Looking For A Detailed Model Of The South Australian Railways 4-8-4 520 Class Steam Locomotives

[ChugLifeBoy]

Hey, everyone! I’ve been wanting to find a highly detailed model of the SAR 520 Class steam locomotives but I have not had any luck. It is one of my favorite classes of Australian steam locomotives and I feel as though there should be more attention given to it.

If anyone knows where to find a highly detailed model of the SAR 520 Class, I’d greatly appreciate it if you told me! If not, I still appreciate you all for taking the time to read this!

 

[pware]

If anyone knows where to find a highly detailed model of the SAR 520 Class

I don't know how detailed you want but there are several 520s and their tenders available on the DLS, with associated dependencies such as interiors, engine specs, sounds, drivers, etc.

<kuid:523:540> SAR 520 ARHS
<kuid:523:5401> SAR 520 ARHS Tender
<kuid:193148:1467> SAR 520 Class #520
<kuid2:193148:1470:1> SAR 520 Class #520 Tender
<kuid:193148:1471> SAR 520 Class #523
<kuid2:193148:1472:1> SAR 520 Class #523 Tender
<kuid:193148:1473> SAR 520 Class #526
<kuid2:193148:1474:1> SAR 520 Class #526 Tender

 

[ChugLifeBoy]

I don't know how detailed you want but there are several 520s and their tenders available on the DLS, with associated dependencies such as interiors, engine specs, sounds, drivers, etc.

<kuid:523:540> SAR 520 ARHS
<kuid:523:5401> SAR 520 ARHS Tender
<kuid:193148:1467> SAR 520 Class #520
<kuid2:193148:1470:1> SAR 520 Class #520 Tender
<kuid:193148:1471> SAR 520 Class #523
<kuid2:193148:1472:1> SAR 520 Class #523 Tender
<kuid:193148:1473> SAR 520 Class #526
<kuid2:193148:1474:1> SAR 520 Class #526 Tender

While I do love those models of the SAR 520 and feel as though they’re iconic, I personally think that there need to be more detailed models of the locomotive now, especially ones that match up to Trainz 2019 and Trainz 2022 graphics.

 

[pware]

I personally think that there need to be more detailed models of the locomotive now

Well then, I would suggest that you will need to get hold of a good set of plans and some suitable 3D modelling software (e.g. Blender which is freeware). While there are some creators who are making excellent models of South Australian railway infrastructure (station buildings, water towers, etc) and stone houses from the steam era, making accurate and detailed rolling stock, especially steam locos, is at another level entirely. There are no current content creators that I know of who are making SAR steam locomotives (but I would be happy to be corrected on that).

 

[ChugLifeBoy]

Well then, I would suggest that you will need to get hold of a good set of plans and some suitable 3D modelling software (e.g. Blender which is freeware). While there are some creators who are making excellent models of South Australian railway infrastructure (station buildings, water towers, etc) and stone houses from the steam era, making accurate and detailed rolling stock, especially steam locos, is at another level entirely. There are no current content creators that I know of who are making SAR steam locomotives (but I would be happy to be corrected on that).

I think my best bet would be to ask a creator to do a commission for me, given that I'm not good at 3D modelling whatsoever. I will have to make some money beforehand though because I'm sure they don't do it for free.

 

[PhilChorusch01]

You can find some SAR content here https://virtualsteamrailways.weebly.com/ I'm not 100% certain if they are the same assets on the DLS though

 

[dangavel]

You can find some SAR content here https://virtualsteamrailways.weebly.com/ I'm not 100% certain if they are the same assets on the DLS though

I am pretty sure they are, the builder is part of an SA Trainz Facebook group and I'm sure he said he would not be creating any other items for a long while as he has other projects on the go.

 

[schaffer]

I think the mesh of the existing 520 series (note the style and shape varies from 520 - 526 with 520 being a flatter front and the later having a more chiselled nose) looks fine, even today. If anything these could probably just do with a reskin to enhance the overall appearance and the skin can include more details. The existing 520, 523 and 526 look great but show they have been around for a while. These could be upgraded to PBR with more detailed textures but obviously a lot of work and would require the original creators consent

 

[JCitron]

While researching this locomotive for my curiosity, I never realized how close it is to the Pennsylvania T1.

Pennsylvania Railroad class T1 - Wikipedia

en.wikipedia.org

Then reading deeper into the Wiki article, I found that Frank Hugh Harrison the designer at the Islington Shops based the SAR 520 on Raymond Loewy's design.

Raymonds (sic) [Raymond Loewy's] distinctive design of the T1 heavily influenced other engines, most notably the South Australian Railways 520 class. In late 1942 Islington Railway Workshops's chief engineer Frank Hugh Harrison saw the T1 in an american (sic) [American] magazine whilst designing the 520 class. Frank was impressed, and the streamlining of the T1 became the basis of the design. The 520 class construction pace was then increased to come out before the T1 to avoid patent claims.

Cool aye!

 

[johnwhelan]

I think my best bet would be to ask a creator to do a commission for me, given that I'm not good at 3D modelling whatsoever. I will have to make some money beforehand though because I'm sure they don't do it for free.

Think of a reasonable rate per hour, then accept it will take possibly a few hundred hours unless they have parts that can be recycled in their bit box just to give you an idea of a reasonable price.

John