UK Content - what do we need?

[johnwhelan]

From time to time I run Tafweb's DLScount on by content to get an idea of what is popular and what isn't.

Currently it tells me I've had 3,764,847 downloads or an average of 3,783.8 per item. It doesn't tell the whole story as there have been some updates to correct errors and the old versions don't show up in the display.

I tend to be lazy so if I can reskin I tend to reskin. Thank you to all the content creators who've given me permission to reskin or update their work. I know that textures are a problem so often I've used photographs with permission for textures. Unfortunately there aren't many colour photographs from my favourite time period. Creating complex steam locos is not a particular interest by the way.

Also I tend to play a little so the Slater street terrace housing came from an attempt to keep the resources down whilst still giving a reasonable set of houses that weren't all identical.

My own interest is probably focused on 1920-1948 or pre-BR. We have some coaching stock from that time period and more recently there has been some activity on coaches there are certainly some GWR ones expected shortly on the DLS. There is also a fairly good range of steam locos available these days.

Making content for TS2010 does take more effort especially with the extra detail and the new texture features most of which I have still to get to grips with.

I recognise that asking the question is an invitation to a lot of people to say all sorts of things but are we lacking anything major at the moment?

Thanks John

 

[sawyer811]

I might get flamed for this, but, at least personally, i think there's a need for a freely-accessible Stainer 8F 2-8-0. Paulz Trainz has a payware one (which is great looking, by the way) and there's one in TC3 and the S&C add-on, but i've alway kind of wanted a knocked-down version for the DLS, just so anyone can get it without plonking down cash. Not that there's anything bad about payware anything, i just know not everyone can get it.

Plus i think we kinda need a new Black 5 (blue's is getting kinda dated) and a DLS-available set of Ivatt 2MTs (tender and tank versions--there's a pair on UKtrainsim, but they're kind of a pain to get and therefore not very usable for uploaded sessions). Maybe a 9F Franco-Crosti?

anyway, take this for what it's worth, since a Yank doesn't really have the authority to talk about british rolling stock and what he wants:hehe:

 

[Deano5]

It's not so much the rolling stock we need, but more of the buildings, people, track side, cars, lorry's, push bikes, posters, shops, post box's. There isn't really a lot of old style British items around and it is hard to make a detailed 1930's or so route without having to add a lot of more modern items to try and make do.
I have SnC and that is great, but, the detail is minimal and it is a payware route so nothing of it on the DLS.
There is quite a few good items that I use in Trainz 06 and 04, but they are mainly built in so I'm not sure if they can all be upgraded to 2010/12 standards.
I am a great fan of the steam era and love to drive them on an old style route, so any improvements you can make will be very much appreciated John. :wave:

 

[stovepipe]

Probably nothing entirely essential, but I can think of a few non-loco items that would fill some gaps:

Rolling Stock
+ Big Four NPCCS (non-passenger carrying coaching stock)
- Long wheelbase and bogie vans. eg CCT, GUV, PMV, PLV, Bogie Brakes, Stove Rs, Siphon Gs from the 1930-1940 period. The SR and LMS types were particularly long-lived, being used in parcels trains up to the early 1980s.

Certain wagon types - such as NER wooden "chauldren" hopper wagons - see coal drop picture. They were in use up to the 1970s. Another type would be 4w threstle wagons for carrying steel plate.

+ British Railways
1960 Metropolitan Cammell Pullman Stock.
http://www.emgauge70s.co.uk/modelpageindex.htmlhttp://upload.wikimedia.org/wikiped...an_Car_No._347_-_geograph.org.uk_-_211758.jpg

http://www.nrm.org.uk/globalmedia/NRM_CT_937228_2.png

1961 Two-tier Car Transporter Vans (TCV)
http://www.emgauge70s.co.uk/modelpageindex.htmlhttp://www.53a-pix.co.uk/picture/E96296E-YK-030980.jpg

Scenery
Large loco coaling plant, like at Carnforth.
http://www.rmweb.co.uk/community/uploads/monthly_07_2010/post-6970-127913482997_thumb.jpg

Large manual signalboxes, such as at Chester
http://www.signalbox.org/gallery/lm/chester4.php
or Shrewsbury.
http://www.flickr.com/photos/granradjd/3885898847/
Just two examples, there are many others

Proper coal staithes (drops)
http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1433/5169834501_2e3d5646f1.jpg
and the type of wagon shown.

I suppose some of these may have been made already and I have missed them.

regards
stovepipe

 

[johnwhelan]

I might get flamed for this, but, at least personally, i think there's a need for a freely-accessible Stainer 8F 2-8-0. Paulz Trainz has a payware one (which is great looking, by the way) and there's one in TC3 and the S&C add-on, but i've alway kind of wanted a knocked-down version for the DLS, just so anyone can get it without plonking down cash. Not that there's anything bad about payware anything, i just know not everyone can get it.

Plus i think we kinda need a new Black 5 (blue's is getting kinda dated) and a DLS-available set of Ivatt 2MTs (tender and tank versions--there's a pair on UKtrainsim, but they're kind of a pain to get and therefore not very usable for uploaded sessions). Maybe a 9F Franco-Crosti?

anyway, take this for what it's worth, since a Yank doesn't really have the authority to talk about british rolling stock and what he wants:hehe:

I'm putting together a GWR coach at the moment, the first one has taken something like 18 months to construct. To build a steam loco would take me a similar amount of time and when its one that is available in S&C I don't think its a reasonable use of my time. Especially as there are others who like creating them.

Try to think more in terms of things that aren't so expensive in time to create.

Thanks John

 

[johnwhelan]

It's not so much the rolling stock we need, but more of the buildings, people, track side, cars, lorry's, push bikes, posters, shops, post box's. There isn't really a lot of old style British items around and it is hard to make a detailed 1930's or so route without having to add a lot of more modern items to try and make do.
I have SnC and that is great, but, the detail is minimal and it is a payware route so nothing of it on the DLS.
There is quite a few good items that I use in Trainz 06 and 04, but they are mainly built in so I'm not sure if they can all be upgraded to 2010/12 standards.
I am a great fan of the steam era and love to drive them on an old style route, so any improvements you can make will be very much appreciated John. :wave:

Could you give me examples of the the built ins, most of the built ins have been created by content creators by the way.

Plans or photos of the items you'd like to see would be useful especially as scenery items are fairly simple to create in Blender and might be of interest to a beginner content creator.

Thanks John

 

[johnwhelan]

Probably nothing entirely essential, but I can think of a few non-loco items that would fill some gaps:

Rolling Stock
+ Big Four NPCCS (non-passenger carrying coaching stock)
- Long wheelbase and bogie vans. eg CCT, GUV, PMV, PLV, Bogie Brakes, Stove Rs, Siphon Gs from the 1930-1940 period. The SR and LMS types were particularly long-lived, being used in parcels trains up to the early 1980s.

Certain wagon types - such as NER wooden "chauldren" hopper wagons - see coal drop picture. They were in use up to the 1970s. Another type would be 4w threstle wagons for carrying steel plate.

+ British Railways
1960 Metropolitan Cammell Pullman Stock.
http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikiped...an_Car_No._347_-_geograph.org.uk_-_211758.jpg

http://www.nrm.org.uk/globalmedia/NRM_CT_937228_2.png

1961 Two-tier Car Transporter Vans (TCV)
http://www.53a-pix.co.uk/picture/E96296E-YK-030980.jpg

Scenery
Large loco coaling plant, like at Carnforth.
http://www.rmweb.co.uk/community/uploads/monthly_07_2010/post-6970-127913482997_thumb.jpg

Large manual signalboxes, such as at Chester
http://www.signalbox.org/gallery/lm/chester4.php
or Shrewsbury.
http://www.flickr.com/photos/granradjd/3885898847/
Just two examples, there are many others

Proper coal staithes (drops)
http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1433/5169834501_2e3d5646f1.jpg
and the type of wagon shown.

I suppose some of these may have been made already and I have missed them.

regards
stovepipe

Interesting list, the Pullman car looks fairly simple other than the textures. If some one has plans that might be interesting, especially if we can get Robd or some one to get involved with the textures.

The coal staithes look simple enough, any closer details on the wagons especially the undersides?

The large signal boxes look fairly simple as well.

The car transporter looks almost like a Mk1 with a more detailed end. I wonder if some one has something that could be "adjusted"?

Thanks John

 

[johnwhelan]

The intent here is to look for ideas by the way, if you see something you think you could attempt feel free to request plans or photos etc especially scenery objects.

To give you an idea of my time frames I have a batch of GWR coaches to sort out and they will probably keep me busy for the next two to three months. After that I'm not certain what my plans are. On the major project side possibly some more coaches since I've box of parts now for them but I'm not completely certain yet. Some minor items could be slipped in beforehand.

Thanks

Cheerio John

 

[Robertd81]

1920's - 1940's General Stuff.

I'd love to see more in general from the pre-B.R. days, I think I spend so much time playing around with TS2009 to recapture something of the summers I used to spend helping out on the South Devon Railway (Totnes-Buckfastleigh)! There was something special about the way things were built in those days - the looks, the feels (automatically closing doors don't have a thing on the satisfying click of heavy brass handles and door mechanisms), the smells.

Before I go off on a nostalgia-trip here, back to the point. Art-Deco. We're missing Art-Deco in Trainz as far as the U.K. goes. Old tube stations, fancier buildings such as the Senate House of the University of London, older commuter rolling stocks and so on. I would love to see some updated London Underground stock too from the 30's and 40's - there are limited examples of tube stock in general on the DLS and all but Andi06's are looking very dated now I feel (NOT to knock the efforts put into them).

Now, I'm off to close my windows, start up Trainz and ignore the existence of anything made before 1950 (lap-top excepted of course!) Best wishes all,

Robertd81.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Category:Art_Deco_railway_stations
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Category:Art_Deco_buildings_in_the_United_Kingdom
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/London_Underground_rolling_stock#Withdrawn_stock

 

[sawyer811]

Scenery
Large loco coaling plant, like at Carnforth.
http://www.rmweb.co.uk/community/uploads/monthly_07_2010/post-6970-127913482997_thumb.jpg

there's actually one like that built in...VFUK coal tower. Guess i finally figured out what on earth that thing is. I've used it on american routes (it's built in for Northbay County) but it never looked right.

I'm putting together a GWR coach at the moment, the first one has taken something like 18 months to construct. To build a steam loco would take me a similar amount of time and when its one that is available in S&C I don't think its a reasonable use of my time. Especially as there are others who like creating them.

Try to think more in terms of things that aren't so expensive in time to create.

Thanks John

I know, i just had to throw that out there. sorry. If i were to think in terms like that...well, I'm making the route of the movie The Titfield Thunderbolt, and can't source a proper coach. my friend who is helping me has one reskined, but it's from the henrietta coach from SI3D, and from what i understand they never allow reskins to be released. Catch with that is; i don't know of any other car that's simliar to it, so unless someone were to Gmax it, i'd just leave that one. The GWR brake van and the cattle wagon from the same movie come to mind too...again, for the simple reason I've yet to find something that perfectly fits. Again, captainkman (my friend who's helping me out) has a brake van reskinned, but it's off another SI3D model.

Plus i could always use some more GWR stock, to haul around with my skipper1945 engines, and i've yet to find a GWR autocoach (there's a BR one on the DLS, i have it). maybe that's simpler, i hope?

again, this is just stuff i've wanted, i can't tell you how to do your job. I can only ask, and as my grandfather told me "the worst they can say is no."

 

[Robertd81]

London Transport Museum Photo Archive...

...just found this gem of an archive http://www.ltmcollection.org/photos/themes/themes-main.html

 

[tmz06003]

Probably nothing entirely essential, but I can think of a few non-loco items that would fill some gaps:

Rolling Stock
+ Big Four NPCCS (non-passenger carrying coaching stock)
- Long wheelbase and bogie vans. eg CCT, GUV, PMV, PLV, Bogie Brakes, Stove Rs, Siphon Gs from the 1930-1940 period. The SR and LMS types were particularly long-lived, being used in parcels trains up to the early 1980s.

regards
stovepipe

Greeni's CCT is on the DLS under uky901y's username. His GUV is more or less finished also. Of course these all exist for TC3 as well, pity all of that content never made it to the DLS so it could be easily accessible in the latest versions of Trainz.

 

[stovepipe]

It was the big four versions of these vans I was meaning in particular. The SR and LMS ones looked quite different and were still fairly common when I was a boy. I do use the existing assets extensively and they are much appreciated.


The comment about art-deco buildings is interesting, plenty of scope there, but I don't suppose plans are easy to come by.

 

[stovepipe]

Quote:
Originally Posted by stovepipe
Scenery
Large loco coaling plant, like at Carnforth.
http://www.rmweb.co.uk/community/upl...2997_thumb.jpg


there's actually one like that built in...VFUK coal tower. Guess i finally figured out what on earth that thing is. I've used it on american routes (it's built in for Northbay County) but it never looked right.

So there is, and it's actually based on Carnforth. I've even used it on my WIP route! Ah well, I suppose it was getting late..

 

[stovepipe]

The coal staithes look simple enough, any closer details on the wagons especially the undersides?

Thanks John

I should have refered to them as NER/LNER 20T diagram P7 hoppers. There are some good detail pictures here, including inside shots.

http://www.rmweb.co.uk/community/index.php/topic/33379-north-eastern-railway-p7-20-ton-hoppers/

also this thread has lots of information including measurements.

http://www.rmweb.co.uk/forum/viewtopic.php?f=5&t=17615&hilit=LNER+20T+hopper

regards
stovepipe

 

[CaptEngland]

RE: UK Content - what do we need?

One thing that would be very useful would be LNER/BR Thompson Stock. Loads of old photos from the 50's show a least 1 coach of Thompson Stock in service in different parts of the country. If anyone wants to make these, PM me as I have loads of line diagrams that I can supply (only if they are to be made for freeware use!).

Also wanted by me are GWR Hawksworth stock. I've got a couple of diagrams, but they are not very good. Does anyone know of an GWR line diagram book of coaches along the lines of the excellent `Historic Carriage Drawings` series by Pendragon Partnership?

I'm still trying to get to grips with making stuff in blender at the moment but slowly getting there.

I may this weekend get to re-skinning the Bullied Stock into Carmine and Cream (for own use at the moment!). I've forgot who made these coaches on the DLS, but if they are reading this thread could I have permission to upload somewhere the reskins? How would I be able to do this to the DLS without including the base model if possible?

Best Regards.

 

[BRClass66]

Hi,

I don't know to much about trains,
but love this sim.

So my question is,does the UK use Wellcars like the usa ?

What is the main rollingstock used in the UK to move containers ?


Thanks,
Brad

 

[andi06]

Also wanted by me are GWR Hawksworth stock. I've got a couple of diagrams, but they are not very good. Does anyone know of an GWR line diagram book of coaches along the lines of the excellent `Historic Carriage Drawings` series by Pendragon Partnership?

Great Western Coaches, Official Drawings No.3 (ISBN 1-874103-42-9) is inexpensive and has good drawings of a Hawksworth Brake Third. The trailer car in my AEC Railcar set is loosely based on a Hawksworth vehicle but it isn't a particularly good or accurate model.

 

[robd]

Interesting list, the Pullman car looks fairly simple other than the textures. If some one has plans that might be interesting, especially if we can get Robd or some one to get involved with the textures...

Thanks John

I'll be very happy to help with textures in whatever capacity I can.

Rob

 

[CaptEngland]

Great Western Coaches, Official Drawings No.3 (ISBN 1-874103-42-9) is inexpensive and has good drawings of a Hawksworth Brake Third. The trailer car in my AEC Railcar set is loosely based on a Hawksworth vehicle but it isn't a particularly good or accurate model.

Thanks Andi06. I've got my eye on a copy at the moment

Regards.