Purchases Review

[plicpriest1]

Hello all,
Ive been dropping $$$$ lately on a lot of DLC. So I figured I would give an honest review for those who were on the fence with buying some of theses products. Please note that this is not to trash any products at all. Just a way for those to make an informed purchase. Hay at $20+ a pop might as well get all the facts.

Here we are:
1. SD45 SP livery
At first I was kind of disappointed with this loco. I thought the cab textures were closer to freeware quality. On closer review though, the SD45 was one of my favorite purchases. It is quick drive, engine start/ stop button in cab, neat lever for pwr and dyn breaking, windows and doors open, all sorts of lights and associated switches. I think the locomotive details versus textures was well done. You can bet I will buy more of there products (if/ when rereleased).

2. ATN Consolidation
A well done locomotive. Simply if you do not have it, get it. It has taught me a lot about operation of steam and that is great. Fantastic detail and worth the money. Smokebox, make more locomotives with this level of detail and you will have more of my $$$$.

3. Great Northern F7
At first I was hesitant about getting this locomotive. I already had F7's. I had the freeware repaint too. But the coaches were really nice so I got it. I would say that it was a worth while purchase. Easy to drive and visually great. Plus the wobble light on the nose was a nice feature.

4. Marias Pass
Hay I needed a route to drive my GN F7. I love the detail of the route. Simply would recommend getting it. A bit of a disappointment here though: the ES44DC. In cab view, one of the wipers doesn't move. The water disappears though. Externally it moves. Also stopping the train is a little difficult though. With the whole train going up a hill, and full breaking, the loco slows down a single MPH every few seconds. In other words I cant stop in a realistic distance. Oh well, the SW1500 is nice and the route looks great. If you don't have it, than save up and get it. Very worth while.

5. SD40-2/ GP38
I put these two together even though they sell separately at $20 a purchase. Graphically they look really good and the GP38 has a start stop in the cab. Actually the SD40-2 does too, but you cant click the switches. They both seem to drive well. As nice of a purchase as they are, unless you need them for scenarios (steam workshop) or want the rolling stock, there are other locomotives that are worth the money first. Just my jaded opinion.

So lets see here I purchased the Marias pass $40, GN F7 $20, GP38 $20, SD40-2 $20, ATN Consolidation $20. That's about $120 in a span of a week. I have enjoyed then a lot.

If there is any details that I have missed that yall feel need to be mentioned or have questions about my experiences with them, let me know.

Brian

[dejoh]

Also stopping the train is a little difficult though. With the whole train going up a hill, and full breaking, the loco slows down a single MPH every few seconds. In other words I cant stop in a realistic distance.

Actually, this is one of the most realistic stopping motions for any RW locomotive. Do you think they stop on a dime? Another great job by RW is the fact that these engines don't take off like a jack rabbits.
My only negative comment on Marias Pass is the complete lack of sounds as a freight train passes by. Thank the Grand Wazoo for Krelnuts sounds and for directions to add other sounds.

Does RW ever listen to its own product sounds?

[plicpriest1]

Though true that a heavy train will not stop on a dime, but here is an example of what I am talking about.
On a 1% or greater grade (uphill), you get an approach signal. Often I will apply breaks at this point. The loco doesn't slow down till it has plowed into the oncoming train after rolling through the stop signal. As soon as I see the stop signal I apply emergency breaks and no effect. Oh and this is with moving at 25mph. Not like Im speeding here. Just sayin that it seems a bit too unrealistic. But I will say that the physics on RSCs locomotives have been getting really good lately. Just need some tweekin.

[buzz456]

I have never had that happen. Odd.

[thecanadianrail]

Though true that a heavy train will not stop on a dime, but here is an example of what I am talking about.
On a 1% or greater grade (uphill), you get an approach signal. Often I will apply breaks at this point. The loco doesn't slow down till it has plowed into the oncoming train after rolling through the stop signal. As soon as I see the stop signal I apply emergency breaks and no effect. Oh and this is with moving at 25mph. Not like Im speeding here. Just sayin that it seems a bit too unrealistic. But I will say that the physics on RSCs locomotives have been getting really good lately. Just need some tweekin.

Are you using the loco brakes or the train brakes?

[ArcticCatZRT]

A bit of a disappointment here though: the ES44DC. In cab view, one of the wipers doesn't move. The water disappears though. Externally it moves.

It is an extremely easy fix as long as you have either Sherman Hill or the ES44 NS Heritage Pack. First make a backup! Then I went into the cabview folder of the ES44 in the Sherman Hill addon, I copied the 3 .ban files associated with the wipers(have wipers in their file names) than I placed those same files in the cab view folder of the Marias Pass ES44 cabview folder. After that quick copy and paste you should now have fully working wipers in the interior view!

A similar fix should be possible using the same .ban files from the ES44 NS heritage fleet pack, just make sure the .ban file names are the same as the ones you plan to replace.