Ralston Metro Area

[meinhosen 11]

Update 2.75 -

 

Due to ISP trouble this will be a small update.  Thanks for being patient.

 

Wow!  Such an outpouring of support.  I really want to say thanks to everyone who's taken time to view and reply to this CJ.

Special thanks to:

Traffic_Jam (x2 ) & sirgeoj2 - Love seeing you guys here.  Thanks for the comments.

Nardo - Always great to see you.  It's about high time I take my camera out and about in the region and dedicate an update to the active rail traffic in and around the city.

ACEfanatic - That's quite a compliment that my CJ reminds you of paletexan.  I'm quite flattered.

gggg - Thanks for stopping by... can't believe I have a Russian following.

Simshoe - great to see you again!

aleking - hope those suburban homes are growing for you.  2x4 lots are the key.

oroen - just the right look.  Yep, that's true.  Not sure if it's taboo, but that area was set up for that purpose.  There's a couple other small spots like that around the region... they should be pretty obvious.

This is a small update, but I think you'll enjoy this.  Let's shoot for later this weekend/ early next week for the works on the northern districts of Ralston.  Enjoy this small mural   It's a taste of Downtown.

http://img296.imageshack.us/img296/3379/twotowersmuralday5pg.jpg align=baseline>

[____----____ 37]

your right 2x4 is key i also got the 4x4 mini development to grow

randomly i am going to use them in my next city. thanks and

you have a great cj.

 

Alek

[Nardo69 51]

mhmmmmm - railway update!! Sounds like music in this ol' man's ears!

About the pic: VERY nice detail shots, I love it. You just should work a bit on the writing, it is a bit hard to read.

Can't wait for the update!

Nardo

[meinhosen 11]

http://img230.imageshack.us/img230/8128/ralstonsplash28oy.jpg align=baseline>

Aleking - Glad to see you got those lots to grow.  Can't wait to see how you put them to use! [round of applause for SimGoober]

 

Nardo - Hmm, you're right, that text is hard to read.  It didn't look that bad in Photoshop, perhaps it's time to rethink using that font.

 

Update 3

 

http://img398.imageshack.us/img398/5228/ralstonregion0db.jpg align=baseline>

 

http://img398.imageshack.us/img398/8837/ralstontraffic4ec.jpg align=baseline>

 

You can see the principle highways and avenues of Ralston.  Notice that the avenues run in concentric rings outward, finally ending in the I-465 Beltway- my futile attempt to try and break up the griddy core of the city... at least it worked.

 

http://img398.imageshack.us/img398/2861/mlkbridge2tg.jpg align=baseline>

http://img398.imageshack.us/img398/6929/tollplaza0wd.jpg align=baseline>

 

The Martin Luther King, Jr. Bridge is modeled after the real JFK bridge which takes I-65 into Louisville.  In real life, it

[Mexicanboy13r 12]

Hey there,

Whoa... This is so amazing. Already at page 2 and your details are great! I really enjoy your graphic effects. The freeway layout is great! Downtown looks rather interesting to my eye. This is a City Journal I must watch. Your countryside are amazing, well... How you show us that is. Because you show every detail in every area, can't forget you show use the traffic at the bridges. Wow... This is a great CJ, keep it this awesome work.

[louisville327 0]

Great reference to the Kennedy Bridge in Louisville! Your journal looks great, so keep the updates coming.

[Traffic_Jam 0]

Excellent job!

[sirgeoj2 1]

Wonderful work!!!   Awesome region view!!  [:0]  I love all the little details on the closeups, and I really love how you showcase the slum side of town and dirty industry, ect.  Adds more realism.

 

[Darmok 34]

Sorry that I didn't posted for a bit, RL's demanding these days!

But here it goes...

Warrenburg

I like that small town feeling where all the action is along the axis of main street! I also come from that kind of town, only one stop light too! (but no train though!). I really like your expression, upper-crust, .

Loved all the other pics too, particularly the trains related ones. Was that a CP Rail locomotive? and that Ardecilla tower at the crossing... great!

Page 2

Region map and transit shot great.
Nice touch the text that reflects in the water!
Toll bridge, good idea budgetwise.
Nice industrial sector, and yes beauty can also mean dirty industries. Ahah! I knew it! another CP railway prop!

I'll try to follow more regularly.

Can't wait to see more!

Take care man!

EDIT : Hey that was my 777th post, that's a lucky number! hope it'll bring a lot of luck to your CJ, Meinhosen!

[Nardo69 51]

Nice update! I like that you show dirty industry and abandoned buildings! Normally CJers avoid to show them ... And you used the changing daytime great my friend!
Jeroni once posted for making a good CJ you need to make good pics. These are great!
My favourites are the one with the toll station and the train in evening (I guess) going under the highway with all those poles.

Keep that great work!

Nardo

[meinhosen 11]

Mini-Update 3.5

 

11 September 2001
The events of that day ultimately lead to the creation of this monument.

 

Depicted here is the Sept. 11th Ceremony at the Pears-Cloke Monument, Ralston, KY; noon, Sept. 11, 2005.

 

http://img256.imageshack.us/img256/6699/sept11observance4io.jpg align=baseline>

[Simshoe 0]

Nice region view and interesting trasportian map.  Your dirty industry and poor house complexes look pretty good and great job with the 9/11 memorial.

[Mexicanboy13r 12]

Now that's beautiful, Great work!

[beachfrontproperty 0]

woow[:0]

[NummerEinz 0]

Wow this is really neat! When i lived in the U.S i lived in a city called Modesto, in California and its name was Ralston.... some pointless trivia for you all

[Cody02 0]

I'm glad you had it posted on your signature or I would have never known it exsisted. Very Impressive meinhosen. This CJ has given me so many great ideas. I really like your downtown even though I haven't seen all of it yet. Also I like those suburban homes and your country towns and the trains. When I was a child I always wanted to be a train engineer and I still like trains today, everything is very realsitic, the slums, and industrial parks and everything else I pointed out above. I love the layout of your city infact that is what I like most about it. I think your CJ is now my favorite CJ surpassing Wood County by ThatMonkeySim. I have one question though, where did you get those diagonal streets? Can't wait for more! Good Job!

 

~Cody02~

 

 

[meinhosen 11]

http://img274.imageshack.us/img274/1644/downtownsplash13qr.jpg align=baseline>

Replies and Thanks:

I want to thank everyone who

[____----____ 37]

wow i continue to enjoy this cj quite a lot

you have a real good sense of space and create very

interesting screenshots.

 

this is very good and i hope you keep it up and more people start

to realize what a great cj you've got going here

 

Alek

[louisville327 0]

Date: 9/13/2005 7:32:31 PM
Author: meinhosen

Now having said that, this CJ is on a short timeline, as I again prepare to return to the Middle East. Enjoy the remaining updates, but let’s hold out that internet access is available… so at least I can update once in a while. In the meantime, enjoy your tour of the city.

quote>


Be safe!

[Traffic_Jam 0]

Wow!  Such a beautiful downtown!

Keep it up and continue working well!

[SkyTearer 10]

Great looking Cj, looks like any major US city! I just find it alittle disrespectful that you would use a monument dedicated to something as monumental and major as WW2 and compare it to something like 911, just my 2 cents . I like the mid-town and the downtown, not many do that and it's typical of many cities.

[meinhosen 11]

Author: SkyTearer 
I just find it alittle disrespectful that you would use a monument dedicated to something as monumental and major as WW2 and compare it to something like 911, just my 2 cents .

Skytearer- I totally understand.  That wasn't my intention.  The monument is a personal thing for me, dedicated to two soldiers I knew- both of whom are casualties of the Iraq war.  It's by no means a political thing, but exactly what it is in real life, a memorial to soldiers.  I thought the BAT fitting for that type of memorial, as it's probably something that is totally unique to a CJ or a sim city (at least as far as I know).

I never meant to offend. 

Before I go, thanks a bunch for commenting.   It does inspire me to continue.

[oroen 0]

I really like the background stories of all the buildings, like the old city hall and the radio station. Real Rock Ralston... excellent...

[Cody02 0]

Wow, your downtown really has alot of History. Another great update!

 

I just want to say thank you for protecting our country because its soldiers like you that let us keep our freedom.

 

So God be with you, and stay safe.

 

~Cody02~

[Darmok 34]

Great work again!

You always choose a very good angle for your pics.

And that last one is simply SPECTACULAR!

And I really hope that 777 will bring you some luck!

Take care!

[Nardo69 51]

Nice update. I like those C$/R$ lowrise environment of the first pics. And the area round federal plaza looks good too. Hmmm ... from SC3K ... as far as I know I ahve only Creighton Plaza from SC3K ... should search the STEX I guess ...

My favourite pic is Michael W. Murrain City Plaza. Looks really great with asll those fountains!

Keep on the goos work (and I am now curious how your new farmlands look now ... )

Nardo

[meinhosen 11]

Mini-Update 4.5:

 

I have a special update for you guys.  Was tinkering a little bit and came up with this.

 

http://img186.imageshack.us/img186/7272/blainevillefreight8mm.jpg align=baseline>

 

Enjoy.

[Cody02 0]

Another great train picture, I think I might download one of those trains.

~Cody02~

[jarnomiedema 52]

Wow.. This is really incredible! I don't know what to point out, it all looks so good! I like those slums in the earlier update, I like the way you use your infrastructure in your cities, I like the look of your high rise buildings, mixed with municipal government buildings, nice parks, and so on and so forth.. Amazing!

Oh, and the September 11th ceremony at that memorial looked great! Did those soldiers come with the monument or did you make them? Because those soldiers firing a salute definitely made me think: Hey.. That's one pose I didn't model for the Imperial Guard.. So thanks for pointing that out, sort of..

 

My favorite picture on this page is probably the one with the old storefronts.. They look absolutely beautiful..

 

Well, Meinhosen.. Keep up the good work.. I promise I'll be back regularly to check around here..

[meinhosen 11]

Mini-Update 4.51

 

Individual Responses:

 

aleking - thanks for the compliments.

louisville327 - I appreciate the encouragement.  Thanks!

Traffic_Jam - Glad you liked the initial visit downtown.

SkyTearer - Again, I appreciate your comments & compliments.  And again, no disrespect was meant towards WWII vets with the 9-11 observance/war memorial.

oroen - Good to hear that you enjoyed the background on the buildings.  I'm shooting for a mix of history and mild humor (where appropriate), and it's good to see that you liked both.

Cody02 - Hey! Just saw your sig, thanks a bunch!  And thanks for your appreciation (of both the CJ and for the military), it means a lot- a lot more than most people realize.

Darmok - Thanks for the nice compliment  

Nardo69 - The Federal Building is available from SimCityCentral, and was made by TheMonkeysUncle.  It's a great building, and it's exceptionally hard to grow (at least I find it hard to grow, seeing as to how I've only seen it once).  As always, thanks for your support.  I think you'll enjoy this update more than most...

jarnomiedema - Hope the PM I sent you about the plaza was useful.  I can't do props worth a darn, so anything you see is normal for a lot.  One thing I want to add, that Robert E Lee statue you put on the STEX is fantastic, and I'll be showcasing it sometime in the coming weeks.  Thanks!

 

Update 4.51

 

Took a break from touring the city and relaxed with my camera out at the Norfolk Southern rail yard in the suburb of Republican.  It