DTG Class 442 Wessex

[nukem]

Maybe the 442 doesn't have Vigilance fitted in real life?

Fitted as standard by the late 80's when these were built.

Not true the 455's built in the 80's were not fitted with vigilance.

[749006]

Maybe the 442 doesn't have Vigilance fitted in real life? Not all trains, especially older ones which don't always have it retrofitted during overhauls/refurbishments, have it. Older offerings can still have the old DSD pedal, which just needs to be constantly depressed rather than reset occasionally.

It's a pretty good offering, in my opinion, considering DTG often misses the mark. Yes, the sounds aren't genuine. They're not a bad effort to be honest, it sounds like an old DC unit (which it is really, the control gear and traction motors are ex 4-REP). The horn is off the 455, but now looped so it can be sounded constantly, which by itself is pretty well done (it doesn't actually sound like a 442 horn though). I'd agree that camshaft control simulation and having the brake changeover switch work would be nice, but it's not a deal breaker. Bit quick on the old acceleration, especially at the top end, could do with reigning in a wee bit. As remarked, the window LOD needs extending a bit.

The model is good, and I admit I've spent far too much time in the "passenger" view for someone normally rigidly fixed in camera position 1. It's a headout position in the guards van, as a guard would be when seeing the train off from a platform. Yes, the AWS is audible in this view!

Just a few rough edges, but really nothing major. Lovely looking model, and a very welcome addition to the game.

Thank you for a positive review of this unit.
The lack of a Vigilance device does make the unit any worse for me.
I was watching the review on DTG's YouTube channel and it looks and sounds like a Southern Unit should.
I remember a few months back travelling on a unit from London to East Croydon and I was surprised they still have the old compressors like on the 4Cig and 4Vep units.

One for me at the next pay day.

Peter

[VeraTheMage]

My two cents.

Pros
+Beautiful texturing in the cab and passenger saloon. The perfect level of scratchiness without looking uncared for.
+Reused sounds aren't too noticeable at worst and fit in pretty well at best. The sounds from the passenger view are fairly accurate to the real thing.
+Animated destination boards that can be changed on the fly. There's also a scenario script given in the manual to allow scenario creators to change it as well.

Cons
- Physics are totally off kilter. The train accelerates far too fast and brakes far too easily - managed to out accelerate an AI 377 at 100% effort.
- LOD for the glass is set wrongly as talked about above. It's especially noticeable at night.
- The interior uses the SWT interior instead of the current GatEx interior.
- An opening window in the cab would have been nice.
- No DVD.

[MattH2580]

Maybe the 442 doesn't have Vigilance fitted in real life?

Fitted as standard by the late 80's when these were built.

Not true the 455's built in the 80's were not fitted with vigilance.

He did say that they were fitted as standard by the late 80s though, whereas the last batch of 455s was delivered around 85.

[DaveDewhurst]

Physics are totally off kilter. The train accelerates far too fast and brakes far too easily - managed to out accelerate an AI 377 at 100% effort.

Whilst we're waiting for a patch, a quick and dirty fix for this (not 100% mind) is to edit the Driving Trailer .bins and set the rear bogies as unpowered

Code: Select all

<BlueprintID d:type="cDeltaString">RailVehicles\Electric\Class442\Bogies\DTS\442_powerbogie_02.xml</BlueprintID

becomes

Code: Select all

<BlueprintID d:type="cDeltaString">RailVehicles\Electric\Class442\Bogies\DTS\442_unpowerbogie_02.xml</BlueprintID

That will just leave the two Motor coach bogies propelling the train (like it should be) and reduce the acceleration.

Dave

[37114]

Maybe the 442 doesn't have Vigilance fitted in real life?

Fitted as standard by the late 80's when these were built.

Not true the 455's built in the 80's were not fitted with vigilance.

Note the late before the 80's

If my memory serves me correct I think it was a recommendation from the Colwich disaster in 86.

[xguerra]

Not true the 455's built in the 80's were not fitted with vigilance.

Note the late before the 80's

If my memory serves me correct I think it was a recommendation from the Colwich disaster in 86.

I thought Colwich was as a result of a misunderstanding of the double-yellow for a junction crossover?
Or was there more to it?

[malkymackay]

No need to guess when it comes to accident reports. Read it for yourself - http://www.railwaysarchive.co.uk/docume ... ch1988.pdf
Driver vigilance device is not even remotely touched on in the recommendations for the Colwich accident, it was a misunderstanding of flashing yellow aspects.

[37114]

No need to guess when it comes to accident reports. Read it for yourself - http://www.railwaysarchive.co.uk/docume ... ch1988.pdf
Driver vigilance device is not even remotely touched on in the recommendations for the Colwich accident, it was a misunderstanding of flashing yellow aspects.

My memory serves me incorrect! Thanks for that.

[dan5324]

Physics are totally off kilter. The train accelerates far too fast and brakes far too easily - managed to out accelerate an AI 377 at 100% effort.

Whilst we're waiting for a patch, a quick and dirty fix for this (not 100% mind) is to edit the Driving Trailer .bins and set the rear bogies as unpowered

Code: Select all

<BlueprintID d:type="cDeltaString">RailVehicles\Electric\Class442\Bogies\DTS\442_powerbogie_02.xml</BlueprintID

becomes

Code: Select all

<BlueprintID d:type="cDeltaString">RailVehicles\Electric\Class442\Bogies\DTS\442_unpowerbogie_02.xml</BlueprintID

That will just leave the two Motor coach bogies propelling the train (like it should be) and reduce the acceleration.

Dave

Hey dave, sorry to be an idiot, but how does one go about editing these files?

Thanks

[HappyG]

Are people not having problems with the brake gauge? When brakes are released, the gauge is showing 4 bars, when brakes are applied the gauge drops to zero. Seems to be the wrong way about.

[thetrainfan]

Physics are totally off kilter. The train accelerates far too fast and brakes far too easily - managed to out accelerate an AI 377 at 100% effort.

Whilst we're waiting for a patch, a quick and dirty fix for this (not 100% mind) is to edit the Driving Trailer .bins and set the rear bogies as unpowered

Code: Select all

<BlueprintID d:type="cDeltaString">RailVehicles\Electric\Class442\Bogies\DTS\442_powerbogie_02.xml</BlueprintID

becomes

Code: Select all

<BlueprintID d:type="cDeltaString">RailVehicles\Electric\Class442\Bogies\DTS\442_unpowerbogie_02.xml</BlueprintID

That will just leave the two Motor coach bogies propelling the train (like it should be) and reduce the acceleration.

Dave

Hey dave, sorry to be an idiot, but how does one go about editing these files?

Thanks

Not at all being an idiot!

Ok, firstly go into your Steam directory. Then DTG - Class442Pack01 where you'll find a file ending with .ap.
Open this up with your favourite zipped file program (I use 7zip) and navigate through: RailVehicles - Electric - Class442 - DTS. Keep this open and go back to the file explorer in the Class442Pack01 folder.
Make a new folder in here (sitting alongside the .ap) called "RailVehicles", then inside that another folder called "Electric" then inside that "Class442" then inside that "DTS".

Go back to your 7zip and copy over the following four files:
Class442_DTS.bin
Class442_DTS_B.bin
Class442_DTS_nd.bin
Class442_DTS_B_nd.bin

Open these up (I use RWTools but there's a handful of other .bin editors such as RWTextEdit)
Use the search function and search for the first bit of text Dave said in code: (This should then be highlighted)

Code: Select all

<BlueprintID d:type="cDeltaString">RailVehicles\Electric\Class442\Bogies\DTS\442_powerbogie_02.xml</BlueprintID

If using RWTools, on the search function use the bottom text box and paste the revised code Dave posted.
Hit Replace. Save file and do the exact same for the other three .bin files.


Sean.

[driverden]

Mmm I wont be buying a DTG class 442 Wessex then.

[dan5324]

Thanks for the detailed instructions dave! Much appreciated! And yeah, I honestly wouldn't recommend it, in its current state, driverden. Very, very disappointed in this unit. DTG have gone backwards in my opinion.

[thetrainfan]

Mmm I wont be buying a DTG class 442 Wessex then.

Why not?