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

[AdmiralLeviathan]

Wallet ready in preparation. The American DLC lineup is looking pretty good so far, with the new NEC right around the corner and this fantastic engine. I'm still looking forward to the Overland Gray one since I have a nice model of it.

However ... the most fun is to be had from the non-HUD version, and if you have masochistic tendencies, turn off the expert auto fireman and (try to) do it yourself.

*Manly Grunt*

[evafan002]

However ... the most fun is to be had from the non-HUD version, and if you have masochistic tendencies, turn off the expert auto fireman and (try to) do it yourself.

mate I dont intend to just try I intend to succeed challenge accepted

[ozinoz]

Mike...

That is a perfect head out view - exactly as it is in real life - an eye on the important cab controls and a great view forward down the boiler. Definitely the best produced on any steam loco to date...

The money, it is burning a hole in my pocket

[mrennie]

Mike...

That is a perfect head out view - exactly as it is in real life - an eye on the important cab controls and a great view forward down the boiler. Definitely the best produced on any steam loco to date...

The money, it is burning a hole in my pocket

Thanks Grant!

And for those that haven't seen it yet ...

1780057_271634722998510_436200538_o.jpg

I wish I could find a way to allow the head-out view to turn further and look straight into the cab - it feels unnatural to hit an invisible wall that stops you from turning your head all the way. I know why they didn't want that to be possible (it would have made it necessary to make detailed cab models for the external models of the locos - but I do that anyway, and with fully functional controls and, now, gauges).

P.S. I should point out that what you see in that view isn't finished yet - there are gauge supports, pipes and cables, and the backhead shoulder plates, to be added, as well as some more controls (the blowdown levers and ATC acknowledge button, for example).

[FourEightFour]

I wish I could find a way to allow the head-out view to turn further and look straight into the cab - it feels unnatural to hit an invisible wall that stops you from turning your head all the way. I know why they didn't want that to be possible (it would have made it necessary to make detailed cab models for the external models of the locos - but I do that anyway, and with fully functional controls and, now, gauges).

Question:

Since you have yet to hit a wall in the amount of cab views in "1" mode would it be possible to add a view outside the window? That way one would have 360° view and fully functioning gauges for glancing back into the cab? I do not know if there is a boundary of only views inside the cab...

[mrennie]

Question:

Since you have yet to hit a wall in the amount of cab views in "1" mode would it be possible to add a view outside the window? That way one would have 360° view and fully functioning gauges for glancing back into the cab? I do not know if there is a boundary of only views inside the cab...

That's actually a very good idea! There seems to be no limit to the number of cab views.

[mrennie]

I wish I could find a way to allow the head-out view to turn further and look straight into the cab - it feels unnatural to hit an invisible wall that stops you from turning your head all the way. I know why they didn't want that to be possible (it would have made it necessary to make detailed cab models for the external models of the locos - but I do that anyway, and with fully functional controls and, now, gauges).

Question:

Since you have yet to hit a wall in the amount of cab views in "1" mode would it be possible to add a view outside the window? That way one would have 360° view and fully functioning gauges for glancing back into the cab? I do not know if there is a boundary of only views inside the cab...

Brilliant!

2014-04-02_00003.jpg

You can see that I was in cab view mode, because I put the mouse over the throttle and there's the little mouse-over label. It's really good, because you have a clear view down the track, no problem seeing the signals, platforms, crossings, etc, and you can just turn your head and twiddle with the controls without needing to swap views

There was only one tiny snag, easily overcome - the cab view doesn't allow child objects, and the smoke deflectors were child objects. So at first, when I went to this view, I couldn't see them. I just had to reattach them to the main model, which for now - until I optimize the cab view - is also the cab view model (near the end, I'll copy it and then trim off the bits that you can't see from the cab, to make a specific cab view model based on the main model).


EDIT: I can't see how to disable certain cab cameras depending on control values, so be careful to open the window first, otherwise it'll look like you've stuck your head through the glass

[FourEightFour]

Brilliant!

Glad to be of help.

EDIT: I can't see how to disable certain cab cameras depending on control values, so be careful to open the window first, otherwise it'll look like you've stuck your head through the glass

I have done that once. A terminally attractive woman was standing on the platform in the rain, I was looking (staring) as we went past. Of course I wasn't paying attention and we went over a frog. As the engine yawed to the engineers side my head went right out the window....

[mrennie]

I have done that once. A terminally attractive woman was standing on the platform in the rain, I was looking (staring) as we went past. Of course I wasn't paying attention and we went over a frog. As the engine yawed to the engineers side my head went right out the window....

Ouch!

[ozinoz]

LOOKING IN.jpg

&

[mrennie]

I made a small slip of the mouse with that last one (look at the rivets). Here's the corrected one ...

2014-04-09_00003.jpg

[ozinoz]

Looks pretty darn good to me, but then again I am not a rivet counter

[AdmiralLeviathan]

Looks pretty darn good to me, but then again I am not a rivet counter

You don't have to be a rivet counter to appreciate quality like this!

Any chance we'll get another video soon?

[mrennie]

Any chance we'll get another video soon?

I'm trying to resist the temptation, so that the next video will be an exclusive for DTG (my idea. not theirs).

[UP3985]

I have a quick question for you, Mike - do you plan to bundle the set of ACF chaircars with the loco?

It'd be nice if they'd give you the source files to modify, but you've probably got enough to do.