DT Rebuilt Westcountry

[Dave4468]

If it wasn't for the Steam sale, and the upcoming 70, and my current interest in modern stuff I'd buy this!

No doubt I will eventually.

[emrhd01]

What are the sounds like, if you don't mind me asking, as there does not seem to a video anywhere (even You Tube).

[bristolian]

What are the sounds like, if you don't mind me asking, as there does not seem to a video anywhere (even You Tube).

I'll let you know soon, possibly they might have used the Spam Can sounds?

Very Best Wishes,
Bob.

[emrhd01]

Thanks Bob, I'll keep an eye out for your report.

[bristolian]

Thanks Bob, I'll keep an eye out for your report.

Sounds superb

Very Best Wishes,
Bob.

[anthonye]

Just tried it again and the download link now works

Anthony

Yes, I just called them to tell them, they fixed the link while I was on the phone .

Very Best Wishes,
Bob.

I did the same

[anthonye]

This one is really worth the money, sounds are great and I like the Headcode system.
I run it on my Barnstaple to Ilfracombe route although they did not run on it because of the weight after rebuilt, only the un-rebuilts ran on it. I don't care though it's great.

Anthony

[chrisreb]

Well the loco looks really great and animation looksspot on. Very soft engine beat.

However 15 mins into Extra Load scenario got an AI collision so will have to start again.

Also may be one of those steamers that derail when resuming a scenario when not halted.

Off for another go at another scenario.

Also the Maunsell coaches look very impressive. Trying out a passenger scenario and the Rebuilt LP seems a dream to drive - very responsive with good levels of control possible.

[crumplezone]

Very nice surprise to see this released a day earlier than what DT thought it might be out for, so purchased right away and yay for reward points.

First, at £12.25 this is arguably a steal of a asking price for the work put in, I took a additional £2 off with reward points so got it for £10.25 which is much appreciated and one of the many reasons why I enjoy purchasing from JT.

The package includes 10 named locomotives of the class which is very nice to see and also includes Mansuell Brake, Composite, Third brake and finally Third coach in BR southern green liveries. I personally believe this is great value for money and your getting a complete pack of both the locomotive and accurate passenger stock to be pulled behind the rebuilt light pacific.

Model wise the Rebuilt light pacific is the best digital traction has done thus far and at exceedingly high detail, the entire locomotive is rendered extremely well and takes full advantage of TS2012s shadow, lighting and texturing system. Weather it is accurate to drawings others will have to confirm as I do not have those details but from a look around the locomotive everything seems to be there and modelled in high detail. Livery is top class aswell, its not to dark, its not to light, those who have seen Sir Archibald Sinclair in action might note that the green is a different shade on the real locomotive and not as dark as represented here, but for arguements sake getting a completely accurate real to life colour has always been differcult in digital format, so DT has done a excellent job.

Cab is well represented aswell, however to note it is a modern day era cab with AWS box, the camera view is good and your not right on the controls either and can look around 360 without much in the way to spoil view.

Effects of the locomotive, e.g. lights and smoke are equally good, the cab has multiple togglable light sources which can be found out how to toggle via the manual, it also has full operational on the fly disc codes which are controlled by ctrl+shift+ 1 through 6 keys, lights only toggle on when the disc are present, as noted in the manual. Chuff smoke is well done, and not to aggressive on the particles which is what the light pacific had in the past. Cyclinder cocks open provide a large exshaust of steam infront of the locomotive just like the real thing and the boiler valves release steam regularly and interact with boiler difference in boiler pressure.

Sound wise the rebuilt light pacific is pretty close to the real thing. Chuff beat is the soft yet constant beat which is associated with the rebuilts, the rebuilts do not have a excessively loud chuff beat compared to say a LMS or GWR locomotive, but from what digital traction have recorded it is accurate to what they should be like. One nice thing to note is as the rebuilt light pacific gets up in speed the regular hiss-hiss-hiss-hiss from steam release from the area around the cyclinders becomes present and the chuff beat seems to hold together well.

Whistle is as the light pacific in prior DT release, again this is actually accurate as the locomotives whistles were not replaced in the rebuilding of the locomotives to the new design, it also allows for long drags on the whistle and there is no noticable abrupt cut off or loop of the whistle so its pleasing to hear.

There is a few other sounds which are similar to the light pacific release but its honestly to be expected the two locomotive designs prior and after rebuild were still very similar so in general they would arguably sound quite similar, it doesn't detract or take away from the rebuilt light pacific and to be honest I think the locomotive is well represented in the sound department so it compliments the excellent modelling effort.

Driving her is a pleasure, good responsiveness, braking is pretty good and strong. It has a fair bit of power aswell yet doesn't have the hellcat feel which the light pacific had in prior release, so its not powering up a 1in50 with no sweat on its brow. She accelerates well in a constant manner, not abrupt or to overzealous either and responds well to regulator and reverser levels from what I've driven thus far and also seems to be a fairly decent steamer which I think from what I have read about the rebuilts is pretty close in accuracy.

Overall this package is excellent both for the quality of finish aswell as pricing, its a complete package providing both locomotive and correct passenger stock aswell as on the fly disc code changing and multi-optional cab lighting and a good selection of names for the class it represents. For a complete pack, that being graphics, sound, attention to detail and functionality, DTs rebuilt light pacific is probably one of the best steamers which can be bought for TS2012, add to the fact it utilises the new features brought in by TS2012 without it looking bad or over zealous to.

Detail and model: 10/10
Sound: 9/10
Rolling stock and naming: 10/10
scenarios: 7/10 (I would have liked to see more and maybe JT doing a few for there Exeter route)

So well done Digital Traction, if this is the trend to which you will be following with future releases then I will be putting money down for future purchases, I've waited awhile for this release and certainly don't feel let down.

Ofcourse, this short review wouldn't be anything without atleast a ingame shot(and yes, that is Bath Templecombe route, just a trackswap for woodhead track, hence the different track):

[msdejesus]

Just checked the DT site, but for the life of me that I have not seen this on the products list page...could anyone give me a link, please?

I must say it looks great.

Thanks,

Manuel

[crumplezone]

Just checked the DT site, but for the life of me that I have not seen this on the products list page...could anyone give me a link, please?

I must say it looks great.

Thanks,

Manuel

They published it through Just Trains and will be updating their website later today.

http://www.justtrains.net/product.asp?pid=942

[msdejesus]

Thanks a lot. Will check it out.

Regards

Manuel

[conireland]

90% sure that I'll buy this at some point. Could do with a video to view the engine in action to convince me though

[SquidvT]

Just got this and took it for a spin.

Beautiful Model and Texturing. One of the Best RW Trains in that respect. Sounds are good (perhaps some initial louder chuffs when pulling away would be nice) it feels and sounds right.

Some nice features, like the head code system. Detailed cab and clear cab.

Few Slight Niggles

1 I can get the firebox Doors to open using the mouse or the keyboard, only the F4 hud. As one who likes to drive with the hud off, this is a bit of a pain. Is anyone else seeing this? It seems wierd that you can alter the drivers and firemans seat positions but not open the doors?

2) Only 4 scenairos, not a big problem, Im sure that the community will step upto the task given how lovely this engine is (Perhaps given the hints from RSC there will be a nice new southern route to take her out on in the near future).

3) Cant see much from the cab, I know this is pretty much true of a loot of the RWs trains, but it would be nice to use those Drivers and Firemans windows.

All in all though I pretty chuffed, the firebox door is an issue, the rest Im really clutching at straws to find negatives.

[crumplezone]

Just got this and took it for a spin.

Beautiful Model and Texturing. One of the Best RW Trains in that respect. Sounds are good (perhaps some initial louder chuffs when pulling away would be nice) it feels and sounds right.

Some nice features, like the head code system. Detailed cab and clear cab.

Few Slight Niggles

1 I can get the firebox Doors to open using the mouse or the keyboard, only the F4 hud. As one who likes to drive with the hud off, this is a bit of a pain. Is anyone else seeing this? It seems wierd that you can alter the drivers and firemans seat positions but not open the doors?

2) Only 4 scenairos, not a big problem, Im sure that the community will step upto the task given how lovely this engine is (Perhaps given the hints from RSC there will be a nice new southern route to take her out on in the near future).

3) Cant see much from the cab, I know this is pretty much true of a loot of the RWs trains, but it would be nice to use those Drivers and Firemans windows.

All in all though I pretty chuffed, the firebox door is an issue, the rest Im really clutching at straws to find negatives.

Just checked the firebox door, doesn't seem to be mapped to the F key or has any clickable control area for the firebox, probably something overlooked/bug.

Cab view wise, the real life counterparts are actually just as bad for view for the most part, normally its a stick head out of window affair when it comes to seeing ahead, the spam cans were worse view wise due to the streamlining, so I suppose one could argue its accurate. Though suppose it would be nice, I think you can edit the viewpoint in the files, have to ask about, I'm not sure how its done.

Quite enjoying getting this over the bath-templecombe scenarios, its got alot of clout to tackle the hills, but its not all plain sailing, but pleasant nontheless.