Atomic Systems

Evening all,
I have been downloading from uk trainsim for a fairly long time now and would like to say thanks to all the designers out there who take the time to produce the excellent models availiable here, it has made the the purchase of trainsim so much more worthwhile,

The reason for my posting is that whilst driving the ex-midland railway compound (a fave engine of mine) i noticed that there is a red light on the underside of the tender, this has led to my curiosity as to whether an orange/yellow light facing directly downwards from the base of the fire box could be made to flicker whilst illuminating the ground also, i am not very familier with the characteristics of a steam loco and i dont even know for sure if a fire could shine through the firegrate at all i only suggest it as i have noted that the open coalfire at home somtimes glows down through the fire bars, but if any of you think it could be done or would like to put my facts straight then please feel free to do so!

anyway thanks again

Dan

I've had two goes at doing this, and a red glow projecting up from the chimney, all for night time only, but without success. I think the sphere of light thing has to point more or less forwards to be visible, but would love to be proved wrong, as ashpan glow is something I have wanted since very soon after I got the game.

yeah its a shame isnt it, it would be pretty impressive...
oh well not to worry many seemingly impossible things have been achieved here, you never know, it could happen........
There you are, something for you talented, wonderful, amazing, etc, etc, lot to work toward, not that i suck up to people for my own benefit you understand

Dan

also, am i right if i say i recall seeing a small GWR loco on the site with a flickering headlamp or have i just been exccessivly?

Dan

You could have a polygon or two extending out of the stack that has a faint alpha 'glow'? similarily for the firebox area.

i seem too remember a model over at T-S.com that was adorned with 'christmas' lights maybe the author of that loco may be knowledgeable?

also could someone please explain the basics of loco lighting to me or suggest where i can learn more about them? and Tim, what is an alpha glow? sorry im really quite new to the technical side of things but hey we all have to start somewhere... right?( he says shrinking back from the immense knowledge surrounding him) Damn, sucking up again

Dan

Alpha is a mask for a bitmap that controls translucency (ie. from opaque to transparent), and is normally used for glass effects. However, it can also be used for creating lighting glows by having a fairly translucent mask with a yellow glow for the light - the background can be seen behind, but is tinged with the yellow glow.

Many thanks for the prompt reply tim its nice to be somewhere where people are eager to help, its somtimes errm... different... at T-S.com, any idea how i could learn more about lighting (tutorials etc) or is it a case of experiment and ask peoples advice?

Dan

Thought for the day,
"being clueless never helps"

Yes, flickering oil lamps on steam era stock are easy to do. If you download any of the GWR tank locos on this site by Decapod, and take a look in the eng file you'll see how it's done. I think others are doing this now as well, it's just that I know these ones definitely use it.

The locos are under my alternate name (Paul Gausden)

GWR #13
Class 517
Class 850 - all have flickering headlamps and fireboxes

ok, thanks very much people

dan