Union Pacific FEF-3 4-8-4 Northern type steam locomotive, by Smokebox

[ozinoz]

If it has been mentioned in the prior 40 pages, but have you decided what is going to be in the pack when released? 844 in black with smoke deflectors etc obviously, but any other versions and road numbers? Greyhound, in service weathered, in service heavily weathered?? Maybe even an FEF-2 variant with no deflectors?

[mrennie]

!*don-know!* If it has been mentioned in the prior 40 pages, but have you decided what is going to be in the pack when released? 844 in black with smoke deflectors etc obviously, but any other versions and road numbers? Greyhound, in service weathered, in service heavily weathered?? Maybe even an FEF-2 variant with no deflectors?

There'll be black with and without striping, whitewalled tyres and chrome, and Greyhound, and weathered versions of the two black ones. One will be heavily weathered (I found a very good photo of 844 to go by). It'll also be possible to make the Mars light vanish. I won't be able to do an FEF-2, at least not for this package. There are too many differences (the driving wheels, for a start, are smaller, at 77" instead of 80" on the FEF-3). It would be quite a lot of work to make an FEF-2, even starting from the FEF-3.



Mike

P.S. I've got several more special effects (with special scripting) to add, that I haven't mentioned yet.

[mrennie]

For those of you who don't have facebook, a couple of shots showing progress on the outside rear of the cab:

2013-12-07_00034.jpg

2013-12-07_00035.jpg

Before anyone asks, yes, I'm still getting between 55 and 60fps with max settings and FSAA+8xMSAA.

[bpetit]

My god its so..pretty.

foam alert.jpg

[OldProf]

I hereby proclaim this thread a 3-strand woven cable! Keep at it, Rennie!

[hertsbob]

Very nice indeed!

Might I ask a question about the little deflector window thing (no idea what it's called)?

In this view it appears in the centre when the main window is closed -
http://www.sdrm.org/gallery/railfair99/up844-1.jpg

Would I be right in thinking that it flips out when the main window is slid forwards?

[mrennie]

Very nice indeed!

Might I ask a question about the little deflector window thing (no idea what it's called)?

In this view it appears in the centre when the main window is closed -
http://www.sdrm.org/gallery/railfair99/up844-1.jpg

Would I be right in thinking that it flips out when the main window is slid forwards?

That's an interesting observation! The glass is pivoted along the side nearest to the cab, but I always assumed its support was fixed to the cab side. Looking at this though, it must be fixed to one of the two window frames (I'm not sure which, but the forward window is further out than the rear window, which slides over the forward window on the inside of the cab, so it's more likely to be fixed to the back of the forward frame). I'll have another look at the rest of my photos and see if I can work it out. Thanks Bob!

[mrennie]

Yep, in this one, you can just about see (above Ed Dicken's head) that the side windshield thing is bolted onto the frame of the outer window. Incidentally, I've noticed in cab ride videos that he pushes the glass forward, out of the way, perhaps to get a clearer view, but in other photos showing the fireman's side, it's extended to act as a windshield.

UP844Nov18.jpg

I'll move the parts around so that it's properly attached to the window. Won't take more than 10 minutes (I keep all the parts separated, rather than merging them, just in case --- the model currently has around 3000 parts!).



Mike

[hertsbob]

Glad to have been of assistance.

Every time I see a US steamer's cab it looks to me like someone has bolted a garden shed onto the back of the loco - something to do with the four window panes... And then I noticed that your original version looked a bit spindly down the middle...

Glad it's a quick one to resolve.

[mrennie]

There we go ...

2013-12-08_00001.jpg

2013-12-08_00003.jpg

It's animated so that you it can be extended or folded flat, as you wish, independently on each side of the cab, but only when the fireman or engineer can reach it, i.e. when the rear window on that side is pushed open.

[mrennie]

Experimenting with my own headlight lens flare textures ...

2013-12-09_00002.jpg

[FourEightFour]

I want to say nailed it...

Be interesting to see it when the camera moves.

Would be even more interesting to see the Mars light...

[arizonachris]

Just keeps getting better and better, Mike. Amazing detail work.

[mrennie]

I want to say nailed it...

Be interesting to see it when the camera moves.

Would be even more interesting to see the Mars light...

Thanks Justin!

I'm looking forward to doing the Mars light, I'll have to upload a video when it's done.

[mrennie]

Just keeps getting better and better, Mike. Amazing detail work.