Example 27

 

This example shows some interesting features of the Polygon tools. A good building type to use for this is an elevated structure - those corridors you see quite often connecting different terminals in airports.
Using the Polygon type A the structure will be placed in a horizontal position. The elevated structure will be made in sections of 12 meters. Since I am using a scale of 1/4 all measurements are multiplied by 4.
The structure will be placed at an altitude of 4 meters.
Since the polygon is placed horizontally you will notice that the minimum value of the Y axis is 0. However the base can be placed at any other altitude than the desired 4 meters from the ground.
The graphic above shows the section of the structure.
On testing the first section you will realize that some sides of the structure are reversed as shown on the left. This error can be fixed using the Inverted control box option for each of the sides in conflict.
Both internal and external sides must be inverted; the lefthand picture only shows the external sides. If you take a closer look at the structure you'll see that only sides 1, 7 and 8 need to be Inverted.
We can now copy the first module as many times as needed to make the total length of the structure. Here section #2 has been added.
Using the Raise Polygon option I can raise one end of the structure. Here the back side of the polygon is raised 1 meter but don't forget that measurements are based on a 1/4 scale value.
A new section is added to the structure.
Using the Skew polygon option I can make an angle at the desired position. This shows the back left of the polygon skewed 4 meters. At the same time you can use the Raise Polygon option if needed. This is section #5 of the structure.
New sections can be added - section #6 is also at an angle and section #7 is straight.
Finally we add section #8 with the end altitude decreased by 1 meter. To decrease one polygon of a given altitude, let's say 4 meters, follow these steps:
  1. Place the polygon ground altitude to the FINAL polygon altitude. In this case the final altitude is 16.
  2. Increase the front or back end of the polygon by the required length; in this example by 4 meters.
The last module of the structure to make is the post that supports it. Using the Polygon B tool we can make a support as shown on the left. The polygon is placed in the horizontal position.

In the first test, shown on the right, I can see that some sides of the support need to be inverted. We must invert sides 10, 11 and 12.

On the left is the resulting support after inverting the sides. You can also see that the front view of the support doesn't show properly due to the type of shape used. We need to use the triangulation option for the front and back sides of the support.
You can start making the triangulation in any order of sets. The only rule to follow is that the points in each set must be placed in clockwise order. So for Set1 it is 1CD. If you invert the order of these 3 points to DC1 you will NOT see that section of the support in the scenery.
On the other hand 1CD or CD1 or D1C is right and will work.
And here is the final view of the elevated structure.
Since this structure shares some identical modules or sequences it is very important to maximize the macro once ALL is working and fully tested. Don't forget that the Maximize option must be always made at the very end of the macro. If you add, delete, or move sequences in the macro after maximizing you'll have to maximize it again.