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Have you ever notice that MSTS really only has empty coal cars? It appears that someone felt that since cars where the load can't be seen would only be set out as a loaded car. Check the boxcars and you will see a comment line for a 40ft boxcar such as "comment empty 27.657t, loaded 58.963t" or a 50 ft boxcar "comment empty 27.657, loaded 77.163." Then you will normally find that you have just one wag file with a Mass for the loaded weight provided. This same type data exists for tankers, hoppers, coil, and other self enclosed cars. What does this mean, you may ask?The mass is calculated by MSTS and impacts the capability of the engines. If all cars in a train provide a fully loaded mass weight then the train engines will function accordingly, and by necessity trains will most likely be shorter than reality--unless you assume trains only carry fully loaded cars except coal cars.Empty box cars, coil cars, tankers, etc can easily be created from the wag file for the fully loaded cars. I simply add _empty to the wagon line and to the file name by using the "save as" method. You must also change the Mass line to read the empty weight. I also include a Name line where I include EMPTY to show in the Activity Editor the status of the cars. Since the shape of self-enclosed cars are not changed there is no need for new .s and .sd files.I have noticed a variation in mass weights given for the same type of car. You may want to make all cars of the same type to have a common mass weight. That will help on adding up total weight of a train and then determining how much horse power is needed to move it.Bob Edwards
It means files need to be created. Oops, many already have, with corrected friction lines - look in my forum at www.3dtrains.com and you will find them.They will be going through an updating in the near future with more upgrades that will include revised breaking and coupler sections.TIP: when building consists in conbuilder, add the engines last, you will get a train weight without having to remember what cars you used.Kevin Arceneaux DEFAULT IS FOR DUMMIES Cry havoc and Let slip the dogs of war. It's fun being CRAZY!!!!! Lone Wolf Activities Forum and Activity Packs are on www.3DTrains.com
Kevin,Thanks for the tip on Conbuilder. Is there any other utility that gives a total train weight? Some unit train consists are easy to add up, but others would require a lot of time and calculations.Are you in agreement that the total train weight in proportion to correct power and engine weight has a big impact on the proper function of the player train and that this fact is being ignored by some of us? I don't think it applies as much to AI trains--they seem to move at the rate of the speed limit regardless of properly configured or not.I signed into your forum trying to find the files you mentioned and did a searh with "corrected friction lines" and it came up empty. I don't know just what I am looking for with the info you gave. Please advise.Bob
Look in the Lone Wolf activities forum,revised eng & wag subforum.Kevin Arceneaux DEFAULT IS FOR DUMMIES Cry havoc and Let slip the dogs of war. It's fun being CRAZY!!!!! Lone Wolf Activities Forum and Activity Packs are on www.3DTrains.com