Tugboat and Barges (yes, it's marine trailer hauling)

[Nickster 7]

I think ror's boat driving needs an update. Instead of 1 throttle for going forward and reverse, I think it needs 2 levers. One throttle lever, and one direction lever.

[Redeye]

Ah, there's progress. Took a bit, but UV mapping can really be a bit of a drag. Anyhow, the tug mesh is quite finished. Now to some more actual skinning, the lights, and polishing a few contacter nodes on both the tug and the barge...

[silvermanblue]

Ah, there's progress. Took a bit, but UV mapping can really be a bit of a drag. Anyhow, the tug mesh is quite finished. Now to some more actual skinning, the lights, and polishing a few contacter nodes on both the tug and the barge...

Looking very promising.

[Redeye]

Beta release, ladies and gentlemen!

Added nav lights and contacters to the tug (which I decided to dub the "Atlas" class) and tweaked the mass of the bulk barge to fix that sinking-upon-spawning-glitch. And some more fiddling, which I don't quite recall.

I'm sure you'll figure out how to best dock with the barges, but here's a quick how-to of the way I tend to do it:

- Get an Atlas tug (kind of obvious, no?) and line up with a barge. That should get you used to how she maneuvers. Keep an easy hand on the steering wheel, she's a bit nervous.
- Extend your rear hooks a bit (F10), that'll make things easier. Not too much though.
- Add a little bit of reverse throttle and back up towards the barge slowly and carefully. Keep an easy hand on the throttle.
- If you're really close to the barge (and still lined up), bring the tug to a halt. Did I mention you should keep an easy hand on the throttle? Don't get nervous. Once stopped, hit "L" and wait for the ropes to link up.
- Now extend your rear hooks further for some safety margin between the Atlas and the barge. Congratulations, you're ready to go.

As usual, don't mod the beta please.

[maurice825]

Beta release, ladies and gentlemen!

Added nav lights and contacters to the tug (which I decided to dub the "Atlas" class) and tweaked the mass of the bulk barge to fix that sinking-upon-spawning-glitch. And some more fiddling, which I don't quite recall.

I'm sure you'll figure out how to best dock with the barges, but here's a quick how-to of the way I tend to do it:

- Get an Atlas tug (kind of obvious, no?) and line up with a barge. That should get you used to how she maneuvers. Keep an easy hand on the steering wheel, she's a bit nervous.
- Extend your rear hooks a bit (F10), that'll make things easier. Not too much though.
- Add a little bit of reverse throttle and back up towards the barge slowly and carefully. Keep an easy hand on the throttle.
- If you're really close to the barge (and still lined up), bring the tug to a halt. Did I mention you should keep an easy hand on the throttle? Don't get nervous. Once stopped, hit "L" and wait for the ropes to link up.
- Now extend your rear hooks further for some safety margin between the Atlas and the barge. Congratulations, you're ready to go.

As usual, don't mod the beta please.

Woohoo! Nice, going to test now! Party time (I'm listening to LMFAO- Party time :3)

[silvermanblue]

System works excellently. The tow rope needs to be strengthened a bit (Trying to tow the smit out) But I am very happy with it. Now I only wish that wee had a decent gantry crane so I could load a bunch of containers. on it. Also on tugs and barges here they tend to have tires along the sides. Might be something you could add.

[Redeye]

System works excellently. The tow rope needs to be strengthened a bit (Trying to tow the smit out) But I am very happy with it. Now I only wish that wee had a decent gantry crane so I could load a bunch of containers. on it. Also on tugs and barges here they tend to have tires along the sides. Might be something you could add.

Darnit, I was afraid someone would mention the tires . The point is, I somehow feel better without them. Maybe it's a poly count thing, maybe a poly count thing combined with people expecting visible tires to actually affect collision physics. Most definitely the latter though, and that would be both a node count and beam properties nightmare, I'd rather... look! A squirrel! Over there, a squirrel! Cuuute!

[silvermanblue]

Darnit, I was afraid someone would mention the tires . The point is, I somehow feel better without them. Maybe it's a poly count thing, maybe a poly count thing combined with people expecting visible tires to actually affect collision physics. Most definitely the latter though, and that would be both a node count and beam properties nightmare, I'd rather... look! A squirrel! Over there, a squirrel! Cuuute!

Where? WHERE?

All kidding aside I understand where you are coming from
Anyways I am really enjoying the beta.

[Redeye]

Where? WHERE?

Aw, you missed it. It was sooo cute.

All kidding aside I understand where you are coming from

In this context, this is either a smart and suggestive joke doing interesting stunts on quite a fine line of political correctness... or I just don't get it

Anyways I am really enjoying the beta.

Glad to hear. Back on topic, anybody missing some alternative means of maneuvring the tug? How does the handling feel? Missing stuff like a classic rudder, weird rotating screwprops, that sort of thing?

[silvermanblue]

Aw, you missed it. It was sooo cute.



In this context, this is either a smart and suggestive joke doing interesting stunts on quite a fine line of political correctness... or I just don't get it



Glad to hear. Back on topic, anybody missing some alternative means of maneuvring the tug? How does the handling feel? Missing stuff like a classic rudder, weird rotating screwprops, that sort of thing?

The handling feels right. Seems very maneuverable. I really don't see a reason to change it. I had three barges towing easily.

[Redeye]

Alright, there's progress on the liquid goods barge. At a mass of around 300 tons, it's something of a moderate-difficulty intermediate thing between the empty and bulk barge. It also looks a bit less like a plain floating box, so some of you may like it .

[FASTEDY]

Alright, there's progress on the liquid goods barge. At a mass of around 300 tons, it's something of a moderate-difficulty intermediate thing between the empty and bulk barge. It also looks a bit less like a plain floating box, so some of you may like it .

No wonder you're an invited member! You've got some talent!

[BigBoy]

I really love your work Finally some more ships, especially some that are this good One thing though, when waves are enabled, the loaded barge sinks... But that is quite realistic isn't it?

[RangeRover184]

Alright, there's progress on the liquid goods barge. At a mass of around 300 tons, it's something of a moderate-difficulty intermediate thing between the empty and bulk barge. It also looks a bit less like a plain floating box, so some of you may like it .

You have mad skills, friend.

[joser08]

Do you plan on AO baking it?

[Redeye]

I really love your work Finally some more ships, especially some that are this good One thing though, when waves are enabled, the loaded barge sinks... But that is quite realistic isn't it?

Thanks for pointing that out, I'll look into it.

Do you plan on AO baking it?

Honestly, didn't consider that .

EDIT: The problem with waves actually seems fairly realistic to me (making it a non-problem ). It really takes rough sea to take that barge down.

EDIT2: I'm now considering it "final enough" for a repo release. Thanks for all the helpful inputs here so far!

[donoteat]

Could I suggest a container barge?

[coco]

This is really cool addition to RoR. Nice work on it.

How about making flat barge with ramps to haul larger vehicles?

[Redeye]

Could I suggest a container barge?

In theory, the empty one should be able to hold 4x4 20ft iso containers. In practice, I didn't get to properly test it or fine-tune the ties to containers due to the very mundane issue of not finding practical loading equippment (the Reachstacker turned out awfully impractical for loading it, and I really suck at using generic cranes). If anyone wants to try this, I'd definitely draw my hat, but unless I find a nifty way to actually test it, I'd rather not call it a container barge.

How about making flat barge with ramps to haul larger vehicles?

Considered and postponed .

EDIT: Due to me being awfully scatterbrained, a little glitch with the liquid goods barge slipped into the release (hook nodes weren't defined properly). Just updated the repo with the fix, should be available shortly. Sorry for the inconvenience...

[Fili86RaceFace]

fantastic ship

i have 1 problem to load barges