Hi again,
@Cédric: Thank you for the nice comments! I visit your MD often (although I haven't commented yet

). You are doing an excellent job there, achieving a very realistic look!

Hope the new version of the Model Tweaker will be easier to use.
I have just uploaded a new TEST Version of the tool (
V2.35-TEST).
Here is the download link. Changes in this version:
- Fixed some issues with the use of the S3D library. As a result,
the crashes-under-Win7 must have been solved.
Win 7 users, please download and test.- Finished implementation of the Merge Models operation. This one appends a model to the ones selected in the main list. A 20-Z/R model may be appended to 20-Z/R models only, while a 1-Z/R model may be appended to both 1-Z/R and 20-Z/R models.
The
Merge Models command could prove useful in the following cases:
- Network Models (for draggable networks and puzzle pieces). Often developers need to merge models, eg monorail/elevated track and pylons or support structures. I'm even considering the feasibility of a true catenary (or near-catenary) overhead wire for rails, implemented as a 1-Z/R model (which wouldn't be that hard) and used as a network model, which really follow the variations of the terrain elevation (in contrast, props are either displayed upright, or sloped, according to the Orient To Slope property).
- Bridges: Many players would have noticed that the "network" (road or rail) displayed on bridges usually looks badly distorted (pixelated, blurred, bumpy etc) because of the distortions caused by the BAT renderer. Some developers have solved this problem by employing a simple planar (flat) model textured with the very same texture as the network (or a properly modified version, eg rail without those wooden sleepers) and placed just on top of the road or track bed. Placing such a model on top of all models of a bridge (End, Repeat, Support - and possibly more) is possible, but it's very labourious too (each model has 20 Z/R views). Even worse, if something is changed in the bridge models (eg a texture improvement) the procedure must be repeated. Now, with the Merge Models command, the network model can be attached to the bridge models within seconds - it as well rotates the 1-Z/R model, as needed for the different model rotated views. Even existing bridges could be improved, by adding the flat model on top of the original models - the flat model might need to be raised by 0.2m or so, before appending.
Please test the new version and report your findings. Please also post any ideas or possible improvements or requests. If everything is OK I'm gonna finish the documentation and release it as
Version 3.00 (there are quite a few changes and improvements, to qualify as a new major version).
Hope you like it!