RF Track Building Guide by Mike DiPonio

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Overview

rF Track Building Guide (Cleaned and Formatted)

Edited version of JPS's Track Editing introduction (with permission). Originally made for SCGT and F1C, updated for rFactor track editing.

Required Software

  • 3D Studio MAX: Mandatory (ZModeler not sufficient)
  • Set units to meters: Customize > Unit Setup

Section 1: Lofting a Basic Layout

1. Setup

  • Obtain accurate track map and scale it
  • Create a plane and assign track map material
  • UV map it using fit and bitmap fit
  • Lower it by 10m to keep out of the way

2. Create Path Line

  • Use a standard spline line, set vertex type to smooth
  • Trace down the center of the pavement
  • Use minimal number of vertices (every 20m in turns, 80m on straights)
  • Use Bezier or Bezier-corner for refining; avoid corner type
  • Place starting point at world center (0,0,0) if possible
  • Add elevation changes by adjusting Z-values of vertices

3. Important Notes

  • Keep this path line free-floating, never attach to hierarchy
  • Do not delete it

4. Lofting the Track

  • Create a straight shape line (2 corner vertices)
  • Width = 8 to 16 meters

Lofting Procedure

  • Create tab > Geometry > Compound Objects > Loft
  • Select your path
  • Set Path Parameters to Path Steps
  • Under Creation Method, select Instance > Click Get Shape > Click your shape line

Fix Loft Orientation

  • If it's vertical: Modify shape line > Segment mode > Rotate Z-axis by 90°

5. Applying Materials (gMotor2)

  • Create Multi/Sub-Object material
    • Rename first sub-material to ROADxxx
    • Change type to gMotor Material
    • Use shader: T1 (DX7) or Bump Specular Map T1 (DX8)

Texture Slots

  • Color: Main road texture (e.g. ROAD.DDS)
  • Specular: e.g. ROAD_S.DDS
  • Bump: e.g. ROAD_B.DDS

Tiling

  • Specular: U/V = 6
  • Bump: U/V = 12 (if road is 12m wide)

6. Texture Mapping

  • Apply material to loft object
  • Set Length Repeat appropriately (start at 40)
  • Width Repeat = 1 (usually)
  • To vary by segment: disable normalize and set Material ID per segment

7. Optimizing Mesh

  • Shape Steps: Controls width polycount (0 = 1 quad across)
  • Path Steps: Controls length polycount
    • Adjust to improve curve/hill smoothness without overloading polycount

Real-time Adjustments

  • Modify path vertices or Bezier handles to affect mesh
  • Add vertices using Refine

Section 2: Setting Up Game Files

Folder Structure

  • Create: GameData\Locations\YourTrack
    • Inside: GMT\, MAP\, and subfolders for layouts (TrackShort, TrackLong)
  • Copy from original track: aiw, cam, gdb, scn, mas files
  • Rename all files to match your track

GDB File

  • Top entry = TRACK NAME IN CAPS
  • Filter Properties = mod/series
  • Event name = Track name
  • Setup TDF, SCORETOWER, lighting

SCN File

  • Use sample track SCN as base (SampleTrack recommended)
  • Delete Instances section
  • Adjust directories and MAS references

Converting to GMT

  • Setup MAX Utilities: Configure Buttons > GMT Converter
  • Set mesh directory, e.g. rFactor\GameData\Locations\YourTrack\GMT
  • Click Get Selected with loft selected
  • Check:
    • Collidable
    • HAT
    • Use gMotor Normals
    • Smooth
    • Receiver
    • Omni
  • Click Do Mesh

Creating SCN Instance

  • Set scene file path (e.g. NEW.SCN)
  • Export scene > copy instance lines to your track's SCN file

Creating AIW File (Minimal Test Version)

<syntaxhighlight lang="ini"> [GRID] GridIndex=0 Pos=(-3.865,0.250,-2.316) ; X,Y,Z Ori=(0.000,-1.569,-0.001) </syntaxhighlight>

  • Swap Y and Z from MAX coordinates
  • Add 0.2 to Y to prevent falling through track

SCN Instance Format

<syntaxhighlight lang="ini"> Instance=track01 { 

 MeshFile=track01.mts
 CollTarget=True
 HATTarget=True
 ShadowReceiver=True
 Response=VEHICLE,TERRAIN

} </syntaxhighlight>

First Test

  1. Set Opponents = 0
  2. Disable flags
  3. Load track in Race mode
  4. Test drive and check:
    1. Elevation
    2. Poly overlaps
    3. Material ID collision
    4. Driveable surface
  • If falling through: delete track's .HAT file in LOG/HAT/
  • Also: In PLR file set:

<syntaxhighlight lang="ini"> Always Rebuild HAT = 0 </syntaxhighlight>

Loft Tuning

  • Fine-tune elevation, width, vertex smoothness
  • Use Tape Measure in MAX for width validation
  • Avoid scaling path/shape lines (causes measurement/mapping errors)
  • Adjust shape/path size based on real track length:
    • Example: Lap at 30mph = 8 minutes
      • (8 / 2 = 4 miles in game)
      • If real length is 3 mi, then scale factor = 3/4 = 0.75
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