General North American 3rd Party News

It's the U25C pack - from DTM (I think). Hopefully the U25B will follow soon they are most welcome. The first U boats and the lower powered ones are under represented. U30, U33 and U36 Bs and Cs are in the game, U18Bs, U25 B&C and the U28 B&C are not.
Expect many repaints of these.

 

DTM will have both the U25C and U25B. He already shared photos of the U25B awhile ago.

 

I remember your posting. Hopefully one with conventional number placing will also be released, makes repaints with dynamic numbering easier.

 

Hopefully the many problems with this pack will be fixed before release, but knowing DTM’s track record, probably not.

 

Yep, you're probably right. A real shame.

 

Do we already know what the problems are?

 

Gonna hate to see how the other liveries looks in this pack. Not to mention, yikes to the caboose.

 

1. The front window is very oversized
2. Class lights are just...wrong.
3. Wheels on everything looks oversized/everything but the wheels are undersized
4. Safety stripes should not be on that hopper
5. Couplers are too large
6. Nose is the wrong shape
7. Caboose appears to not be based on any particular prototype, plus the number shown appears to have never been worn by a BN caboose
8. Missing speed recorders on the trucks
9. Textures are, as per DTM usual, abysmal

I'm sure there's other things that I forgot to put on this list as well.

 

TBT NS SD70ACU.

 

Coming from Milepost Simulations soon. An Extraordinary Underdog (dovetailgames.com)

 

Though we've known about it for over a year (just not officially), it's still one that will be of interest to steam fans in particular. I do not believe any of this route exists today according to maps I've seen.

 

Any in-cab shots? Model looks OK, but I'm still a bit suspicious concerning the TBT texturing.

 

Definitely nothing to spend my money on.

 

Yes, true but this is the first post about its imminent release. I would say in a matter of days/weeks.

 

If you see Jamie playing it, it's likely coming at the end of that week. That's what tends to happen.

So predicting Boston route on Thursday or Friday, and only predicting because I have not seen an announcement. I'll go with Friday.

 

Yes, having had TSC and its variations since 2010 I do know the process.

 

Fair enough!

 

LOL. I would like to think so as well

 

Diesel Workshop has put their original NYC RS-3 back on their site, if anyone wants it (Without the broken or changed headlight flares of the one that comes with B&A)
https://www.dieselworkshop.net/product-page/rs-3-new-york-central-railroad

 

I'm curious how it got broken in the first place. It seems like it was meant to be fully included with this package, and it's surprising they don't fix it in the package instead of offering it as a separate item again.

 

From my understanding, it wasn't Diesel Workshop that broke the RS-3 in the route, someone else touched it and broke it.

 

We don't need to know, we're just set up for pre release complaining.

 

Still amazed they don’t just patch the one in the route now.

 

Machine Rails latest loco-in-progress (aka W.I.P) on the IC 1500

 

IC 1500. Wow!

 

Milepost Simulations already working on their next route.

Too vague to guess at this moment.

 

That is quite obviously a place on Earth. I am sure of it!

 

Nah, it's obviously Beta Pictoris!

 

I am going to say it is Sinnoh.

...what?

 

DTMs U25Cs and Bs.

 

Diesel Workshop has released the MLW M420 they've been working on. Comes in all 3 classes.

Can be bought here: https://www.dieselworkshop.net/product-page/mlw-m420-canadian-national






Schnauzahpowahz's video on them.

 

As a Canadian, I am contractually obligated to say "This is a good product to spend a few toonies on, eh?" in response to this release. Regardless of my personal opinion either for or against.

I am honestly intrigued by this release, though. We need more CN and CP stock.

 

The YouTube video above is very favourable. Personally I'd like more weathering, but it's a small point.

 

Travel By Train made a GP40 pack....
https://travelbytrain.company.site/EMD-GP40-locomotive-Complete-pack-Add-On-p549120873


Schnauzahpowahz review of them....

 

when you think DTM is churning out low to average quality DLC, their apprentice TBT is capable of even lower ....
Schnauz' review showed so many glaring errors and faults in almost everything, prototype research, modeling, texturing, physics, sounds, lighting, scripting?
and these guys really expect people to buy into their alpha releases on the promise of improvements in the final released product?

 

Releasing LOVE like this and even charging money for it in 2023 is a just an insult to the community. Stay away!
I've learnt my lessons, never ever buying DTM/TBT/TLS stuff again. This would have been a thing 15 years ago, but look at what Reppo's doing for example, cabs are on par with TSW modelling and texturing. It seems these guys are years behind... shovelware yes. Not worth a cent. It seems us US railfans must accept the lowest of all.

 

TbT have already issued a) an apology and b) an updated .rwp. The owner has put his hand up and stated that it was his error that a beta version was inadvertently released not the full pack. If you have already bought it (as I have) a correct .rwp is available in your account for download. I have downloaded and all is well. Credit to Martin Velozo of TbT.
Let he who has never erred cast the first stone.

 

Won't change my mind. It's a history of low quality releases from DTM/TBT/TLS.

 

The fact that this version made it out to the sales page already speaks volumes about the Quality Assurance procedures of this outfit.

'All is well'? to the usual RWA standard, where everything DTM is golden?

 

Where can I find this apology? It doesn't seem to be on their FB.

 

He sent an email to every customer who had left an email address.

 

Ah. No wonder I couldn't find it.

 

You never gave your e-mail?

 

No, I haven't bought anything from TBT.

 

This is the e-mail received by customers:

To all our dear customers.

I am writing to tell you that due to my own mistake, an obsolete rwp file from the GP40 package was loaded.

The problem has already been fixed.

I invite you to go through the purchase history of our store and download the new correct rwp. (444MB)

From now on, my sincere apologies for the inconvenience caused.

Train Simulator Classic store (company.site)

You can access the track orders, log in with your email and you will find all the items purchased and their download available.


Any other questions, I am at your entire disposal.

MARTIN VELOZO

 

More W.I.P on the I.C Mikado

 

Rick Grout (G-Trax) released an ATSF variant of the ALCO PA/PB on Railworks America as freeware, but it needs the B&A route for it to work. The model has changes to it compared to the NYC version.
https://railworksamerica.com/index....&id=4161:alcopa-atsf&catid=18:engine-repaints

Schnauzahpowahz review of it.

 

The PA in Santa Fe's warbonnet colour scheme looked so good in the first artist rendering and now it is finally available, but ...

it isn't a stand alone locomotive, it unfortunately suffers from the same deficiencies as the B&A one, made up from different parts, most notable the poor cab by DTM which doesn't match the view through the windscreen.

I'd rather have this iconic locomotive as a real quality separate DLC, with a set of mixed heavyweight/streamlined passenger/sleeper/diner/mail/baggage cars the PA's were mostly seen hauling after they had been proven too unreliable to pull the premier Super Chief trains. The beautiful locomotives served Santa Fe for 15 or so years, went through a few rebuilds, getting different headlights, melodious 5 chime horns which would make for a nice variant to sell in an add-on pack with a few additional carriages for this much needed variation in passenger stock.

The cars included in the NYC base package DLC are only poor to moderate. We have a few Santa Fe streamlined carriages of average quality and poorly done HiLiner set.
A good complement of quality heavyweight head end cars and some generic stainless steel coaches, diners and sleepers will be most welcome for the large passenger fleet Santa Fe was famous for.

 

Whine and moan, wash rinse and repeat.