Beiträge von PaulIP

🚍 Rocar De Simon U412-230 (WIP)

🗺 Podmiejska Bus&Tram

We're very short on time but we'll try!

Vehicle: Rathgeber M5.65 (WIP)

Map: Nowe Piekary Bus&Tram

FROHE OSTERN!

The last month was quite hectic for us (job-wise, in principal), so we've done little work to the M5.65. We couldn't miss out Catholic Easter however.

Genuine Italian, Genuine Romanian

In the previous episode we wrote about the exterior design changes brought to the Rocar De Simon over the years. Today we begin to look into the interior design changes. We dedicate an entire episode to the driver's post.

UL70's dashboard was genuine Italian, by and large taken over from the Inbus U210FT. However, the buttons and instruments were either locally sourced, or borrowed from other socialist bus makers.

With the debut of the U412-230 and the removal of the front windowlet, the dashboard is completely redesigned, bringing another genuine Romanian element to this bus.

The instruments' layout on the left and right consoles are also different from the UL70. The driver now has easier access to the gear selector and the two pressure gauges are in their field of view while driving.

The introduction of U412-260 marks the replacement of locally-made instruments with superior quality, German-made units. Additionally, in order to comply with European laws, the plain speedometer is replaced with a tachograph.

In the next episode we will write about the passenger cabin, where the improvements are just as substantial. Stay tuned! Until then, why don't you follow us on our social media:

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/roworksomsi
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@romanianworks
Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/roworksomsi

🇷🇴🚌🇮🇹 Authentic Romanian - Authentic Italian

💡 We continue the series of posts meant to showcase the evolution of the #Rocar #DeSimon bus throughout the years and we shall focus on the front and rear ends of the body. The RDS prototype was made from parts imported from Italy and assembled at the #Bucharest factory. This is why it borrowed several characteristics from genuine Italian INBUS #U210FT buses.

🔎 The most visible is the small window beneath the windshield. Its purpose, at least according to the Italian designers, was to increase visibility in the front-right corner and facilitate curb stops. In reality, the respective space was often occupied by various objects (fire extinguishers, for example), so the window remained a purely aesthetical feature. It’s no wonder that, during the production optimization, ROCAR did away with it (coinciding with the complete redesigning of the dashboard, which we will cover in the next episode).

🛠️ The front bumper was also redesigned. U412-260 marked the appearance of a single-piece bumper in lieu of the two-piece bumper flanking the towing hitch.

⚙️ Financial reasons were grounds for redesigning the rear end as well. If UL70 had a “wraparound” bonnet, later models had a planar one, which meant repositioning the rear lights block. A license plate “niche” was also created.

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/roworksomsi

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@romanianworks

Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/roworksomsi

Genuine Romanian - Genuine Italian

Today we will present some of the elements which make our bus to be a genuine Romanian, genuine Italian. Its history started with the Italian Starbus UL70 prototype which was presented in Bucharest in 1992, and evolved into more than 300 Romanian license-built buses.

Probably it's no coincidence that the UL70 window handles were "star" shaped, given that the manufacturer was STARBUS. As a curiosity, this type of handle was extremely rare in Italy, the birthplace of the UL70. The overwhelming majority of the Italian buses had "drop-down" windows, which slide vertically, so it was very difficult to find pictures in which the "star" handle is clearly shown. By pure luck, a YouTube video of an interurban Inbus provided our long awaited answer. Thus, Italian fans, as well as Romanian fans can enjoy a genuine Italian feature in the upcoming RDS V2.

Bonus: the drivers of the UL70 will enjoy enhanced ventilation, thanks to the window panel which rotates about its median vertical axis.

The first series of the Romanian-assimilated U412-230 had window frames locally sourced from other Rocar products of the time. These are unique in design and functionality. The window handle has a complex shape, with one tooth which must be pulled out from the orifice in order to unlock the window and drag it open. Basically, the windows were designed to be locked in the open / closed position, as the window frame has two orifices where the window handle can be fixed. The handle itself has a rounded shape, with two rivets holding it on the metal plate which slides the window.

We've managed to model this system down to the finest details in OMSI2, thus, Rocar De Simon V2 will have yet another element which is genuine Romanian.

Bus: Rocar De Simon V2 (WIP)

Map: Steinkirchen V2

It's been a while since we last posted here about our Rocar De Simon bus pack, so it's time to wipe up the dust with a comprehensive changelog of fixed and improved features that Rocar De Simon V2 will bring. In the upcoming V2, besides recreating the entire RDS range of models that operated in Bucharest (and other parts of Romania), the released U412-260 will receive tonnes of updates on its geometries, scripts, textures and sounds.

Changelog:

- [NEW]: Hanover displays

- [Script]: improved gearbox script

- [Script]: improved engine script

- [Script]: rebuilt retarder script

- [Script]: randomised compressor power, so that some vehicles will build up air pressure with difficulty

- [Script]: rescripted low beam - high beam - flash sequence

- [Script]: optimised driver camera angles

- [Script]: doors are now fitted with sensors and will automatically reopen if they take too long to close
- [Script]: passengers who wish to board the bus will first wait for passengers who exit the bus

- [Sound]: new interior & exterior engine sounds

- [Sound]: new handbrake sound

- [Sound]: authentic cockipt switch sounds

- [Sound]: authentic horn

- [Texture]: authentic door textures

- [Texture]: added specific RDS reflexions for mirrors when navigating in F4 camera

- [Texture]: authentic wheel wells textures

- [Geometry]: authentic system for door mechanisms

- [Geometry]: redimensioned O-pelled matrix display to authentic dimensions

- [Geometry]: added front antenna

- [Text]: translated RDS descriptions to English in the OMSI 2 menu

- [Bugfix]: speedometer indicator is now illuminated

- [Bugfix]: fixed air pressure gauges and adjusted operating pressures in accordance with real life parameters

- [Bugfix]: fixed ECAS blinking light for pressures above 6 barg
- [Bugfix]: O-pelled console is now illuminated

- [Bugfix]: fixed AI idle engine sound

- [Bugfix]: battery light is no longer illuminated after emergency cut-off

- [Bugfix]: fixed roof hatch lights

- [Bugfix]: fixed UTI validators which no longer freeze date and time after battery switch-off

- [Bugfix]: fixed gearbox selector which could select both D and R simultaneously in specific scenarios

- [Bugfix]: fixed saloon temperature

- [Bugfix]: retarder whistle is no longer heard when gearbox is in Neutral

- [Bugfix]: fixed bus bounding box

FEBRUARY 2023 MEGA UPDATE + RW ANNIVERSARY

Today, the RomanianWorks community celebrates 3 years of content creation for OMSI 2! Unfortunately we are so busy that we barely have time to look at what we have achieved in these past years. Rocar De Simon V1 (Rocar De Simon U412-260 pack) has been downloaded more than 4.2k times, and the upcoming V2 release will transform it into a "virtual museum". Our dear oldtimer Rathgeber M5.65 is currently receiving tons of new geometry, textures, sounds and scripts, and is getting closer and closer to BETA release. So let's talk about what makes this project update so MEGA.

The heating console has been fully modelled, and the heating script is finalised and realistic. We used real life scenarios and estimations to determine how hot the tram would get, in order to size the heating power of each stage. But why is heating so important? Because it is a trademark of the Rathgeber M-Wagen. These trams have remained legendary for their powerful heating (among other things, of course!), that could sometimes even melt the soles of the shoes, stockings, dresses, plastic bags, etc.

The auxiliary post has been modelled, scripted and "sounded" (?!). The complex braking mechanism of the "Ra" ("Rangieren" = shunting) operation has been fully recreated, and the added authentic + high quality sounds make for a delightful "Ra" experience.

To make the "Ra" 100% genuine, we have scripted the "driver has key" feature, which says that the reverser key can only be in one location at any given time. This means that one always needs to remember where they left the key! We took the opportunity to rebuild everything related to the reverser, and the reverser key itself is now safely stowed away in the driver's cupboard.

What are the future steps: radio station, the geometry of the "Dozler" heating element and scripting the AI behaviour in "Ra" mode.

If you'd like to support this project and get a copy of the BETA version once it is released, you can join us on Patreon. Some of you have asked where can they download the tram, after joining Patreon. Please remember, the tram is not available yet. Anyone who has paid us a Patreon subscription before or after the BETA release, will have access to the tram, even if they are not on Patreon anymore, as long as the email address used on Patreon remains valid. If you have any questions about the project, you can contact us on Facebook, YouTube, WebDisk, Patreon, etc. We'll do what we can to help (but we can't give you a release date yet!). See you soon!

[Patreon]: https://www.patreon.com/roworksomsi
[Facebook]: https://www.facebook.com/roworksomsi
[YouTube]: https://www.youtube.com/@romanianworks

Tram: Rathgeber M5.65 (WIP)

Map: Essen-Gelsenkirchen DLC

Thanks for the suggestion, we'll see what we can do. 😃

This AI feature is very map specific and schedule specific and it's very hard for us to implement and test. Unfortunately, it is unlikely that we will make it.

DECEMBER + JANUARY (MEGA) UPDATE

🚋 It's been a hot minute since we've last posted a progress update, as we enjoyed our Christmas break. But part of the enjoyment comes from working on our dear oldtimer Rathgeber M5.65, so we've done so much in the past 2 months!

🏖️ Let's begin with the things you DON'T see in the photos. The tram has received sand: two tanks have been added over the two front wheels. One must be careful with this precious resource - spray too much, and you run out of sand.

💙 Combining the sand lever with the emergency brake button, we've unlocked yet another classic M-Wagen feature: when the driver commands the emergency brake (track brake), the sand lever drops and activates sand automatically. Thus, we now have fully functioning emergency brakes and sand dynamics.

🧮 The added weight on just the 2 front wheels was a good chance for us to re-write the wheel loading calculations for more realism.

🤖 Another big milestone was achieved last month, when we finished scripting the AI behaviour. The oldtimer is fully AI-capable and AI drives realistically, depending on weather conditions.

🖍️ And finally, the things you CAN see in the photos: the front coupler has been removed via [setvar], with the classic mask taking its place. But the biggest success that we've registered is the completion of the advertising templates, which is a huge win for the project because:

- they are very easy to work with, versatile, and highly customise-able, allowing for full creative control

- they follow original dimensions, obtained with the help of our German friends (whom we can't thank enough!)

- they will be fully compatible with the future V1 release, so any ads that modders do for the future BETA will not be lost

👣 What are the future steps: auxiliary driving post, cockpit heating console, radio station and the "Dozler" heating element.

⚠️ If you'd like to support this project and get a copy of the BETA version once it is released, you can join us on Patreon. Some of you have asked where can they download the tram, after joining Patreon. Please remember, the tram is not available yet. Anyone who has paid us a Patreon subscription before or after the BETA release, will have access to the tram, even if they are not on Patreon anymore, as long as the email address used on Patreon remains valid. We have a full list with those who contributed, so rest assured, we will find a way to contact you when the time comes, if you are no longer our Patron. And if you have any questions about the project, you can contact us too, on Facebook, YouTube, WebDisk, Patreon, etc. We'll do what we can to help (but we can't give you a release date yet!). See you soon!

Tram: Rathgeber M5.65 (WIP)
Map: Golczewo 2.0

Genuine Bavarian 🇩🇪

💙 Today we present you some of the external details that make our oldtimer Rathgeber M5.65 a genuine Bavarian.

🖼️ Whether we're talking about the rivets on the K sign, the last overhaul date, or even the 13th century Monk, every sticker has been specially hand crafted for this tram.

🚋 Of course, all these stickers will be present on the future BETA release, as well as on the final V1 release.

🌟❄️🚋 Happy New Year! 🚋❄️🌟

Tram: Rathgeber M5.65 (WIP)

Map: Gråkallbanen 0.5 Beta

Seasonal greetings! ❄️☃️🚋 It's that time of year again, when we roll out our ChristkindlTram. But after years of pandemics and restrictions, the oldtimer Rathgeber is now... a bit over-crowded! 🥶 (OR: the team is hard at work calibrating wheelslip condition in diverse weather and passenger loading scenarios)

Map: Gråkallbanen - Gråkallbanen (Norway) [Semi-Fictive] [BETA]

So similar yet so different...

Bus: Rocar De Simon UL70 & U412-260 (part of the Rocar De Simon family V2.0 WIP)

Map: obvious, I guess...

Repaint: RATB

OCTOBER + NOVEMBER UPDATE (+ PROJECT ANNOUNCEMENT)

Hello and welcome to the latest update for the project. Last month we treated you to a special video. This time we will talk more about the actual work invested behind the video.

The repaint template of this tram has been an endless debate within the RomanianWorks team. The original template was severely lacking, and we were very restricted in what we could show. On the exterior, the tram appeared in low quality in all aspects: paintjob, stickers, body characteristics, etc.

A few months ago, we've decided to take on the massive task of retexturing, remapping and remaking the tram template. Our philosophy is that a good beta tram must be able to provide the users with easy access to make this tram their own. And this is what we did. Besides remaking the paintjob to original RAL colour codes, we have also remade all stickers according to original dimensions. New stickers were also added to the tram, and all stickers are [setvar] adjustable. Of course, these high quality stickers will be kept for the V1 release.

Moreover, we have implemented a highly versatile arrangement for designing special plates (route plate, destination plate and front plate), so that the player can further customise each repaint with the help of setvars, then drive the tram with the desired plate configuration.

Last but not least, we have received full dimensions for body adverts. Thus, the player will have 100% authentic templates for the body & roof adverts upon BETA release. But that's not all! We will design these templates so that the adverts will be fully compatible with the V1 release too, preventing modders from working twice.

With all that being said, we have an announcement to make... unfortunately, the BETA cannot be released in 2022, as we were hoping. This is because we decided to do A LOT MORE work than we originally planned for the BETA. This work includes:

- all of the above notes;

- high quality exterior components;

- brand new systems built from scratch;

- interior rebuilds.

All these elements are being done at very high standards, and will then be imported onto the V1 version. This means that the BETA will be closer to the V1 in some aspects. We hope you will understand and allow us to continue working to release a BETA tram that will be far superior than originally planned.

See you next month with the next update!