Amtrak Acela

[SithMurcielago]

Can't wait to see the Cars ingame hopefully with a PV.

[JackD]

stmbuzz

I hope i'm just crazy and its just me.

It appears in the comparison photos that the current models have different curvature of windscreen than MSTS model. Could be in screenshot angles or just a different style.

Or we both may be crazy

[arizonachris]

Or we both may be crazy

Yeah, this is also a possibility. Most of us here are crazy to one degree or another.

[g_nash]

Nice work, but does anyone feel the way that I feel? Something is off. Like the nose. The MSTS one done by Adam W. was right on with the nose and everything, but something doesn't look right. I hope i'm just crazy and its just me.

MSTS Version:

Both models are "off " , both have good points and not so good points ... Lets take a look at this pan from Mitch Goldman >> http://railpictures.net/viewphoto.php?id=327312&nseq=60 << ... now go and take another screenie in MSTS , centre the camera correctly on the centre of the power car , to match the shots from Reppo and Mr Goldman , then come back and we'll talk more about the accuracy Adams ( MSTS ) mesh .

.

[styckx]

Looks good to me.. Not model is absolutely perfect. You look at it, and think "Yep, Acela".. You stare at it long enough you'll probably see baby jesus in the vents.

[redwhiteandblack]

That's just the problem for me; when I first saw the screenshots, the first thing to come to mind was an HHP-8 (sans dual cab obviously).

I believe Jack is pretty much right on with this one. When you examine a side-by-side comparison of the model versus a prototype photo, there is a fairly clear discrepancy in the curvature of the nose. In the photo at right, it appears that the arc begins near the base of the windshield (the windshield itself being recessed) and continues to the roofline. By comparison, the model on the left features a flat nose surface for most of its height, only breaking a few feet from the top.

acela.jpg

Examining the Goldman pan shot seems to yield the same conclusion. Unfortunately I'm afraid that this far along in the model's development it's unlikely we will see a change to the mesh.

I'll probably be buying the set regardless, because I like to support Railsimulator.com and I think the NEC would be empty without it, but I'm disappointed that the model doesn't really capture the look and feel of the prototype for me.

[g_nash]

acela.jpg

Nice pic , more effort than I was prepared to expend to demonstrate a point . Curves are off on all 4 models I've viewed >> MSTS , Trainz ( both by Adam ) RW and the one I tried and discarded .

C'est la vie

[SithMurcielago]

I guess I wasn't crazy, but yeah it maybe to late to make changes to the mesh even though there is still time to make changes. I'm indifferent with the Acela Express, but I will be all over the AEM7 and the Amfleet. They are spot on. I wonder if RSC has decided to release the Amfleets before the route comes out. I hope.

Either way, Reppo did a great job, but I hope he takes into account our views on this. No one is perfect!

[g_nash]

Either way, Reppo did a great job,

Yeah , maybe would be nice if his personal time maybe allowed to nudge a few verts/edges around , would not make much difference to me , going to be one of those milage will vary things .

Still , mucho cred for a fine effort . .

[arizonachris]

OK, now, you rivet counters, don't scare Reppo away. I mean, were getting an Acela! How sweet is that! And when the NEC comes out, it's perfect. This is gonna be one really nice addition to Railworks (yeah, the wheel skirts in the front aren't right, but it's not a deal breaker for me)

[micaelcorleone]

I don't think it's a fatal thing, but I'm sure Reppo could change it pretty "easy".
But only if he has the time to do so.

[JackD]

All of these inaccuracies have me so upset I may not buy it 'til the day after release.

Nice work, Reppo.

[Reppo]

Hello all!

Firstly, I want to thanks to everybody who has given their comments and feedback about this project. Four eyes look better than 2 eyes, and 8 better than 4.

From the begining I was been in a wild fight with the nose's curves, without any doubt this must be one of the hardest shapes to build, this kind of shape has several different curves and you start seeing one curve but you end seeing a different curve while the angle or your point of view is changing. Anyway I only can say thanks for doing to note some wrong line that I could to pass over. Luckly I have the caution to make separate textures for each individual shape in the mesh, I will try to improve the shape as possible.

That is the true utility of showing the works in progress in threads like this one.


Now, and as you can guess, I am working on a more advanced state of the project and probably the Acela cars will be the stars in the next blog update, while, again, I need to ask you for your help in the cab's features and its descriptions. Mainly, I am concerned the functions for each lever, each button, or indicator in the cab's desk.

Also I would like to ask about this little list of things:

How does the locomotive opens its nose's cone to unhide the front coupler? I have seen pics of the loco without this cone so I suspect that the device is stored inside the locomotive.

What is the utility for the light lamps that you can see in the bottom of the each door of the cars? Do they turn ON only while the doors are open? Are they flashing or fixed lights?

I want to make the destinations display in the car sides, I know it is a digital led display and I would like to create a script to set the same words in each coach with a order from the locomotive.

Can anyone write a list of destinations for me?

Thank you very much in advance.

Reppo.

[micaelcorleone]

Also I would like to ask about this little list of things:

How does the locomotive opens its nose's cone to unhide the front coupler? I have seen pics of the loco without this cone so I suspect that the device is stored inside the locomotive.

What is the utility for the light lamps that you can see in the bottom of the each door of the cars? Do they turn ON only while the doors are open? Are they flashing or fixed lights?

I want to make the destinations display in the car sides, I know it is a digital led display and I would like to create a script to set the same words in each coach with a order from the locomotive.

Can anyone write a list of destinations for me?

As for the doors and destination displays watch this video from minute 1:01. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=giaUqHrlapQ&feature=related

The little light (left side next to the destination display) is off when the doors are closed. If they are open it turns red. When they have closed the light goes out again.
The destination displays run from right to left and show ACELA XXXX (train number) and in the line beneath the next destination (at least I think it's the next and not the final).
You can also see in this video how the left and right ground lights can flash when enabled by the engineer.

Another video shows these red lights on the trainside again, but now flashing a few seconds before the doors close (around minute 0:28): http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JDlp2k-e6NI&feature=related

Further "door closing video" showing two at the same time (around minute 2:15): http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8SA1_fpBiz8&feature=related

EDIT1:
Amtrak's oficial site for the Acela: http://www.amtrak.com/servlet/ContentServer?c=AM_Route_C&pagename=am%2FLayout&cid=1241245664867

It shows both timetables: New York-Washington and Boston/Springfield-Washington. At the bottom of the page there is a list of all served stations.

Picture showing the shape of the locomotive's nose perfectly


Acela's open hatch:

It looks like the hatch is drawn into the upper nose. The coupler seems to be fix all the time.



Stay tuned. I'll update this post.

[Derek]

Hi guys, just a quick note from me, thanks for the feedback, really positive stuff.
Keep it coming.
Obviously this is a tricky shape to get right with your help I'm sure we will improve the shape.
Ricardo has already made some major changes.

best regards

Derek