GWR Saint: In game!

As promised it's time to see the GWR Saint all textured up and in Train Simulator.
We're really pleased with how this loco has turned out, bringing together everything we've learnt to date with all the best features from the Peppercorn K1 and USATC S160.

The GWR Saint and TPO DLC will be coming with both square and curved frame variants of the 2900 class and in liveries for 4 GWR eras: 1905-26, 1926-34, 1934-42 and 1924-47.
All 74 members of the class (Scotts, Ladies, Saints, Courts) are included along with 1 of the 3 prototypes, "Albion".
The 3500 gallon tender is available in riveted and smooth sided styles with 6 different livery options including 2 non-express versions (although not officially used on express services sometimes tenders were provided using "whatever we've got available"). The tender is fully compatible with water troughs.
Red or White lamps are optional based on the era, as well as selections for any reporting code you choose, outside or inside steam pipes, headboards (Cornish Riviera, Torbay Express and Mayflower), and speedometer.
All of our usual advanced features are fitted including steam chest simulation, realistic injectors, 3D firebox, head out views for the cab (driver's AND fireman's), animated controls on the external model and we've even come up with a great new stoking system - no longer will you be forced to trickle feed coal into the firebox but you can put it in in shovelfuls, all timed perfectly with the cab sounds!

So without further comment, the 2900 "Saint" class..

Lady Disdain (square frame) in very early livery

Lalla Rookh (square frame) as the Cornish Riviera Express

Lady of the Lake (square frame) in 1934-42 livery

Bride of Lammermoor (square frame) in 1942-47 livery

Saint Andrew (curved frame)

Hampton Court (curved frame)

In addition to all of the 2900 class the DLC will also include the working GWR TPO baggage coach and sorting coach (in 3 GWR  liveries) and line side apparatus (including marker boards, huts, etc) and repaints of the Collett "Sunshine" coaches from the Exeter-Kingswear route in two GWR liveries, 1934-42 and 1942-47.

Currently we expect to include 4 scenarios for the Exeter-Kingswear 1950's route based around the Great Western TPO service.

So that's everything as it stands at the moment. Next week we expect to have some in-game pictures of the TPO coaches and soon after we will make some videos to show them in operation.

Steam Summer Sale!

It's that time again - the yearly Steam Summer Sale!

All of our Steam DLC is included except for the newly released USATC S160. So if you've had your eye on any of our add-ons for a while then now is the time to grab a discount.

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

GWR 14xx - 20% off

LNER Peppercorn K1 - 20% off

GWR Small Prairies - 20% off

GWR 56xx - 20% off

GT3 Gas Turbine Prototype - 20% off

GWR Steam Railmotor - 20% off

Southern Bulleid Q1 - 50% off

USATC S160 - Latest Release

GWR Travelling Post Office

So we thought we'd keep you in suspense a little longer before showing the GWR Saint actually in game (and also we've not had time to take any screen shots!) but today we're going to do a Work In Progress update on the accompanying GWR Travelling Post Office (TPO) coach.

The first task was to hit the books and decide which version to make. We ended up choosing the Diagram L.21 which served the West Coast of England from 1933 until 1959 as we had good reference images and also there were 3 coaches of this type, no.'s 793, 794 and 795, which is the most amount of any other types we considered (others diagrams had 3, 2 or even just 1 coach).

The basic coach outline took shape pretty quickly.

The next task was to cut out the doors and add some details to them. There are 2 doors on each side, those on the LHS side opening to allow the mail bags to be swung out for dropping off, as well as 2 doors on the RHS side just for loading parcels (and crew!) and also the door behind the net where the bags being collected fly in at a great rate. The bags can weigh anything up to 60 lbs each which when hitting the net at up to 40mph carry quite some force.

Next we modelled the details of the "traductor arms". These are used to hang the packages out from the side of the coach for dropping off into the net on the ground - 2 either side of each door, so 4 in total. Once it's all animated and scripted the coach and apparatus will allow for the dropping off of 0 to 4 bags and the collection of 0 to 3 - this varied in real life based on the needs of the location.
We have had some very useful images and advice from someone who works on the TPO's in preservation to whom we are very grateful and we were also able to visit coach 814 at Didcot and have a good play around with parts of the coach apparatus to see exactly how they functioned which has been invaluable when modelling (and of course we visited Lady of Legend while we were there).

Next to be modelled was the net framing, again based on photographs, diagrams and measurements we were able to take from 814.

 

The coach was completed with the addition of the side lights which will turn on and off during the exchange process if it takes place at night.

The coach is only half of the operation and next we modelled the ground apparatus - the hanging bags for collection by the coach's net and the ground net to drop off the hanging bags into.
Oh and of course some nice plump mail bags as well.
The apparatus is actually positioned the other way around - ground net first and then hanging bags - this image was just taken as we were working on the models and making sure scaling etc was correct.

Then the moment of truth... would everything line up properly?!

It did! As before these are WIP modelling images and when the exchange is taking place the doors are opened, etc. This was purely to make sure that everything lined up.

Still be added are the ropes and nets for both coach and ground apparatus and then it's time to exercise the excellent physics capabilities of Blender as we start throwing packages into nets at high speed to record the animations needed for Train Simulator.

USATC S160 is out!

 

http://store.steampowered.com/app/376942/

So, after much waiting we finally got to the release of the S160!
We'd like to thank you all for your patience and also for the messages and screen shots that we've been receiving from happy owners of the DLC.

"Would like to thankyou for creating such a great add-on with the S160 it really completes the Churnet Valley Route that we've made"

 "The War Effort"

"Thank you very much VW and DTG, it's fabulous. Well worth the wait!"

 "By far the most dynamic loco DLC yet. So many options and variations. The details of the whistle and advanced controls are fantastic. The blue FDR gets my vote as well. Worth the wait!"

"Thank you so much for this incredible engine. The best add-on I have ever bought for TS! Thank you VW"

"Well done and thank you for a wonderful pack of locos and stock that was oh so worth the wait. I'm absolutely elated by it"

"What an amazing DLC pack. Bravo!"


Matt Peddlesden from Train Sim Live also took the S160 for a drive on his live stream:

He did a summary of everything in the pack (and there's so much he got a bit confused!)...

And he drove 2 scenarios, one in the UK...

 

And one in the USA...

We've sent a small update today to DTG with some minor niggles that came up which will hopefully be pushed out to everyone next week but nothing show stopping we're pleased to say.

The S160 DLC has 10 liveries with hundreds of options between them all and we've had a few people asking us about changing various components on the locos and tenders so we thought it might be a good idea to give a more comprehensive break down of how it works.
This style of customisation is available on all of our locomotives but the S160 has by far the most options and components.

At the end of the manual there is a section entitled "Appendix 1: Locomotive Numbering". So for this example we're going to edit the US Army livery which is listed on page 50.


US Army – Buckeye/Air
Engine
# # # Tall or Short Chimney [T,S] / Original or Vertical Whistle [V,O] / Firebox cover [Y,N] / Black or Yellow Buffer Plate [B,Y] / Westinghouse location [B,S] / Pilot [W,E,B,Y,S] / Front Steps or Stairs[A,E] / Bell location [F,B] / Reverser [S,L] / Yellow or White Hand Rails [Y,W] / Front Number on Smokebox or Lamp [S,L] / White Wheel Rims [N,Y]
e.g. 607TVYBBWAFSYSN

Place the loco down in the game editor and double click it. In the right-hand flyout  you will see the pre-set loco number which is what we're going to edit.

So let's say we want to create a loco with the number 612.

The first characters in the list above are # # #

#'s are always used to indicate places for a loco or tender number, so in this case we begin our loco number with 612. 

The next part of the code is Tall or Short Chimney [T,S]

This means that the next (4th) character should be either a T if you want a tall chimney or S if you want a short chimney. If we choose a tall chimney our number is now 612T.

Next is Original or Vertical Whistle [V,O]

So the 5th character should be a V or an O depending which whistle you prefer. Let's go for an Original so our number is now 612TO.

You continue like this adding the chosen character for each component until we might have a number like this 612TONBSBAFSWLY

This would give us a locomotive numbered 612, a Tall chimney, Original whistle, No firebox cover, Black buffer plate, Westinghouse brake located on the Smokebox, a Black front pilot, front stAirs on the running board ends, bell located on the Front, a Screw reverser, White hand rails, front number mounted on the Lamp and Yes to white rims on the wheels.

And tenders work in exactly the same way. Do note that changes will not take effect until you re-start the game in play mode.

There are about a dozen options for every loco so you have literally thousands of possible combinations and you can have a loco almost any way you want it.

Have fun trying it out! 

So that's it for this week. Next week we'll return to updates on the GWR Saint and working TPO which is coming along very nicely.

GWR Saint: Modelling Progress 5

Today we move on to the cab of the Saint.
The first task was to set up the key shape using the outer model and place some parts to establish the basic layout.

We decided early on that the cab would come in 2 styles to match the square and curved framing changes made to the class. The original square frame cab will have spectacle windows above the backhead and the lever style reverser. The curved frame cab will be without the upper windows and will have the screw style reverser.

Once all of the controls and parts are installed it's time for all that lovely piping, so typical of a GWR cab. And here is the completed square frame cab. Also visible is the canvas screen that many tender locomotives were provided with for crew protection when running in reverse, stretched over 2 "masts" attached to the tender - it's quite rare that you see them as they got old and damaged and were very rarely replaced once they'd gone, however we've seen quite a few pictures from the 1930's showing them so we decided to include it as an option for the early liveries.

Also complete is the curved frame cab with screw reverser.

And finally the square frame in situ in the loco model.

That's all for today. The next couple of weeks will be spent unwrapping and texturing and then we'll hopefully be able to have some in-game pictures.

Also thank you for everyone who is continuing to show so much interest in the USATC S160 but we would ask that you please stop messaging us asking when it's coming out - it is out of our hands as we wait on feedback from the publisher. We promise that as soon as we have ANY news we will make it known - and be assured that we are just as frustrated about the time it is taking as you are!
Thank you.

GWR Saint: Modelling Progress 4

A speedy update this week. To take a break from modelling I'm busy making up the nameplates (for 75 locos!) and I don't want to lose momentum as it's a very repetitive and tedious task!

The Saint's 3500 gallon tender is complete and will be provided in riveted and smooth versions with plenty of GWR logo choices and the usual BR ones.

And here it is with the loco model. Looking rather smart isn't she!

Next week, the cab!

GWR Saint: Modelling Progress 3, and a thank you

Following on from last week the modelling of the external parts of the Saint locomotive is now complete, with the square frame version..

.. and the curved frame version.

We also modelled some of the extra parts for BR versions, etc.

We thought it might be good to take the opportunity to explain some of the work that goes on behind the scenes when we create our locomotives.
One of the most talked about differences when comparing steam locomotives to any other kind of locomotive is the "feel" of them and their "moods". The little nuances in their running, the adjustment to learned skills by the footplate crew when operating them, the working differences that separate similar classes by more than just wheel dimensions and tractive effort calculations.
At Victory Works we always try to investigate the feel of a locomotive as we build it, to try and understand how it felt to pilot these fantastic machines that almost had a life of their own. Sometimes this is easier if the locomotives are preserved, although this can also lead to a skewed impression - running an engine 6 times up and down a 5 mile track 3 days a week at 25mph with a handful of half full coaches cannot always be compared to a working locomotive at its prime travelling hundreds of miles a week, fired over all kinds of gradients, keeping to a busy timetable with a crew working 10+ hours non-stop. Now that's not to say that preservation has no place - we love it, and in the past 5 weeks have visited no less than 6 railways just to gape and drool at what they had running and on display - but it is not the whole story when recreating history.
To get the feel of a locomotive you need to speak to ex-footplate crew who ran them in their prime, cleaners who got into every nook and cranny of their workings, or failing that to read the excellent footplate stories where they (the good authors) tell you all about the little oddities, the often humorous events and the actual process of working these incredible engines. At Victory Works we do this for every locomotive we build and these stories and snippets of footplate life are always on our minds as we build these models. They are even more important to us when we come to creating and understanding the cab environments and adding special features through scripting to give as close an experience to driving them as is possible through a PC monitor.

I'd personally like to take this chance to thank everyone who buys our add-ons and allows us to indulge in this creative process. We feel that creating any steam train; those that are iconic and those that are forgotten workhorses; deserve more than just a simple approximation of their shape, but should encompass everything that made them so special to their crews as they almost become a single entity of men and machine, and all the time that we can continue to invest this much effort and passion into each of our locomotives then we promise to do so.