WIP AT&N Class 280-157 Consolidation

[jpetersjr]

Don't know if you would be interested in making donationware?

I have another idea. I'd still propose it to RSC for publication via Steam, but I'd be glad to donate 20% of the net profit to your railroad. I'd suggest it to RSC too, but it would be up to them whether they want to make a similar donation. Personally, I think it would be good for their image. Just Trains have done something similar with their Bristol and Avonmouth route, using money from its sales to make a donation to the Soldiers, Sailors, Airmen and Families Association (SSAFA) in the UK. Steam reaches a huge audience and I think that the 20% from selling it on their platform is likely to be far more than 100% of what we'd get from a donationware sold via any other site.

It would also be great if you could help me out once the model gets underway, by taking photos of various bits and pieces, and from different angles, so that I can make the model and its textures as authentic as possible. Maybe you could even record some sounds!

There is one small problem, which is that it would need a route to run on. That's one of the first things RSC asks ... "do we have a route to run it on? How can we package this?" ... Also, do we have suitable (RSC payware) rolling stock to go behind the loco? What I'm afraid of is ending up with a loco and nothing else, which wouldn't make for a very marketable product. Maybe some more people need to get involved to build up a complete package.

We should get in touch again as soon as I´ve finished the Consolidation, nearer to Christmas.

Cheers,

Mike

P.S. Do you have the complete blueprints? I mean, including the full erecting diagrams, as well as individual parts?

Well, if it turned out that they wouldn't publish some particular future item you might build you could always make it freeware. Anyways, one should be able to build what one wants to build, not what RSC requires to build.

[B-24_LIBERATOR]

Well my question to him was if we could use one of his models to help raise money for our railroad, if that specific project was freeware it wouldn't help us out all that much if he did it

Sounds like he might be more interested in making a 10 wheeler now so I wouldn't worry about it (unless he makes it payware ).

[mrennie]

Well my question to him was if we could use one of his models to help raise money for our railroad, if that specific project was freeware it wouldn't help us out all that much if he did it

Sounds like he might be more interested in making a 10 wheeler now so I wouldn't worry about it (unless he makes it payware ).

I haven't made up my mind yet, but I do like that trolley gauge loco :) It's rather charming. As I said though, someone would need to make a route for it.

As for making freeware, it depends on how well the Consolidation does. If it sells well, I'm actually considering doing more payware as a means to supplement my meagre pension (when I go back to the UK in 20 months time, I'll be giving up my job here and won't have much chance of finding a new job). Now that I've discovered a talent that I can use to feed myself, I don't think I can spend 6-8 months doing another project like the Consolidation (remember, it started in May) and then give it away for free. I hope you can all appreciate that. Donationware (or rather, payware where part of the proceeds are donated by me, and perhaps by RSC if they want to) is possible provided the project does have a good chance of generating a decent return on investment (in terms of my time and effort). Plus, if I were getting help from the owners/operators of the loco in making the model, it would be right to make a donation to support the upkeep of the real loco.

[mrennie]

I've done the Johnson bar (reverser), with working latch handle, in the Consolidation, but I have a question for those who have been in a real cab. The bar obviously goes through the floor of the cab, therefore there is a slot opening in the floor. But, is there anything to stop smoke, steam and/or dust from coming through the opening and into the cab? Is there some kind of skirt that keeps it out? At the moment, the way I've modelled it, you can see through the opening to the ground below.

[evafan002]

to answer your question it differs from class to class in some classes yes there is a skirt and in others no its as you have modeled so therefore it is entirely up to you mate

[mrennie]

to answer your question it differs from class to class in some classes yes there is a skirt and in others no its as you have modeled so therefore it is entirely up to you mate

Thanks! I'll leave it with the opening because it's nice to see the lever moving. By the way, all the controls move in external view as well as cab view, with the positions matching in both views.

[mrennie]

Windows move, firebox opens, steam comes through the hole in the floor, rain fx ?

A lot more than that moves, both inside and outside the cab Yes, rain effects too, when I get around to it (that's why it's good that you can open the storm window .... no windshield wipers!)

[mrennie]

The front facing window on this one doesent open though right?

Oh yes it does :)

and the door.

They both work much more smoothly than in the last video I posted. You can open close them gradually with the keyboard or the mouse, and from inside or outside (keyboard only) the cab, with the positions maintained in synch between both views (exterior and cab views).

[mrennie]

Quite impressive! Can you point me in the direction of this video?

Here's a very old one ... http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=buIF2y3PE3U

and a slightly newer one showing the generator in action (I've improved the exhaust steam since then): http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0mTjs3CGK4w

[mrennie]

Wow

... it looks twice as good now. I wish RSC would hurry up and post some WIP pics, especially the cab (I don't like to brag, but even I drool over it!).

[CaseyRhodes]

Is there anyway to add a feature to the locomotive to make its whistle playable? I've always wondered if that was possible.
thanks, Casey

[mrennie]

Is there anyway to add a feature to the locomotive to make its whistle playable? I've always wondered if that was possible.
thanks, Casey

I was actually going to make it possible to play either a whistle or a chime, depending on the user's preference. I modelled a whistle (it's what the real one had) but I initially gave it a chime sound.

[UP3985]

How about the ability to quill? Is this even possible to do in the sim?

I've always wanted to thunder down the mainline and have a slightly different whistle intensity and pitch for each runby (and be able to change it while attatched to the locomotive) This would also give us the ability to give our own personal flare to the locomotive, just like in real life like what real engineers do (steamers exclusive though )

[mrennie]

How about the ability to quill? Is this even possible to do in the sim?

I've always wanted to thunder down the mainline and have a slightly different whistle intensity and pitch for each runby (and be able to change it while attatched to the locomotive) This would also give us the ability to give our own personal flare to the locomotive, just like in real life like what real engineers do (steamers exclusive though )

Yes, it's possible. I just have to set up a control that's not just on/off but has several positions, and then associate different sounds with each position. You can then pull the cord to different positions and get different sounds.

[mrennie]

Space + mouse scroll

I don't think the inputmapper will work with the mouse scroll, but I can use some other combination of keys.