Path Undersides

I prefer a shaped bottom to my paths rather than the standard flat bottom because shaped bottoms look better with custom path supports. To configure each shaped bottom correctly I’ve simply shaped my path bottoms to reflect the path border patterns that display on their topsides.

Path & Queue Supporting CSO’s

If you do choose to create shaped bottoms and your suspended paths are visible from beneath when creating screenshots or videos, the gaps between the mismatched pieces can be filled with the creation of a very few additional CSO’s.

An example of mismatched pieces would be where a path Flat piece meets up with a Straight piece, such as

A

where a stall baseplate meets up with a standard path,

B

where ride entrances and exits meet up with adjoining paths, queues, and ride baseplates, or

C

on all four sides of Turn X pieces created in the open spaces of flying path plazas by the placement of A.T.M.'s, Toilets, or First Aid stations offset from the flying plaza edges.

We’ve created a mock-up of a small flat ride with queue and exit path in SketchUp. In the following image the gray, backsides of the model faces can be seen next to the spaces left by the ride entrance and ride exit, a situation that is also possible in C above.

These will show up as invisible in the game, leaving us with holes beneath our paths configuration through which we can see the sky.

Because everything I import is textured on one side and this set has been made with open ends the sky is noticeable through the end of the exit path and the queue end. The image clearly shows that the suspended Ride entrance uses the Straight queue piece. The Flat path piece can be seen there in use for the ride exit, and the number of individual Flat pieces used to make up the ride baseplate is evident.

Back in SketchUp, we’ll place one each of the supporting CSO’s to give an idea of how they’ll work.

And now we’ll place all that are needed.

So as you see with the creation of a very few additional CSO’s one can enhance such path undersides as elaborately as they wish. If we revisit the park we can see the separate metal trim pieces are now nicely linked.

This gives the bottoms of your paths and ride baseplates a finished, tailored appearance and will make the custom supports look like they’re properly anchored to the paths.

When making our paths with shaped bottoms and with open ends we'll need to do this anywhere that A, B, or C occurrs.

As you’ll see later in this article, pimped up path undersides lend themselves especially well to custom path supports.

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Ride Baseplates

When placed directly on terrain flat rides, track stations, and shops & stalls don’t require the use of any CSO decals. However, we can see in the following image just how unsuitable the in-game fencing can be when we attempt to enhance attraction stations with custom content.

This fencing can easily be disabled through the LOD panel or through the ride’s interface, after which we can add any desired CSO's.

Even with the in-game entrance and exit, the CSO fencing looks so much better with custom paths.

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When adding our custom paths to suspended stations, if we’ve pre-imported our queue pieces with fencing included we’ll end up with double fencing. This is because the in-game queues are designed to take their fencing from our choices in each ride’s interface.

Again, we can easily disable queue fencing and add our own CSO’s. You’d likely want to use support killer for those station supports.

Our delightful Mini Auto CTR with its custom paths wouldn’t be complete without CSO stations. This is one time I miss seeing those in-game supports as unfortunately this track doesn’t come with them.

Drag the above toggle

by its edges to a

convenient place on your screen.