Athena Simulations: Ecml Diesel Railtours

Although I greatly welcome Athena's entry into TSW and the passion the guys have shown, I am refunding for now with a view to a repurchase further down the line. Just a few too many teething troubles with scenarios (little or no AI) and textures (poor quality or over-shiny), but what will hopefully be a good learning experience for the team.

 

Let's not forget that quite a few of the devs have been involved in previous payware DLCs, with one of them being involved in the release of the controversial (at the time) MML. I remember that thread to this day. How interesting that turned out to be towards the end.

 

It is good you are getting to enjoy the add on and things wrong with it are not getting in the way of that enjoyment. Yes, it would be nice to see somethings fixed, we shall wait and see what Athena does?

 

Just had a spin on BPO with it. Sorry if already mentioned re:Sounds.

Appears to be no reverb sounds inside 484 when going under bridges etc.
No Brake rub sounds
No air brake release sounds

Oh and when opening windows in 484, it's just the glass that drops down, not the top handle as well, looks weird.

 

To disgrace the name of the great goddess in such a way... that's amazing

 

Is it the same Jane Whittaker from the MML DLC which had such an amazing start ? Yeah I’m late to the party if that’s the case…

 

new modelling? Hm that’s strange I don’t particularly believe that; considering the cab has the same model as the NTP one…






As you can see from the images, the top one of the Athena 47, Middle is NTP and the Bottom is the JT 47


And I don’t see any substantial difference between them. The Athena 47 just looks like the NTP 47, They look identical




Same with the MK1s, modified, yes, but more or less the same as the WSR MK1s

also with the 47, with the 3D headlights,

Sorry, but I don’t believe these are new models. Just modified from previous DLCs.

 

Agree 100%, its one of the things that I mentioned in my first look stream as well as other bits. I personally feel theres a smidgin of Hot Air blowing into this Hype for the pack. Yes I like the 47 livery, they went as far as doing the two different cab fronts (plus others that they have said), but to omit the TPWS and GSMR because its currently rotting away in a siding and didnt have it, but then to include it on GWE Diesel Legends of the 1970s in GWR Green in which it never ran is a bit hippocritical to be honest. Yes the MK1's look ok stuffed behind other locos of the the time and as I said the 47 looks great in GWR Green (apart from the white around the wheels). The sound of the 45 is broken, it dissapears and the 40 still has the engine room light bug when you switch on the Headlights. Overall I wouldnt recommend the pack to be honest. I would say only if it comes up in a sale.

Hentis

 

I asked in one of the roadmap streams last year why there's reverb under bridges and tunnels on certain routes. I was told reverb should be on all new routes but Tees valley for example has reverb which is an old route so doesn't make sense. I think MML doesn't have reverb.

 

I was asking this myself. Inquirings minds would like to know.

 

Yes it is, when they were first announced as a studio working on stuff, people flooded the forums with exactly the same question, and they did explain everything, couldn't tell you the name of the thread as I can't remember it, to much spicy dramas have happened on here since then lol......

 

Yep they jumped ship and made a new group, which funnily enough he’s been doing for years. I’ll let you do your own research on him.

but this pack reflects perfectly on the whole situation of release sub par and then jump ship.

 

Will we have another rebrand in time for the next release?

 

I do appreciate everyone's feedback, especially with those texture issues. We are picking up on them.

In relation to the cab, it is indeed a rework of the NTP cab as it works for Isambard. We have been open on this and mentioned as such on the livestream for those who have not seen it. I was open and honest. There are some minor changes in the cab. Again, I stated that quite openly.

The external model has had a significant upgrade and is certainly not just the NTP 47. There are over 20 changes in our model, the most obvious being the very different cab ends, with each cab being different. Mike and I listed many of these visual changes and optimisations in the stream. Again, we are being quite open. It is significantly different to what has gone before (albeit a class 47 is going to look like a class 47). I will ask Mike to list the changes here tomorrow from his art list so everyone is clear.

I genuinely appreciate all the issues being raised. With the best will in the world things slip through the net. We are not "jumping ship" or going anywhere, with people working on a patch and pack 2 even as I type on a weekend. We are diligently working to address issues. We are also looking at everyone's feedback for improvements. I appreciate each of you who has provided comment and feedback. This is our first TSW project as a team and we are constantly looking to improve on all fronts.

I am grateful for the community support. I made mention of this twice in the stream with Matt as I mean it. I think our passion for this project came through loud and clear in the stream too. We are committed to this and future projects (which I hope to announce soon).

Please keep the feedback coming.

So thank you for your patience with us and thank you for all the feedback. We do care. We do listen. We do act.

 

The rebuilt end has small plates on the bufferbeam, i assume these were added as reinforcment. Not present on the model.


just notice incorrectly coloured step plates too

 

TL;DR, maybe a little late to the party, For 15$ Duckets, I did get this RT pack, I did a bit of research and really didn't find much info on this one "double-headed Peterborough to Doncaster" see attached images, it would appear the two locos can communicate mainly the throttle "the brakes work fine" but it does not seem to be working and nothing in either loco remotely indicates of a way to control the 47 from the 45 cab, once coupled. Also, when the 45 is throttled up, you see the exhaust and hear it, while the 47 does not; you can hear it idling, it's dead weight really. Or am I missing something?

 

Somehwere along the lines of reskinning the NTP 47, athena managed to mess up the UV for the wheel caps. making the texture rip along the side.

 

Neither Class 45s and 47s have multi working, so that is to be expected, the one in tow will just be dead weight.

 

That is what I figured, but I was thinking, just maybe something may have been done to make them work, like the fake banking coms on US freight locos, either way, thanks for confirming this.

 

just to confirm and this is as intended. It is supposed to be dragging the second loco. Thank you for answering this for SGTDRE.

 

I noticed the aws behaves differently than in every other uk loco / train.

When you activate it over the 2 levers, the horn is coming even with the master switch at off.

 

Hi everyone,

Just want to clear up any confusion on the changes/additions to the 47 on the art side. I'll list below all the changes that were made:

47:

• New headlight switch in cab
• New nose on one end (accident damage repair)
• New textures
• Nameplates, number plates, brass BR arrow
• High intensity lamps on both ends
• Marker lights were inset on one end
• Battery box
• Window frames were updated
• New aerial above each cab end
• Body of loco was updated to accommodate plates
• Addition of dual heating (steam and electric)
• Bufferbeam equipment
• New cab doors moved from exterior model to cab
• Overall mesh optimisation and tweaks

On another note, we're working through and compiling all your feedback across various areas and cracking on with getting these fixes out to you all ASAP, starting with the DSD and AI.

 

47484 wasn't dual heated, it lost its steam heat equipment prior to 1977. Can see in this shot in 1978 the exhaust for the steam heat has be plated over, and the big hole in the bufferbeam where the steam heat pipe was prior to its removal.
https://www.flickr.com/photos/157211248@N02/48985118557
then again in 1983 clearly showing the vent being plated
https://www.flickr.com/photos/117309723@N02/49991608536
and this remained true through 1993
https://www.flickr.com/photos/75892080@N06/30630329406
and is obviously still true till this day.

 

Also the mentioning the windows, when you open the window in the class 47 cabs only the glass animates in a downwards direction, the metal latch doesnt animate down as it should.


Hentis

 

Appeal to the studio management: why did you choose Athena for the studio that makes add-ons for the RAILWAY GAME? How are the Greek goddess and trains related?

 

This aerial would presumably have fed the NRN radio? If so, then this is missing in the cab.

 

Surely the WSR 47 cab is more accurate that just ripping the NTP one?

 

If I understand you correctly, you have been given creative freedom with the Class 40 and 45. What are your plans for improving these locomotives? Will they get a new suspension feature? Should we expect new play packs using the 40 and 45? Or will they be featured as rolling stock on your new route that is in development?

 

The thing that gets me is the pricing. For a $12 gameplay pack, it might be worth a flyer. But at this mark? That's virtually as much as Mittenwaldbahn- which gives you a new, unique loco, another reskinned and re-cabbed, and period reworks of two different classes of carriages (the n-Wagen interiors had to be gutted and redone completely)- in addition to the route itself.

 

I am very excited to pick this pack up and also the future projects

 

I dont want them to touch any other trains before the 47 pack is rectified.

 

I'm confused, it is $13.99 though, Mittenwaldbahn is $44.99?

 

Going back to my comments yesterday about the MK1's paintwork being too glossy, I have just seen a picture from a Hasting Diesel railtour over the weekend and the Blue/Grey painted coaches actually have the same glossy look so I take that one back haha

 

Athena created the first railway in 874 BCE, everybody knows that.

Seriously, though, does it really bother you?

 

2 identical coaches, both "preserved" yet the br blue ones are so shiny. Someone suggested its down to SRGB being enabled?

 

It's the fact they're charging extra over their respective categories that he's getting at. This is a effectively (in theory at least, not convinced it's that in execution) a premium gameplay pack with more stock and scenarios than say the ATSF F7 as one example. In a similar way the TSG & JT routes are effectively premium routes with more detail, and in the case of WCML more mileage than your typical route.

 

Seriously? For all the pissing and moaning, I thought it was priced like a route.

 

I wouldn't call this a "premium" gameplay pack, the ROG 37 had a fully changed cab and exterior difference. New features and a 375 reskin thrown in with correct interior. for £4.99. This pack has some model changes and coaches with some changes also. but its nearly triple the price? 10 scenarios yeah. half of which include locos they ported from a TSW 1 pack.

 

Yes the aerial on the cab roof is the NRN/ORN aerial. So should have an NRN/ORN radio unit in the cab.

 

Working on an EP which makes it look a little better, mainly repainted the entire body to try and hide some defects .

 

Blacked out cab desk too

 

You think Mittenwaldbahn is $12?
It won't even be that low on sale.
And if you want it at half cost and will only buy on sale, then wait a year or two when it's not brand new....

 

Modders unite! The shiny coaches have been fixed!

https://www.trainsimcommunity.com/m...patches/i6202-wills-workshop-mk1-shine-fix-v1

 

A question from us to the 47 experts (as we have found conflicting info).
Good news, we have fixed the DSD, writing it from scratch (thank you Aaron)

Question, on the 47, is the DVD element also part of the setup? Some sources tell us that the pedal also provides DVD, in that a pedal reset is required after 60 seconds above 3mph with no control input to reset the timer. Other source material points to just the DSD functionality, which in sim, really only kicks in if you raise the pedal by leaving the seat.

We do have the 1 minute DVD version working but wanted to run by you guys, given we have seen variations mentioned in Class 47 materials.

We have scratch coded the whole thing, including 1 minute resets required (if no control input)

Thanks everyone!

 

The HI lamp is that cool they added little ones to the roof!

 

It certainly is

 

I'm also confused, by the name i expected a young pretty woman, but on the stream it was a pretty old man!

jokes aside, i think he's doing a good job by listening to the community and fixing bugs and stuff that they missed.
Any party that launches something will have bugs. The good ones are the ones that try to fix them, and i believe Athena will do that.

 

He said the same thing with MML when he was at Skyhook.

 

I saw that he goes by Jane Andrew Whittaker as well so I was confused but yeah it’s the same Jane from the MML bad debut.

While I agree on your last part, we all make mistakes I mean we’re human after all but in this situation it’s quite different. He lied to us when MML was released and failed to deliver us the things he promised to us. He’s now back again doing the same and I’m really surprised that DTG agreed to work with him again…

MML was fixed and is a pleasant route to drive but personally I’m done with anything made by him.

 

Yes, it's the same person, while i wasn't around back then he seems thrustworthy now.
May i ask who eventually fixed MML back then (after him)?