F7 Repaints: TS2012 Updates Out Soon!

[tbundy1982]

Ok, so I tried the R&WA F7s on a passenger train. 4 of Dick Cowen's freeware streamline coaches with an F7A at either end like the Reading Commuters. Horsepower per ton ratio was way off, because the rear F7 is "helping" when it shouldn't.

The auto brake was great!

Well, almost great. In the real world, a 24RL brake would not have percentage settings. In theory, it is full release, running, full service (application), and emergency. Maybe with some extremely fine handling you could limit the application rate but it basically amounts to making a hole in the end of the brake pipe. Does the Apply setting apply the same no matter what the percentage shown? I'll do some further testing later. If you can get the application up to 90% without going into emergency, hold that for about 5-6 seconds and then move it back to self lap. You should start to see results soon. It really does kind of act like the real thing! In the real world, you make brake applications 30 seconds to a minute before you really want the effects of the brakes.

Michael, a recommendation:
If there is a handle off setting within Railworks like the setting in MSTS, place that setting between full service and emergency. That will allow the user to maximize the percentage of auto brake application without accidentally going into emergency. I don't know if one can remove the percentage settings from brake and throttle. I would imagine if it was possible, we would have notched throttles that act like MSTS by now. I hate how the throttle in RW3 can be a bit sluggish when frame rates drop.

I think I'll do some tests later today with 4 F-units and a freight train so I can see how they handle with 30-50 cars. I've been running on the SOO Line route, and, sadly, found a bad track weld on the main at LeClaire. Anyone know if that has been corrected with an update? I'll have to bring that to Ian's attention.

Tyler

[Kali]

Making the brake behave like you describe isn't particularily hard - there's a standard brake that works something like that in Europe called the PBL brake, which is what the JT 67 finally modelled correctly after 3-4 bits of stock didn't. The hardest part of that is persuading the control to spring back! which the F7 handle doesn't need to.

Top & tail ( as we call it here ) working ought to be possible if I can work out how the script call in the DP "failing" engines works properly, unfortunately any requests for help with that have gone straight into a black hole :(. Maybe I can just shut trailing engines down totally and fake their audio in idle.

[Chacal]

I completed Footeforward's scenarios for the MCSA, one of which involves some yard and road switching with 2 RWA F7s.
I would like to apologize to RWA's insurance company for all the trouble, and give my sincere condolences to the truck driver's grieving family. And to yardmaster Barry, well you DID tell me to clear out the pipe cars.

[Samwolf]

"I completed Footeforward's scenarios for the MCSA, one of which involves some yard and road switching with 2 RWA F7s.
I would like to apologize to RWA's insurance company for all the trouble, and give my sincere condolences to the truck driver's grieving family. And to yardmaster Barry, well you DID tell me to clear out the pipe cars."
That was a fun set of scenarios, wasn't it?

[Griphos]

I completed Footeforward's scenarios for the MCSA, one of which involves some yard and road switching with 2 RWA F7s.
I would like to apologize to RWA's insurance company for all the trouble, and give my sincere condolences to the truck driver's grieving family. And to yardmaster Barry, well you DID tell me to clear out the pipe cars.

I take it the brakes settings are a problem still....

[Chacal]

I've had difficulties, but didn't let that stop me.

That was a fun set of scenarios, wasn't it?

It was a great set. Just the right mixture of challenge and humor, very similar to Tom Pallen's sets.
When I opened the last scenarios and saw what he did, I couldn't stop laughing. Not many train sim scenarios do that!