Quick Question for Engine file experts...

[rdamurphy]

Per the MSTS Techdocs:

"DieselSmokeEffectInitialMagnitude Train Simulator is able to realistically simulate the way a diesel locomotive may produce a different amount of smoke when the engine is first started (i.e. when the player takes control of the locomotive) and when it has been running for a while. Here you can set the initial magnitude of the smoke."

Does this actually do anything in MSTS?

Or is this one of those "features?" that never really got off the ground?

And then, what does this do?

"DieselSmokeEffectInitialSmokeRate The initial rate at which smoke will be produced."

And where does the idle smoke rate come from?

And can anyone point me to:

And can anyone point me to a copy of "Eng Manual v2.0e by Rudolf Richter", please.

Robert

[drelyea]

Hi,

I'm not an expert, but yes, changing the values will get a change in MSTS. The idle smoke rate is the Initial Smoke Rate.

The Initial Magnitude and the Max Magnitude set the range at which it will be produced. Initial Magnitude is also the idle magnitude.

Max magnitude and max rate are what is produced at the highest notch setting. (Some Honorary Steam Engines on the horizon, I think?)

Doug Relyea

[drelyea]

Hi,

The Eng Manual is at Steam 4 me, at this link: http://msts.steam4me.net/utilities/index.html#engwag

Doug Relyea

[rdamurphy]

So, what is the difference between the "range" and the "magnitude"?

[drelyea]

Hi,

rate is how many of the "animated" polys MSTS will send out the stack(s). Magnitude is how much it will stretch them size-wise.

Doug Relyea

[drelyea]

An example, shot in MSTS
scrgrb2first.jpg

These were the settings for the above shot, throttle in notch 8

DieselSmokeEffectInitialMagnitude( 1.2 )
DieselSmokeEffectMaxMagnitude( 1.8 )
DieselSmokeEffectInitialSmokeRate( 0.4 )
DieselSmokeEffectMaxSmokeRate( 3.1 )

scrgrb2.jpg

DieselSmokeEffectInitialMagnitude( 1.2 )
DieselSmokeEffectMaxMagnitude( 20.8 )
DieselSmokeEffectInitialSmokeRate( 0.4 )
DieselSmokeEffectMaxSmokeRate( 35.1 )

The settings for this shot, and only set on the lead unit. You have to hit the numbers fairly hard to get notable changes in MSTS on the Diesels.
For comparison, the units at idle
scrgrb0.jpg

Doug Relyea

[rdamurphy]

We're smokin' now!

Improvement? Still some tweaking to do, we're pulling the smoke plumes from the individual locomotive's engine file now.

I need some suggestions on freeware locomotives with particularly good smoke parameters for testing...

Robert

[drelyea]

Hi,

The real difficulty is that MSTS only permits one smoke file for diesels. DieselSmoke.ace in the Global folder Textures folder. One can change this to anything, but all the diesels will use that DieselSmoke.ace. Turbo charged, Non-turbocharged, 8, 12, 16 cylinders, 2 stroke, 4 stroke, Alco, EMD, FM and GE. ( and the rest )

Doug Relyea