Union Pacific FEF-3 4-8-4 Northern type steam locomotive, by Smokebox

[CSX2057]

Smokey, if you need someone to be a beta before the release. Lemme know. If you want.

[mrennie]

Smokey, if you need someone to be a beta before the release. Lemme know. If you want.

Hi Daniel,

That's a kind offer. The problem though is that I have to go through RSC for all beta testing, and they decide who to distribute it to (via Steam). The best bet would be to try to get to be an RSC beta tester.

Cheers,

Mike

[CSX2057]

Smokey, if you need someone to be a beta before the release. Lemme know. If you want.

Hi Daniel,

That's a kind offer. The problem though is that I have to go through RSC for all beta testing, and they decide who to distribute it to (via Steam). The best bet would be to try to get to be an RSC beta tester.

Cheers,

Mike

Ahh ok.

[bpetit]

Beautiful detail.

[FourEightFour]

Beautiful detail.

Was the time of your post planned? Reads 844 on my end.

[mrennie]

That's just the main part (the right hand side) - there are about 30 separate parts on each side of the trailing truck and 18 of those are individually animated (the brakes, piston and all the associated fulcrums and linkages). It's going to take a wee while to texture them all, but when it's done, I'll post some more screen shots and perhaps a video of the animation so that the experts can let me know if it's right or not.

Cheers,

Mike

[bpetit]

What's funny is that every time I post one of Mike's little updates I'm basically teasing ya'll.

[5292nate]

Mike! This stretches the meaning of "incredible"! You are an OUTSTANDING craftsman! I salute you, sir! Again! One more time!

[mrennie]

Mike! This stretches the meaning of "incredible"! You are an OUTSTANDING craftsman! I salute you, sir! Again! One more time!

That's very kind of you Nate

Now, just wait until you see it with all the pieces put together and the animation working (in a few days time) ... that'll knock the socks off the competition, for sure.

By the way, if anyone can find a video of a real steamer's trailing truck brake cylinder and piston in action (for comparison), I'd appreciate it.

[5292nate]

What competition?!

[mrennie]

What competition?!

Nice

[FourEightFour]

best video I can think of, here is a screen grab of the part you would find interesting.

[mrennie]

best video I can think of, here is a screen grab of the part you would find interesting.

That's it ... looks like the piston is fully extended, which, if I'm right, means the brakes are on (although I have my doubts, because it would seem to make more sense for the brakes to be off with the piston extended).

EDIT: I've just seen from some more videos that piston in is definitely brakes off.

[hertsbob]

No idea which bit you're looking at, but it sounds as though it might be operating a lever similar to the way a clutch works?

Or perhaps not.

[BNSFdude]

Piston extended =brakes on.