Junction Cosmetics Suggestions

[tewkesape 5]

Hey All this is my first time posting on here (so apologise if this is in the wrong forum) and my first true attempt at building an RHW network, I'm building it in LHD and trying to build it as part of a "rural" region; there are a couple of problems that I was wondering if anyone had any suggestions to resolve/make better or any thought people had to make it aesthetically more pleasing to the eye. Here are some pics/more explanation:

As you can see this is a basic roundabout junction, the motorway lighting is one of bluelightning's plots, the road signs are MRTRLN's Modern British Sign Pack. Still very much a work of progress I was wondering if anyone can suggest any textures to reduce the "blockyness" of the textures surrounding this junction.

Another angle of the junction.

My first "large scale" junction, still a work in progress.

Cheers,

tewkes_ape

[simlink 1,098]

For the first junction, I suggest using retaining walls along the slopes as opposed to the grass texture. There are a number of good ones available on the STEX and LEX. Hope this helps!

EDIT: Something like these would look good.

  Edited August 24, 2011 by sim_link  

[Sky Guy 163]

You could also try some Mayor Mode Flora. You can place grass and trees around them to hide the blockiness.

https://www.sc4devotion.com/csxlex/lex_filedesc.php?lotGET=1886

^^ this pack has some nice grass that I use quite often for similar things.

Hope that helps

[MandelSoft 2,769]

You also require a slope mod. Reduces the bumpiness of your roads (and prevents 45-degree slopes)

Oh, and prevent using grass filler lots. These look bad. Just keep the area open and add some Mayor Mode Flora (or the God Flora tool like I use), like this:

Works great in urban envoirments too:

And this is what retaining walls can do to the scene:

Looks pretty nice, eh?

Best,

Maarten

  Edited August 24, 2011 by mrtnrln  

[tewkesape 5]

@simlink: thanks, i don't think I'll use the restraining walls in this case as I'm trying to maintain a more "rural feeling" but I'll definitely look towards using them for more urban junctions.

@skyguy: thanks that's definitely the sort of thing I was looking for, shall be trying that out shortly.

@mrtnrln: they're not quite 45 degrees... I get your point though, in the past just dragging a railway or one way road across has done the trick but for some reason in this city they've been behaving almost as bad as the RHW's. Are there any slope mods you'd suggest? I'm trying to avoid just get any old one's because I don't want my plugins folder to get too silly too quickly.

And yeah I was kinda looking for summut other than the grass lots (they do look a bit silly), although they kind of go well with the base of the lights.

[Dexter 40]

I tend to use these in urban areas to provide a natural barrier from the motorway. IMO anything's better than the maxis default grass texture.

[MandelSoft 2,769]

@mrtnrln: they're not quite 45 degrees... I get your point though, in the past just dragging a railway or one way road across has done the trick but for some reason in this city they've been behaving almost as bad as the RHW's. Are there any slope mods you'd suggest? I'm trying to avoid just get any old one's because I don't want my plugins folder to get too silly too quickly.

I would recommend the NHP Ennedi Slope Mod. This slope mod comes in three different flavours (smooth, medium, mountain) each with it's own difficulty and includes a slope mod for the RHW.

[Gugu3 173]

I like how marteens freeways look in his CJ...try to use MMP trees and left the tiles near your freeways free...this to prevent that ugly darker texture near your mis and RHW...a slope mod would be useful too...also some slope reinforcement would look great!!

Let us know by posting some more pictures!!

good luck

Gugu3

[tewkesape 5]

Cheers for the suggestions everyone! I'll be starting a CJ soon as my latest project is starting to take shape :-)