> Im not the best model placer
Slow and easy. It's the only answer. Acropolis was two weeks of intensive model placement. It was 95% of the track. Model placement, check it in game, more model placement, more checking. Unrelenting models models models. Get close to it in traxx, look at it and look at it, from above, below, from the side, and back from above and back from below. Get in it's face, and take a step back. The wire frame round the model in traxx is very helpful, and the terrain wireframe can be helpful too. I have spent hours on just one model. And even more lining up collision boxes for the odd shaped ones. It's the only answer. Slow and easy.
> Directional signs may help to follow the course.
That's an option but I wouldn't do it. You have a billboard blocking the proper path. What's up with that? Turn that billboard ninety degrees and put a slo/nir/old one facing it, if you must - or position them funnel-like showing the course. But don't obstruct where you're supposed to go, unless you do a 3-2-1 blast off idea. And the checkpoint placement should also help point the way.
> Are the bridges going to work
No. I never made it across that gorge. Not once. I used gold mode. If it wasn't a beta, I would quit and delete.
> does the lay out of the road feel clean enough
Right out of the box, it's one of your better first shots. But...
> I tried to leave it some what rough. I like it so that if you dont hit your mark you'll lose your speed. Seems more real that way in life.
Real schmeal. It's a video game. Make it good racing. Yes, there's style and preferences but hitting your mark should be built into the layout, not deliberately impeding a racer's progress. You're just frustrating people. If the track is faster because it's smoother, so be it. If you want a finess track, take a look at Rocketalces (for example). If a course is tough, fine. But for goodness sakes stop putting up road blocks.
Check point markers. Use a rock a cactus, whatever you like. If you use one model and put it on both sides of the road, people will catch on.
Check point placement.
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Textures. Look what angus is doing to create transitions. You don't have to do a whole set of transition textures in order to see the benefit of his method (which is two textures, one layered over the other, then just erase the part you don't want.. merge and convert). It's the easiest way for simple alterations.
http://cownap.com/~mtmg/traxx/trans.html