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Structures
These are some shots of the structures I dreamt up as I continued to develop Galactica in my mind and what form I wanted to see as welll as how it should eventually look. The complexity as well as simplicity of some of these came in no order, just what I pictured at the first thought, only modified as the parts required. This has been the most fun for me, having never gone into this area at all in the other two versions.
First off, an overview of all the contructs, saved and gathered into an "overview". Each one will have a brief description of what it was used on as the park and the concept of what it may have been before "discovery".
Interesting to see the comparative sizes. While I thought the mall was my biggest building, it was actually smalller than the first I did which contains less on the interior than the mall, and that was Alien Station. Doing that one "hooked" me on the idea of buildings and even more importantly attempting to be as unique as I could for a "signature"
Alien Station Complex
This started out as just a food court. Later came the depot cover, and a few more touches on each side until I had to force myself to a halt. The depot and building can be used separately, or together, depending on how skillfull you are at terrain planning and where the center pool needs to set. I found it most interesting in saving these that ALL "objects" in "scenery" go with it, this includes Park Entries as you'll soon see. The station holds a 14 tile mini rail platform, exit to be where the station "points" right into the food court, inside the station (in Galactica) is an information booth, sorry, stalls don't "save"
Alien Station itself does contain the central fountain from park and all plantings which surround it and inside ones as well. Looking at the image the ticket booth sits in the right hand intersection and the info booth would be immediately to right of the left hand intersection and closest to the final "exit". This station also has the only "split" design, allwing the plantings between the two "tubes"
Alien Home - Artifact
First time I played with the steel walls getting a "feel" for what could be done. And how parts available could be put together for an "off-world" look. This unit contains 2 scenery lamps to add glow in the windows, strictly for "atmosphere", this is small for most uses. Or maybe not.
Coaster Station
This was the first tubed structure other than covering a path, and where I sorted out the lamp inside issue leading to the lamp tutorial. here I combined two tubes with no central divider other than the path rails. One enty point splits at the first corner and becomes two, the actual queue starts there. "Blah, blah, blah, gonna tour us, or bore us?".......... Believe it or not, peeps have NO problem finding it, either, even before patch 1 appeared. In park, this covers the boarding platform, queue and approach path to Dust Devil in The Dunes.
Closest point is the coaster platform, to the left is the entrance booth, exit is on right, they join and head out, the queue ends at tile before farthest "antenna'ed" roof.
Railroad Station 2
I am calling this station 2, even though it was done before the Alien Station depot, but that one taught me things, that got this one mostly "re-done"
As you can see, this one was extended well beyond the station, why? Just a whim and wanted to do something with the long straight run. Using this, it can be shortened, lengthened to fit. I like the 14 tile stations as 4 of them gave me 8 ten car trains.Which is great to a Model Railroader like me.
Themed entry
I recall this came along next, and was the first one with animatronics, plants and lights inside creating an alien feel, something along the lines of the Star Tours queue area, but not as large scale.
This is on a launched reverse free fall I call Escape From Earth. The boardng and exit are opposite each other, and is as far right as you can go, and building extends to JUST before you go vertical. Riding with head turned around you wonder if it wil clear as you drop to it. This also gave me more new ideas as I worked with the..... "Brief descriptions, he said, quick tour, he said....." shapes further and stretched what they and I could do.
Factory Adaptated
From those two steel walled buildings, I made a large leap in tackling this project, thinking it was going to be too big and difficult. Premise is that in uncovering the "home" we stumbled on a treasure in blueprints from what was obviously an architect. Among them were some factory plans with unique ventilation ideas.
It's longer and higher than it looks, there are two levels of path's inside nd entry is on second level in the back. Trains exit on the right looking at it and returns on the left under the lower of the two"domes". This is the themed station for the Sand Pit, a Mine train ride of milder intensity. Surprisingly popular. And as one fan has stated on the Council Hall, "bubbly"
Council Hall
Looking at a curved corner roof last week, I thought "what if I did this....." and a "pedestal" appeared. The floating "concept" was born and took shape in the Council Hall artifact presumably re-constructed from more plans found in the same location.
Between the two antennae, you see the doors which........ "Who built this place? Captain Nemo?"........ is where the twin stair cases go up. It's two "full" risers, no half ramps. Sits at the split from canyon left to Ridge and Sands to right. Fed my fertile, yet demented vision further still. Yes, lights inside, too.
Pathway Arch/Ruin
Okay, it's a trifle after other things, sure, but I wanted something small and more in people scale, large buildings are nice, but they can become overwhelming of everything else. Even this has lights in it.
In park, being half buried on one side, it looks different than in park grounds. This one sits partway along the "long" route from The Sands well into The Dunes area.
Mall Marinarus
You've seen the construction, heard the horror stories......, "it has a page, fer cripe's sake!!" Okay, Okay, , just the descriptive shot..... BTW, did I mention.... "Yeah, good grief, a week of sleepless nights! Wooopeee! get the dang picture in already and let's go..." Okay, moving right along......
Oh, and.... "Shut yer yap, show 'em the new stuff" Can I at least........... "NO! Enough!! You thnk you're Lucas, directing a movie?"
NEW STUFF!!!! 1 - 22 - 05
Yep, even finished, it isn't "finished" I said no more, and then the bulb lit up again! In a couple of hours one afternoon, 1- 21 to be exact, I brainstormed all the following structures
Kiosk a.t.m., first aid, or bathroom
This followed the Mall as a filler, but lead to some more idea's soon to follow. Again, large to small, what can I say, from a tiny acorn a mighty oak does grow! ..... "Or, let a nut loose, and no tellin' what happens next".
Note the the 2/3 glass walls supporting the center roof. Where will it lead us now? .........."Home, I hope"?
Guard Tower
Man, am I dumb! Instead of building JUST one and copying, I did two at once, Then saved separately. Talk about "reverse engineering! I went DUH! several times afterwards, anyway, here is "one"........ "Oh, GREAT, and this goober is leadin' the dadblam tour!"
Note on tope use of the glass sci fi walls to give a lightous "effect" or a beacon to guide taveller's home from afar. 4 object light inside the dome area. Why did I build two? Well the answer lies ahead.....
Park Entry Complex
Lke a gated fortress, we are now greeted on arrival by the two imposing towers guarding the former city gates of the alien city once on this land..... "wow, could you make a longer sentence?"
Everything saved, the Sci Fi entry is hidden below in this shot, but you can even see the "guest" import arrow. Behind the towers is the new Canyon station, which will be next AND last....... "YAAAHHHoooooo"... About time, too!" .....Notice the emptiness of the "platform" and gaps between towers, that's where the path tiles go, you can see them in the park, though. When it's updated soon....."What, you were to lazy to update the park file first? I must work with a real idiot".... Well, it just didn't work out that way....
Canyon Station
This is the MOST recent addition and the last one here for now, it's the first steel wall miniature rail station and keeps the necessary "unique" air flow design of buildings where heat and smoke could be a problem........ "You mean like what's coming from your pie hole?"
Yep, the third station on the Alien Express system, and the entrance one of the park. The guests come in and walk through here, just about where the 't' in exit is pointing. Where there is just platform, the narrow roof sections were used, and the queue/exit are beneath the larger portions.
That concludes the structure portion of our tour, have a great day and enjoy the rest of your visit to Galactica. Please be sure to gather all belongings and exit to the left, keep a tight hold on your children, please. We want them even less than you!
d/l to "My Documents\RCT 3\Structures" right click and choose "extract here" have fun!
