I have been using Blender for over 10 years now and Trainz for over 15 years but never until the last days of 2022 put the two together! I was put off by the complexity of validation rules and the requirement for PBR textures, which have three image textures instead of the standard one that I was using for (for example,) bricks or tiles. Once I had set this up a few times, I can do it without too much of a problem as it is definitely worthwhile as the extra two textures alter the reflectiveness and depth so it specifies which parts of a say a wall should jut out. This reflects the lighting and adds greatly to the realism. Most of the textures shown here are PBR apart from the temporary sea.
According to the Trainz forums, creating PBR textures is a laborious process needing dedicated software so I have decided for now to use third party textures from various free sites and made sure they are in the public domain and can be released and distributed without needing permission or crediting but I will add a credit to the licence files. If and when I need to create anything bespoke I will look into the creation process but I have found the vast majority of what I need, even some obscure things such as the OS print floor’s unusual yellow parquet floor and the bricks here will be put to good use in West Block.
The main focus of my intended Trainz export activity will be buildings and small items of scenery that I need for my (mainly UK) routes that I haven’t been able to find elsewhere so a detailed seaside pier and amusements/bingo buildings were the main thing. I will add a narrow gauge railway along the pier and part of the complex of buildings in this model (but out of sight here) includes a space for a station.
The front of the building contains amusements and a nightclub and small pub above, only the last three bays of this is visible to the left of this scene. The building with the numbers will be a purpose-built Prize Bingo hall.
The architectural inspiration for this comes from various sources, including Portsmouth’s Clarence Pier and the barrel vaulted roof from various industrial buildings. The front canopy can’t be seen here as its text/graphic embellishments is not finished but has a corrugated steel front; for some reason that was all the rage in the 70s/80s. A virtual recce of UK seaside resorts has helped with the substructure (the metal beams and columns) but like much of the rest of this was put together in a hurry.