Justin's Workshop

We can excuse "sneaky" when the modelling is that good!

Hello from the land Down Under,

Well, the last few years have flashed past too quickly with little to no progress on my end.
Regarding the 37/4's I have all the nameplate textures and some of the livery textures ready,
but my old Vista computer suffered from multiple failures and issues resulting in the loss of
the 37/4 works files (I can and will work around this using one of the completed units that
doesn't have the name/numbers as specialised internal shapes), my laptop hasn't been
able to work with MSTS/OR or TSM properly which had essentially prevented any progress
what so ever.

However:

I have recently (as in the 11th of May 2019) got a new Dell computer running Windows 10.
I managed to pick up a massive saving due to a 20% off sale being run on their website.
I picked the odd one out that didn't have a graphics card (so I could pick my own).
It is a Dell XPS gaming computer with quite a few handy features. I have been busy kitting
it up with more memory, bigger hard drives, a high end graphics card and 5.1 Surround Sound.

The new MONSTER's specs are as follows:

• 4.6 GHz Intel Core 7 (8th Gen) Processor
  
• 32 Gigabytes Ram
  
• 10 Terabytes Hard Disk Drives (1 x 6Tb , 1 x 3Tb, 1 x 1Tb)
  
• 6 Gigabytes Nvida Ultra Hi-Def Gaming Graphics Card
  
• Logitech 5.1 Surround Sound system
  
• 24 inch Dell Ultra Hi-Def Gaming Monitor
  
• Aldi Graphic Tablet (from 2012 and it still works perfectly)
  
• LED Light-up gaming Keyboard
  
• LED Light-up gaming mouse
  

All that for less that AU$2500.... (Yes it took me a while to save up for it but now that I have it...)

The best news is it is more than capable MSTS and TSM without breaking a sweat.
I have tested my highly detailed models on some of the highest detailed routes and
I am getting around 40-57 FPS...

I am also currently on a 4 week holiday from working (I got promoted almost a
year and a half ago to basically be the Store Manager), my first real break without major
problems interrupting me since 2009. So I have been chomping at the bit to get the MONSTER
fully setup with all the needed programs to get back into modelling.

Below is proof of the Numbers and Plates being ready:


Regards,
Justin

Good to see a post from you and illustrates brilliant nameplate details and a very impressive computer set up! Look forward to seeing any future progress.

I echo Alec's post, and congratulations on the promotion, good luck with the new computer.

Thank you very much Alec and Mark! It's great to get back in to things!

Although having said that I have just started double checking a few of the real 37/4's and
found slight livery differences between them. I was looking at 37401 and noticed that its
EWS letters and its numbers sit in the same position each side (both numbers at one end,
EWS at the opposite)where as some of the others have them at opposing ends...

The good news is after poking around my back ups I found that I had nearly finished the
remaining liveries and after a few minutes work, the outstanding liveries are ready for
final clean ups.



37403's all over Green base coat.



The base EWS livery. (note: some engines need the lettering swapped to the other end).



The base Intercity livery.



The base Regional Railways livery.

I have investigated importing my shapes back into TSM, however it won't import
the texture mapping, which would set the project back ages. So I will be going
'Old School' for the remaining class members by having names, numbers and
any extra livery bits as a separate shape file.

Nearly there after way too long

Justin

Hello Everybody!!!

I know that this moment has been too long in the making, and I don't know if anyone is still interested....

But....

I have finally done the nameplates and numbers for the missing 37/4's .
Below is a gallery of all 31 of these fine engines. I know that the main engine shapes work with MSTS, I only need to check that the nameplates and numbers load correctly and do a final check of everything and then the can go out for testing. Is there anyone interested in testing these for me?

• 37401 - EWS - Mary Queen of Scots
  
  
  
• 37402 - 2 tone grey - Bont y Bermo
  
  
  
• 37403 - BR Green - Ben Cruachan
  
  
  
• 37404 - Transrail - Loch Long
  
  
  
• 37405 - EWS
  
  
  
• 37406 - Transrail - The Saltire Society
  
  
  
• 37407 - Transrail - Blackpool Tower
  
  
  
• 37408 - Large Logo - Loch Rannoch
  
  
  
• 37409 - Transrail - Loch Awe
  
  
  
• 37410 - Transrail - Aluminium 100
  
  
  
• 37411 - EWS - Ty Hafan
  
  
  
• 37412 - Tansrail - Driver John Elliott
  
  
  
• 37413 - EWS - The Scottish Railway Preservation Society
  
  
  
• 37414 - Regional Railways - Cathays C&W Works 1846 - 1993
  
  
  
• 37415 - EW&S
  
  
  
• 37416 - EW&S
  
  
  
• 37417 - 2 tone grey - Highland Region
  
  
  
• 37418 - EW&S - East Lancashire Railway
  
  
  
• 37419 - EW&S
  
  
  
• 37420 - Regional Railways  - The Scottish Hosteller
  
  
  
• 37421 - EWS
  
  
  
• 37422 - Regional Railways  - Robert F Fairlie
  
  
  
• 37423 - Transrail - Sir Murray Morrison 1873 - 1948 Pioneer of the British Aluminium Industry
  
  
  
• 37424 - Transrail
  
  
  
• 37425 - Regional Railways  - Sir Robert McAlpine/Concrete Bob (with correct nameplates on each side)
  
  
  
• 37426 - EWS
  
  
  
• 37427 - EW&S
  
  
  
• 37428 - 2 tone grey - David Lloyd George
  
  
  
• 37429 - Regional Railways - Eisteddfod Genelaethol
  
  
  
• 37430 - Transrail - Cwmbran
  
  
  
• 37431 - Intercity - Bullidae (with the unique and correct cabside sector logos and shell logo on it's namelate)
  
  

Regards,
Justin

Hi Justin,
I'll gladly test them for you - it'll make a change from program writing!! (Yes, I'm 'enhancing' MSTS_Check to check for the presence of Open Rails Freight Animations and 3dCabs shape files).

I'll send you a PM with my email address.

Cheers,
Ged

Hi All,

Well, what a first week back at work it has been.

I have been double checking the nameplates on the 37/4's and found 2 mistakes:
37420 was missing an extra logo above its nameplate and 37429 had the completely wrong design,
both of which are now corrected as below:





I have sent the locos to Ged for testing and I will let you guys know when they are ready.

Regards,
Justin

Looking good Justin.

Hi Everyone,

Thank you all for your positive feed back. The good news is the 37/4's are finally nearing completion for release.
Ged has kindly checked them over for me and helped correct a few issues.
One of the key things about these engines is that they are the first set of engines that I have made that are using MSTS Bin patch specific functions.
Also Ged has kindly set up a set of files so that the will run in OpenRails.

The current hurdle at the moment is the sound files as there really isn't a definitive sound set available.
Some sound sets feature great engine sounds but lack cab functionality, others are the reverse. Then there is the issue of the horns and other sounds.
I have started working on a new set of sms files which shall hopefully sort this out, the downside being the requirement of at least 2 add on sound sets and 4 different original MSTS locomotives for the sounds. I have just sent these to Ged for evaluation.

As I have been testing with an unmolested version of MSTS I have been using the Settle to Carlisle line and couldn't resist the picture below:



37401 Mary Queen of Scots at the head of my 1938 Queen of Scots Pullman set on Ribblehead Viaduct.

Regards,
Justin

Mark and I recently crossed the Ribblehead Viaduct on a return trip between Hellifield and Carlisle in a rake of 3 Class 153s. It really sets off your excellent 37s.      

Freddie Mercury wrote:It finally happened,
It finally happened, oh yes,
It finally happened,
I'm slightly mad,
Just very slightly mad

Of course those famous lyrics are from Queens hit song, I'm going Slightly mad...

But it is somewhat appropriate in this sense as I have finally finished the 37/4 pack after all this time!    



The file is hosted through DropBox and will be making an appearance on the download site soon.
The files use a self extracting zip program. All you need to do is point it to the main hard drive where MSTS is installed (It is setup for default locations).

British Rail Class 37/4 circa 1998

Regards,
Justin

Hi all,

Whilst sorting through the Making Tracks files to find out what I have inherited
and comparing the projects to ones that I had been thinking of, I was going through
the HST 125's and a question occurred to me:

During the early days of GNER wasn't the lettering on the power cars white?
I seem to recall a few photo's of this and I think even Hornby made a model of it at one point,
but for the life of me I can't lay my hands on the correct info right now. Can anybody shed some light on this please?

If I recall correctly the GNER 125 livery evolved as such:
GNER White Letters
GNER Gold Letters
GNER Gold Letters 'Route of the Flying Scotsman' refurbished livery
Then post GNER collapse the gained a white stripe for NXEC...

Regards,
Justin

Hi Justin.

I have looked through 100's of pics of the GNER IC125's (on google images) and they all had gold lettering, there were a couple of hornby pictures that appeared to have white lettering, but these were badly exposed photos with low contrast and saturation, if you turn up the saturation in a photo editor the letters revert to gold, all well exposed hornby pics have the gold lettering.

It's possible that a white lettered variant existed, but I've never seen one.

I added some saturation to one of the apparently white lettered pics, you can see the difference in the pic below.

Hi Mark,

This has been one of those cases where I should have searched a bit more weirdly to get a result.
It turns out that I wasn't being random enough to get the images that I wanted...
I googled GNER white decal and ended up finding plenty of photos of both 125's and 225's with the white lettering.

https://www.flickr.com/photos/37190-dalzell/16162853911/sizes/l/
https://www.flickr.com/photos/37190-dalzell/15224515693/sizes/l
https://www.flickr.com/photos/dmc1947/5968125698/sizes/l
https://www.flickr.com/photos/neil_harvey_railway_photos/14730955888/sizes/l

Even the Badger wore it:
https://www.flickr.com/photos/ermintrude73/16742825207/sizes/l

It turns out that this was the first version of the livery back in 1997.
It then went to the gold lettering with blue doors before they got the 'Mallard' refurbishment which introduced the red doors and the "Route of the Flying Soctsman" lettering to the sides of the coaches.

Justin

You learn something new everyday, Hadn't seen it on HSTs before.

Achoo...




Cough, Cough, Ahem.

Whilst being unemployed the past 6 weeks hasn't been all that fun, at least it has given me time to work on some new Liveries for the MakingTacks models.
The main exterior work for the VTEC and LNER HST 125s is basically complete, I just need to do some interior texture work and possibly some last minute fine tuning.

Oh, and I just got a job offer and signed my contracts today. I restart working on the 4th of November.

Justin

Really good that you have found a job,Justin.I know what it is like to be out of work.I hope that you are OK.

Hi Justin,
Congratulations of landing a job - that's great news

... and well done on the Virgin HST - it's looking good!

Cheers,
Ged

Hi Guys,

Thanks for the well wishes! I am going ok, a slight touch of the flu thanks to Friday being 36 degrees and everyone having their air-con set to freezing. Luckily I don't start until the 4th of November, so I have all this week to get over it.

I have managed to finish off the texture tweaks to the VTEC/LNER coaches (photos to follow eventually) to the point where I am happy with them. One key point is I have chosen not to include the blur effect on the white stripe section as it is very difficult to create properly (I'm still learning different tricks but haven't learnt this one). However the livery looks just as good without it (and now that I have pointed it out people will now notice it... )

I have been researching many different things lately to continue the Making Tracks projects that are incomplete, and it seems that I have lost sight of the end of my to do list ! At least if I get bored with one task it's not like I won't have anything else to work on.

I will leave you all with a tease of a project that I have found that is going to be one of the priority projects that I will do.

As usual ignore the workshop textures.



Justin

As promised:


LNER HST 125 Powercar 43309


HST Mk3 TGS Car B


HST Mk3 TSO Car C


HST Mk3 TSO Car D


HST Mk3 TSO Car E


HST Mk3 TSOD Car F


HST Mk3 TSO Car G


HST Mk3 TRFB Car J


HST Mk3 TFO Car L


HST Mk3 TFO Car M


LNER HST 125 Powercar 43315

With the texture work complete they now just need their files updated to current MSTS/OR Standards.

Regards,
Justin

Excellent work again! Well done Justin.

Hi Everyone,

I am currently working on a few projects at once, some are new paint jobs for existing releases of both mine and Making Tracks,
and one project currently has me a bit flustered due to discrepancies in the research that I have been doing.

As per usual, there's a prototype for everything that contradicts what is written, and as per usual,
the photo that contradicts the written info is usually right next to the text that says it didn't happen...    

I am currently working on some ex-Making Tracks loco hauled Mk3's (I can't seem to get away from the Mk3 coaches after the HSTs),
and me being me, I started with the InterCity Executive livery version, namely because of the Mk3 Pullman FOs.

The first of the questions that I have is this:
Most of the photos I have seen on the internet have the lower sections if the Mk3 loco hauled coaches in a beige colour, however,
I have also seen a few photos of them with a light grey lower section. Which colour was more common?
It does appear to be the beige, however I have seen a few references that the loco hauled stock should have had the lower section as grey,
and only the HST Mk3s had beige lower pannels?

Secondly:
How many different types of Mk3 loco hauled buffets were/are there?
I have found a BR Rolling Stock Diagram book which lists the Restaurant First Buffet (RFB) and Restaurant First Modular (RFM),
but I have also found references to a Restaurant Unclassified Buffet (RUB)?
I have already got the First Open (FO), Tourist Standard Open (TSO), Brake First Open (BFO), Driving Van Trailer (DVT),
and I am working on the Pullman First Open (PFO). I know that there is also Sleeper Either Class (SLE), Sleeper Either class with Pantry (SLEP)
and briefly there were Composite Opens (CO) but were there any others excluding the Royal Train Coaches?

Lastly,:
For a future variant of these coaches, which ones received the ScotRail Blue stripe livery?
I can find references to FOs, TSOs and COs, but did any Mk3 DVTs, Buffets or the Sleepers carry this Livery?

I know its a lot to ask, but its not easy finding information half the world away from the source!

Regards,
Justin

Hello Everybody,

Well after being a bit distracted last weekend (see this thread as to why: NSWGR 3801 Returns), I have made a quick repaint of my 3801 model to represent the newly applied "Heritage Special" livery.


(My latest work, deliberately posing close to my home.... )

This version is setup to install in the same folder as the original pack without overriding any of the original 3801 files (so that you can have both liveries).
Besides the colour and a few other minor livery tweaks, the engine is the same. The only difference is that I have made it so that the front marker lights are on regardless of headlight state (current operational requirement).

Regards,
Justin

Hi Justin
It's looking good.

I like the way they have put a rain-shedding gable canopy over the top of the boiler and changed the chimney to brick + plus a new brick chimney direct out of the firebox !!!

Nice one Justin.

Hi Brian,

Yes, it's the new "home version"of 3801 .

I forgot to mention that the model is available for downloading via the TSSH file hosting site (on my page).

Regards,
Justin

Hi All,

I'd just like to make a statment about my files regarding the need for extra file such as sounds and cabviews.
Firstly all of my coaches do not need anything extra to work, they use the default MSTS sounds, so they are all good to go.
My 37/4s, 47s, 57s, 325s and 67s do currently need additional files. In time I will fix these to use the Making Tracks files and those that are on TSSH.
Please be patient whilst I update these files as I have quite a bit going on at the moment.

Regards,
Justin

Hi All,

I have made the decision to pull the Crosby Valley Railway activities pack from TSSHFH for the time being.
As it uses a number of files that are set to be lost from UKTS I attempted to update the files, only to find out that MSTS doesn't like undoing the work.
Until such time as I am willing to have an argument with MSTS and sort things out, then these files shall remain down.
I do intend to replace the file eventually, it will just take some time.

Regards,
Justin

Hi All,

As UKTS is in their final countdown prior to closure, I have decided to remove my files from UKTS.
No need to panic as they are all available from TSSHFH.

Justin