Monday 29 October 2018

Steam Halloween Sale 2018

Clocks changed - check!
Suddenly got very cold - check!
Dark by 5pm - check!
About to create 100 million tons of landfill copying an American tradition - check!

That must mean it's time for the Steam Halloween Sale!

All of our Steam DLC is on sale from today until 1st November with the GWR County available with 30% off for the first time.

Click this link to see all of our DLC on Steam or click on an image below to view a particular DLC.

GWR 1000 County Class - 30% off
LNER Raven Q6 - 30% off
GWR Large Prairies - 50% off
GWR Large Prairies Lined Liveries (Requires GWR Large Prairies Pack) - 50% off
Stroudley A1/A1X Class 'Terrier' - 50% off









GWR Saint Class & Travelling Post Office - 50% off









BR Saint & Travelling Post Office Livery (Requires GWR Saint Pack) - 50% off









USATC S160 - 50% off









GWR 14xx - 50% off









LNER Peppercorn K1 - 50% off









GWR Small Prairies - 50% off








GWR 56xx - 50% off








GT3 Gas Turbine Prototype - 50% off









GWR Steam Railmotor - 50% off









Southern Bulleid Q1 - 50% off

Monday 22 October 2018

Ridiculously Complicated Loco Numbers: Fear Not!

One of the things you learn about steam engines, especially those that last a long time in service is that they change a lot during their lives. Better ways of doing things are developed and modifications are made to suit the engines uses.
With all of our loco add-ons we always try to reflect as many of these options as we can: safety bonnet styles, bunker steps, reverser types (lever or screw) are just some of the dozens of options we've created over the years. The way to set these options in game is to use the loco number in the scenario script using the Locomotive Numbering section from all our add-ons manuals, for example:

(from the GWR County manual) 
 
1. to 4. 4-digit locomotive number
5. to 7. 3-digit reporting number, use ### for no number
8. Headboard
•    0 - None
•    1 – The Cornishman
•    2 – Torbay Express
•    3 – The Mayflower
•    4 – Royal Duchy
9. Chimney
•    1 – Single
•    2 – Double
•    3 – Sheet steel double
10. Safety bonnet
•    1 – Polished
•    2 - Painted
11. Company logo
•    1 – GWR lettering (1942-47)
•    2 – British Railways lettering in GWR font (1948)
12. Lining – Yes or No
13. Power disc – Yes or No
14. Speedometer – Yes or No
15. Head code – Letter of the head code class (see Appendix), note: lower case for running tender first

e.g. 1012###0111YYN

As time has gone on these numbers have become more and more complex and people have told us that they are beginning to struggle to make sense of all of the available choices. And due to the complexity and detail that we love to provide they are not getting any shorter.. one of the GWR Pannier Tanks that we are working on at the moment will have a number that is 25 digits long! That is a lot to fiddle about with and has the potential for getting it wrong in a small way that can completely change the loco's set up.

Although all of our add-ons can be used "out of the box" and have prototypical numbers already set we also know you all like to set them up just the way that you want.
We have heard the feedback loud and clear and so here is a glimpse of a little program we've been working on as a side project that will create these numbers for you in a very easy to see way.

It is inventively called the "Victory Works Number Generator"! It will come pre-programmed to support all of our existing add-ons (from Steam and from Steam Sounds Supreme 42xx/5205 Terrier) and future engines will come with the required files to add to the system automatically.

You select an add-on from the drop down list.


You then select a livery/type.


The program then lists all of the available options for that add-on/livery and you can make the selections using either a box to type text into (e.g. for the loco number) or a drop down selection for a particular option. If you type too much (or too little) into a box then it will highlight it and give you a hint as to what information it needs.

Once you have made your selections you simple click the "Copy to Clipboard" button and the number generated will be stored ready to paste into the loco number in the scenario in the Train Simulator editor.


Easy peasy!

The program can expand the interface to handle as many or as few options as are required allowing it to help you with even our most complex of options systems.


It is still a work in progress at the moment (we still have quite a few more add-ons and liveries to include) but we hope to make it available before the end of the year.

Thursday 18 October 2018

GWR Pannier Tanks: 5700/8750 - 5700 version and 8750 Cab

An early blog post this week as tomorrow we are attending the Mid Hants Railway's Autumn Gala.

Work has finished on creating the 5700 variation with its older style of  cab with the simple backsheet and the round windows.




And then it's back to the 8750 version to begin work on the cab. The controls will be a very familiar sight for anyone who has driven GWR engines but to make sure we keep pushing the authenticity we are creating a new brake system for Advanced Mode that will operate as a vacuum brake (where installed and when the train is vacuum fitted) and a steam brake, both using the combined brake lever and the vacuum reservoir where fitted.




Next week we will delve into the options that will be available for the 5700 and 8750 engines.

Friday 12 October 2018

GWR Pannier Tanks: 5700/8750 Beginnings

After a couple of weeks we are pleased to show some exciting progress with the 5700/8750 version of the GWR Pannier Tanks.

We decided to start with the 8750 version and then build the 5700 from this mostly because the 8750 hasn't been seen in Train Simulator before so this is a bit more exciting, although a whole new re-model 5700 is going to be great as well.

As usual we begin with the wheels and then map out the basic shapes and add some of the detailing on top of the tanks. It's already looking very familiar!


Filling in detail, mostly on the lower areas.


Adding in the hand rails, a basic cab interior shape, whistle shield and a few rivets.


Seen from the rear.


Next up will be modifying to the 5700 version and then beginning on the detailed cab model for both engines with the relevant changes in shape and fittings.