WIP: Locomotive Enhancement Pack Update V.2

[pschlik]

Oh, I get it then. I'm probably going to buy this sometime then. I know I made my upgrades but that's more of just a free version and not asgood as some of this.

[OldProf]

I just bought and installed V1 of this pack. The lighting enhancements are impressive. Even better are the new cab views, which actually allow me to view instruments easily and don't make me feel like I'm jammed up against the windshield. More better yet (did I write that?) are the head-out views.

I am now looking forward to version 2, of course, but I already feel like a winner. By the way, the pack's price has gone down and we Americans enjoy an even lower price, since we don't pay Value Added Tax.

Whoopee!

[Machinist]

all... the new crew, left hand cablight, cablight (6 types) linked to headlight, and the X-Treme headlights (from 300-500m depending of sort of engine, currently are set to 210m for all engines) will make the driving experience a bit more immersive, I hope.

@ Tom, yes, the cabview hold more of instruments for those (like me) who likes to drive reading gauges, and new instructions' screen (75% transparent) associated to the tweaked position of cab camera let you see the track ahead even when the instruction pops up. All of this allow you to drive mouseless (I hate to use mouse in game). Head out view is indeed with head out of cabin, instead the default body out view, now you can look backwards when coupling at rear and also see more of the consist.

I'm late on the update's schedule, but the wait will worth... especially because is free of (re)charge...

Cheers,
Doc.

[OldProf]

I've discovered only one, minor downside to this pack: unless I'm missing something, it has to be reinstalled after every cache verification. Is there any way around that?

[Machinist]

Yep, you have to reinstall after verifying cache and this is because the LEP is replacing default assets, as many sort of mods currently do.

However, sincerely I can't understand why people verify cache so often. Since TS2012 I verified mine 4 times or so, and in 3 of them was for nothing because the errors had another causes not related to corrupted or missing files. I've been seeing many users saying to verify cache at any minor problem and that's is really a very bad idea for those who have many mods installed (re-paints, sounds, signals, couplers, simulation, physics etc.), and usually an usefull operation even for commom users.

Just recall tons of posts on here (RWA or anywhere) and you'll see (99% of time) someone asking: "Did you verify cache?" And the pulling hairs user replying: "Yes I did, and didn't work!" Isn't true?!Of course, most of problems are not related to missing files (and rarely to corrupted files).

Anyway, currently I have over than 140 mod assets installed (overwriting default assets) and I have organized them in a single folder. Therefore all I need is 2 clicks to launch and to close a bat file (especifically created for it) and one minute to have all mods re-installed (yes, all 140 and how much more I want) after a (rare) verifying of cache. It's incredibly simple, fast and easy!

I've send my "re-install" formula to Peter Hayes (he tested and loved), I'll ask him to post separately a sort of tutorial to create and use this "re-install" feature, once my English is not good enough for this task, and also because my Win 7 language is Portuguese so I have no idea how Windows' commands, features and fuctions are named in English.

Cheers,
Doc.

[Machinist]

BTW, I was about to announce the date of Update v2.0, I'm just waiting for the upcoming and brand new SD75 to enhance it also, when I just read that RSC announced a free update for Dash 9. I've already enhanced the current Dash 9's (see first and second posts of this thread), and they have great cabs.

For sure a new livery will come packed with the update, as usual, then I'll wait for the Dash 9 engines (now with rain, which makes them even better to play) to include my enhancements and pack for publishing.

Cheers,
Doc.

[pschlik]

Oh goody, now RSC is being helpful, but I'm going to get your version, simply because of the extra features, sooner or later.

[Machinist]

Oh goody, now RSC is being helpful, but I'm going to get your version, simply because of the extra features, sooner or later.

RSC is adding cablight now but casting shadows which makes fps drops a lot in average machines (40% in mine), and there is few advantages once casted shadows are few (ie. few shadows to justify such fps dropping, isn't worth), so my cablight won't cast shadows and will be a bit more wider and softer...

[pschlik]

You know, I wonder why they haven't added cab lighting to somenother locomotives.

[ozinoz]

There were some pics a while back showing off the Pennsy K4 and proposed mods to loco and caboose. Are these still coming or are you focusing more on the diesels?

excellent work....I just don't like boxes



Grant

[Machinist]

Hi Grant,

Pennsy K4 and caboose with crew (posted in another thread) are done and already packed! Will be in the update, including the three great K4 re-paints by XDriver, enhanced also....

[Machinist]

Let there be lighting, and there was enhanced lighting! SD75 was deserving.... I liked the engine and new lighting controls, despite of all complains about wrong cab, missing CN livery and the big mistake with cablight killing fps (in my machine was dropping 40%, but now is corrected).

SD75's mod features: complete and re-positioned crew, tweaked step lights, number and cablight lit up by default when scenario starts (needed for meetings with AI trains), new cablight (both hands) softer and wider at same time NOT impacting fps (ie now with same fps with cablight on or off), corrected headlight/rearlight, (new) marker light, wider cabview holding more of gauges and notch's number of throttle/dynamic brake etc.

I'm just waiting any news about Dash 9 update from RSC and then pack will be released (I've already enhanced all Dash 9s, but with rain will be better). If no news come soon (next week) I'll release pack anyway. In the meantime, new installer (more professional and easier, same of TaD scenarios packs) will be tested.

Cheers,
Doc.

Some pics.

SD 75 I BNSF, default.jpg

SD75 I BNSF, enhanced.jpg

SD75 default engineer cabview and cablight (killing fps).jpg

SD75 enhanced engineer cabview and cablight (same fps).jpg

SD75 enhanced conductor cabview and cablight (same fps).jpg

[imnew]

Great job as always Machinist !

[pschlik]

Good looking cabviews. I hope rsc updates the dash-9's, I use them so much.

[ozinoz]

A great job. It beats me how the original manufacturers couldn't achieve thsi when the DLC was originally released, but I guess it at least opens up the market to others.

I am just hanging out to get my grubby little hands on the K4 mods

Thanks for all the hard work....