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

[bpetit]

Brennan beat me to it

Didn't have anything else to do.

[mrennie]

Simply amazing!

Mike; Note the repeated reflections on the fin, are those intentional due to the bending of the metal on the prototype or did they just render that way?

That's right, it's the bending of the thin metal sheet. Here's a photo showing the real thing:

977654_656404504386725_2031952325_o.jpg

To get the effect, I hand-painted a bump map, rather than trying to model the undulations in the geometry. Take away that bump map and the fins would look as flat as a (flat) mirror! I've applied the technique to the cab sides too, and I'll also use it on the tender, especially to get the effect of the warping where the rivets go in (not just to make the rivets themselves look 3D on the underlying texture, but also the area around each rivet).

[mrennie]

Amazing work Mike!

Can you post a pic of the hand drawn bump map when you have a chance? I've seen some complex bump maps but this is really great work here, very impressive

Thanks Mike!

Here's the bump map I made:

UP484WindWingBump_NM.jpg

I might modify it sometime to soften the horizontal bending.

[mrennie]

After having a very close look back and forth at the model the map and the picture it appears to me that the fin shows more of this effect

Red being the dented areas and gray being the supported areas

It's no use looking at just one photo. I can show you a dozen and every one looks different. In some photos, the wind wings look almost flat. I suspect that they are dismounted and flattened from time to time.

Something else that's not obvious from my screenshot is that, because it's a bump map and not simply painted onto the texture file, the effect changes as you move the viewing angle - that's the beauty of a bump map.

[mrennie]

Okay Just had a look around google. Your right! Although the very last one or two panels always seem to be flattened in more where you cant see the center part that bevels out in the others. It looks like theres some kind of framework behind it that makes it do this. Here's what I'm seeing

I'll give it a try, but in any case, I have to add some more to the bump map when I do the rivets near the front of the wings, and the beading around the edge.

Your supports diagram isn't quite right - there are two brackets (all of the supports are triangular cross-sections) near the front that go in a diagonal direction. Also, I haven't actually seen any horizontal brackets. It looks as if the horizontal buckling is just due to the way sheet metal does buckle when it's held at either side by long vertical brackets that can bend a bit.

[PapaXpress]

Interesting! You've really got your homework done there. If you do try the bump map please post a pic, I would really like to see if it looks as I anticipated with as small of experience I have with bump maps

Mike you do realize that Mrennie is the author of the Connie, right?

[FourEightFour]

Okay Just had a look around google. Your right! Although the very last one or two panels always seem to be flattened in more where you cant see the center part that bevels out in the others. It looks like theres some kind of framework behind it that makes it do this. Here's what I'm seeing

I'll give it a try, but in any case, I have to add some more to the bump map when I do the rivets near the front of the wings, and the beading around the edge.

Your supports diagram isn't quite right - there are two brackets (all of the supports are triangular cross-sections) near the front that go in a diagonal direction. Also, I haven't actually seen any horizontal brackets. It looks as if the horizontal buckling is just due to the way sheet metal does buckle when it's held at either side by long vertical brackets that can bend a bit.

You are right in the fact that there is no horizontal support brackets, is all just angle iron:

[Ericmopar]

Just for the record, they are known as "Elephant Ear's Smoke Deflectors".

[mrennie]

Just for the record, they are known as "Elephant Ear's Smoke Deflectors".

Although in the original 1944 engineering drawings, they're labelled as "wind wings", which is what the UP men liked to call them.

[jwtheiv]

I don't think this has been posted, but a good vid of the 4-8-4 in modern usage.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9MqXsXFgSX8

[mrennie]

I don't think this has been posted, but a good vid of the 4-8-4 in modern usage.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9MqXsXFgSX8

She's a beautiful locomotive. Nice video.

[bpetit]

Get out the umbrellas

1545696_252235284938454_814865748_n.jpg

[ozinoz]

Get out the umbrellas

1545696_252235284938454_814865748_n.jpg

Not sure about an umbrella, but a warning I might need a drool protector for the keyboard would have been appreciated

[mrennie]

Glad you like the tender It'll keep the rivet counters busy, that's for sure! But don't start counting yet - I've several hundred more to add*


* I still get very high fps despite the rivets. However, there's the option to make them disappear at the press of a key (or three keys).

[XDriver]

I have to admit, I've lost some interest in this game but when you get that baby released, I'll be stuck right there in the cab for a looooooonnnnng time! Looks great Mike! What's your puter specks again? For reference. I'm pretty sure I won't need to turn off your rivets but just curious.