American steam locomotives.

[jpetersjr]

Alright, I would now like to try to get a locomotive into the game so I'm trying a small project. The simple 2,4,0 Baldwin J.W. Bowker. It was built in the late 1800's and was used as a switcher.

If I can get a locomotive into the game I'll slowly be able to progress up.


Here's the first progress shot of it. It's not really detailed as of now.

J W Bowker Progress 1.jpg

A little bit more progress.

JW Bowker Progress 2.jpg

And here's the real thing.

J. W. Bowker 1.jpg

Also, if you know of any forums or tutorials for building a locomotive and getting it into the game those would be sure to help.


Sincerely jpetersjr

[jpetersjr]

Some more progress.

J W Bowker Progress 3.jpg

[jpetersjr]

By the way, does anyone know of a place where one could get good free textures for a train?

[jpetersjr]

The start of the cab, so far have only textured it, and still need a texture that will work with the boiler and boiler plate.
The engine will be freeware. So far added the windows and the two front doors.

J W Bowker Progress 4.jpg

JW Bowker Progress 5.jpg

P.S, once finished the cab will look as close as possible to this here cab photo of the real thing.

J W Bowker cab.jpg

And if I am successful at getting this first, test engine into the game there will be many more freeware engines to come ranging from steam era and diesel era in the USA.

[bpetit]

Good Luck on your Project(s).

[jpetersjr]

A little more progress.

Still though, still have a long way to go.

JW Bowker Progress 6.jpg

[jpetersjr]

I have decided to put aside the 2,4,0 because of lack of information for now. Now I am in the process of building a Pacific for the game, I plan for it to be freeware. This month I went out to the place where they have the real 1908 pacific and took reference photo's of the wheels, frame body, including the real cab, in which I plan to do a 3d cab in basics of the real thing.

4,6,2 Pacific Progress 1.jpg

4,6,2 Pacific Progress 2.jpg

I'll also attach some of the reference photo's that I am using, but I won't attach all of them.

Santa Fe 3415 6.jpg

Santa Fe 3415 cab 3.jpg

Santa Fe 3415 drive wheel.jpg

Sincerely jpetersjr

If I am able to finish this engine and get it into the game it will be freeware, and I plan for this to be my test engine instead of the 2,4,0.

[jpetersjr]

Some more progress on the Pacific, have still a long ways to go as of now.

4,6,2 Pacific Progress 3.jpg

As well, here's what the driver wheels look like.

4,6,2 Pacific driver wheel pattern.jpg

[jpetersjr]

A little more progress on the Pacific.

4,6,2 Pacific Progress 4.jpg

Still a long ways to go though before it will be ready and then near the end I'm going to have to search the forums for answers and do some heavy studying before I'll be able to get it into the game.

[Giuseppe]

That's looking real good! I'm glad to see you decided to stick to a prototype, I think you'll find it's much more rewarding than "freelance" modeling, both in terms of the realism you'll be able to achieve and the enjoyment you'll get out of it in the sim.

One refinement I'd suggest would be to work on the frame- judging from your WIP, I highly doubt that the actual frame would have looked like that. One thing you'll find is that most locomotives of a particular type in the U.S. (though this varies based on several factors, the main one being rough time period of construction) would have similar frame construction. My guess would be that the frame on your pacific would have looked something like this:

http://southernmodeler.info/Hundman/SR_ ... n_1982.pdf

It's a mike, but it should give you a rough idea of the frame construction when paired with your reference pictures. There are also some 4-6-2 drawings on this page that might help as well:

http://southernmodeler.info/Hundman.htm

Anyway, I'm glad to see you've decided to model the frame in 3D. It's an important part of a steam locomotive and it's kinda a waste not to model it in 3D when Railworks is capable of running high-poly count models. I would also suggest adding some more edges to the drivers to round them out a bit (maybe use your driver pic as a reference in 3d canvas,) but otherwise, lookin' pretty danged good!

Cheers,
Giuseppe

[jpetersjr]

Thanks, these should prove most useful.

I hope to release this as freeware, as well with as photo perfect cab as perfect, I have cab reference photo's of this specific engine, ATSF 3415. I'll redo the frame and replace it. I have left the model where I can still move things quite easily and haven't yet did any animations.

All parts are made from scratch, including the wheels and flange.

As well, any technical information on the 4,6,0 light Pacific will also be of great help, like driver height, weight on drivers and things like that, all that will come in great use.

Simply if I can successfully get it into the sim it will be freeware, but still have a ton of learning to do before I can do so.