Separation or Complete Packaging?

[CSRX]

It's crazy - with the bare minimum of US content being released as freeware, this got me pretty excited. So much to look forward to.
Very grateful, Shawn.

At least you'll be knowing, at least 61 pieces of the 85+ car package, is freeware content.
Though I admit, I've been slowly moving towards using mostly trainsimulations payware products for my repaints.
As seen here with some of the tanks, center beams, and hoppers.

[R. Steele]

Geeze... A whole trainset, how generous...thanks for your time and effort...Best Cheer to you and yours for the Holidays.
Thanks Santa Shawn

SantaBlues.jpeg

[derekmorton]

Though I admit, I've been slowly moving towards using mostly trainsimulations payware products for my repaints.

I think that is understandable, they make very good shape files.
I for one own 95% of their content.

[conductorchris]

It looks beautiful and I'm sure looking forward to it.

Like others, I feel that the most important thing is to do whatever is easiest for you to get released.

I have thought some about this question with my own releases. My conclusion is:
bigger sets are better than smaller as it limits downloads if someone creates activities or activity generator templates. For me, I concluded that about 16 cars was an ideal package size.
I also concluded it would be more user-friendly to split the packs up by car type so they can be found when searching the file library for that car type. But that may mean more work for you and I think getting them out the door is more important than every last detail.
Christopher

[lineman]

Thank you sir!!

[jbtower]

Amazing Shawn thanks for contributing to our hobby!!!!

[CSRX]

Thanks for all the kind words. I haven't forgotten yet, but working 6:30pm to 6:30am Tuesday through Saturday really kills my vibe for ORTS time.
Two things:
Number one, I have some edits to the wagon files, specifically the freeware files. While the weights of the cars match realistically to what we see on the VRS, I should edit the rest of the physics to match that of what was done to the salt car package I uploaded a while back. Once that's squared away, I can finally release the freeware package.
Number two, if anyone had noticed in the video I shared, I had a total of six? GATX locomotives, that we ran on VRS last year, and are now currently being used by NBSR, except 2617/2687, those two piles of junk we decided to keep.. everything is good to go in those, except the lighting. I think I managed with the 2687, but anyone willing to give a go on the light section of those engines, and then I can release those as well with the package? I probably can sneak in the Guilford GP40's and a couple others as well that I finished and never released. (VRS power I've done needs some freight animations I have yet to figure out how to make, CLP 204 needs a plow..)


Due note, this complete package will be ORTS only, they will not work in MSTS, and there is a heavy mix of DDS textures as well as ACE texture files. (I've been doing DDS as of recent, the ace files are the older ones I haven't released yet, dating from late 2019 early 2020.)

[CSRX]

I was hoping to get the freeware package out this weekend, but I am currently laid up on rest. Had a work related injury and currently looking into the results..
I'll see what I can do with this package soon!

[Curt C]

Hope it's nothing too serious Shawn, and that you're up and about soon! We'll look forward to the set.

[CSRX]

Hope it's nothing too serious Shawn, and that you're up and about soon! We'll look forward to the set.

Thankfully it's nothing too serious. It's enough to keep me out of work for a week or two, but nothing major like a Concussion or Nerve Damage, which are the two things I was most worried about.
Basically, keep a heat pad to my neck, do physically therapy, and it should help reduce the tension in my muscles and hopefully remove the knots, that are also possibly pinching my nerves in the area.

Anyways, today I am going to go through, and see about getting the physics up to their ORTS standards versus MSTS.

[R. Steele]

Thankfully it's nothing too serious. It's enough to keep me out of work for a week or two, but nothing major like a Concussion or Nerve Damage, which are the two things I was most worried about.
Basically, keep a heat pad to my neck, do physically therapy, and it should help reduce the tension in my muscles and hopefully remove the knots, that are also possibly pinching my nerves in the area.

Anyways, today I am going to go through, and see about getting the physics up to their ORTS standards versus MSTS.

Thank goodness, glad to hear that. Be well Shawn. It's a HUGE -- Immeasurable -- difference between the professional and sitting in a chair moving trains around with keystrokes....Take care of yourself...Happy and Healthy New Year to you and yours, Gerry

[CSRX]

Thank goodness, glad to hear that. Be well Shawn. It's a HUGE -- Immeasurable -- difference between the professional and sitting in a chair moving trains around with keystrokes....Take care of yourself...Happy and Healthy New Year to you and yours, Gerry

Thanks Gerry,
It was a bit of a scary situation that I thought was going to end my career. There was a massive vibration from the railcar, that went up through my left arm, into my neck and ended there. I apparently tensed up and my muscles got all knotted up. Once we returned to the home terminal, I noticed my arm went numb, and then tingled. Thought nothing of it. Had a massive headache for two days, ended up going to the Hospital Emergency Room, and they discovered it was a tension headache, plus being extremely dehydrated didn't help my case. They pumped me with IV and drug mixture to help, and the next few days were laying on the couch at home 24 hours, or more.
Went to occupational health to figure out why I was still feeling a headache, nausea, pain in the neck, and tingle feeling in the legs and arm. Turns out my neck was so tensed up, that is put knots in my neck and shoulders, pinching a nerve, which has greatly dropped since using a heating pad.
I'll find out Friday if I need an additional week off to recover or if they feel I am okay to go back to work.

Amazing what can happen to you out in the field if you even slightly lose thought just for a second on what you are doing.



Anyways,
Today I tweak the physics to best match that of ORTS standards versus MSTS standards, and redone most of the tonnage ratings to better match what the cars are designed for. Hadn't noticed that ORTS still goes with metric tons..

[R. Steele]

I completely understand, having had jobs in the past that required that level of continuous concentration. After a while performing the job you do arrive at a level of competence that allows you to carry on normal conversation while doing the job...and THAT's the point you have to become very aware of your surroundings and not take your abilities for granted...sh*%)^*t happens, even if you have nothing to do with it happening...just jumps out at you.

Tension headaches...are not only a PITA they are a royal pain in the head. I've had 'em. Relax, heal...give it some time.

Was there a determination what provoked that level of vibration?

See, that's another thing that does not happen when you're using the keyboard...or RailDriver to run OR. Thanks Goodness!

[CSRX]

I have tested the cars with ORTS based physics, and they should be ready for release. Hope to get them out soon, just need to make a readme file for the freeware package, and we will be good to go.

Other good news. Returning to work this coming Monday. Headache has been reduced to slight pain account of my neck being so tense and tight muscles throughout. Amazing what can happen to the human body, just from a massive vibration. Can't imagine running a jack hammer for 10 hours..

[Curt C]

Glad to hear you're feeling better! Be safe out there.