts & using turbosmooth or something! ) but the magic tool is just to use a lot of LODs - if you switch down to the next LOD quite close ( say, 50m, maybe less ) and you drop a lot of the detail out of your superbly done trucks for that LOD then you'll never have that many being drawn anyway. At 250m you can basically make it out of boxes & you won't notice.

[thebigroyboyski]

I had the same problem. Every picture I googled had different or wrong info.
In the end I found a patent to use and a close up picture from a trade show.
I'm pretty sure it was a ride control truck I made but can't be sure.
Mine hasn't made it off 3dcrafter yet so I might have a play with the LODs when I get a chance.