Slovenska Strela M290 Slovakia Arrow... need help .eng

[slipperman]

Hi Rudi,
I'm sure that I also speak for Sam, and the others, when I say that I am pleased to be of any help with your project.
I'm surprised that the Czech Forum wasn't helpful. I am a member of three MSTS/ORTS Forums and without exception, all will offer help and advice to any other member who asks for it.

You mentioned that you were having trouble with the horn sound. Could you provide, maybe, a Youtube link to let we 'foreigners' know what the M290 horn should sound like?.

Cheers,
Ged

EDIT : I've found a Youtube video! - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MCoRL8QM8y8
I don't think the sound we have in the current version, after removing the FrequencyCurve entry, is too far away.

[rudedog97]

Thank-you Sam. I hope you enjoy your trip. I also wanted to make sure you found my comments on things like the yellow floor funny and that you know the efforts by you and the rest of the contributors on here are appreciated.

I hAve been trying to build this train and one more for over 10 years! I had many faulse starts over the years. This included trying to find a modelor who would be willing to learn the specifics of MSTS and OR. I had plenty of people who could draw it but not many who would be willing to make it work in the game.

The other problem is the forums I would use were not very willing to help. This surprised me especially in the Czech MSTS since I am Czech and the strela is quite famous historical landmark.

I want to make sure that all of you guys know just how much I appreciate the help. Me and with Dingo got pretty far but now we just need to finish it up. We have a few items left to make this an amazing addon. Withiut you and the rest of the guys on here this project would stall or be put out incomplete.

[CurlSnout]

Sam I am not sure if I said something wrong. If I did I apologize....

Ahoy, Rudi!

I don't know what all of this means and can't imagine why you might feel compelled to offer apologies. Everything is fine here. Sincerely.

I will be travelling for the next week or two, into spaces where cell phone and internet services are unreliable. I will try to check in on the forums remotely if and when I can. Interested to see what you cook up as you move forward with the M290.

All the best,

Sam

ps: There is nothing special about the lights that I cobbled together. There were no proper lights on the original model that was made available, and I just wanted some lights that were arranged in space properly and could be turned on and off in some fashion. I have no firsthand knowledge of how the lights were configured on the real thing. Everyone is free to implement their own lights any way they want to - add more lights, use fewer lights, relocate them, change the color(s), make them flash, etc.

The 'Coals to Newcastle' site provides a nice summary that describes the parameters involved:

Coals to Newcastle | Physics | Lights - OR Parameters

(This is an Open Rails site, but I believe most if not all of this applies equally to MSTS. I could be wrong about that.)

[slipperman]

Hi Rudi,
Using the MSTS Bin Patch, and Open Rails, if the cab is switched to the rear cab, the lights are automatically switched. I attached my revised Lights section to my post #156 which actually does this

Cheers,
Ged
.

[rudedog97]

I spent some time playing around with the headlights and taillights - adjusting positions (x, y, z coordinates) and rendering them controllable in ON/OFF fashion, depending on condition. Still subject to change, but for now I have this set up:

1) all lights are off by default



2) forward reflector (P) is on in the DIM condition



3) forward reflector AND headlights (white light) are on in the BRIGHT condition



4) tail lights (red) come on in the BRIGHT condition



I don't know how close this might be to the way it works in the world. But it works for me for now. If anyone else is interested I can post the *.eng file entries that make it so.

Peace,

Sam

Sam, as you know I am not a modeler expert but I am curious if the two lower lights can be modeled to have two light options?

The strela is by directional but unlike most trains it had only one bottom set of lights. When the real strela direction of travel was changed, they would attach red lens covers in the back so it would glow red.

Is there a way to toggle the light switch to simatate where if the say Z side is going forward they would show up white and if you pressed the light they would turn red if that side is now going backwards?

Just a thought.

To answer your question about the versions and the dark windows....when we first started this project we used the Kiha and the dash 9 as examples. This is why in the old model light sets and often those file names would show up. The tinted windows were in the old model but I did not like it because in 1936 there were no tinted windows on trains. Dingo made a low polly interior so you can see inside the train..looks more true to the real deal. We had a great passenger view model but that could not be used because in MSTS it would exceed the poly limit.

Most people I imagine build these models for OR. My goal was to make this train work in MSTS and OR. Did you and Dingo work out the light thing? Your lights gave it some character and look great.

[rudedog97]

Hi Rudi,
I see that you've posted on elvastower.com that you're still having problems with the in-cab sounds.

Using the .zip file you made available on 2 April, I have just re-installed the loco and have no problems with the cab sounds.
If you are using MSTS, make sure that the 'Quantity of Sounds' setting is 'High'. This is accessed by the 'Options' button, then the 'SOUND' tab
If you're using Open Rails, make sure that 'Sound detail level' is set to 5; accessed by the 'Options' button, followed by the 'Audio' tab.

I made one minor change to the .eng file - remove line 404 [ DoesHornTriggerBell ( 1 ) ] or change the value from ( 1 ) to ( 0 )
and the following two changes to the M290strelacab.sms file :

1. Change the 'Horn' stream (lines 270 - 286) from :

TO

Note that removing the FrequencyCurve section results in the in-cab horn sound matching the external horn sound.

2. Remove the FrequencyCurve section from the 'Bell' stream (Strela horn very good.wav) - lines 292 - 299.

Cheers,
Ged

Great tip. Sorry I got distracted last week. Can I get the modified zip. Man if you got this to work you have fixed something that gave me nightmares. I have this suoer Soundstage and I am already seeing me not being able to use it or have to rework all the sounds into a fresh file. Can I get more detail what you did to male this work? Even if you send me the file? I am not 100% clear on what you did. I will change the settings in the game that part I understand.

[rudedog97]

We would not be where we are withiut Coursnout and Slipperman and others. Now if only we can figure out the sound thing. If I have to I will have to use a diferent file but, hope to find out why the wave file is being sped up for the horn and why the sounds..only in the cab don't work correctly. I can't ask for better support.

[rudedog97]

Sam I am not sure if I said something wrong. If I did I apologize. I am very grateful for the help thst you have already provided and I hope that you will continue to help us polish up this fantastic project. Getting help is usually very hard. We are also talking about some pretty old software with limitations that had to be overcome. I love your input. It's all about having fun, showing what can be done. When I first started working with my friend on here, I'd get purple strela along with leather seats strela. Something we played with had fun with but would not put into the final model. The lights do look amazing. There is a list of tweaks thst I still want to finish but we are where we are thanks to you and others. I want to.make sure you know that your contributions are appriciated.

[CurlSnout]

A few screen captures of what's on hand for now - here in the Pacific NW cherry trees are currently in full bloom - before the M290's restrooms are relocated:









Hi-Ho,

cs

[PeskyDingo]

Thanks CurlSnout and slipperman. I'll apply what you guys have for the lights to the ENG. I've also added side views for the Cab. So that will be in the next upload. I'm knocking out a punch list of what still needs to be done. And we are close to completion by the looks of things. Still got a few things to add but all looks good.

[CurlSnout]

Hello Ged,

I encourage you to not fight your urges but, rather, to embrace them! One of the great things about working together to develop a model for the sim (this thread is a good example) is that someone can show what they have and ask for help. Others can bang away at it, change things around, and try to help move the project forward. The developers, and other users, are free to incorporate suggestions - or not. I have shown some of the changes that I have made that work for me, and offered to share them if anyone else is interested. I don't really care if anyone takes me up on the offer. In the context of other things that are going on in my life right now, none of this stuff is that important to me.

There are MANY projects available out there. I hope you all have fun with this one.

Peace,

Sam

[slipperman]

Hi Sam,
Out of respect, I have not changed your lights entries (although I fought the urge to do so !!) but have extended the section to include Cab Switch and AI lights, making a total of 19 Light entries.
However, I have reformatted the section to make it easier to read - hope you don't mind!

Attached is my revised Lights section.

Cheers,
Ged
M290 - Revised Lights.zip

[slipperman]

Hi Sam,
Sorry, mate, the '19' was based on ALL versions uploaded before the 'Dash9' version, so I stand by it.

Based on PeskyDingo's previous posts, it would appear that he's using MSTS, primarily. However, I could have got that wong, also!

As far as I am aware, Open Rails accepts lights coded according to those used in the Bin Patch enhanced MSTS so they shouldn't cause a problem.

Although your lights seem to be correctly positioned (compared with the original), they, unfortunately, make no allowance for cab switching or AI use of the vehicle.
I am awaiting answers to my lighting queries, but I would have thought that, at least, the rear red lights should be illuminated at all times, not just when the headlight switch is set to Full.

Cheers,
Ged

[CurlSnout]

Hi Ged,

There was no intention for anyone to use this *.eng file in its entirety or for this *.eng to replace the one that comes with the new model (I clearly stated in my post that this was for the earlier model) - only for the lights section to be taken out and used in place of the Dash9 lights, which are certainly NOT suited to the M290. This was/is the *.eng file that I have modified for my own use with the older M290 model.

As far the number of lights goes, the file I uploaded provides for:

1) The front reflector (dim and bright)
2) Front headlights - left and right (dim and bright)
3) A central light cone in front (dim and bright)
4) Rear tail lights - left and right (on under bright conditions)

The latest version of the M290 (2 April) does not contain 19 lights, it contains 10 lights. Earlier iterations of the M290 described 19 lights. The (10) lights described in the latest version of the M290 are the (default MSTS) Dash9 lights - which have nothing to do with the M290. And, many of the 19 lights described in the various versions of the (earlier) M290 are non-functional or non-existent - AI and cab lamps. Rudi has indicated in his 'wish list' that he would like to get some of the dashboard lights in the cab working. I don't know what the AI lights are.

Anyway, copying/pasting the lights section from my file into the new/current (?) M290 eng file (replacing the existing lights section, NOT adding to it) will at least provide the lights I described above and back in post #121. I have tested them, and they work - in BOTH the old M290 and the new M290. Anyone/everyone is free to modify any or all of this and add as many lights as they want.

Finally, I'm running Open Rails exclusively, and heavily edited the *.eng file (including the description section that shows up in OR) for my own use - so any and all line numbers in the text I uploaded have zero connection to anything that was reported and corrected previously.

Sam

PeskyDingo asked for an ENG file so that's what I provided. Here is the lights section alone:

[slipperman]

Hi Sam,
Sorry, mate, but the .eng file just uploaded uses an old shape file which doesn't have transparent windows - CSD_M290_Slovenska_Strela.s.
Also, it uses a non-existent .sms file - M290.0eng.sms
In MSTS, the .eng file is rejected because line 458 ends with '+'. This, I believe,.was reported and corrected some time ago!
It contains only 8 Light sections whereas the latest version (2 April 2024) contains 19.

Within the file, it is dated January 2024, which means it might contain other unresolved errors - I haven't checked it any further.

Cheers,
Ged