Show us What you're Working On

[The British Sausage 5,449]

21 minutes ago, mattb325 said:

@The British Sausage, I use the german light replacement mod from mandelsoft. I've had it for years, and I remember it did take me a while to get it to work properly. I ended up using the Maxis nite option (even though I use dark night). I tried swapping it out a few years ago with one of the other countries available, but these gave really nuclear-bright results, so I just left the german one in place. 

Next little side project is a few sunken plazas. I've always liked some of the options out there, but disliked that shadows could not be cast on them, nor could the props be changed.

This one is a 6x6 batted grass, paver, water and stairs piece but as you can see, it is really easy to give it different looks:

Temperate:

Tropical

Mediterranean

I'll make a few other ground pieces in a similar vein, if there is interest (I know that most people's park menus would be full to bursting) but it really does help to break up skyscraper jungles, and, being able to correctly receive shadows makes it look like part of whichever lot it is next to...even the water goes into shadow correctly:

 

I'll give that one a go, thanks for that. I too found the overbright lights, from the other sets, too much!

[Barroco Hispano 26,942]

2019 BMW X7:

[Dreadnought 8,231]

@mattb325

YES -- PLEASE !!

[RomanFox 28]

2 hours ago, mattb325 said:

@The British Sausage, I use the german light replacement mod from mandelsoft. I've had it for years, and I remember it did take me a while to get it to work properly. I ended up using the Maxis nite option (even though I use dark night). I tried swapping it out a few years ago with one of the other countries available, but these gave really nuclear-bright results, so I just left the german one in place. 

Next little side project is a few sunken plazas. I've always liked some of the options out there, but disliked that shadows could not be cast on them, nor could the props be changed.

This one is a 6x6 batted grass, paver, water and stairs piece but as you can see, it is really easy to give it different looks:

Temperate:

Tropical

Mediterranean

I'll make a few other ground pieces in a similar vein, if there is interest (I know that most people's park menus would be full to bursting) but it really does help to break up skyscraper jungles, and, being able to correctly receive shadows makes it look like part of whichever lot it is next to...even the water goes into shadow correctly:

 

I really love these. Absolutely gorgeous!

[+Guest 760649]

Abbey 9x8

 

[pclark06 12,073]

 

Dutch Bros. is finished.

[Barroco Hispano 26,942]

Do you like my white carpaint material?

I accept any kind of criticism.

[art128 4,622]

8 hours ago, mattb325 said:

 

 

I do like this quite a lot!

[raynev1 1,887]

8 minutes ago, art128 said:

I do like this quite a lot!

I second that . It looks great .

[Lucario Boricua 7,052]

I'm more partial to @WolfZe's Abbey. I'm already thinking of a suitable location in the Kingdom for such facility!

 

Meanwhile, been modifying the stats of some power plants whose looks I really like but whose functionality is hardly compatible with the high output, high efficiency plants I've made standard for my regions.

 

Presenting...

 

Fukuda's Gasol Co-Generation Plant. The original plant works as a ploppable I-M building with tax revenue and an associated power output of 400 MWh/month, which I think is a poor choice for the facility's magnificent potential. I modified this one to have an output of 12,000 MWh/month, a construction cost of §5,000 and an operation cost of §300/month. This means the complex shown below generates 48,000 MWh/month. Original available here:

 

 

WolfZe's Natural Gas Plant. Modified this one to have an output of 36,000 MWh/month, left the construction cost at the original §28,500 and reduced the operation cost to §1,000/month. This means the complex shown below generates 144,000 MWh/month. Original available here:

 

 

Carrot 1984's Medium Clean Coal Power Plant (left side) and SimGoober's Hardun Coal Power Plant (right side). The first of these was modified this one to have an output of 30,000 MWh/month, a 50% higher construction cost of §33,000 and a higher operation cost of §1,000/month. The latter was modified to have an output of 12,000 MWh/month, a construction cost of §22,500 and an slightly higher operation cost of §400. This means the complex shown below generates 72,000 MWh/month. Originals available here:

[nycsc4 5,250]

Decided to fill in the remaining space around the bridge with buildings:

[Barroco Hispano 26,942]

2003 Chevrolet Express:

 

I think I will never finish this project...

850 cars x 4 angles x 4 Colors = 13.600 cars 

[+Guest 760649]

In progress. Victorian fire station 8x4

 

[SD40-2 36]

Can I just say I'm wowed by the work shown here, with the props, lots and cities? I've got a lot to learn. 

Fantastic work everyone who's made things here. Just kind of blows me away. 

[Simmer2 23,831]

SM2 Global Freight is now open for business here...

Simmer2

[mattb325 28,891]

If symmetry is your thing, look away now....

 

[bladeberkman 720]

20 minutes ago, mattb325 said:

If symmetry is your thing, look away now....

 

I’m absolutely crazy about these plazas, love them!

[The British Sausage 5,449]

1 hour ago, mattb325 said:

If symmetry is your thing, look away now....

 

The "sunken" plazas are an ingenious bit of texture work since the shadow of other buildings fully covers it. Had the sunken plaza been a BAT then the sunken areas would not be in shadow, which means you created textures with the perfect illusion of depth and them shadows don't lie!

[The British Sausage 5,449]

Yet more progress with Midtown Manhattan! Including a special little mosaic too!

I completed the city blocks immediately south of the United Nations HQ building. I found some inspiration having used Mattb325's hotels (such as the Amora one, the 3x3 tower block) and it made sense because hotels and waterfronts just go together.

 

2.

The avenue leading into the interchange is my dividing line between Lower Manhattan and Midtown Manhattan.

 

3.

The Empire State Building in all its glory. Once The Big Mango is fully complete, I'll be posting some different mosaic views. Again, the Big Mango may be narrower than the actual Manhattan (approximately one third the width and length), but it's all about capturing the spirit of Manhattan. Kind of what GTA 4 did with New York.

[+Guest 760649]

Victorian Fire Brigade 2x6

Maybe justforfun still designed a suitable automata for the fire department ... ;-)

[T Wrecks 10,210]

On 19.9.2019 at 4:02 AM, Goldman Sachs said:

Ford F-250 Super Duty Super Cab XLT 2015

Ah yes - one of the perfect cars for the people with a little...  extra money to spend on a huge pickup truck!

On 19.9.2019 at 12:12 PM, mattb325 said:

I'll make a few other ground pieces in a similar vein, if there is interest (I know that most people's park menus would be full to bursting) but it really does help to break up skyscraper jungles, and, being able to correctly receive shadows makes it look like part of whichever lot it is next to...even the water goes into shadow correctly:

I for one would love to see some more plazas in this vein! You know what else I like them apart from all the advantages that you listed? At least the first one you showed here is really - no pun intended - down to earth rather than ridiculously utopian. Fill it to the brim with fancy props, and you have your utopia. Add some trees and bushes, and you have your perfectly normal run-of-the mill plaza - just what we need for realistic cities. I'm sure that, with the right props, you could even make it look somewhat bleak and uninspiring! This versatility is something that many plazas lack - IMO at least.

With regard to the all too familiar "crowded plaza menu" problem, I'm wondering whether a modular approach might work here, with a few pieces that occupy menu space, but endless combination possibilities. Then again, a few simple "all inclusive" options would also work.

In any case, I'm all for these lots! I mean, when did we last have a nice, generic plaza series that's up to today's standards? I think @kingofsimcity has covered the parks and sports pitches department, but plazas...? Some beautiful individual pieces like statues and memorial columns or similar, yes. Simple plazas... not so much unless I'm forgetting someone.

The last one, of course, can't really be called "simple" any longer, with all those intricate diagonal lines... then again, it's basically some stairs, benches, planters, and water... unless you supply the props, no fancy statues or wrought iron ornaments here. This is what I mean with "simple". I really like that!

 

 

[Dreadnought 8,231]

@mattb325

"Simple...but elegant" -- always a winner ! 

[Barroco Hispano 26,942]

2020 Ferrari F8 Tributo:

[nycsc4 5,250]

14 hours ago, mattb325 said:

If symmetry is your thing, look away now....

 

I absolutely love these and think they would make a fantastic addition to my version of Vancouver.  My only complaint/suggestion would be ADA ramps, but that's more of a real life nitpick, not something that's really necessary for the game.  Either way, can't wait to download!

[+Guest 760649]

Small victorian police station with barn and office building

2x2

[Barroco Hispano 26,942]

2016 Fiat Tipo:

The headlights do not look equally good in Z5 View...

I think it doesn't even look like a fiat :/

[korver 27,686]

[Lucario Boricua 7,052]

Queen Ilene returns with big news!!

 

 

Queen Ilene: Hello once again! Today I want to announce the latest Royal Decree for the Kingdom's Infrastructure Development: the authorization for the formation of three airports! These shall facilitate the connection of the Kingdom with its neighbors and the world all-over, thus opening magnificent economic opportunities for our citizens and visitors.

 

֍ KINGDOM OF ROTA ֎
ROYAL AIR TRANSPORT CORPORATION
AIRPORT SYSTEM

 

Queen Ilene: Our airport system will consist of three facilities open for commercial operations: the Kingdom of Rota International, expected to serve as our main gateway to visitors; the Rhennus Regional, expected to serve as the main air freight port and a second important entrance gateway to visitors; and the Zacien Municipal, which shall host general aviation and military operations.

 

 

Queen Ilene: Kingdom of Rota International (KRI, ROTA) will feature two runways and be designed to mainly handle passenger flights. It is planned to host up to 25,000,000 annual passenger flights and up to 300,000 tonnes of freight. With its main north-south runway and an auxiliary northwest-southeast runway, both measuring approximately 2,500 meters / 8,200 ft in length.  It is expected to operate 24 hours a day, providing a reliable and convenient aerial access venue for our beautiful land.

 

Queen Ilene: Rhennus Regional (RHE, RORN) will consist of a single north-south runway measuring 2,000 meters / 6,500 feet, and located at a strategic location in-between the large cities of Imbin and Obstragon, close to the wealthy sububrbs of Lake Pearl and the Wellesley Convention Center. The location near the agricultural heartland of the Kingdom also makes it ideal to sustain exports of fresh produce requiring a quick access to distant markets. And finally, its location is sufficiently close to the upper reaches of the Platinum and Silver Rivers, where a boom in nature and winter tourism is happening around Lake Platinum and Mount Steel!

 

Queen Ilene: And finally we have the smallest of the airports, the Zacien Municipal (ZCN, ROZN). Thir airport will have a north-south runway measuring 1,500 meters / 4,900 ft, intended to service smaller commercial aircraft, agricultural operations for the west side of the Kingdom, private planes, recreational aviation and a squadron of the Rotan Air Guard. It essentially frees the Rota International from handling these smaller flights, making for a safer and more convenient operation for the larger aircraft headed well-beyond our borders.

[junspud 1,069]

[junspud 1,069]

Doing some reading on how to go about replacing pedmall textures but no progress yet. Caribou Railway Fence lots, previously accomplished by fake zoning ag around the rail.