USATC S160: Snow and Electricity

Continuing on from last time, we have a few more options to show today.

First of all, the Alaska Railroad's variant which due to their inclement weather has a dirty great snow plough on the front. Also seen on this is the alternative location for the brake air compressor, mounted on the front plate rather than on the front of the smokebox.

Originally the S160's were not fitted with any kind of electrical equipment (and therefore no need for a generator) however these were added to many of them at the end of, or after, the war.
And just to make it fun for digital modellers in the future, the countries and localities all used different types and mounted them in different places!
We can't produce all of them, but here are half a dozen of the more common types/locations that will be available...

Top left of the firebox

In front of the chimney.

 

Behind the chimney (also seen here is the US specific option for a bell, and a taller chimney design).

 

Twin generators in front of the manifold (again a US bell can be seen, this time behind the sand box, and also an alternate whistle).

Note: We did forget to activate one of the 3 available types of safety valves when rendering this image *blush*

On the left hand running board, almost alongside the smokebox.

And finally on the right hand running board just in front of the cab.

We're not finished with options yet but it's about time to start something a little larger, so next time we hope to be able to show some images of the tender in progress.

USATC S160: So many options

This week we've been tidying up areas of the main model and starting to group parts together so we can create the many options needed to represent as many different countries as we can.

First up was the UK fitted vacuum brake with a standard hook.

Then we made the air brake system used by most every other country. To this we first added the US buckeye coupling components (the actual buckeye itself will be the standard TS model - hopefully with a retexture - so it will be compatible with existing US stock connections).

And finally we built the USSR Wilson coupling - which is also fully compatible with the later SA-3 coupling.

Next up is an optional wheel guard commonly used at the time in Europe, shown here with air brake pipes and a standard hook.

And then a USA style "cow catcher" wheel guard, shown here with air brakes, buckeye coupling gear and no buffers.

Finally a 3d Soviet Star as seen on USSR locomotives. Often the star was painted onto the smokebox door but some locomotives were lucky enough to receive cast versions.

Along with all of these parts we also made 5 different chimneys, 3 different whistles, an air brake cover, side window sun shades, a snow plough (as used by the Alaska Railroad) and 2 types of USA bells. And we're not done yet - not by a long way!
Suffice to say, we're hoping to cover as many options as we can so we can create as many authentic liveries as possible.

Peppercorn K1 Live Stream Preview and USATC S160: Model Progress, September 4th

So we are back in full swing after a refreshing break, and the first piece of news for you is that Dovetail Games will be doing a Live Stream preview of the Peppercorn K1 tonight at 5pm UK time.
http://www.twitch.tv/dovetailgames
I will try to be there in the chat to answer any tricky questions that Matt can't handle :-)

Also we are currently finalising the work schedule for next year and we plan to announce the 4 new locomotive add-ons we intend to release during 2016, later this month.

And of course, after quite a long delay we are finally getting back to work on the USATC S160! As some of you are probably now aware, we were approached in January by Dovetail Games in regards to their desire to build the 1950's Riviera line for the upcoming TS2016.
What started as a small involvement with us offering advice on areas to focus on, rolling stock to include and features to add (GWR ATC for example), then became a full-time involvement where we provided set up and additional scripting for all of the included tender locomotives, created the locomotive side of the water trough functionality (visuals and script) and built the Driver Assist system.
During this time the Wear Valley route was also released and so we had to complete the K1 locomotive as well.

But we are now focused on the S160 and intend to have it completed by the end of the year. And to that end, we've been adding more to it this week.

So last we left it, a lot of the detail under the boiler had been added but the frame still lacked a rear section.

As you can see from the images further down that rear section has been added. Also a lot of the cab has been detailed, including rivets - this is actually really useful for measurements when adding other nearby components and as we've said before can provide some relief from the more complex modelling.
The next component to tackle was the manifold. One of the features of the S160, typical of many austerity designs, is that many of the working parts that are usually covered with panelling are left open to save on time and materials, and the external manifold is typical of this.
There's a lot going on there!

Once this was in place we set about adding the injector equipment - the pipes and valves that allow the pushing of water from the tender into the locomotive's boiler.
The S160 was originally fitted with side injectors - the water enters via valves either side of the boiler. However later some of them were fitted with a more efficient top feeding system, and of course with all the pipework on show this means modelling 2 completely different set ups.

Side feed.

Top feed.

Also added after this were the side pipes that follow the running boards which include the brake pipes. The ends of these are noticeably missing at the moment as the next job is to model the 2 different brake versions that were fitted - the air brake and the UK vacuum brake which have different connections and locations.

We hope to get back to these weekly blog updates from now on, and do keep an eye out for the new product list coming later this month.

Also if you're interested in the Peppercorn K1 make sure you watch DTG's Live Stream later today.

BR (LNER) Peppercorn K1: Contents and Features

 
And so we come to the final blog post on the Peppercorn K1.

It's been a long process for this loco having started at the end of last year and then having to wait for the WVR route to be confirmed and then released.

However it's now ready for QA testing and will hopefully be released soon after and we have to say that we think it's out best work to date. It has brought together all of the techniques, detail and features that we have developed over the past 3-4 years and also given us the opportunity to improve upon many that we already used.

The model has more detail than we've added before; we have created a much more realistic cab environment in terms of texturing and are very pleased with the layers of filth both inside and outside on the worn BR livery; we have new and updated particle effects including visual priming, and steam leaks in the cab on the worn locomotive; our custom wheel slip code has been improved and the detection of the weather is now dynamic rather than having to be set on a per-scenario basis.

We’ve also added some neat new touches such as an in-built head out view for the cab and a shovel to control coaling the engine.

As with all of our releases we've catered for everyone by supporting simple driving mode and then having a basic mode with the "default" style driving controls and then an advanced mode for those who like the challenge and a much greater level of realism.

Below is an extract from the manual listing the key features: 
 

• Simple, Standard and Advanced driving modes
• Xbox controller support SIMPLE AND STANDARD MODES ONLY

• Peppercorn BR K1 Class Locomotive and Tender in 3 authentic liveries
• BR Lined Black (BR lettering and pre and post 1956 logos)
• BR Lined Black - Worn (BR lettering and pre and post 1956 logos)
• LNER Green Lined livery (Preservation era)
• All 70 members of the class with correct shed codes, logos and fittings
• Optional parts for running in all original areas and also preserved running including overhead cable warning flashes (red and yellow)
• 3 optional headboards for rail tours
• Custom sound sets inside and out recorded from the remaining K1
• Realistic cab with multiple views including head out and a fully modelled firebox and coal level
• Fully operable tender controls including a shovel... for shovelling!
• Custom, realistic wheel slip physics and effects with auto detection of weather conditions ADVANCED MODE ONLY 
• Simulated steam chest ADVANCED MODE ONLY 
• Cylinder cock management  ADVANCED MODE ONLY 
• Boiler management with priming damage possible ADVANCED MODE ONLY 
• Realistic injector control ADVANCED MODE ONLY 
• Improved dynamic steam and smoke colour and quantity
• Realistic boiler water gauges effected by gradient, acceleration and speed, and with blow down test
• Visual priming effect from chimney when overfilling the boiler
• Opening windows with rain effects, and roof hatch
• Dynamic lamp setting on both locomotive and tender
• Cab light effects including firebox glow, cab light and speedometer light
• Guards whistles when leaving a passenger pick up

• British Railways (ex-LNER) rolling stock
• Brand new rich and detailed sound set created by Steam Sounds Supreme
• Selectable wheel types, different visual components and non-mirrored sides to provide variation in appearance
• Animated handbrakes with sound

•  Double 13 ton bolster wagons with 4 steel loads
• Girders
• Small pipes
• Large pipes
• Roof trusses
• Single 13 ton bolster wagon
• Empty
• Ex-LNER Gas Tank wagons
• 2 tanks
• 3 tanks
• BR Palbrick brick carrying wagons (can be loaded or empty)
• Type A
• Type B
• BR 22 ton Plate wagons
• Steel plate
• Empty
• BR Trestle AA wagons
• Steel plate
• Empty
• Ex-LNER/Private Owner Mineral wagons
• 5 plank wagons
• BR grey
• Coal
• Limestone
• Stone
• Ex-Private Owner worn livery - Coal
• Weardale
• 7 plank wagons
• BR grey
• Coal
• Limestone
• Stone
• Ex-Private Owner worn liveries - Coal
• A H Stabler, Darlington
• Bradleys, Weardale
• Brodsworth Main, Doncaster
• Lofthouse Colliery, Wakefield
• Nunnery Silkstone, Sheffield
• Roberts Davy, Sandside
• Strakers & Love, Durham
• Weardale

• 5 scenarios for the Weardale & Teesdale Network Route Add-On
• 40 Quick Drive consists with appropriate stock

So that about wraps it up for details of the Peppercorn K1. It's been a real delight to create and we've also had a lot of enjoyment from writing the scenarios for it because the Weardale & Teesdale Route is such a treat to drive on.

We're going to take a break over the rest of the summer and then it's back to work to get the USATC S160 completed and to finalise our plans for 2016.
This time rather than announce the locomotives one by one we're hoping to announce the entire line up for next year in one hit so you know what to expect from us and hopefully can get excited about them.

Oh, we nearly forgot!
A big thank you to BRProductions2014 (I think Ben is his real name) for making a brilliant suggestion when we replied to a question asking about a particular nameplate on the K1.
So we're very happy to announce that the K1 BR and LNER liveries now come with an option to display this ;-)

BR (LNER) Peppercorn K1: Quick Update

As promised we will be doing a full breakdown of all of the K1's features soon but today it's a quick update to show some things that have been added at the last moment.

We've included a set of 3 headboards for the BR and LNER liveries - selectable via the scenario loco number or via keyboard during play.

The first 2 are very popular with steam rail tours and should allow the K1 to fit very nicely on modern routes. The last one is a nod to the talent behind the Weardale & Teesdale Network Route and features in one of the 8 included scenarios with the K1, which is based on an actual 1960's rail tour to Weardale.

We are also really excited to announce that in an arrangement with Steam Sounds Supreme we will be using their new freight and wagon sounds for all of the K1 rolling stock (see the previous 3 blog posts for details of it all), and also for all future rolling stock from Victory Works.
As usual Matt has worked his audio magic and they sound terrific.
Check out the sample video

BR (LNER) Peppercorn K1: Rolling Stock, Part 3

So what else comes with the Peppercorn K1 apart from a load of clever plank wagons?

Well to start with you can't go wrong with some nice bolster stock.

We made a few of these and we couldn't fit them nicely in 1 picture!
For all your steelworks movement needs the twin bolster is just the part. Built and animated with the rotating brackets so the load is correctly balanced across the 2 wagons, there are loads for large pipes, small pipes, girders and also roof trusses. There are also empty bolsters (as singles) for the return journey when the goods have been delivered. All of these also have animated handbrakes.

If you want to move bricks, what do you use?

You use a wagon built for the purpose - a Palbrick A wagon in this case. These were converted from old "Medfit" or medium goods open wagons specifically to carry bricks - the previous method being a standard plank wagon and lots of straw packing.

And if you're going to have a Palbrick A, then you should have a Palbrick B as well. Much the same but built from new for the purpose rather than being a conversion.
Both Palbrick wagons have solid/spoked wheel options and animated handbrakes.

Back to steelworks goods movement. How do you move a stack of steel plates?
On a 22 ton plate wagon of course!

The plate wagons have solid/spoked wheels and animated handbrakes. They also have differing number of chains holding the plates in place to create some variety in your consists.

But what if the steel plates were too wide for the wagon?

Why then you would need a Trestle wagon, a Trestle AA in this case.
Available with and without plates, they also have solid/spoked wheel options, animated handbrakes and a variety of chain sets to add variety.

So how to end the list of rolling stock. It had to be with our personal favourites which again are a testament to dirt and filth on a working railway.

Gas wagons. These ex-LNER wagons would have been seen everywhere in the LNER era when gas was used in coach lighting and for stations and so had to be refilled regularly. By the time of BR much of this lighting was electric, however some remote stations still had no connection to the national grid and would have continued to have their gas delivered by rail.
Suitably filthy and in 2 or 3 tank versions the gas wagons have solid/spoked wheel options, animated handbrakes and a few optional parts (strengthening rings, end caps, etc) which are again used to give some variety when placed together in a consist.

And finally, what does it look like if you place everything in one train?

This shows just one of every wagon type. With the variations in wheels, optional parts, 2 sided textures, etc. the variations are literally in the hundreds.

Next time in the final post of this series we'll take a look back at the K1 locomotive and list some of it's features.

BR (LNER) Peppercorn K1: Rolling Stock, Part 2

Last time we looked at the ex-private owner wagons that are coming with the Peppercorn K1 add-on.

This time we wanted to reveal some of the extra features that even these humble wagons have received.

Firstly, we have 2 wheel types on every wagon. Solid wheels (with 3 holes) and spoked wheels.
The type of wheel can be set using the wagon number but there is an included number list of many hundreds which has a variety so placing down a few of them will give a mix of wheel types.

Another feature is that the sides of the wagons are not mirrored and in some cases we've gone out of our way to make the textures quite different. A common feature of these type of wagons was them having had a plank or 2 replaced due to damage, thereby leaving a gap in the old livery and a different coloured plank. By having sides that are not mirrored you can flip the direction of some of the wagons in your consists and have a slightly different look rather than lots of clones.

Finally a new feature that we think is rather neat.
Can you see it? Do those handbrakes look like they're on?
Indeed, all of the rolling stock that comes with the K1 has animated handbrakes and an accompanying clunk sound - so we highly recommend applying the handbrakes before you drop off the wagons when you're performing shunting duties.

Next time we'll look at all of the other stock that's going to be included.