Railworks America

After seeing the new release of the steam locomotive "Jupiter", I was wondering if it would be possible to do a repaint using it to create a version of the famed civil war locomotive "The General"?

I had planned on doing so re skins of the "Jupiter" as stand-ins for some US Millitary RR's,and maybe a B&O version. I am a huge fan of the "General",but it is too different to make a convincing look-a-like in my opinion. I took a look through the texture files,and they are mostly 2048x2048 files,and it takes so long to convert those back and forth during the re-paint process. When Smokebox first announced the Jupiter,I mentioned I planned on re-skinning a Leviathan version. There was an implication that was fine. But of course,he stepped up the game,and released all the sister locos in one pack,making it unnecessary. I have not yet read his license agreement to see if re-paints are a concern. But it will be a lengthy process,for a total re-skin,from what I can see. But someone might do it.

I have no problem at all with people doing freeware re-skins, indeed I'd be delighted to see some. Jupiter is easier to re-skin than the Consolidation, because I no longer map the same segment of texture to a multitude of faces (except of course when a part on one side of the loco is mirrored on the other side), so that you don't have the problem of painting one bit of the loco, only for it to cause an undesired change on some other, unrelated part. However, the downside of that is that there are a lot of texture files to cover all the intricacies of the loco's geometry, so reskinning can be a lot of work.

Thanks for the reply. I will get around to doing some era-appropriate paint jobs,it just might be awhile. I knew with the amazing level of detail,there would be lots of texture files. 15 minutes after downloading it,I started exploring the files,as I planned on repainting from the time you announced the development. You hinted you have a project lined up after the 119,I will be looking forward to that one,also!

RAILSOHIO wrote:You hinted you have a project lined up after the 119,I will be looking forward to that one,also!

I'll probably do a ten-wheeler after 119

If you look closer you will see that the cab of the Jupiter and the General is quite a bit different, it just wouldn't look the same.

I would love to see this engine running in the sim myself.

jpetersjr wrote:If you look closer you will see that the cab of the Jupiter and the General is quite a bit different, it just wouldn't look the same.

I would love to see this engine running in the sim myself.

It's not just the cab. Look at the sand dome (it's more like the one on 119), the steam dome, the spoked pilot wheels ...

I have been messing with this famous ten-wheeler in Sketchup. (Yes I know that is a poor platform for mesh design). I would like to see a 4-6-0 with evenly spaced drivers,though. Like the B&O's Thatcher Perkins,possibly.

RAILSOHIO wrote:I have been messing with this famous ten-wheeler in Sketchup. (Yes I know that is a poor platform for mesh design). I would like to see a 4-6-0 with evenly spaced drivers,though. Like the B&O's Thatcher Perkins,possibly.

Whenever I see a 4-6-0, I think back to the old tv show Petticoat Junction.

That is THE one. The famed Sierra #3. Its been in more movies than Samuel Jackson! I was not attempting to hijack your "General" thread. Just mentioned it because of mrennie's hint of the next project.

RAILSOHIO wrote: I was not attempting to hijack your "General" thread. Just mentioned it because of mrennie's hint of the next project.

Oh I know, it's ok...no harm

I was just saying that whenever I here or see a 4-6-0 I always think back to the old Hooterville Cannonball on Petticoat Junction, and that engine definitely deserves to be brough to life on the simulator. Lots of tv and movie history with it