Atomic Systems

There are pictures appearing on Facebook of the AP / MKS Class 37 which is W.I.P.
https://www.facebook.com/armstrongpowerhouse/

AP don't normally post until they are a month or so out from release - so maybe in time for Christmas?

I though it was worth splitting this out of the Railright 37 thread

Peter

So is there now two different 37 models coming out?

Do we know for a fact that this is two different releases?

Well JT are advertising the RR 37...

https://www.justtrains.net/product/ultimate-class-37

RailRight mention Master Key Simulations on their Facebook page.
Time will tell.

Paul

USRailFan wrote:Do we know for a fact that this is two different releases?

AP market there own releases and also partners, highly unlikely that a product worked on my AP would be sold through Just Trains. I do hope this is a joint venture between MKS & Railright, would hate to see two fantastic models made and have to choice between them as both the previous models from both parties have been excellent.

If AP include the WL (DRS) version and provide updated scenarios to use the new 37 in all WL scenarios, they have my money for sure...

For anyone who remains confused:

AP and MKS are working together on a Class 37 pack.

This is separate to the class 37 pack advertised on JT, which is a partnership between JT, RailRight and Vulcan Productions.

We don't know exactly what the differences are content wise, although of course the AP/MKS one is completely separate in terms of the actual work and so on that has gone into it, they just happen to be producing the same thing and MKS happen to have assisted RailRight with their one in the past.

So far we know AP/MKS pack will include freight heavyweights (/7s) and the /4s as well. The JT version has shots of a /4 only so far.

Will be interesting to see how the two packs end up comparing.

Well it would be great to see a new and up to date specification wise class 37 (as with every other class) and it certainly looks good from the Facebook shots, well they both do, I suspect I will be purchasing one of them, it may depend on which has the most variants.

However it seems a little bit of a waste if two sets of developers are developing models of the same locomotive at the same time, the Railright version has been known about ever since their class 40 came out.

I thought Masterkey were working on a new class 47 which is sorely needed, there is barely a TS route where one wouldn't have been seen and of all the DTG/RSC diesels in my opinion the 47 is the most dated.

Peter

In fairness, the RailRight one had gone completely quiet a long time ago, MKS/AP may have felt that with them no longer being associated with it and not necessarily knowing, therefore, if there was going to be any further progress with it whatsoever, that they wished to fill the gap instead. Cue both ending up announcing at the same time! Coincidence - not unfortunate, I'd wager.

I'd much rather have two swanky new versions of the 37 than none - many, myself included, have been desperate for one for years.

I'm sure the MKS 47, like their other projects, will see the light of day in future.

JamesLit wrote:In fairness, the RailRight one had gone completely quiet a long time ago, MKS/AP may have felt that with them no longer being associated with it and not necessarily knowing, therefore, if there was going to be any further progress with it whatsoever, that they wished to fill the gap instead. Cue both ending up announcing at the same time! Coincidence - not unfortunate, I'd wager.

I'd much rather have two swanky new versions of the 37 than none - many, myself included, have been desperate for one for years.

I'm sure the MKS 47, like their other projects, will see the light of day in future.

I am not denying that a new class 37 isn't welcome, it is very much, although I do think the ones that came with WHL and the improvements AP made to the ones with the Wherry Lines breathed some new life into the models. The 47 which is one of the most important and useful diesels is archaic and even with the AP sound pack lags far behind. The DTG Virgin one is an improvement admittedly.

The trouble is with two, what I assume will be fairly advanced models is that one will probably outsell the other and it will come down to who releases first or who markets theirs better, it will certainly affect sales of one or both of them..

Peter

I do feel that Railright might have shot themselves in the foot by being very quite about progress, they did also have AP on board with the class 40, this time AP are with MKS, I was always looking forward to Railrights 37, but are the sounds going to be to the same standards, I am steering towards the MKS product now as I know the sounds will be spot on AP on board, the class 460 was to a very high standard also.

To clear some things up 'officially' from the MKS side of things:

RailRight indicated in March of this year they were no longer finishing their 37. Many parties had been holding off any 37 related development in respect and waiting for the RailRight version. Once it was understood the RailRight 37 was no longer in development and no longer affiliated with AP, we (MKS) went ahead and started our own, as the 47 was still awaiting some work from another party. It is a shame we were not informed by the party privy to information of BOTH the sale of RailRight's 37 assets to JT, and the commencement of the MKS/AP 37 - as we would've been in a position to stand down.

As things stand, I expect both versions of the 37 to make it to market, and I'm sure both will be a ruddy good drive. It is a shame that an overlap has happened like this, but the fact it so rarely occurs is a testimony to the diligence and respect developers have towards each other, to avoid treading on toes.

Well said, Jordi

If past products are anything to go by, both will indeed be excellent advanced products but the AP version will have more realistic scenarios - with a lot of extra dependencies for lots of extra stock, to enable that realism.

I'll await both products with interest!

--Tim

This sounds like good news to us users as the more the competition the better the value offered. It will also incentivise the developers to get a move on and bring their product to market.