Armstrong Powerhouse Mk1 Brakes - fixed

[maxtedrw]

Just treated myself to the AP Mk1 and Mk2 stock and very nice they are too. Major job updating all my consist fragments to replace the slightly oversized DT originals, bits and bobs of Kuju defaults and other suppliers to a nice consistent look. I also treated myself ( as a reward for laying 90+ paving slabs ) to the Bossman Patriot and Mogul. Really excellent and just that edge more difficulty that means you have to get to know the locos firing character properly.

I noticed that Bossman had a "AP coaches fix" available and so downloaded out of curiosity. Testing the AP coaches without the fix did indeed show that after starting off OK any mid journey braking to a halt caused the coach brakes to fail to come off when released by the loco. Confirmed this on my test track - the level straight between Thirsk and York on the East Coast route.

When I looked more closely at the AP set-up it has an Brake blueprint in the .bin file that contains separate Air Brake and Vacuum brake set-ups. The Bossman fix is to replace that entire brake section of the AP coaches .bin flies with a Vacuum only section. They do this within a separate duplicate of the .bin file ( presumably so as not to alter the originals). This replicates many of the default set-ups of Kuju stock ( and others such as Matrix etc). This differs from the other approach adopted for some of the UKTS freeware files which have a set-up with both air and vacuum brake data blueprint sections in a dual brake system.

The actual problem with the AP setup is not ( as Bossman suggest perhaps diplomatically ) that there is an inherent issue in Trainsim but that the vacuum section in the AP coach .bins actually seems to have a mistake in it. In the Vacuum Brake section it uses an eAirTwinPipe equipment type and not an eVacuumSinglePipe equipment type. When this mistake ( which looks like a search and replace error ) is removed then the coaches work just fine. Tested this on the test route section I use behind the Patriot.

I am testing also the more elegant solution arrived at by the UKTS freeware project folks of a dual system setup.

This is not a dig ( and please don't make it so ) at either AP or Bossman. Both products are fab and the sort of copy and replace error that I think happened is so easy to do. Anyway, if I get a fixed set of files I will make them available here. I know that Richard AP used to frequent here but I will send him a note as well.

[maxtedrw]

Yep just tested it.

The UKTS Freeware use of dual brake blueprint is the way to go. I will do a set for my AP file sand then copy them into a downloadable .zip. Because you have to download the originals anyway if you buy them you can always overwrite the "fix" so I will alter the default .bins so that consists etc and scenarios will continue to use the corrected files.

[IronBidder]

Have you reported what you've found to AP? It would be helpful if you did as it might lead to a universal fix of the problem.

[maxtedrw]

Yes I will be doing that once I have a .zip file of fixed files to send them so that they can make it available as a fix or use them to make a version 2 of the file.

Seems fairer than just pointing out the error if one also provides the solution as well.

[sbowness]

Good on ya.

[maxtedrw]

OK so I have just uploaded a zip file that contains the fixed .bin files for all of the AP mark1 stock. Its called AP_Mk1_Brakefix.zip. All you have to do is to open the zip and do the drag and drop thing and the originals will be overwritten with working vacuum and air braking.

[jetstream]

Excellent work, Richard. However, I'm clearly missing something so early in the day: where is this zip file?

[alanch]

Excellent work, Richard. However, I'm clearly missing something so early in the day: where is this zip file?

In the file library.

AP Mk1 Coaches - Vacuum Brake Fix - NOT NEEDED SINCE AUG 2020 [565741 bytes] - AP_Mark1_BrakeFix.zip File ID: 39948 Date: 20 Aug 2020 - 196 Downloads

[jetstream]

Ah, locked away in the UKTS vault - many thanks.

[749006]

Ah, locked away in the UKTS vault - many thanks.

Locked away?
Select and download - even if you are not a Premium member you can still download the files

[chrisreb]

Hope it gets adopted by AP. Whilst I am a Premium member of UKTS and am logged in it still shunts me to an empty Q and does nothing - and I pay for this!

[749006]

Hope it gets adopted by AP. Whilst I am a Premium member of UKTS and am logged in it still shunts me to an empty Q and does nothing - and I pay for this!

Then you should flag this - I just tried it and it took seconds to download
Try a different browser

[maxtedrw]

I have just uploaded a set of AP Mark2A-C brake fixes for that pack as well

Same fix as before, obviously less often noticed given the stock runs behind diesels usually... or at least in does in my youthful 1976 trainspotter world. AP are currently looking at the fix for the Mark 1s so watch this space.

[JohnM1945]

Thanks, Richard!

John M

[749006]

I have just uploaded a set of AP Mark2A-C brake fixes for that pack as well

AP_Mark2AB_BrakeFix.jpg

Same fix as before, obviously less often noticed given the stock runs behind diesels usually... or at least in does in my youthful 1976 trainspotter world. AP are currently looking at the fix for the Mark 1s so watch this space.

What is the problem with the Mk2A, B & C coaches as they are Air Braked Only - do the brakes not work correctly?