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: 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!

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.

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.

HBA/HEA Hoppers: Scenario TSR

This little gem came from the scenario builder showing a class 37 8N98 1032 Healey Mills - Tyne Yard as it enters a 20mph temporary speed restriction during its journey north.

This service forms one of the two scenarios to be included in the HBA/HEA Hoppers add-on under development for Train Simulator 2013.

HBA/HEA Hoppers: Darlington 1976?

Could this have been the scene at Darlington in 1976?

A class 08 shunts a train containing six brand new HBA hoppers recently released from Darlington ready for their first revenue earning trip. Part of a VDA van with experimental suspension can also be glimpsed at the left of the picture.

All the parts of the HBA/HEA hoppers for Train Simulator 2013 are in place and the base colours for both the maroon and Railfreight liveries are now complete ready for testing before having LODs created, individual versions created and weathered ready for release of the add-on towards the end of the year.

HBA/HEA Hoppers modelling complete

Well we live in hope that when the testers give the shapes the once over they don't find anything that needs a big rebuild!

As you can see from the renders below, the shape creating stage of the HBA/HEA air braked coal hoppers for RailWorks Train Simulator 2012 is complete. Once the testers have given them a quick visual check in the simulator they'll be back in the workshop for unwrapping and baking.

I have been quite surprised by these as a model (especially as they're a recycling of a previous project) by the amount of subtle and half hidden detail that's been needed to really get the feel of these wagons which look so deceptively simple at the first glance.

HBA/HEA Hopper Progress

A couple of progress renders of the HBA and HEA hoppers under development for RailWorks Train Simulator 2012.

 A HBA hopper from the more numerous later produced examples with the offset access ladder.

What would become know as an HEA hopper after respringing with Bruninghaus springs and an increase in maximum speed to 75mph.

It should be remembered that the HEA TOPS code was introduced after modification work commenced and that early examples could be found lettered as HBA like their unmodified counterparts. Yet another variation in a model series to work in to the final product!

HBA/HEA Hopper Progress

If you've been following the Developers Notebook you'll know that the past few sessions have been spent upgrading, tweaking and rebuilding various parts of the HEA coal hopper we have under production for Railworks.

All the parts you can see in the render have been added, tweaked, improved by rechecking with sources or in some cases totally rebuilt to start and bring the model up to the standard of our other products.

The model looks slightly odd at the moment with no springs or brake gear making the underside look strangely open with the white background showing through.