Class 325 review?

[msey0002]

Hi all, I wonder if anyone could provide us with a review of the Class 325?

Model, sounds, physics, features etc?

With the 50% off, I'm considering buying either this or the Class 33. I'd normally go for the 33, but with the stunning effort on the WCML, I thought I'd stick something new there!

Btw, regarding the WCML, my laptop came back from the mend, no upgrades done or anything...clean install just with DLC, and the best freeware routes/scenarios and necessary reskins, and I am getting 20+ FPS in certain places on WCML! Up from the usual 14! Hope this doesn't curse it

Anyway, any help re the 325 would be most appreciated

[Kromaatikse]

The best feature of the 325 pack is the fairly decent variety of scenarios that it comes with. That's a genuine plus, since that is what most people (who haven't got the creative spark) will get value from.

The scenarios are spread across several routes, not just WCML-N, taking advantage of the dual-supply and loco-hauled abilities of the unit. In keeping with this, three different versions of the motor car are provided, one with pantograph down (for third-rail and loco-haul), and the others set for WCML-N and E-G wire heights.

There are some quirks which I hope will be fixed soon. The most obvious is that the power/brake controller doesn't match the prototype at all - it has 7 power notches and a very odd brake quadrant, whereas it should have 4 power notches (like the classic EMUs) and a 3-step Westcode brake (like the Sprinters).

[msey0002]

Thanks mate, sounds good! Still yet to decide, though I have till the 12th

[artisan]

get it bought it's very good & as noted above it's easily worth £5.99 just for the scenarios.

[johnmckenzie]

Got it - I like it, it's unique! The scenarios and locations you can create for it will be quite unlike any others too.

[TheTazman]

I just ran the first scenario. I was nearly at my desitination and i derailed.... not operator error.

[firetrap1]

Make sure to download the patch to correct the branding on the side of the unit. It makes a world of difference, my thanks to the author!

Class 325 Royal Mail Branding [1587746 bytes] - Class 325 Royal Mail.zip File ID: 27763 Date: 03 Dec 2011 - 1120 Downloads

[msey0002]

Thanks for the comments lads. Still unsure though...I was never a fan of default scenarios. Think I might hold out till Monday or the Xmas sale and see if any of our talented freeware developers release any scenarios till then

[SHEEP]

I can't find the scenario for the Portsmouth route?

[AndyUK]

As far as I know there isn't one, the manual doesn't mention it and I don't have one either. Is it still being advertised as part of the pack?

Andy L

[btvboxer]

Is it still being advertised as part of the pack?

Yes.

btvboxer

[LocoPower]

Just bought this with the 50% off coupon. First off, none of the supplied scenarios work for me, I get SBHH every time. Done all the usual things - clear cache, verify through Steam (great, now I gotta reapply all my reskins and branding... ) - but to no avail. Can make my own scenarios with it, which is the only way I've been able to use it.

I'm glad I used the 50% off coupon as the 325 is... average. Unique, yes, but in terms of the realisation of the model it's little more than red box on wheels with a lever that makes it go forwards or backwards. It...

• Has no master key, desk setup, AWS self-test, or suchlike.
• Has no independent lighting controls, and no day/night headlamp (on a unit which I understand frequently tends to run at night?)
• Has little interactivity in the cab - not even the sunblind is adjustable. That's no big deal but...
• It has the wrong brakes and the wrong number of notches for power
• Is plagued by "HST syndrome" of being able to cruise at almost maximum speed using suspiciously low amounts of power. If it can achieve 105mph on 100% throttle, how does it manage to maintain ~98/99mph on 54% throttle?

The unit looks fine visually, and the sounds are fine, but once again the details, physics and features let it down.

Personally, it's ok for £5.99. I'd have been miffed if I'd spent £11.99 on it.

[SHEEP]

Yeah, It's still there,
I was looking forward to a run from Woking, down to pompey,
I did that run a few times for Royal Mail in a truck

[FoggyMorning]

Just bought this with the 50% off coupon. First off, none of the supplied scenarios work for me, I get SBHH every time. Done all the usual things - clear cache, verify through Steam (great, now I gotta reapply all my reskins and branding... ) - but to no avail. Can make my own scenarios with it, which is the only way I've been able to use it.

I'm glad I used the 50% off coupon as the 325 is... average. Unique, yes, but in terms of the realisation of the model it's little more than red box on wheels with a lever that makes it go forwards or backwards. It...

• Has no master key, desk setup, AWS self-test, or suchlike.
• Has no independent lighting controls, and no day/night headlamp (on a unit which I understand frequently tends to run at night?)
• Has little interactivity in the cab - not even the sunblind is adjustable. That's no big deal but...
• It has the wrong brakes and the wrong number of notches for power
• Is plagued by "HST syndrome" of being able to cruise at almost maximum speed using suspiciously low amounts of power. If it can achieve 105mph on 100% throttle, how does it manage to maintain ~98/99mph on 54% throttle?

The unit looks fine visually, and the sounds are fine, but once again the details, physics and features let it down.

Personally, it's ok for £5.99. I'd have been miffed if I'd spent £11.99 on it.

These sound like features that are present on the vast majority of locos and units for RW

[msey0002]

Hi Steve, I understand what you're saying...however I agree with LocoPower. I think train simulation has evolved so fast over the past 12 or so months that people (me include) are starting to expect these features. They may not be the norm, but I certainly hope they will one day. I think Oovee, Thomson and JT have set the bar so high in realism, that expectations are shifting rapidly and other developers may not be catching up so quickly.

Anyway...hip hip hooray for realism!