General North American 3rd Party News (non Dramatic Version)

Just making this thread in case the other one dosen't get unlocked next week

 

UTS Creations recently re-released a handful of their older enhancement packs.

 

https://drive.google.com/file/d/1SiWYjSWZOCjXfMwt0MRossycuq4REd6a/view?usp=drive_link
Here's a mod (used to be hosted on TSC) that is an add-on to the AEM-7 EP, and includes 12 retro reskins of the original Amfleet I (for those who don't have the E60).

 

Non dramatic. I approve of this.

I was about to post a SSS sale here but realized it's the wrong thread, so I'll use this excuse to get it subbed to my list.

 

https://forums.dovetailgames.com/threads/general-north-american-3rd-party-news.42449/ it's back open now folks

 

Guessing it's time to use this one as the other one got locked https://forums.dovetailgames.com/th...ican-3rd-party-news.42449/page-14#post-712678

 

:/

 

Always nice when things get derailed and we have to get things back on track.

 

truly gotta love a thread getting locked after the argument's finished, shutting the barn door after the horse has bolted eh.

 

I find it quite favoritist to lock the thread after buzz got insulted, seeing as he insults someone or attacks them for their opinion in every post he makes.

 

all users are equal, but some are more equal than others?
[EDIT - Jan - Antagonistic]

 

[EDIT - Jan - Antagonistic] Handy note for everyone, the ignore user function here hides every ignored user's posts.

 

After seeing Schnauz's review of the TBT SD70ACu, I fired up NS Coal just to discover how well the old original ES44 is modelled. The TBT cab looks awful, material and texture wise. The old Kuju cabs look better. How can you not prefer and praise Searchlight Simulations, purely based on what they deliver objectively? DTM and TBT are degressing TSC quality wise, where others improve it (even freeware authors).

 

Yeah DTM’s decline has frankly been both sad to see and worrying in terms of the future of the game. I remember when the GTEL coming out thinking that DTM was really improving and that I was looking forward to his future products. Then the D109 released. Then the SD45-2. Then the F3. Then the P40DC. It’s disheartening to see such massive drops of quality right after he showed what he could do. It would have been awesome if we got those DLC with the same quality as the GTEL, or, heck, even his models of 2013/14, which are a step up from his recent offers in my opinion.

The obvious drops of quality and more bugs somehow still making it out onto the steam store concern me about what the future has for TS, seeing as we're not really getting any new devs, and the old ones are slower either quitting or switching to another game. Since apparently people still think the new DTM stuff is super good, and with the quality following a downhill trend over the last few releases, I'm worried about how low it can go, and what will happen when people finally don't accept it.

Unfortunately, DTM is really one of only 3 consistent NA developers, and we're really better off with him than without him. I'm not saying that I approve of the way his products have been going over the last two years, but if we want NA content for TSC to have any kind of future he needs to be there. That said, his current quality is unacceptable and he really needs to improve.

 

Remember that the original UP GTEL (UPTurbine on Sherman Hill) - still one of the most excellent modelled locos in TSC (even featuring a conductor so you're not alone in the cab ) - was done by Reppo and DTG. Put it next to DTM's GTELs and you immediately see which loco was done by someone who has learned his craft.

 

Yeah, but the GTEL is still leagues better than his current work. If the recent packs which have so much quantity but so little quality had just had even as much quality as his GTEL they would be so much better.

Also Reppo’s GTEL is not without errors, namely the ride height being way way way too high.

 

This is why I wish Diesel Workshop at some point puts a handful their models on Steam at some point, put some pressure on DTM (And TBT) to improve their products or face falling to a competitor. Their stuff is good, but some players wont go off site to get their stuff.

The RS-3 with Boston Albany was ok, but it had too many changes made to it from the original one which made it worse....

 

Indeed, but here's a quick cab comparison, Reppo vs DTM.




The DTM cab just looks bland, agreed still way better than the 8bit SD70ACu .

This is the thing that annoys me - TSC models can be on par with TSW's, aside from the Unreal lighting and shading, but model wise you'll be astonished to see for example the Class 57 that Oovee released in 2012 looks much better (and has funny features like the sliding newspaper on the dashboard) than stuff that got released years later.

Considering the ride height - it seems that the two devs were using different scales - to me the DTM looks way too small. It's shocking actually to put these two next to one another. Does anyone have a simple vertical meter asset?

 

Decide for yourself, adding a GEVO and you'll get the picture. DTM GTEL is too small imho.

In reality, GTEL is about the same height as the ES44.

 

DTMs is definitely small, but Reppos also rides too high on the trucks.

 

Anyone noticed the TBT headlight star lens effect on the ditchlights while missing on the headlights (if you see this effect you would see it on all light sources, they also missed that.)

Run 8 has an elegant solution - the star flare fades in only if you are looking directly into the light, and fades out moving sideways. The cast light is not visible in daytime and can be freely adjusted. How I love Run 8 where stuff just works as supposed to...

 

Judging by the cab ladder, it's hard to see a difference tbh. Reppo's Big Blow looks pretty accurate to me. (And hey turn the cab lights off )

Btw, anyone has the GM Aerotrain by DTM? Massively underpowered and brakes do not release fully... still messing with the simulation.bin and TractiveEffort.dcsv.... the 90 vs 110 psi issue

Anway, have long stopped buying DTM/TBT stuff. Just wish Searchlight would put some more stuff on the Steam store to attract more customers.

 

[EDIT - Jan - Antagonistic]

 

[QUOTE="390001, post: 713885, member: 5019"[EDIT - Jan - Antagonistic][/QUOTE]
Oto not sure if you are trying to provoke him but if you are lets not do it alright?

 

Some updates from Machine Rail:
Progress on their Frisco T-54 and Pere Marquette N-1 are well underway, with their Western Maryland I-2 slated to be worked on again after they're done with commissions.



In addition, they are currently hosting a sale on their website to celebrate their anniversary, with select items at 35% off.

 

You can purchase directly from Searchlight Simulations. No need to wait until it hits Steam. The same with Machine Rail.

 

I don't think Searchlight can put most of thier content on the steam store due to agreements with Jointed Rail, which disallows pretty much most of their content. The only thing that *might* get released on steam is the UP AC44.

 

JR's back catalog is huge, but most of it will require extensive reworking to make it fit for TSC, at least to SSI's standards.
JR is essentially locked to the Trainz franchise, and probably makes good money there since they charge full prize for each paint scheme.
There could be licensing issues in play here too, though I doubt JR has all licenses.

Would love to junk select DTM locomotives and replace them with a much better effort.

 

This is a common refrain I hear. If you only care about completing objectives, it is not a big deal, but if you want to take pictures and video of your play, it can be a bit of a detriment to have some messed up graphics and sounds.

 

Those look goooooood!

 

Wasn't aware that JR is a Trainzee affiliate. Thanks.

 

In other news, the BN C424s from DW is now available:
https://www.dieselworkshop.net/product-page/century-424-c-424-bn-and-sp-s?currency=USD

 

Per HIS Facebook page.
https://live.dovetailgames.com/live...D9GOHSDIb8firbqEjj6vHNlzcKpVCZ3eLtbgRKF_KAfn4

The DTM U25s will be available soon.

 

can't really put my finger on it, but something just really looks off about those models, not to mention the textures.

 

Considering that developers history, be sure your impression is correct . Although to be fair, due to the close range and high FOV of the shots, there's distortion in the image naturally.

 

The bodies do seem to sit very high on the trucks.
The missing foot boards also make the pilot look odd, but these foot boards were abolished during the life time of these units, so their pilots were rebuilt.
According to FRA, road switchers should have their foot boards removed by 1978 (https://www.law.cornell.edu/cfr/text/49/231.30), which allows you to date the DTM models as < 1975-8.

Here is one without foot boards and with uncoupling levers that can be operated from the stair well.
DTM seems to go by 'as built' configuration.

 

Using the old trick of editing the <SourceLToPTransform> section of the GeoPcDx shape file, I've managed to lower the bodies of the GTEL A and B units by 10 cms, which makes them look OK in my eyes:

but animated parts like wipers, doors and windows that open are still in their old positions:

One probably needs to edit the animation 'origin' coordinates in the .ban files?

Anybody have any ideas or tools to edit .ban files?

EDIT: no editing of .ban files necessary. It is just a matter of setting the child objects (as I believe animated parts are not nodes to the shape file they're attached to) to be dependent on the (0,0,0) of the main shape file of the body. Now the doors, windows and wipers line up.

Obviously, I didn't touch the running gear and couplers, the lowered locomotive body means the coupler pockets don't match up with the shanks of the couplers, nor do the pulling pins. But these are unavoidable compromises.

Next are the actual child objects that need to be lowered in the engine.bin file.

Also the scrips need to be checked, and a function added to have the whole locomotive A,B and tender's road numbers match up.

PS: anybody knows if there already is an enhancement pack to the GTEL's?

 

As far as I am aware, there is not. LP said he would have done one, but he didn't because of the ride height.

 

"Big Blow" ready to roll out of Laramie.
To judge by the brake cylinder lining up with the grab iron on the pilot, it looks like preserved UP 18 pictured upthread.
These are big engines, tall and wide, so they really look imposing from any angle.
UP Wings decal lined up, different headlight textures to get this halogen beam.

EDIT: lowered the couplers by 9 cm, so now everything lines up nicely.


What is the default stipulated coupler height anyway, since there are couplers with different shanks and geometry?

So no EP, but are there repaints available?
There are, here is a line up at Cheyenne of reasonably clean 19, lightly weathered 22 and default 27

 

I can't think of any, but there is a texture enhancement on RWA.
https://railworksamerica.com/index....ine-texture-replacements&catid=24:accessories

 

I got those incorporated in the main folder by creating separate engine .bin and .GeoPcDx files that reference those textures.
Requires lots of editing of 'prohibited for re-distribution' files but is the only way to have three different weatherings available. A museum UP 18 is almost impossible without a complete repaint, since the default is already nicely weathered in my eyes, even though the characteristic 'bow wave' of road grime is missing under the 'cheeks':
https://flic.kr/p/TpHiyR

Need to look into those nifty MJW .bat files that use the built-in tools to extract from the .ap container, unserialise and modify those 'prohibited' files, serialise these under new names into new folders, etc., etc. and check the results.
Modified QD consists, .bin files, physics, particles, textures and audio can be freely distributed? I have integrated new horns, headlights and bells by re-pathing from various sources I've already forgotten so all dependencies reside in the UPTurbinePack01 folder and do not foul the untouched orginals that still reside in the .ap container. Note that a DLC verification can wipe all non official files from any DLC folder, right?

Then I'd like to do a better cinematic cab view camera setup, and perhaps audio occlusion that takes opening windows and doors into account, for I suppose those turbines were loud.

Rather a lot of work since it is only nitpicking and rivet counting over 10 cms excess height, isn't it?

 

If what the rest of the community has decided on is anything to go off of, all modifications are fine to zip up and distribute except for any models. If it's an edit of one, you'll have to include instructions that tell the user what to modify (similar to what many MSTS retextures require the user to do) or create a batch file to do the edits.

 

editing the UP Wings decal to make it look like it has been cut around the door.

decals that seamlessly stretch over car ribs, hood doors, hinges and latches look poor

 

Trying my hand at repainting the GTEL, wiped its nose and gave it a bow wave for starters at my first attempt ever.
Note the retextured class lights, unfortunately the 'cross eyed shark eyes' effect is still there. Repositioned the 'cut' decal a bit higher

Not quite satisfied with this first attempt, and since it takes three tools RSBin => DXtoBMP => Paint.Net to get the texture sheet into the painting program to do some painting before sending the picture back to put it under the transparency mask again and finally putting it back in the TgPCDx file to be wrapped over the carbody.
A certain workflow is required, as I messed up and lost the layered body picture with the background, mask, my added clean UP Yellow layer, clean UP Vermillion layer and a weathering layer to get this blend of colour, dirt, shine and shadow that makes a model life like.
There are lots of bits and bops all over the texture sheet, it is quite a puzzle to find those small detail parts.
And Reppo has done an excellent job on the textures, making every detail subtly stand out. I would like to preserve that detail and prevent the model from looking 'flat'
A person learns by falling and getting up again but I intend to create an enhancement pack.
Last update from me on this little project until it is complete.

 

Schnauz' assessment of the new DTM's U25 pack. Make your choice whether to purchase this for yourself ....

Seems the units do indeed ride too high on their trucks? Or the flat and bland pilots make them look that way?

 

I am absolutely late to this but seeing as the height can actually be lowered i'm taking intrigue in it again

That's looking like a great start! If you want a good tone of armour yellow to use try FFA000 and tweak it from there.

 

21c164fightercommand
Three programs? I'm exporting the DDS files using RSBinTool and directly load them into paint.net, edit them and reimport them to RSBinTool. No need for DXToBMP. paint.net has native DDS support since 4.2.2 I think.

Install BoltBait's plugins for paint.net for adjusting alpha channels and other goodies.

 

Throwing in a general question:

Are Step lights/Platform lights mandatory even in daytime? And if so, for all locos in the consist or only the leading loco?

 

The new loco HIS is making for the Southern Pack is a GP18.