[rfranzosa]

RTP, on 14 January 2018 - 10:11 AM, said:

In my UP4500 X55
or in my ALvia S-130,
both composite units, the front beam works correctly.
But both loco consists are .wag .eng .wag
The .wag carries the wheels and the .eng, with no wheels, carries the power and the lights.
It seems that OR refuses to put a beam in the second engine.

Regards.

Interesting approach. I'll give it a try!

EDIT: Seems to work, but I will have to rebuild both the eng/wag files to get everything in the right place. Thanks!

[edwardk]

There is no bug. The initial design has the player locomotive(lead unit with cabview) and the cone light tied together. This is the reason why the above car with the light code falling behind the player locomotive is not recognized. The same with AI locomotives.

Edward K.

[vince]

rfranzosa, on 11 January 2018 - 12:20 PM, said:

There is no parameter in the cone of light code for direction. It is hard coded to 'forward', I assume. ................snip...............................

Hi Rick,

That turns out not to be the case. You can have a rear facing cone. You just can't have both front and rear cones on at the same time.

Here is a clip from the code I use for most of my engines.
The headlight switch controls which cone is on: Headlight Dim : Rear Headlight and Rear Cone on.
Headlight Bright : Front Headlight and Front Cone on.
There are probably other/better ways to code this but this works.

It's the Azimuth and Position fields in the engine file lighting section that get this for you,

Lights	(	nn
		Light	(
			comment( Front Sphere of Light High Beam )
			Type		( 1 )
			Conditions	(
				Headlight ( 3 )
				Unit ( 2 )
				)
			Cycle	( 0 )
			FadeIn	( 0.5 )
			FadeOut	( 0.5 )
			States	(	1
				State	(
					Duration ( 0.0 )
					LightColour ( ffffffff )
					Position ( 0.0 3.5 5.0 )
					Transition ( 0 )
					Radius ( 200.0 )
					Angle ( 20.0 )
					)
				)
			)
        	Light	(
			comment( Sphere of light Rear by Vince Cockeram )
			Type		( 1 )
			Conditions	(
				Headlight ( 2 )
				Unit ( 3 )
				)
			Cycle	( 0 )
			FadeIn	( 0.5 )
			FadeOut	( 0.5 )
			States	(	1
				State	(
					Duration ( 0.0 )
					LightColour ( ffffffff )
					Azimuth ( -5.0 -180.0 5.0 )
					Position ( 0.0 3.5 -5.0 )
					Transition ( 0 )
					Radius ( 88.0 )
					Angle ( 30.0 )
					)
				)
			)   

Another trick is getting the cone to show closer to the engine. Since the cone has no visible 'source' so to speak, the get the cone to show closer simply lower the cone by using a smaller value for the Y (Up/Dn) axis.
This has the effect of having the cone show closer to the loco.
Fiddle with the Radius and Angle values also and you can have excellent rear lighting on any engine that has a Bright/Dim/Off headlight switch.
Enjoy!

regards,
vince

[rfranzosa]

vince, on 14 January 2018 - 02:16 PM, said:

Hi Rick,

That turns out not to be the case. You can have a rear facing cone. You just can't have both front and rear cones on at the same time.

Here is a clip from the code I use for most of my engines.
The headlight switch controls which cone is on: Headlight Dim : Rear Headlight and Rear Cone on.
Headlight Bright : Front Headlight and Front Cone on.
There are probably other/better ways to code this but this works.

It's the Azimuth and Position fields in the engine file lighting section that get this for you,

Lights	(	nn
		Light	(
			comment( Front Sphere of Light High Beam )
			Type		( 1 )
			Conditions	(
				Headlight ( 3 )
				Unit ( 2 )
				)
			Cycle	( 0 )
			FadeIn	( 0.5 )
			FadeOut	( 0.5 )
			States	(	1
				State	(
					Duration ( 0.0 )
					LightColour ( ffffffff )
					Position ( 0.0 3.5 5.0 )
					Transition ( 0 )
					Radius ( 200.0 )
					Angle ( 20.0 )
					)
				)
			)
        	Light	(
			comment( Sphere of light Rear by Vince Cockeram )
			Type		( 1 )
			Conditions	(
				Headlight ( 2 )
				Unit ( 3 )
				)
			Cycle	( 0 )
			FadeIn	( 0.5 )
			FadeOut	( 0.5 )
			States	(	1
				State	(
					Duration ( 0.0 )
					LightColour ( ffffffff )
					Azimuth ( -5.0 -180.0 5.0 )
					Position ( 0.0 3.5 -5.0 )
					Transition ( 0 )
					Radius ( 88.0 )
					Angle ( 30.0 )
					)
				)
			)   

Another trick is getting the cone to show closer to the engine. Since the cone has no visible 'source' so to speak, the get the cone to show closer simply lower the cone by using a smaller value for the Y (Up/Dn) axis.
This has the effect of having the cone show closer to the loco.
Fiddle with the Radius and Angle values also and you can have excellent rear lighting on any engine that has a Bright/Dim/Off headlight switch.
Enjoy!

regards,
vince

Thanks, Vince. Good to know!

[uli]

Hi Vince,

Thanks for the information on the rear facing cone of light. I assume it works in OR but not in MSTS. Right?

Uli

[vince]

uli, on 16 January 2018 - 04:37 AM, said:

Hi Vince,Thanks for the information on the rear facing cone of light. I assume it works in OR but not in MSTS. Right? Uli

Hi Uli,
It works is MSTS also. I coded that rear cone in 2003! By coincidence I happened to be using a DB Schienenbus BR796 (I called it a railbus when I rode them in Germany in 1964)
I noticed yesterday evening that it too has a rear cone of light when light switch is in the dim position and also switched red marker lights which my junk GP38 does not have.
I need to look at the Schienenbus engine file to see how that is done.
If you need any additional information please ask.
Enjoy!

regards,
vince

[uli]

Hi Vince,

Thanks a lot for the information! I have a question/remark but since it relates to MSTS and not to OR I have sent you a PM.

Uli