Reskinning

Hi all,
I have just had a go at my First Reskin. I've copied the folder TC_EH2_MK2_Coaches elsewhere on my hard drive and created a new .ace file called Mercator Support Coach.ace. How and what files do I need to adjust so it uses this texture file please? It will probably need more work, but I just want to have a look at it before I do further work on it.
Many Thanks
Andy

Hi Andy.

You can use Shape file manager to change the textures used by a shape file, I use it to make differently skinned versions of my common shape files in my scenery creations.

You will also need to change the name of the .s & .sd files, change the reference inside the .sd file, you will also need to change the name of the .wag file, and change all the references inside the .wag file too, as AE will spit it's dummy out if you have two items of stock with the same name installed.

Thanks for the link Mark. I think I may have left out something??? I can't seem to point any of the .SD Files to the .ace file?
Cheers
Andy

You only need to point the .sd file to the shape file, it is the .s file you need to change the .ace file references in.

SFM will allow you to uncompress your .s files and allow you to edit them, it will then allow you to compress them back again for use.

Markh5682 wrote:You only need to point the .sd file to the shape file, it is the .s file you need to change the .ace file references in.

SFM will allow you to uncompress your .s files and allow you to edit them, it will then allow you to compress them back again for use.

Thanks for the replies Mark. But I can't seem to find any of the .ace references within the .s file? I have Uncompressed all .s files as well.
Many Thanks
Andy

At the top of the text editor, click on the find icon (usually a magnifying glass icon) and type in .ace then click on find, that will take you to the lines that contain the .ace file references, change the name from the old .ace file to the new .ace file on the relevant line then save. you can then compress it again.

You only need to uncompress the .s file you are working on.

Markh5682 wrote:At the top of the text editor, click on the find icon (usually a magnifying glass icon) and type in .ace then click on find, that will take you to the lines that contain the .ace file references, change the name from the old .ace file to the new .ace file on the relevant line then save. you can then compress it again.

You only need to uncompress the .s file you are working on.

Mark,
Thanks for the help. I have saved the .S file and when I try and go to Compress it back again it is coming up with the following error;

Compress/Uncompress Failed to complete - File not updated [Object Error]

Cheers

Andy

:EDIT: Scrap that; I just changed the name without any spaces and it has now worked! Thanks for all your help Mark. Now going to check and open it in MSTS and send you all a screenshot to see what you think?

Which text editor did you use? or which one did SFM point you to? It must be a unicode editor such as wordpad or ConText, it must also be saved in the unicode format (not text or word formats).

EDIT: glad you sorted it, look forward to seeing it.

Hi Mark and everyone,
It is my first go at reskinning so hopefully it will be okay.

Cheers

Andy

Hi Andy

That looks good, especially for a first attempt, well done

Thanks for the Feedback Mark!
I have since made a change to the coach and will upload once I have obtained permission from the Author. One thing I have noticed is that the other side of the coach the name 'Mercator' is back to front..... Very odd!

Thanks

Andy

Hi Andy,

Looks good.

I seem to recall that the issue with the reversed texture on one side is due to how the model was originally created to be textured - i.e. a single texture was being used for both sides. Thus if one side is correct; then the other would be flipped.

From my experience with the Class121 models; you really would need the source files so that the texture references could be changed to an additional file.

I could of course be talking complete rubbish here - are the BR logos and other numbers also reversed?

Hi all,
Not sure how to rectify the Emblems etc having flipped etc, but I am sure we can resolve this somehow?
On another note, does anyone know the best Cream colour as used by Clanlines support coach?
I am getting the following, near or just abouts and doesn't seem to be anything near as it should be;

R: 247
G: 242
B: 213

It appears to show in White; rather than cream? Can anyone give me the best colours please?
Thanks
Andy

Hi Andy, don't know exactly what shade of cream you're after, but if you subtract some blue and add a little red, that will make it less white and more cream.


Here I entered your values and got the previous colour, I altered the red and blue (as shown) and got the current colour, you will have to experiment with the values till you get one you are happy with.

gswindale wrote:

From my experience with the Class121 models; you really would need the source files so that the texture references could be changed to an additional file.

I first encountered this problem with the Class 118 NSE repaints. The 118 base model, etc. was based on the 121 or vice versa. This meant that I couldn't get things right where the NSE livery sweeps up at the cab front.

Reg (Refman) kindly sent me some alternative shape files for this as well as the 121s and 122s.

Alec