Releases "BNSF 2098": Detailed Replacement Textures for the Default GP38-2

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE CONTACT:
Marketing Department
Spittler Engineering
Mail Stop GP38-2
Upland, CA 91786
marketing@juddspittler.com
www.juddspittler.com/spittler_engineering/

Spittler Engineering Releases "BNSF 2098":
Detailed Replacement Textures for the Default GP38-2

Upland, CA -- November 7, 2001 -- Spittler Engineering has announced the release of "BNSF 2098", its first product for Microsoft® Train Simulator. "'BNSF 2098' was conceived as a replacement for the default GP38-2 textures included with the simulator, and addresses many of its shortcomings", according to Judd Spittler, president of Spittler Engineering, and lead engineer for the BNSF 2098 project.

Improvements were made to all areas of the design, but Spittler's team is most proud of their work on the windows, the truck/wheel assembly, and also for their creative use of the 'lighting' features provided for in the ".eng" file. "The windows really add to the realism of the locomotive", Spittler noted.

Window features include:

• Resized and reshaped windows.
• Added dirt and wiper marks.
• Added simulated reflections.
• Darkened all interior textures

"Darkening the interior was one of the easiest things we did, and produced the greatest benefit. I am disappointed that more re-skinners don't do this," Spittler said. "The default locomotives have interior textures which are much too bright. Other re-skinners have apparently noticed this as well, but in most cases, their solution was to darken the window tint. For locomotives such as the GP38-2, this takes away a lot of realism."

Lighting techniques were used to create the illusion of reflections on shiny areas such as the wheels and hand railings. "Glow" lights within the ".eng" file were used to accomplish this. Another lighting trick was to adjust the color of the headlights in order to more closely simulate an "incandescent" look. "The pure white color I have seen on almost all the other locomotives just doesn't look real to me," Spittler added.

In addition to providing high quality freeware add-ons for Microsoft® Train Simulator, Spittler Engineering also makes an active effort to promote their advanced design techniques within the development community. "We consider ourselves a part of the community, and want to give at least as much as we take," said Spittler. The organization encourages other designers to study its products, and incorporate favorite features into their own designs. "I download more locomotives than I upload," added Spittler, with a smile.

The release of BNSF 2098 follows over four months of development.

Spittler Engineering is privately held, and was established in Upland, CA in 2001. For additional information visit
www.juddspittler.com/spittler_engineering/.

BNSF 2098 may be downloaded from the Train-Sim.Com file library. Search for "2098".