| Updates
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16/07/2008
BDA Bogie Bolster and derivatives |
With several of my projects stuck at tricky bits I decided to start a new one today! The subject is the BDA bogie bolster, a type that offers plenty of variety. The bogies were already made (for the Bardon hoppers), although disc braked versions with handbrake wheels will need to be added for later build BDAs. The buffers were recycled from the PGA hopper but the rest of the model was built from scratch. Seen here is the model on test at the end of day one. |
17/07/2008
BDA Bogie Bolster and derivatives |
By the end of the second day I had added the details for the lever braked version, created LOD meshes at 50% and 25%, added a shadow mesh and started work on a set of 5 alternative liveries. Attachments were added for Couplestar and loads, but the steel slabs do not look quite right without their distinctive restraining straps. A customised load product may be produced that will include these. |
18/07/2008
BDA Bogie Bolster and derivatives |
Work on the second variant started today. This had disc brakes (a new version of the Y25 model being made for the purpose) with a handbrake wheel on each bogie, and hence no lever on the body. The underfloor brackets are also different, lacking the fillets. |
19/07/2008
BDA Bogie Bolster and derivatives |
Good progress is being made with this project. Two variants started today were the BTA pipe carrier, seen loaded with 2ft pipe products, and a BMA conversion with raised ends. The latter still requires new bolsters to be built. |
23/07/2008
BDA Bogie Bolster and derivatives |
After a couple of days break due to an injured hand, the next base model to be made was for a BDV. Differences include the removal of the tensioners, adding of the second brake levers and repositioning of the 5 (rather than 6) bolsters. Most importantly, the Y25C bogies were switched for Eldavo's Swing Motion ones, a fair representation of the correct Gloucester type. Still to be done are changes to the buffers, brake cylinders and texture file. |
24/07/2008
BDA Bogie Bolster and derivatives |
Most loads on BDA wagons are secured by brightly coloured nylon straps but this would be hard to replicate using normal Trainz products. I decided to make some cosmetic loads. They could still be loaded and unloaded but the whole wagonload was a single item, including the straps. First up was a set of five girders. LOD was used. |
27/07/2008
BDA Bogie Bolster and derivatives |
Several more 'single piece' wagonloads were made, including aluminium ingots, steel bars and (as seen here) a stack of pipes in three different colours. Due to the high poly count of most of these models, LOD meshes were added. Note also that a variant of the BTA has been made to represent the version with 12 stanchions instead of 8. Work on the wagon textures is still to be completed. |
31/07/2008
BDA Bogie Bolster and derivatives |
The next stage was to create the 'Mark 1' bolsters fitted to the early BDAs (mainly those with lever brakes). |
07/08/2008
BDA Bogie Bolster and derivatives |
After a couple of days break I returned to do some more bolsters, this time the rather complex (and numerous) versions fitted to the BMA and BNA wagons. The texture included some shading to give definition, and the LOD will be used to reduce the rather high poly count. I think perhaps the wagon ends should be a bit taller. |
10/08/2008
BDA Bogie Bolster and derivatives |
The BTA timber wagon was based on the Mark 1 BDA with added stanchions and Railfreight livery. Some work will be required to produce a suitable timber load for these wagons before release. |
