We are almost ready to test this puppy, but first we'll put in a starting light and another checkpoint.
20 Load up checkpoint
models. Activate the Models Box by selecting View/Models from the main
menu, then click the "Load Model" button in the top-left of the box.
21 Place the start-line
object. Select "Edit Objects" from the toolbar.
Right-click near where the start of course segment "0" is (infront of
where the truck positions are) and select "Insert" from the popup-menu.
You should see a purple box - if it doesn't say "BOX", click on it. In
the Models Box, select "STLITE.BIN" and click the Apply button. The purple
box should now change to show the starting-line model.
You can move the model around simply by clicking near its middle and
dragging it with the mouse. You may need to go to View/Options and select
"Always show course" so you can see where the course is while placing the
model.
22 Place the checkpoint
flags. Use the arrow keys to move to the opposite side of the course (around
the beginning of course segment 2). Right-click at the side of the track
and select "Insert" just like we did before. In the Models Box, select
"C8CHEK1R.BIN" and click Apply. Repeat with "C8CHEK1L.BIN" on the other
side of the track. Again, you can move these around with the mouse so that
they are located correctly.
23 Configure the objects.
The start-line structure and flag objects need to be made non-collideable,
otherwise the game prevents you from driving through them (this applies
to the flag parts, even though they dont touch the ground). Double-click
on each of the flags and start-line object (or right-click, then select
Properties from the popup menu). In the Properties box, set the "Type"
for each object to "no-collide" and click OK.
In order to prevent driving through the flag poles and the bases of
the start-line object, some additional objects must now be added. Right-click
in a clear part of the terrain and select "Insert" to make a purple box
like we did before. But this time we wont apply an object to it (these
purple boxes with no model are invisible in the game, but cannot be driven
through). Double-click the purple box (Properties), change the "Size" values
to 3 x 3 x 20 and click OK. Move the object so that is in the same location
as one of the checkpoint flag poles.
Repeat for the other flag pole. Repeat two more times for the bases
of the start-line object, but this time setting the size to 16 x 16 x 20.
A good way to check you have the boxes centered properly is to use PgDn
as far as it will go to point directly downward - then look at the objects
from above.
24 Checkpoint behavior.
So far, we have only made the appearance of checkpoints - additional objects
need to be added to make them function correctly in the game. In the ModelsBox,
click the Load Model button and load up "Ckboxn.bin" (not "Ckbox.bin").
Insert a new object at a clear part of the terrain (like before) and apply
object "CKBOXN.BIN" to it. Double-click it and set its "Type" to "Checkpoint"
in Properties. Notice that when you do that, the Properties box displays
sequence number 0. Click OK, then drag the object so that it front face
is lined up with the front of the start-line object.
Repeat this to add a CKBOXN object inbetween the flags for the other
checkpoint. When you set its type to "Checkpoint", leave the sequence number
at 0 - Traxx will automatically change the one at the finish line to sequence
1 (the one at the finish line must be the last in the sequence - ie highest
sequence number).
25 Save your work!
26 Test the track.
Woohoo - now we can write the POD file, mount it and test the track! Click
the "Write POD" button on the toolbar (or File/WritePODFile, or Ctrl+W).
For now, ignore the warnings in the "Incomplete Track" box - just click
OK.
Back
to Traxx School
The small print
Select "C8check1l.bin", "C8check1r.bin" and "Stlite.bin" and click
the Open button (select more than one by holding down
These three should now be listed in the Models Box, and should be displayed
in the small preview box (which you can rotate using the sliders) when
you click on them in the list.
Finally, go to properties again for this checkpoint and change the
"Orientation" angle to 180. The arrows on the top of the CKBOXN object
must be pointing the same way that the course goes!
Make sure the front edge of the object is lined-up to be just infront
of the flags.
Browse to locate your POD folder (if necessary) - this might be your
MTM folder, if thats where you keep your add-ons. Enter a name for the
POD file (eg "MyFirstTrack"), and click "Save". You sould see a progress
box for a few seconds saying "Writing POD File...".
Use your favorite pod mounter (PODX, podini etc) to mount the track,
then race that puppy. Make sure the map looks correct (tab), the computer
trucks follow the course correctly, the checkpoints register correctly,
etc...
Because we didnt set a backdrop yet, the horizon may look funny - dont
worry about that.
Back
to Traxx Home Page
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