Here's a little project I've been working on - I've been weathering the windows of trains to try and make it feel a bit more authentic, as well as making it look like there's glass in the first place as sometimes it can look too transparent. So far I have done the SE Class 465 and EWS (ECW) Class 66. Pictures shown below. Let me know what you think of it. Thanks! EWS Class 66: Class 465:
Hi, I edited these files externally. So yes, I did not use the livery designer. However it is not a 'hack' as you mentioned, its well known in the PC modding community that you can edit textures and materials externally.
Potayto potahto. Opening a game file and altering it could be called either. Anyway, you're unlocking the loco .pak files so you can play with them in Photoshop or the equivalent- what do you use to unlock them? (looks good, btw)
looks great and adds that bit of used dirty look rather the everything looking not a day old lol Great work Ray
This is really cool. I would probably be careful about putting any dirt in the area, where the wiper goes (the one supposed to be "clean"). On the C66 from the screenshot, it looks like there's some dirt even in that area and I think that might become very annoying when driving - having some (even a little rather transparent) dirt there that you can't get rid of. Otherwise great job!
Hi, this was intentional. It creates the effect of a wiper smear. Bear in mind the area where the wiper reaches is more transparent, although I didn’t want to make it totally clear and pristine looking.
The way UE4 works is that on the exterior, it’ll always look more excessive as the sun is shining on it. When you’re in the cab, it’s significantly more subtle. If I reduce it more then it won’t be noticeable whilst driving in the cab.
I know, I would just be very careful with the effect there. We all know how irritating any dust on the monitor can be I haven't been in the cab with the updated windows, I'm just judging by the screenshots and the one from inside of C465 looks somehow a bit better than the C66. The effect of the wiper smear on C66 looks a bit too strong.
Ah, I think I know why. I stood up and moved the camera towards the glass. This isn’t the default driving seat view so you shouldn’t see it so clearly.
Amazing project. I would recommend to prioritize CRR locomotives I was also thinking today if it would be possible to 'dirty' the fog a bit? Also in the context of CRR.
They are already integrated into the textures of the trains, aren't they? Maybe there is a line of code to put in the config file to just activate them? In any case it would be nice to have them
Oh I like the dirty windows more than the vanilla ones but that might be my filthy taste You are on something well appreciated here, londonmidland
The way DTG has set it up means that the default grime textures will only show in extreme cases of brightness, so if you’re in a tunnel and shine a torch at the glass, for example. That means 99% of the time it will not be visible. I have applied brand new textures, as well as edited the materials so the dirt shows up without needing a ridiculous amount of light.
A vast improvement! One thing that bugs me whilst driving in TSW2 is like there's no windscreen in a lot of the cabs. There is no dirt, smears, flies, just nothing, only time you know there is a windscreen there is when it's raining! Look forward to seeing you releasing the mods (along with other cabs too, hint hint)
It's especially disconcerting that Clinchfield's locos have such sparkly-clean glass. No way! They should have smeary wiper tracks in the middle of an opaque layer of grunge.
A few more weathering details added to the EWS 66. EWS livery has been made less saturated looking (faded) as well as additional weathering on the front of the train. The plough area has also been made to look more dirtier. The under frame and wheels has been made to look more brown, from the dust brake, as opposed to the default black, oily colour.
Certainly much better than the original version. But these jobs would be up to Dovetail and not us. I was also thinking about the "blue" windscreen that many locomotives use. Out of more than 40 locomotives, we have not yet been offered one. Do you also need licenses for anti-reflective windcreens? (mins 8:00) Some locomotives have such a clear windscreen that from the cab it feels like driving without it. I am thinking of the BR Class 33 (WSR add-on).
Really nice work, my man. Though as mentioned above, I think the area where the wipers work could be left clean, similarly to the SPG locomotives.
I wonder if the reason the default trains look relatively clean is partly down to licensing? If I were a train operator and gave my permission for a game studio recreate my train I'd be damn sure to make sure its represented as a clean, near factory fresh, unit. However - great job on the windows - they look awesome!
Most in-game locos do have a moderate amount of dirt- even the ICE 3 has some bug splats and grunge around the nose cone
True, so the lack of dirt on the windows might simply be an oversight. Or a bug or incorrect material settings, as I believe someone mentioned above that they're in the game files, they're just not visible properly. I remember that the Isle of Wight stock also has bad window material settings. They become completely white when you shine the in-game flashlight on them. So it wouldn't surprise me if other rolling stock also have problems with window materials.