Creating BVE5 structure (.x) with SketchUp – Part 3

In this post we will create a background structure for BVE5. Basically, it is an open cylinder with a texture image applied on the inner side surface. It's a simple structure, but it might a bit tricky to apply the texture image on the cylinder surface. The radius of the cylinder will determine the distance of the background and it should be less than 1000 meters.

Background Structure

Steps as shown in video below. Open cylinder specification : R = 400 m, Top height = 165 m, Bottom depth = 15 m (You are free to set any values.)


Save copy as SketchUp v8 drawing.
Convert SketchUp v8 drawing to Direct3D file (.x) using MMD (.X) exporter.


Testing by applying this structure to any BVE5 route.

The texture seems cracked in BVE5 Trainsim simulator. The texture width and height are should be  in 2ⁿ value. So we need to resize texture width and height in 2ⁿ scale. And then reapply the texture.



texture fixed.


valid 2ⁿ values : 2, 4, 8, 16, 32, 64, 128, 256, 512, 1024, 2048, 4096, 8192, 16384, ...

for example, width 2048 pixel and height 128 pixels.

Additional reading

• https://blog.sketchup.com/sketchupdate/wrapping-image-around-cylinder

Where to get royalty free sky texture?

Search Keywords : sky background 360 free texture, panoramic sky texture free, etc.

For example :

• http://www.sketchuptexture.com/2013/02/panoramic-ski-360.html
• http://www.sketchuptexture.com/2013/03/panoramic-sky.html
• https://www.cgskies.com/

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Categories: bve 5 trainsim, sketchup, structure