VEA Vans: Weathered ODAs

Bright, sparkling wagons are usually a rarity on the rail network and cleanliness is often a short lived state after repairs. As such, we feel it's important to include some slightly more work worn examples of the wagons included in our Train Simulator expansion packs.

The ODA wagons that will be included in the VEA Vans expansion are no exception and we're pleased to show the more grimy versions of the two liveries to be included in the pack.

VEA Vans: Work Worn and Dirty

It's always good fun to show the bright and shiny ex-works wagons. However, in the real world they soon found themselves in traffic and rapidly building a layer of dirt as the paint began to fade.

As with the majority of our expansion packs the VEA vans will feature both clean versions and the weathered ones featured in this post.

Carflats: Fresh Paint

It's always good to start getting base textures on to models and these have been no exception as the application of colour is really starting to bring them to life. The paintwork at the moment is still very much base coat with the ambient occlusion added with a basic set-up on the shaders so still a way to go!

This Dia. 1/131 FVV is in Rail Blue complete with Motorail branding. The wagon has the taller type of sides with removable end sections and wooden ends.

This version will also be supplied carrying TOPS code NGV representing the 16 or so vehiucles that were transferred to the non passenger carrying coaching stock series for Motorail use in the mid 1980s as a part of the sectorisation of British Rail.

This Dia 1/177 FVW in brown livery has the short version of sides with removeable sections and wooden ends.

This model will also be supplied as an FVV without the through air pipe.

A Dia 1/088 vehicle carrying Rail Blue livery and Motorail branding. The wagon has fixed sides and a steel end along with a buckeye coupling and dual brakes, hence the TOPS code of FVX.

the story of the carflats is complex and confusing to say the least and that was before in service modifications! As such we've taken a decision to portray the best fit of variations in terms of sides, ends, braking and draw gear. Vehicles to every diagram had a mix of all elements but those shown are the most prevalent for the diagram in question.

All that remains now is to start adding some grime and the finalise the set-up of the shaders oh and some loads of course. I've just seen a WIP render of one of the loads under development and I think there will be a very interesting blog post in the future.

VEA Vans: Railfreight Distribution ODA

Even though there were only 50 conversions of tube wagons to form the ODA air braked version, one of the wagons still managed to gain a coat of Railfreight Distribution livery.

Much like the VEA conversions the ODA looks pretty smart in a livery conceived some 30 years after it was originally built. This screen shot also includes a contemporary battery powered flashing tail lamp.

Let's Ride the Rails

A bit of an irresistible title I'm afraid!

A few weeks ago we were contacted by an experienced reskinner who expressed an interest in creating some reskins to form part of the scenarios we include with our Train Simulator expansions. With the scenarios for the Bullion Carriers under way the chance was taken to recreate one of Gateshead's allocation of Class 47s in the form of 47406 'Rail Riders' in original InterCity livery to use as the player locomotive.

The locomotive uses the class 47 included in the European Assets Pack/original routes and has a new texture, 3D nameplates and crest plus added ETH jumpers.

Although forming part of the scenario within the expansion pack the reskin will also be available to download from our website once the Bullion Carriers have been released. Don't take the screenshot as an example of the scenario though - it looks much different and you may have struggled to see the loco ....