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!