Hi everyone, as some of you know I recently created a series of 3 lots to make a Christmas train for the BnS Challenge #221. A few folks and I liked the idea of adding additional lots to expand the train. Then I had an idea... how about the community collaborating to create the
Orient Express (‘murder mystery’ train)? With the support from many talented simmers, this project is now a wonderful reality. Inspired by actual photos, participants have created and decorated cars for this train, as well as others. The Alpine train is fictional so designers had more creative freedom. See the posts below for details and links to all the creations.
Accompanying world build
I also hoped to have a special world to showcase the trains. Due to the interest received, and with the CAW talent of Jessabeans, this is also underway. We’re creating a world built around the journey of the OE from London - Paris - Venice. Each destination has a station to showcase the train cars designed by the community. Once released, simmers can have their sims 'travel' around the world by moving the playable lot to different train stations as desired. Each destination will also include a mix of residential and community lots reflecting popular landmarks and architecture for that city. This could be quite fun for story-tellers as well.
Sign-up for creating or decorating world lots open but not many lots still available! Lurkers... Hope you are enjoying the great builds completed so far. See links in the next two posts below. Feel free to download or rec on the Exchange and / or drop us a note here in the thread 😀If you would like to design the interior of one or more of the train cars that would be excellent. (Edit! Train spots full) You can also participate by building lots in the world. Perhaps you're not keen on building lots but like decorating houses... we have a role for you too! Just sign-up by posting in this thread letting us know what you would like to claim. See the list of available lots and design notes below. Hoping you join us
Video tourMore info about the Venice Simplon Orient Express trainParticipating creators@ciane,
@Sandraelle ,
@romagi1 ,
@Jessabeans ,
@soocoolsim ,
@suzses ,
@HollownessDevour ,
@BreeMiles ,
@KarilynMonroe2 ,
@Hidehi ,
@60smusicluvr ,
@seaben ,
@fxchrfxchr ,
@equuest
Comments
Overall notes for anyone downloading and installing the train cars
(Note: The OE world when released will include the completed trains and other collab lots)
For the best train effect, before placing the lots for the train in your world, simply add several 24 x 15 custom lots in a row using the “Add Any Lot Size” mod available from ModTheSims. The train engine at the head goes on a bit larger 30 x 15 lot.
Subways at train stations + stops around the world
Venice: Venice Simplon Orient Express (VSOE) ***** More info here and here and here.
Engine + 3 dining + 3 sleepers + 1 piano/bar = 8 cars
Paris: British Pullman Orient Express ***** More info here and here and here.
Engine + 7 multi-use = 8 cars
Choice of car interior design from the following list:
Perseus / Phoenix / Audrey / Lucille
Each car features plush armchairs in open-plan saloons, arranged as intimate tables for two each side of the aisle.
At one or both ends of each Pullman car is an enclosed 4-seat compartment or 'coupé'
London: Royal Scotsman ***** More info here and here and here.
Engine + 2 dining + 1 spa + 1 observation + 3 multi-use = 8 cars
Mountain area - Alpine Express
Engine + 7 multi-function passenger + freight = 8 cars
Design freedom (interior and exterior colours and layout)
Backstory: Rural train cobbled together from restored cars from out-of-service trains. Use car base shell from either the British Pullman or Royal Scotsman for footprint and exterior walls. Can add onto the top (caboose, etc).
Let’s keep in touch on Answers HQ until the new EA forums are launched in July!
MY SIMS 3 STUDIO *** MY SIMS 3 SHOWCASE - Residential and Community lots with NO CC
CAPE ALBACORE WORLD COLLABORATION VIDEO TOURS
DISNEY MAGIC KINGDOM WORLD COLLABORATION VIDEO TOURS
Lot creators / interior designers — @ciane, @Sandraelle , @romagi1 , @Jessabeans , @soocoolsim , @suzses , @HollownessDevour , @BreeMiles , @KarilynMonroe2 , @Hidehi, @60smusicluvr , @seaben , @fxchrfxchr , @equuest
Download current world file => WIP version released Feb 6, 2020
Notes for Creators / Interior Designers
All Expansion Packs OK - except KPST.
The following Stuff Packs are OK for use: Outdoor Living, Town Life and Master Suite.
Free store items can be used if they can still be downloaded.
Style guidelines: For London... loosely Victorian/Edwardian style buildings are near the train station. Victorian/Edwardian industrial brick buildings with Asian landscaping/interiors in the Chinatown area. The residential area buildings are inspired by the Borough of Wandsworth. For Venice... Italian with a red terracotta roof, stucco exterior in any style/color and items from Last Venue of Amore are suggested there. For Paris... mainly uniform with Haussmann style buildings with Zinc metal roof and Lutetian Limestone exterior.
Store content usage: The intent is to showcase our creativity while also keeping in mind world playability and aesthetics for end users. Please choose store content from worlds / venues / sets / objects already in use as indicated below:
Worlds:
World Adventures, Showtime, Monte Vista (base requirements for downloaders)
Aurora Skies (with Daycare), Midnight Hollow (with Toyshop), Roaring Heights
Venues:
Stones Throw Greenhouse, Al Fresco Street Market, The Boardwalk, Business as Usual Bistro, Deliciously Indulgent Bakery, Grandpa's Grove, Last Venue of Amore, Olympian Physique, Prism Art Studio, Skylight Studio for the Performing Arts, The Now & Then Century Manor, Le Cinema Plumbob, Brunch at the Old Mill
Additional notes (you can reference the world maps for locations in the next post - placement subject to change):
Any lots with shells but are unclaimed are free to claim and make over as you wish.
The Paris apartment shells are a starting point for a makeover, but we prefer you keep the roof color exterior wall treatment/color within the same family to keep the style cohesive - except for the street level shop paint/awning color (variety is preferred there). The code to edit apartments (after you place the room markers) is restrictbuildbuyinbuildings off.
For London... Apartments or Duplexes are preferred to single family homes, but it's fine if you want to build a single family home that looks like a duplex or row of apartments.
For apartments/duplexes in general... we need some NPC apartment doors in the world. They can be doors to empty rooms, or you can partially furnish them (basic kitchen, bath, bedroom(s), crib)
Build/Build restriction remover mod: http://www.modthesims.info/d/450059
Mod to unlock and select foods on the island paradise resort buffet table for any community lot, for making a self-serve restaurant: http://modthesims.info/d/523377/update-19-jul-2016-choose-your-resort-buffet-foods.html
Lot assignments: https://forums.thesims.com/en_US/home/leaving?target=https://sims.fandom.com/wiki/Lot_assignment
Installed items
EDIT Feb 17 - For optimal CAW and game performance, we ask that you restrict store use to those objects already installed. Below are three resources that you can refer to... visual list, links to store items, and a list of the names of the store items. Thanks very much for your assistance.
Screenshots of store items used (thanks Romagi1). Can be used for a visual check of allowed store items.
Links to store items used (thanks KarilynMonroe2) - Part 1 / Part 2 / Part 3 / Part 4 / Part 5 / Part 6 / Part 7 / Part 8
List of store items installed for lots placed in the world (thanks Jessabeans). These are the names pulled from the simpacks so some of them are titled different from the store for whatever reason but it should help you know what items are already being used.
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Potential Community lots & Rabbit holes
Additional lots for potential inclusion listed below. Can combine rabbitholes / functionality if well suited. Lots selected will be removed from here and slotted under the destination list:
WORLD LOTS — Placed / Completed, Claimed, Open for Claiming
LONDON (entertainment area)
Plant list: Chinese Elm, Slippery Elm, Oak Chestnut, Oak, Red Poppies (monte vista), Ranch Weeds, Cherry tree, Chinese Lantern plant, Bamboo used on lots (near Battersea Park area)
Claimed
Open for claiming
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PARIS (shopping area)
Plant list: Red Oak, Oak Chestnut, WA Lavender, Red Maple, Chestnut Tree, Cinnamon trees on the outskirts, WA Olive Tree
Claimed
Open for claiming
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VENICE
Plant list: Italian Cypress, Chestnut Tree (Monte Vista), Juniper Tree (Monte Vista), Olive Tree (Monte Vista), WA Olive Tree, Red Poppies (monte vista)
Claimed
Open for claiming
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ALPINE MOUNTAIN AREA (All lots completed)
Plant list: Tall Fir Tree, Small Redwood Dawn, White Fir, Perennial heather, Red Poppies (monte vista), Ranch Weeds
Let’s keep in touch on Answers HQ until the new EA forums are launched in July!
MY SIMS 3 STUDIO *** MY SIMS 3 SHOWCASE - Residential and Community lots with NO CC
CAPE ALBACORE WORLD COLLABORATION VIDEO TOURS
DISNEY MAGIC KINGDOM WORLD COLLABORATION VIDEO TOURS
Note: See the post above (WORLD CREATION) for the full list of claims and completed lots.
Titles on the maps in yellow indicate lots that have been completed and are available for download.
Other notes:
Lot to be added somewhere for the cat jungle - size TBD
Lot be added in the Alps area for the fall festival
PARIS — updated Mar 14/21
Currently open for claiming
LONDON
Currently open for claiming
ALPS
VENICE (2 maps)
Currently open for claiming
2) Residential Lots - updated Apr 9/21
Currently open for claiming
Let’s keep in touch on Answers HQ until the new EA forums are launched in July!
MY SIMS 3 STUDIO *** MY SIMS 3 SHOWCASE - Residential and Community lots with NO CC
CAPE ALBACORE WORLD COLLABORATION VIDEO TOURS
DISNEY MAGIC KINGDOM WORLD COLLABORATION VIDEO TOURS
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Unlocked Stencils
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@Sandraelle , I think you’re considering this too. Preferred size from your perspective?
Let’s keep in touch on Answers HQ until the new EA forums are launched in July!
MY SIMS 3 STUDIO *** MY SIMS 3 SHOWCASE - Residential and Community lots with NO CC
CAPE ALBACORE WORLD COLLABORATION VIDEO TOURS
DISNEY MAGIC KINGDOM WORLD COLLABORATION VIDEO TOURS
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Unlocked Stencils
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My Sims 3 Studio
My forum builds thread
I will definitely do at least one dining car and one sleeping car.
I like the 26 length but I think 8 is too big of a width, was thinking more like 5 (maybe 6), otherwise the furniture placement will be too out of proportion. For a 5 deep dining car you could have 2 grid dining tables on each side with a 1 grid walkway between tables, which would be more realistic to a real train. And for sleeping cars, you could have a 1 space hallway and each bedroom could be 4 deep. Picture if it's 8 wide, you would have a 4 grid walkway between tables and that wouldn't be so much like a train. 6 would give you a 2 grid walkway which would be ok too if you guys liked this size better. And thinking about where the entrance doors would go, maybe the 6 deep might work better to fit in doors (unless the doors will be on the ends? Just my opinion though.
As far as lot size, we would definitely need the 30 long to accommodate a long train car, but I don't think you can get any narrower of a lot going with the 30 length.
Look forward to your thoughts.
P.S. I'm a bit confused on the French restaurant names, isn't this a Venice train?
Never mind, I just rewatched the video on the train and I see now that the restaurant cars are named that, lol. My bad!
And looking at the real train again, the dining cars have a 2-seater table on one side and a 4-seat table on the other with a narrow aisle. So we could even go with a 4-tile width!! haha lol
* My Studio *
* My Studio *
Sandy, I'll be providing the 2 version of the exterior patterns for consistency and place windows and doors. However, based on your car and design, you can customize to delete / move / add more windows. For the exterior, it would also be more consistent if I provide the base landscaping (trees, platform, terrain paint) but everyone can add objects as desired.
Let’s keep in touch on Answers HQ until the new EA forums are launched in July!
MY SIMS 3 STUDIO *** MY SIMS 3 SHOWCASE - Residential and Community lots with NO CC
CAPE ALBACORE WORLD COLLABORATION VIDEO TOURS
DISNEY MAGIC KINGDOM WORLD COLLABORATION VIDEO TOURS
Let’s keep in touch on Answers HQ until the new EA forums are launched in July!
MY SIMS 3 STUDIO *** MY SIMS 3 SHOWCASE - Residential and Community lots with NO CC
CAPE ALBACORE WORLD COLLABORATION VIDEO TOURS
DISNEY MAGIC KINGDOM WORLD COLLABORATION VIDEO TOURS
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I was thinking of sleeping cars being three wide - just enough room for a bunk or loft bed and letting the aisle be two wide so sims could pass each other easily. And, yes, I like a 2 grid walkway idea. I'm a person who loves to double wide a stairway and make entrances with either two single doors or a double because... Murphy's law! Two sims will try to go through at the same time and one will go all the way around to the back entrance if there isn't another one right there. BUT, I'm open to realistic over routing if you all prefer that.
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@ciane, you are right about possible routing problems with only a 1 tile walkway, so I think I'm liking the 5 wide best and having the sleeping compartments 3 deep with a 2 deep aisle. I was initially thinking the 4 deep so that I could add on an all-in-one bathroom next to the 3-tile bed, haha, but I guess we can make different configurations for the compartments (like single rooms with no private bath and having more deluxe accommodations with a bathroom). I like the double staircases and double doors as well!
I am really bummed that you aren't going to include ITF, as I think those big round windows would like best on the train, hahah, TOTALLY KIDDING!! lol
Speaking of windows, just curious if were going to use the windows from Roaring Heights that you used in your Elf express trains, or something different? I was looking at our window selection and so many are either too tall, too short, or don't sit low enough or have too many glass panes, etc. I was liking that rectangular one called India Inspired Bedroom - Timeless Views window, as it looks most like a picture window.
I'm excited to work on one!
* My Studio *
Using a 15-wide lot, the largest only goes up to 20 which restricts the length of the cars to 16. You’ll be losing some space at both ends for the doors and front insets (see screenshot), so basically with a 6-wide you'll have a rectangular 10 x 6 plus the odd space to put the all-in-ones and ad hoc items (see screenshot). Would that be enough space for your needs? 5-wide would reduce it even further.
If that is too little space for your needs, I would keep the engine on a 20 x 30 since it also houses the coal car and is basically almost done, however can go down to a 20 x 25 lot for the cars. If my math is correct, you would have a rectangular 6 x 15 area to work with plus the odd space top and bottom. While I should be able to tweak the CFE for a 5-wide, I'm thinking since we have the additional space anyway, why not utilize it.
Soo... your thoughts... 6 wide on a 20 x 15 or 20 x 25?
Let’s keep in touch on Answers HQ until the new EA forums are launched in July!
MY SIMS 3 STUDIO *** MY SIMS 3 SHOWCASE - Residential and Community lots with NO CC
CAPE ALBACORE WORLD COLLABORATION VIDEO TOURS
DISNEY MAGIC KINGDOM WORLD COLLABORATION VIDEO TOURS
Let’s keep in touch on Answers HQ until the new EA forums are launched in July!
MY SIMS 3 STUDIO *** MY SIMS 3 SHOWCASE - Residential and Community lots with NO CC
CAPE ALBACORE WORLD COLLABORATION VIDEO TOURS
DISNEY MAGIC KINGDOM WORLD COLLABORATION VIDEO TOURS
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Edit! I just tried the 5-wide on a 20 x 15 and do like the scale.
Let’s keep in touch on Answers HQ until the new EA forums are launched in July!
MY SIMS 3 STUDIO *** MY SIMS 3 SHOWCASE - Residential and Community lots with NO CC
CAPE ALBACORE WORLD COLLABORATION VIDEO TOURS
DISNEY MAGIC KINGDOM WORLD COLLABORATION VIDEO TOURS
* My Studio *
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Lol you two are funny. I just finished watching Despicable Me3 with my daughter. Not sure if I should go in game or wait to see if either of you have more ideas 😃
Let’s keep in touch on Answers HQ until the new EA forums are launched in July!
MY SIMS 3 STUDIO *** MY SIMS 3 SHOWCASE - Residential and Community lots with NO CC
CAPE ALBACORE WORLD COLLABORATION VIDEO TOURS
DISNEY MAGIC KINGDOM WORLD COLLABORATION VIDEO TOURS
The train cars in the video seem quite long to me and if a world builder does not come on board it would be a moot point. But there is a mod that you can use to make any size lot (like a 15 x 25 or 30). I believe in CAW you can make what size lot you want also. It's just a thought and we would need a world builder to pull off the different lot sizes unless everyone had the mod to make their own lot.
With sims I prefer a playable lot so routing over realistic for me.
Add Any Lot Size
http://modthesims.info/download.php?t=471164
♥♥♥ My TS3 DNA Thread ♥♥♥
There were two different sizes of coaches apparently so we could say we're doing the older version lol. But yeah... it's still not to scale.
Let’s keep in touch on Answers HQ until the new EA forums are launched in July!
MY SIMS 3 STUDIO *** MY SIMS 3 SHOWCASE - Residential and Community lots with NO CC
CAPE ALBACORE WORLD COLLABORATION VIDEO TOURS
DISNEY MAGIC KINGDOM WORLD COLLABORATION VIDEO TOURS
I tweaked the 5 wide car to push the doors closer to the edge in Option A which gives an extra compartment. I'm assuming you are OK with a 2-wide.
Please rank the choices... we'll go with the majority and move on. It will be great if any others thinking of participating could vote as well
Edit: Option D is a 5-wide version of Option C - windows will be fixed for symmetry in both versions.
Option D... 5-wide on 20 x 25 lot
Let’s keep in touch on Answers HQ until the new EA forums are launched in July!
MY SIMS 3 STUDIO *** MY SIMS 3 SHOWCASE - Residential and Community lots with NO CC
CAPE ALBACORE WORLD COLLABORATION VIDEO TOURS
DISNEY MAGIC KINGDOM WORLD COLLABORATION VIDEO TOURS
I like option B best. I love the symmetry and spaciousness of it, and it keeps the double wide hallway on both sides of the car. I do have a few suggestions for it, if we go with that one.
I'd slide the double windows of the outside larger compartments one tile to the outer edges and move the bunks to the inside walls next to the smaller compartments. This allows you to make those right angles cutting into the hallways diagonals, mirroring the diagonals in the kitchen and allowing more maneuver space for the hallways. (But I do like the little circle windows on the outside, so it's only a suggestion.)
I'd also like the rear window centered if possible by MOOing another window next to, and over, the existing one just one tile over, making the two two-tile windows into a larger three-tile window.
Those suggestions would also work for option A. However, I like the maneuverability of the second kitchen better. It is just more spacious with the diagonal walls adding more room for sims to get around each other.
Option C windows bother me as I like symmetry too much. Moving the second double window over one tile on either side and replacing the center window either with a larger or smaller window would make it more appealing to me, ie. you could use the little circle window again in the middle and have one space between all the windows, OR you could MOO the same double window over the existing center window, just one tile over, making it a triple-wide window. Obviously, this option adds much more maneuver room and would play the best. If set up like option B, which is my favorite layout, I'd happily build in this one.
So, I like B or C better than A, but would just alter some windows on my train; if you wouldn't mind.
@romagi1 - I am glad you are finally feeling better. I hope your hubby recovers quicker with you to help nurse him. With all been coughing and fighting colds with this much colder weather than normal. Hopefully, the worse is over now and the immune systems can tackle whatever they need to tackle. Hugs and warm thoughts.
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