Acela Express Specifications / Measurements / Drawings / Plans / Blueprints?

[jbartus]

Hey guys,

I decided after installing 2012 and seeing that the Acela content from 2003(?) was included that I wanted to do something, at the very least, about the lack of a cafe car. I toyed around a bit with a clone of the cars he'd already made but unfortunately the windows are all mesh-based so I can't fake in some new window setup to match the Cafe car. Due to this discovery, I've decided to try my hand at modelling for Trainz and figured a nice first project would be to turn out a newer, more detailed trainset for the Acela. I've managed to compile a whole slew of photographic resources, but any sort of drawings and/or measurements have eluded me. Obviously I could fudge something together but I'd like to be as prototypically accurate as possible so I thought I'd see if anyone knew where some additional information could be found. Obviously the pipe-dream would be to find a blueprint/engineering drawing of at least one of the cars and a locomotive, but I know that's unlikely. I just thought I'd put it out there and see what, if anything, the community might have squirreled away as far as information on the Acela goes.

Cheers,
Jon

 

[Engineerkenny]

yay! i have been waiting for a new acela can you also make an acela HHP-8? :udrool:

 

[jbartus]

yay! i have been waiting for a new acela can you also make an acela HHP-8? :udrool:

Let's see how I do with the main consist first. I've never dabbled in this kind of modeling before, I'm hoping my ProE and Solidworks experience will help.

 

[RRSignal]

Let's see how I do with the main consist first. I've never dabbled in this kind of modeling before, I'm hoping my ProE and Solidworks experience will help.

Take a look at this thread:

http://forums.auran.com/trainz/archive/index.php/t-88660.html

I seem to recall there are one or two Solidworks people around here. Now, I don't know if you can export through another program to Trainz, or if you're planning on learning yet another modelling program that's more direct, but I hope this helps a bit. Good luck on modelling the Acela. Naturally, if I get my hands on any car or loco info, I'll let you know.

 

[jbartus]

Take a look at this thread:

http://forums.auran.com/trainz/archive/index.php/t-88660.html

I seem to recall there are one or two Solidworks people around here. Now, I don't know if you can export through another program to Trainz, or if you're planning on learning yet another modelling program that's more direct, but I hope this helps a bit. Good luck on modelling the Acela. Naturally, if I get my hands on any car or loco info, I'll let you know.

Actually I didn't even think of it but I bet one of the non-proprietary formats will be able to be read by one of the other programs... I might just have to do my models in SW then transfer them over like that thread said, thanks for the idea, will save me the learning curve.

 

[Engineerkenny]

allright I'm a little confused also I've been trying to make a Mass Coastal engine but I still don't know how to repaint an engine to make a Mass Coastal paintshed reskin I have been playing around in gimp and still am not sure how to use it I got gimp I think it was the last week of august

 

[RRSignal]

allright I'm a little confused also I've been trying to make a Mass Coastal engine but I still don't know how to repaint an engine to make a Mass Coastal paintshed reskin I have been playing around in gimp and still am not sure how to use it I got gimp I think it was the last week of august

Um, is the Mass Coastal a type of Acela?

 

[ivantr]

If you can export in the 3DS format then you can get the model into 3DSMAX/Gmax program amd then make the Unwtap and tbe Texturing process. Later goes implementation in trainz, as modelling is not all. And for start making the basic shape and traincar/coachs jjst start with everything that can help you (I.E. A side left/right picture and a passenger seat diagram /there are many around google search/) Or if not you can make a visit to another forum. And please follow this process if you are going to make it freeware.Good luck with the making ofof the USA fastest train. And its not easy. Here is a try at making an HHP-8
http://forums.auran.com/trainz/show...gram)-screenies-renders&p=1024626#post1024626

Greetingz and luck

 

[jbartus]

So I haven't touched Acela yet, I decided its a bit ambitious for my first attempt at modeling for Trainz due to its organic shape so to get acquainted with the process I'm doing up an amfleet car. Provided all goes well I will start on the Acela. Stay tuned

 

[jbartus]

WIP on the Amfleet

 

[RRSignal]

That looks great so far!

 

[Engineerkenny]

no its a normal GP40 it runs on the line that me and the rest of my NRHS team work on well what I mean is it is at west barnstable train station

 

[jbartus]

no its a normal GP40 it runs on the line that me and the rest of my NRHS team work on well what I mean is it is at west barnstable train station

I think his point was that you're trainjacking my thread with an unrelated topic.