Big Bertha Build - Almost there!

[pcas1986]

I've spent the past week tidying up the many (computer) folders that contain Big Bertha's source files prior to beta release. This I sent to Kieran a couple of days ago. Murphy's Law promptly arose and I discovered that the engine spec was faulty.

The engine spec I had been using for months caused the safety valves to lift and consequently there was a loud hissing noise after a few minutes of running. This didn't bother me during development as I was mostly just checking meshes and materials. Once I started testing, I noticed the hissing never went away so I foolishly decided to create my own engine spec. Things went from bad to worse as the loco refused to move at all in cab mode. DCC was OK.

Currently I have a working engine spec but it only uses default values and that may not represent how Big Bertha worked in real life. The creator of the original engine spec, is looking at it for me. So thanks for that!

The beta version (22290) is based on Big Bertha's later LMS years (1947) but I have used a simple lever reverser control for that model. On rereading a Backtrack article on Big Bertha, I discovered the reverser was changed to a screw reverser in 1938 so the model will need to be changed. So that will be another delay.

So my current intention is to release a MR version (2290) with the original reverser lever. The LMS (22290) and BR version (58100) will have the screw reverser.

 

[captainkman]

Hi,

The LMS version you sent me does work just fine in Cab mode in TS2010, but the animdist problem is still there. It just looks too fast. I can get a video if you wish.c

 

[pcas1986]

OK. Just e-mail to my yahoo addy or youtube whichever is easiest. Azervich is going to look at the espec and see if he can improve it.

 

[Edweird]

This is well beyond me now. I know a little bit about real locomotive workings, but the ins and outs of Trainz? Nope

 

[pcas1986]

This is well beyond me now. I know a little bit about real locomotive workings, but the ins and outs of Trainz? Nope

Me too! There are lots of rather complex numbers in the engine spec and the interesting thing is that the WiKi says some are ignored. If it all goes to custard I will use my own engine spec with the default values from the WiKi.

If you (Ed, that is) want a beta version to play with then PM me with a e-mail address. The CDPs are around 13 mb in total. Since sending it to Kieran, I am half way through making a screw reverser for the LMS and BR versions. The current beta version is the MR version which is slightly later than the one I sent Kieran. Only the side numbers and logos have changed plus it is using an interim engine spec.

Or you can wait until I upload it to the DLS.

I need to finish this soon as spring is almost here and I have a large home project to work on.

 

[Edweird]

Mad as it might sound, I think I'd rather wait for the finished versions. That is unless you want me to beta test it of course.

 

[pcas1986]

That's fine. I'm still having problems with the engine spec anyway and am wondering if something else is causing the problem.

 

[pcas1986]

Update:

I have a new engine spec from Azervich which helps the hissing issue. I believe this is the safeties (safetys?) lifting noise. It was driving me nuts! The new engine spec is better than before. The safetys still lift but at least the noise goes away after a while.

I still haven't looked at the animdist problem. Sorry Kieran! But I will. Sometimes the wheel rotation looks ok but other times it doesn't.

The spotlight now has a "cone" around it which makes it looks more like a spotlight - in my view anyway! Currently I'm trying to make up my mind if the spotlight should come on with the headlight activation. When coupling to the rear of a train the spotlight automatically goes off. This is a Trainz thing. I'm wondering if I should try and force it to stay on.

The MR version now has the Midland Railway logo on the cab.

I still have to do the BR logo on the tender for the BR version plus pinstriping.

I have been spending my time looking through old copies of the "The Engineer" on the web hoping to find the article about Big Bertha. Apparently the article was in the May edition of "The Railway Engineer". I was hoping they were the same journal. Probably not. Just by chance I found a really good article on GNR1000, which, I believe was the same loco in the video about loco repair published recently. The article in the journal has some incredible detail of this loco.