Meshtools Fowler Dock Tank now on Steam

[marcusboon]

Now on Steam: Fowler LMS Class 2F Dock Tank 0-6-0T by Meshtools...

[anthonye]

Can't see it, have you the link

Anthony

[crumplezone]

http://store.steampowered.com/app/277735/

[749006]

I'm a bit confused with this loco.

The pictures show the loco numbered as 47583, 47162, 47572 plus LMS 71xx
But these number were on the Fowler 3F 0-6-0 Jinty Locos
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/LMS_Fowler_Class_3F

The model is not a Jinty as the side tanks are wrong.
So what should the numbers be?

Peter

(It's not a Diesel or Electric so it's outside my area)

[marcusboon]

Numbers should be LMS 7160-7169, BR 47160-47169.

[malkymackay]

You could have looked up Wikipedia, which would have told you that the Dock Tanks were numbered:

LMS: 11270–11279
1934: 7100–7109
1939: 7160–7169
BR: 47160-47169

[rfletcher72]

I'm a bit confused with this loco.

The pictures show the loco numbered as 47583, 47162, 47572 plus LMS 71xx
But these number were on the Fowler 3F 0-6-0 Jinty Locos
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/LMS_Fowler_Class_3F

The model is not a Jinty as the side tanks are wrong.
So what should the numbers be?

Peter

(It's not a Diesel or Electric so it's outside my area)

We have been down this road many, many times in the past, be it with numbers, headcodes, headlamps etc.. It is a simple task as we all know to number/configure a loco to whatever we wish once the DLC is in the purchaser's editor,

Regards,

[metrobus]

Oops, they auto numbers on the [std] version appear to be referencing the wrong file, the ones on the [adv] version work fine though.
Regards
Edward

[rfletcher72]

Just a thought

If it is that the auto-number.dcsv file is loaded up with 3F numbers, again, is it really the end of the world? The point, again, is that we can number them to suit our requirements.

Richard

[metrobus]

Its my oversight, It would appear that when we did the auto numbers we altered the [Adv] version but we completely forgot about the [Std].
regards
Edward

[metrobus]

For anybody interested a short video of me shunting with the dock tank
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gUWwWUDem2Q
regards
Edward

[plewsy2105]

just had a drive about with the dock tank and a few vans and i must say what a brilliant little engine well worth it. i love the weathered versions makes it look like a real workhorse.

loving the engine

Plewsy2105

[crumplezone]

Anyways bought this little devil of a loco few hours ago and I have to say this is another excellent release from Meshtools. It really does capture the spirit of these working small tank locos and I intend to elaborate on this as I type.

Firstly this is the LMS docktank which some folks can get easily confused with the USA docktank, they are quite similar in wheel arrangement and generalised shape but notability differences comes to boiler domes, firebox and water tank shapes.

How is it to drive?

Really quite pleasant even in advanced mode. It has a noticable amount of UMPH to its regulator settings and it can catch you off guard on shunting e.g. applying 20-30% on regulator ended up me slamming two BR Vans straight off the rails since this thing picks up speed quite quickly. Also for 2F power classification it is surprisingly powerful and can manage the gradients all the way to falmouth quite easily at a steady pace of around 29mph and 19mph on the steeper gradient with a 8 wagon load behind it.

Interesting aspects of driving is the way wheelslip and braking works. If you have ever seen some achieve footage or just industrials moving heavy loads at coaling areas or steel mills a really distinctive characteristic is normally seen. This is namely the rather somewhat handfisted approach to using these little locomotives and is the way they wheelslip with changing reverser direction abruptly while brakes are on. The 2F replicates this extremely well, the wheels will slip with sudden change with brakes applied and they wheels will jerk in the direction of the reverser direction. Its a really nice thing to see. It really is quite satisifying to see and just another additional feature/animation which adds another level of realism.

Livery and 3D Model:

3D model wise this is up the usual high quality standard meshtools has been doing and the wheels correctly have counterweights *poke Edward* From reference photographs I can find of the docktank the model and the real thing seems almost completely identical and I cannot really fault it 3D modelling front. Livery wise the liveries are again very good and cover LMS era and BR early and late with different level of weathering.

Cab wise its very good to and most of not all knobs and levers turn and are usable, lighting is also particularly good and not to differcult to see anything in cab. Plenty of non-locomotive related items also move which includes the cab doors and windows.

Also to note is working outside animated brakes which clamp onto the wheels when you apply the steam brake, another very nice immersive feature.

To add to this included in the pack is some excellent BR vans with wagon classification XP (if I remembering rightfully) which are as high quality as the loco itself and look really good behind the docktank aswell as serve as additional rolling stock for other BR steam era locations.

Sound:

Sounds are now the bread and butter of every release and make and break addons, safe to say the docktank is adequately supplied with sounds, one will however note they are similar or are the Jinty's soundset in both chuff,whistle and other various noises one omissions is that the rod clonk is different which should be as the jinty and docktank have considerable different type of connection rod setup.

Sounds are in general high quality again and it doesn't particularly sound to wierd having the Jinty sounds on the docktank and be quite honest it fits quite well.

Scenarios and Particle effects:

Scenarios included are 3 for advanced and 3 for standard featuring the falmouth branch, one could argue that a LMS docktank probably wouldn't be seen on a GWR route like Falmouth but Falmouth is BR days rather than GWR so it can be forgiven that a LMS interloper is on the route . Scenarios seem to be a varied different degree of differculty and I have personally completely the trip to Falmouth with the docktank successfully and without to much issue, but mind the downward hills as you go.

Particle effects are the usual which have been present on the last few releases, simple but sufficient and they work well with the loco. The usual steam effects are applied to the cyclinder being open, under the loco from under the cab, water steam release from pipes when applying water and usual hard working cinder flakes from chuff smoke when your working this little devil.

Final Thoughts:

Overall we have had quite a taste of new steam locos recently for TS2014 and Meshtools and the other 3rd party developers have proven that done properly the locomotives look, sound and feel like the real things in digital format. Its a credit to 3rd party devs that we still get these feature pack locos when the main developer of the simulator generally doesn't push for anything above a straight standard setup and I for one are thankful that these types of addons get released.

So is it worth buying? Yes if you like Meshtools previous locos and yes if you like industrial type locos. Its not particularly suited to passenger service since it only has a steam brake so if you are considering to buy for that its probably not as suitable but for everything else and if you like shunting then its worth getting. Its yet another characterful locomotive to have on a route and for scenario purposes it would be interesting to see one of these busy away shunting wagons while you prepare for another train.

Since I usually don't finish without screens, here is a few to show what your being provided with and also what the cab views are like to:

[PeterPeddlesden]

This thread was removed briefly to sanitise the argumentative drivel that some users deemed necessary in having their say.

Rather than wading in with your size x boots, use the Report to Moderator button to have the problem resolved.

[emrhd01]

Nice little Loco, well done to all concerned, good addition to the Steam Loco fleet.

Please take this only as an observation and not a critical comment, but I noticed a strange shadow effect in the above video between 56secs and 1m:06s, the wagons are showing wheel shadows, but the 2F Loco is not.