HEA Hopper Conversions: MEA Renders

Making a change from the procession of HEA variations it's nice to be able to show some work in progress renders of the MEA box wagons we have under development as a part of our HEA Hopper Conversions expansion for Train Simulator 2014.

The top render shows one of the early conversions with the end ladder still in place. The second shows a later version with angled ends to the side ribs and the ladder removed as a safety precaution.

HEA Hoppers - Post BR: Murky Mainline

Having seen the HEA hoppers for Train Simulator 2014 in their pristine shadow privatisation and post privatisation liveries it's now time to take a look at how they have stood up to the tests of time.

First up for scrutiny is an example of a Mainline liveried hopper that would have originally have had offset access ladders but these have now been removed, just leaving scars in the paintwork. A general fading of the paintwork has taken place and everything now has a liberal helping of dust and dirt.

One notable feature of all the hoppers that are still carrying these old liveries is that they are faded and generally grimy but not necessarily black. A surprising thing for a coal wagon but possibly due to their use on short term traffic flows and spending a fair amount of time out of service in sidings?

HEA Hoppers - Post BR: Faded Railfreight

We've spent the last few blog posts showing you new liveries applied to the HEA hoppers in more recent years. What is noticeable from photographs is that there are still some examples of the original Railfreight liveried hoppers still in service, albeit in faded and work worn condition.

The HEA Hoppers - Post BR expansion pack for Train Simulator 2014 will feature work worn Railfreight liveried examples from both the early central ladder type and the later offset ladder versions.

Of note is the removal of the access ladders from the hopper ends, application of more modern overhead warning flashes, the painting out of the original logos and renewal/updating of the lettering on the wagon.

Ready for Conversion

Conversions are the main source of income for the works at the moment.

The resident ex-BR Class 08 is seen bringing 3 HEA hoppers in from the exchange sidings for conversions to MEA box wagons. In the background, newly rebuilt ZCA Sea Urchins wait to leave. Behind them, more VDA vans are stored ready for conversion to ZCAs.

HEA Hoppers - Post BR: Red & Gold Variation

Completing the series of posts revealing the different liveries to be applied to the HEA hoppers in our HEA Hoppers - Post BR expansion for Train Simulator 2014 is this variation on red and gold livery.

Making a much more bold statement compared to the previous version this wagon has a striking wide band at the top of the body and much enlarged lettering on the body.

With all the liveries now unveiled it's going to be time to take a look at the work weary versions (with subtle detail differences) that will accompany these sparkling examples in the expansion pack.

HEA Hoppers - Post BR: Red & Gold

The HEA hoppers have seen a lot of different liveries in their time. The latest version to be completed includes a representation of an up-to-date red and gold livery still to be seen around the network today.

HEA Hoppers - Post BR: Fresh paint Loadhaul

After showing you the Transrail liveried HEA for Train Simulator 2014 earlier in the week it's now time to give you a glimpse of the Loadhaul liveried version that will feature in our forthcoming expansion pack.

The Loadhaul liveried Hopper is a bit of a mystery as we've still only seen pictures of models but have a reference to a published photograph of a number of Loadhaul liveried examples in service.

With this in mind we've based the livery on the model and are prepared to add them to the expansion pack as they are more likely to have existed than not!

HEA Hoppers - Post BR: Nearly new Transrail

The post BR versions of the HEA hoppers for Train Simulator 2014 are taking shape nicely now - in many cases needing their own shape to make the livery sit properly and definitely new decals all over the place for each version!

Here we see the second example to be seen in the shape of a recently out-shopped Transrail liveried hopper. There's still a bit of work to be done blending decals in properly but we're 99% there!

Done LODing

Ok, so it's nothing that hasn't been seen before but this screenshot marked a seminal moment earlier today as the last shape for inclusion in the HBA/HEA Hoppers pack, a weathered Railfreight flame red and grey CAR brake van with a battery tail lamp, went for a quick spin behind a Class 37 out of Carlisle Kingmoor Yard.

All of the shapes are now complete, the manual is finished and the test version of the installer has been built and is ready for the testers once their (extensive) brief for the installer test has been written ready for them to try and break it!

This should mean that release happens within a couple of weeks if the installer test goes well and doesn't throw up any issues as everything is given a final inspection.

The manual for the pack is likely to be uploaded during the week for anyone who fancies a sneaky peak too.

Pimp my CAR

The creation of the CAP and CAO brake vans for the HBA/HEA hoppers pack saw a number of shape tweaks and material changes take place. We've taken the opportunity to make some of the same changes to the CAR brake vans that were originally released with the VDA vans as a need was found for them in the scenarios for the hoppers where they are included as free bonus items alongside the other two variations.

The chance has also been taken to add some new versions of the brake vans with battery flashing tail lamps on the liveries that were likely to have survived into the late 1980s.

A patch will be issued slightly later to upgrade the CAR brake vans to the current version for those people who have bought the VDA vans pack but don't wish to buy the HBA/HEA Hoppers.

Brake van without brakes

It's been a productive week and a few small tasks have been completed that move the release of the HBA/HEA hoppers for Train Simulator 2014 a step closer.

Following close behind the CAP brake vans shown last week are some modified dia 1/506 brake vans from lot 3129 which have lost their vacuum through pipes to become unbraked CAO vans,

Bauxite and bauxite with grey end liveries are supplied in both weathered and fairly fresh paint condition. The grey end was often added to brake vans which should have been braked to indicated that they were unfitted.

CAP Textures Completed

Challenging times in the current day job have been sapping energy and modelling time so it's great to be able to make this post!

The texture work on the dia. 1/506 vacuum piped brake vans (TOPS code CAP) has been completed this morning with both the recently painted and work worn examples completed and happily displaying in Train Simulator 2014.

These vans have been produced to enable us to add variety and a little more authenticity to the scenarios included with the HBA/HEA hoppers pack and any further packs they can find a use in. They're not expected to form a pack in their own right but will be included with other packs as appropriate.

Smooth ride for the bullion van

While the HBA/HEA hoppers have been locked down for testing I've managed to find the time to complete most of the work on the B5 bogies to go under the bullion van and bullion flat.

For those who've followed the blog for a while you'll know that bogies are never a popular task for me so it's good to have this out of the way. All that remains now is to add some rivet and bolt detail.

Fortunately, the B4 bogie that's more commonly used under coaching stock and some vans is a relatively easy conversion with only a couple of components to change and even fitting hydraulic dampers is straightforward! These will be a pleasure to reuse under some other planned models!

Fancy a dirty weekend?

To finish off the HBA/HEA hopper production line there needed to be some dirty versions and they have now been created.

Mirroring all of the other versions you have seen already you'll be able to form dirty trains with an odd clean wagon or go for any mixture that you want.

Clean HEA Hoppers

These have been sitting quietly for a couple of days so it seemed a good idea to finally share them.

In a bid to increase the maximum speed of the HBA hoppers and following a number of trials the last 200 were built with Bruninghaus springs rather than the 13 leaf friction link suspension originally fitted which allowed the maximum speed to be raised to 75mph so the hoppers could work in the fastest Speedlink trains. The modification was successful and the majority of the friction link fitted HBAs were subsequently rebuilt in line with the last 200 hoppers.

The decision to recode the modified wagons with the HEA TOPS code was made in late 1981 which means that from 1979 - 1981 the last 200 hoppers and any of the early conversions ran with Bruninghaus springs and the TOPS code HBA.

The HBA set

The main models in 'clean' textures for the HBA hoppers are now finished. There are two different shapes, each in two contrasting liveries.

First HBA Hopper

After a good while spent dealing with a hectic life that has all but precluded any development time it's great to have found chance to make a bit of progress with the air braked hoppers this week.

The very earliest version of an HBA hopper, with long link suspension and a central ladder (a feature of about the first 230 wagons) is now basically complete with the exception of LODs and carries a slightly weary all over maroon livery without any Railfreight logos as these were the exception with the maroon liveried wagons.

A while ago one of the testers commented about the lack of a label clip on the underframe of the wagons and these were duly added! While working on the models this week it struck me that an empty label clip is pretty pointless on a wagon in traffic so there are now different labels for empty and loaded version. The detail picture below shows this to effect along with some of the other detail carried by the hoppers.

Bullion Carriers: Body and Underframe Complete

The major push this week has seen the last of the rebuilding of elements and adding of detail to both the underframe area and body of the bullion van for Train Simulator 2013.

All that's left now is to construct the friction damped B5 bogies that will go under these vehicles. The bogies have been mocked up and the frames are in the process of being fabricated.

Bullion Carriers: Underfloor bits and pieces

 

Much of the effort in the past week has been in completing and upgrading where required the under frame equipment on the Bullion Van for use in this project and others. The under frame is now dual braked as accurately as is practical from our reference photographs and has had the brake rigging modified for use with the B5 bogies that will be fitted.

The air cylinder, distributor and air cylinders have been extensively reworked as has the vacuum cylinder. A new dynamo has been built for good measure.

Next up is a fair bit of fine detailing on the coach body and adding the interior along with making those B5 bogies!

The Devil is in the Detail

The last modelling session was one of those strange ones where there seemed a lot of effort and no major impact.

It was detail time with the vents and periscopes going on the roof. The underframe has gained most of the required equipment and the ends have have had their last bits added.

The interior is still a quandary at the moment with most reports mentioning bullet proof double glazing, heavy tint and even mirror effect glass. Photographs do support this so it may be a case of making the vestibule visible and something creative with the the saloon windows.