Finally! (AC-12 x2)

[trkspd]

I couldn't stand the textures on the DLC Cab Forward anymore. They are really good, however they lacked finesse. I decided to do one more train 'reskin', sometime I had given up long ago back when I left the payware company I was with.

After two days (after work) I have finally brought up the AC-12 to the status I think it should have always been. I still am not happy with the sounds (The exhaust is not deeeeeep enough) or the lighting/wheel rotation issues, but those I choose not to fool with. I did change the bell to the one from the K4 DLC and used B7's A-200 horn and the whistle from the file library, all of which make it nicer to run.

The main things that bothered me on the texturing were the discoloration of parts (grey vs black vs dark black, etc) particularly on the drivers. The way the model was baked also caused some serious texture problems, the shadows opacity was not taken into consideration in some major areas on the drive rods.... The visible reflection in the photo textured headlight stuck out way to much also, so I replaced that with a proper golden glow. The marker lights textures were annoying too, so I did some better texturing on those too. Besides that I worked on just about every texture map on the loco, so now it matches a lot better, and the non-weathered skin doesn't have rust anymore!

Yes, the mirrors should be wind deflectors, and the arm rest should be black, but I have a real job and school to deal with....so those didn't bother me too much....

Below are some screens of the finished product, if I don't run back and fix some other issues..











(It feels good to use my purpose built PC for more than internet browsing again, it has been soooo long since I have done graphics. I somewhat hope this is a one time only event, as when you have worked around these locomotives and cars for as long as I have you notice every single incorrect detail. Makes for a long process, lol.

It is good to have trains as a hobby again, and not as three jobs! I can go back to fooling with them on my free time, ha ha. (Working on a loco all day then coming home to work on a 3D loco is not enjoyable in the long run)

[That P42 is still bothering me.........., both the G-Trax and my OMI brass.....HAHA]

trkspd

[BNSF650]

Very nice could you release that??

[harryadkins]

Excellent work.

[Coaltrain1]

Wow that looks awesome.

[ozinoz]

Can I add my voice for a release too

The sounds have long been an issue. Unlike the Brit stuff, there is no AC or what ever to sample, but given what can be done with images, and I profess to knowing sod all about sound manipulation, I wonder why the sounds that are available cant be tweaked into something "bigger". If they can make a plucked guitar string sound like a rampaging T-Rex, then I am thinking it cant be too difficult to grab the sounds and deepen them to provide a sound that is not out of place coming from an AC or Challenger etc. There was supposed to be an all new "improved" sound set for the latest Big Boy release, but that seems to have disappeared into the wind too (was the only reason I bought it)

If we can talk you into a release, a nicely weathered version would be greatly appreciated too (don't want much do I )

in advance. You are not allowed to tease us...

[FourEightFour]

Looks good, save for one thing. The graphite is too dark for western railroads. Only on eastern railroads have I seen graphite that dark. Here is an example of fresh painted graphite on a smokebox(by fresh I mean that morning).

[ozinoz]

The smoke box definitely does in some photos appear very dark, yet in others it is very evident it is a very weathered and dirty silver graphite. Should there ever be a choice, I personally would opt for a weathered dirty silver smokebox, but I guess that is up to the re-painter.



Grant

[trkspd]

I will release, I just have to finish up some homework tonight before I can figure out how to release this stuff.

I have no idea how to package it.

[trkspd]

Dam*, I totally didn't think about the smokebox, will fix tonite.

[ozinoz]

Hi mate...

Any update in getting the smokebox fixed and the whole deal packaged.??

[ozinoz]

Can I bump this....

Don't want to miss these...

[trkspd]

I haven't touched them, been dealing w/ 40+ a week at work and college on top of that. If I can get a 70 or higher on my math test tonight, I might take a peek at this again. The way this model is mapped I am not happy with changing the smokebox color, it affects other things on the boiler jacketing.

[ozinoz]

Hi mate...

No problems. Believe me, I certainly know all about life before pastimes. Have had RW/TS etc since it first came out and I have managed to spend the most time on it in the past 4 months than in its installed history. Between 50+ hour working weeks, having to maintain 2 homes, elderly sick relatives, it all takes its toll on the one thing we have a finite amount of - time The most time I was getting on RW, was the odd few minutes through the day to check out the forums here to see what was happening, what was being released. I bought locomotives etc that I have never found the time to run. Thats life...

Do what ever you need to; I am sure we will be here when you get back... Good Luck