Boston Central Artery/Tunnel Project (Big Dig)

[blahdy 21]

Originally posted by: tommiej will there be cars driving in the new version?? i really hope so....quote>

Yes, that's correct.  There will be cars visible as they enter in and out of the tunnel system.  This is why Swamper77, a professional in transit network modding is exclusively engineering the LOD'ing and all modding aspects of this release, including pathing, etc

Before finalizing the new curved on-ramps, a new type of OVDS (overheight vehicle detection system) is featured in these ramps:

[blahdy 21]

Okay,

The BLUE GANTRY based CURVED ON-RAMP is now passed off to modding, no more changes will occur on this model.  Swamper77: The file is called bigd-t2a-onr2.rar in the big dig dist server.

Latest snap-shots just before being handed off to modding department for in-game production:

[blahdy 21]

okay, the black gantry version of the curved on-ramp is complete and uploaded for modding as well.  Swamper77: this one has filename of bigd-t2a-onr2b.rar.

Final snapshots:

[van1357 15]

These are so awesome! Thanks Blahdy and Swamper for all your hard work putting these together. I can't wait to use them, especially the curved versions. I will be keeping a sharp eye on the stex in the next couple of weeks. Keep up the amazing work.

Edit: My 700th post!

[MiniMark 7]

As always great work. Can't wait to hit the "download" button. It's people like you who make Sim City a whole lot better

[Swamper77 90]

I've taken a few day photos as Blahdy asked. These are thumbnail links as the actual images are 1024x768 maximum quality JPGs. Dial-up users, you have been warned!

South View

East View

North View

West View

-Swamper77

[Andreas Roth 626]

Too bad that such an amount of detail gets lost when bringing them into the game. But wow, what an improvement over the beta release! The textures are so much better, and you almost can feel how the road goes down, and finally gets some artificial light from above. The transitions have been improved by at least 500%!

[nycsc4 5,250]

everything looks great!! i would say more, but i think i have run out of things to say!

[SimNation 139]

In the terms of a great lover of transportation lots....all I gotta say is "Banging" One of the best transportation mods to hit the Stex in a long time

[blahdy 21]

Thanks guys   Yea it really is a shame that a lot of details get lost when importing to SC4 even in highest quality renders    Hopefully these models can truly show off their potential in future SC5 or other uses it can benefit from.

With that, I took some detailed gmax pictures of the curved on-ramps -- there are 9 pictures.  Let me know what your favorite one is

URL to pics:  http://216.93.240.36/~blahdy/stex/big-dig-tunnel-portal/2.0-finals/gmax-pics-curvedramps/

[MadBee 1]

Gotta love it when its fully released I'll be using this often 

Keep Up The Good Work

[ICFan 0]

BW!

[nycsc4 5,250]

I like em all!!!

[Sim shady 12]

it looks great, but why are there all those triangular shadows?

[SC4Noobie 5]

omfg! Thats awsome!! I wonder how those super detailed models would look in a nice renderer like VRAY (ask simfox maybe?!?) That would be freaking awsome. They look so awsome! I can't wait!

[warrior 169]

I know this has been mentioned before but i didn't see an answer.

the main highway/subway transition is slightly higher than ground highway is this just my game or is it the model (i am not critizising your work blahdy, no way would i do that)

[blahdy 21]

Originally posted by: warrior I know this has been mentioned before but i didn't see an answer.

the main highway/subway transition is slightly higher than ground highway is this just my game or is it the model (i am not critizising your work blahdy, no way would i do that)quote>

hmmm... to be honest, not exactly sure what the problem might be here... can you may be post a screenshot?

i know that sometimes, the model presentation in-game can be a little bit off-set, it appears to be a limitation with SC4's drawing abilities.

[blahdy 21]

Okay,

So far, much of ramps made in this project are fictional ramps (with exception of curved off-ramp for Government Center exit and Leverett Connector short-straight on-ramp) that are non-existant in real-world Big Dig in Boston.  So, to add further realism, the much anticipated Atlantic Avenue I-93 NB On-ramp Project has been started. 

This model aims to be as realistic as possible, although there still will be some noticeable differences between my model vs. the real-world version.  But here are the initial pics of the work in progress:

[Alfred.Jones 2]

I can't believe how realistic that is Blahdy!! I think it my be the most realistic ramp in the big dig project! Fantastic work

[teddyrised 1]

Omg blahdy the ramps are 110% realistic! They simply blew me off my feet *wind blows~*  Oh, and on the other hand, it is really a shame that the tiniest details get lost when rendering the models for SC4... but they still look awesome! Thanks for your time and effort... where is the trixie?

[blahdy 21]

hehe, thanks guys.   yea it really sucks that sc4 won't show enough details   but hey, at least you can get the sense of realism

Enough of BATting for tonight, but... before i can go ahead and install the street lights, finish the tunnel and structure details (the whole model is about 30% completed so far), first things first..

Tunnel approach VMS sign installed:

By far the most realistic big dig lot... ever..

[Alfred.Jones 2]

It wouldn't be Blahdy without VMS! Exceptional work, and I concur with Terry, you deserve a Trixie.

[Sim shady 12]

yeah right...blahdy does not deserve a trixie for this...he deserves MUCH more ! everything he is doing here is simply ground breaking and dramatically changing the game. if you ask me blahdy deserves a huge gold trophy proclaiming him to be best, most realistic BATer of the year!

[MiniMark 7]

if you ask me blahdy deserves a huge gold trophy proclaiming him to be best, most realistic BATer of the year! quote>

I'd support that 100%. Great job blahdy you know where your fans are

[pilotdaryl 25]

Whoa... How did you make that sunlight?

[blahdy 21]

Okay, much of tunnel boat structure is mostly completed.  Ready to proceed to start SC4 interface at the very beginning section of the ramp.

[ACEfanatic 7]

Yum....

Pure realistic deliciousness...

-ACE

[Meastro444 1]

how many big dig lots are you going to make? and which are finished? could you please make a list? im absolutley stunned!

Meastro444

[Ryan B 35]

That looks like a sunset-type of lighting. I like it.

[blahdy 21]

Meastro: not sure yet, i'm still working on making a list...

Okay, SC4 transition interface is almost done.  The whole model is 70% completed, the remaining 30% is the most time consuming part (reviewing various areas and ensuring all details are in place; camera and misc. stuff still need to be added).