WIP AT&N Class 280-157 Consolidation

[MadMike1024]

I'm doing the lights now. I've got a question about the Classification Lights (those small lights at the top of the smokebox). Were they switched on separately from the headlight, or were they in the same circuit? I think they were separate, so that they'd stay on even when the loco was going tender first (with the headlight on the back of the tender switched on), but I want to make sure.

Thanks,

Mike

Yes, they were separately switched.
They were used in three colors as well;
Green indicated the scheduled train had additional second (third, fourth,etc.) sections. Each of the additional sections displayed green class lights as well.
White indicated it was an extra train off schedule.
Red was displayed if the loco was the end of train when running in reverse.
(Source: http://trn.trains.com/en/Railroad%20Ref ... ights.aspx)

The same colors applied to flags mounted on each side of the front of the loco that were used during the day

[UP3985]

Engine is looking great, better then anything I could do at the moment, much better.

When you finish it I'll be planning on re-opening my J3A Hudson project, I've only put it on hold for a while until this is finished.

Thanks Jonathan

I'm glad you haven't given up on the Hudson. Once the Consolidation is done, I'll have more time to help you out and perhaps even do some video tutorials.

Cheers,

Mike

Video Tutorials woulld be great! I really have no idea how to do 3D modeling, but I would like to try my hand at it soon. Maybe a redone Challenger, Big Boy, or UP 844. Maybe an SD9043MAC?

(or just start by redoing the Cheyenne Roundhouse and steamshops[with animated doors and detailed inside])

[jpetersjr]

Video Tutorials woulld be great! I really have no idea how to do 3D modeling, but I would like to try my hand at it soon. Maybe a redone Challenger, Big Boy, or UP 844. Maybe an SD9043MAC?

(or just start by redoing the Cheyenne Roundhouse and steamshops[with animated doors and detailed inside])

I would highly suggest you start small, not even I would try to do something as large as the Big Boy this soon because it would be highly impossible at my knowledge level at the moment.

[dogmouse]

I would echo Jonathan's sage advice.

Start with a cube with a texture on it, and get that into the game as you intended it to be, i.e., size is correct, and the texture is where it should be. If you can get that far, then high-five yourself, and take the next step! :-)

I dont mean to sound so cynical, it's just that when a you decide to have a go at modeling for RW/TS2013, you are really entering a potential house of mirrors. You can end up reading through the ~cough~ development docs ~cough~ until you are either blue in the face, or can recite them from memory, only to get 14 other opinions why your box or texture isnt working properly.

Start humble, finish grand. Words to live by ;-)

Dream big, but start small. You'll save yourself MONTHS of frustration.

~Rich

P.S. Mike, sorry to run O.T. on your thread.... Your current work is an inspiration to us all, dude! Awesome WIP's!! I love hearing about and seeing the progress you're making. It always gets me fired up! Cheers to you, mate!!!

[CaseyRhodes]

Are you going to use a recording of a single chime whistle like the one that's on your model of the locomotive or use one of some multi-chime whistle?
I think using a recording from some kind of three chime whistle would sound much better than a single chime and wonderful for a locomotive of this size.

[mrennie]

I'm doing the lights now. I've got a question about the Classification Lights (those small lights at the top of the smokebox). Were they switched on separately from the headlight, or were they in the same circuit? I think they were separate, so that they'd stay on even when the loco was going tender first (with the headlight on the back of the tender switched on), but I want to make sure.

Thanks,

Mike

Yes, they were separately switched.
They were used in three colors as well;
Green indicated the scheduled train had additional second (third, fourth,etc.) sections. Each of the additional sections displayed green class lights as well.
White indicated it was an extra train off schedule.
Red was displayed if the loco was the end of train when running in reverse.
(Source: http://trn.trains.com/en/Railroad%20Ref ... ights.aspx)

The same colors applied to flags mounted on each side of the front of the loco that were used during the day

Thanks for that link, it's very useful. I'll make it so that the classification lights are activated with a different switch that can select between "off", white or red lights.

Last night I succeeded in lighting up the numbers in the numberboards either side of the headlight. The numbers light up, while the background stays dark, because the bulb inside the headlight shone light through number stencil cut-outs.

I've also put a very nice orange-red glow in the cab.

[mrennie]

Video Tutorials woulld be great! I really have no idea how to do 3D modeling, but I would like to try my hand at it soon. Maybe a redone Challenger, Big Boy, or UP 844. Maybe an SD9043MAC?

(or just start by redoing the Cheyenne Roundhouse and steamshops[with animated doors and detailed inside])

Buildings are easier than rolling stock, but it's still a lot of work if you want to do interior details and animations.

The way to animate doors is to make a track rule for a switch, and model the switchstand (points lever) as a door. You hide the piece of track underground and move the switch stand to the position of the door. That allows you to click on the door and move it.

I made a signal box, last year, with a very detailed interior. It was a lot of work! Especially as I added a lot of animations (but not the door). It was complicated, but it was a big help towards understanding animations and blueprints. I'd certainly recommend it as a stepping stone on the way to doing a locomotive.

Actually, before doing a locomotive, I'd strongly recommend doing something unpowered, with trucks. That's what I did. I made a van with two trucks (bogies). Again, it was a good way to find out about bogie blueprints, couplings. pivot points and so on, without the added complication of controls and whatnot.

[mrennie]

P.S. Mike, sorry to run O.T. on your thread.... Your current work is an inspiration to us all, dude! Awesome WIP's!! I love hearing about and seeing the progress you're making. It always gets me fired up! Cheers to you, mate!!!

No problem Rich, and thanks for the kind comments

[mrennie]

Are you going to use a recording of a single chime whistle like the one that's on your model of the locomotive or use one of some multi-chime whistle?
I think using a recording from some kind of three chime whistle would sound much better than a single chime and wonderful for a locomotive of this size.

Well, the locomotive I'm modelling really had a whistle rather than a chime. I modelled the whistle accurately, but at the moment I've made a single chime sound for it, which isn't right really. I ought to change the sound for a whistle. On the other hand, I do like the sound of the 3 (and even 5!) chamber chimes I've listened to on YouTube videos. So, I might make different versions of the loco - one with a whistle and another with a chime (with a correct 3D model of a chime).

In any case, I'll need to make more than one model because of things like the big (auto-)numbers on the tender. If someone wanted to do a reskin with a road name on the tender, those numbers would be in the way. The only solution would be to have a different model of the tender and loco that places the autonumbering elements on the cab side instead.

[UP3985]

I would like to thank everyone here for their encouraging words. I really had no intention of taking these up right away, but I just might some time in the future. I am taking an Engineering class at my HS and we are going to start doing some stuff with 3D modeling soon. It is with a very (high?) program (I'm thinking near RSC grade? idk...) and if I could, I would still REEEEEEEAAAALlllyyyy like to redo the Cheyenne distinctive buildings for Sherman Hill. (Steam Shop, Roundhouse, Depot*...)

In short, the advice given has been taken, and I will eventually work on the Challenger and 844. (my 2 favs )

*RSC missed a big square add on to the west end of the Depot, and it is modern (?-2008-Present)

Thanks All!

[PapaXpress]

Well, the locomotive I'm modelling really had a whistle rather than a chime. I modelled the whistle accurately, but at the moment I've made a single chime sound for it, which isn't right really. I ought to change the sound for a whistle. On the other hand, I do like the sound of the 3 (and even 5!) chamber chimes I've listened to on YouTube videos. So, I might make different versions of the loco - one with a whistle and another with a chime (with a correct 3D model of a chime).

In any case, I'll need to make more than one model because of things like the big (auto-)numbers on the tender. If someone wanted to do a reskin with a road name on the tender, those numbers would be in the way. The only solution would be to have a different model of the tender and loco that places the autonumbering elements on the cab side instead.

You may want to contact Dick Cowen and see how he does his numbering. On some of his steamers he has a system where you can select which areas will show their numbers (ie turns those areas off).

[mrennie]

Thanks for the idea Papa. I think I might know how he did it ... using ActivateNode to switch off the numbers via the lua script. It's what I've done today to get the classification lights to switch from off to white or red or green, independently of the headlight (I assigned the class lights to the Page Down key). Now it's possible to set up all the lights, including the headlight on the tender, prototypically. I'll also put in an independent cab light. Also, I'll see if I can make it so that the lights don't work without the generator running.

[jpetersjr]

Do you think you'll be able to make it to where the cab light actually lights up the inside of the cab when you turn it on. The lights on the G-trax locomotives don't do that on my computer.

[thecanadianrail]

Sadly that's impossible without TSX enabled

then turn it on lol

[mrennie]

That's a pity. RW looks so much better with detailed shadows and projecting spot and point lights. It would be worth trying it with TSX on but some other things turned down/off.
It's easy to do a cab light, In fact, I've already put in a soft red glow coming from the firebox, which looks very atmospheric seen in either the cab view or outside view. My plan is to have it activated only when the firebox doors are open.