Barbagallo Raceway [WIP]

Posted by AUS_Doug

Barbagallo Raceway [WIP]
Date: June 26, 2015 01:12PM
Posted by: AUS_Doug

Registered: 11 years ago

This will serve as a sort of a documentation of my first attempt at building a proper real world track; I've made a couple of short little experimental tracks for myself to have some fun round, but this will be a different beast entirely.

I'm not sure how far I'll go with it, but my main goal is to have something that can be driven around.

So, without further ado:

Barbagallo Raceway [WIP]:

Located approximately 50Km North of Perth, Western Australia, the 2.4Km Barbagallo Raceway is one of the shortest race tracks you will see, with sub-one minute laps common across many motorsport categories.

My most cherished memories from the time I played Codemasters' Race Driver 3 was driving this circuit in the Williams FW27 and, ever since firing up Grand Prix 4 again a few years back, it is the track I've wanted to see more than any other.

Below will follow a change-log of sorts, with updates of progress and what not.

I imagine that I'll be calling on a few of the veterans for advice and pointers before I'm finished, and I hope that I don't wear their patience.

So, lets begin.

Changelog:

30th June, 2015:
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Super simple .dat layout Redux

Video (should be ready within 60 minutes of this edit) and image.

Following Atticus's advice, I started over again, this time following a 2D image from Google Maps (Thanks to F1 Virtual for their tutorial!)
Two things I learnt from this experience:
   - It is much easier to follow a 2D trace than it is to follow a 3D model.
   - I am an idiot; Nearly all of the problems I experienced with tracing the model can be put down to my not scaling the X, Y and Z dimensions equally - I was only off by 1/100th of a percent, but it was enough.

I'm basically certain now that I'll go with the LHS pitlane.

And this re-done version is now only 58m too long in the middle. I'm pretty happy with that.

28th June, 2015:
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Super simple .dat layout in place.
Video and image.

It's bumpy as anything, and a few places - such as turn 4 (the near 180° left-hander uphill) and the final corner - need some work, but it is what is.

I've opted - at this stage - for the old LHS pitlane; It's easier, and I much prefer it to the new one on the RHS.
(You'll also note that, at this stage, it is very much just tacked on.)

Also, as you can see, the length is a tiny bit off - 2.6 Km in the centre instead of 2.45 - but I don't know that it is significant enough to worry about. 


26th June, 2015:
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 - I have my 3D model of the track surface:
    [i.imgur.com]
    Found this in my folder of 'misc' 3ds Max stuff; I know I made a model at some stage 2 years ago or so, but I can't recall if it was this one.
    As best as I can tell, it is accurate in all aspects - including elevation - and conforms to the post-2011 upgrade with the Pit-Lane on the Right-Hand side.
    I am presently laying track sectors over this model, doing a 'close enough' general outline before tweaking; A quick estimate is that I'll come in with around 2.6Km of track which, while not perfect, is pretty close.

F1 Graphics Swapper --- Lensdump - Renders and Screenshots --- GP4 Performance Generator

Edited 2 time(s). Last edit at 06/30/2015 03:48AM by AUS_Doug.