Finally there's the time and some things worthwhile of an update. Sorry that things have been quiet but we've been through a period of development where it's been all boring stuff and not very news worthy or photogenic. However, there is some pretty interesting stuff if you want to read on.

Ages of the Train

As you read this the scenarios are having their last checks before the final installer is built and they are readied for release in early November. The development of the scenarios has not been easy and has seen a number rebuilt and in some cases scrapped as we hit limitations in RailWorks and with the route in the endeavour to make the scenarios as true to life as possible.

Much more excitingly we can reveal that Malcolm Mackay has kindly made some of his freeware models available to increase the variety of rolling stock to be seen in the scenarios, bringing us a step closer to recreating the ECML of the 1970s and 1980s. The models will be included in the main installer to make things a little easier for folks who may not have them installed already and will appear in a stand alone installer in the file library in the next couple of days.

Speaking of the file library there will also be demonstration scenario made available in the next few days to give you a feel for the style of the scenarios in the main pack.

North Staffs Minerals

The route track work is now complete with the exception of a couple of colliery lines and industrial locations where details of the actual layout are lacking so some modellers license may be required to complete those areas. Scenery is now going in and a large selection of new custom assets are being made to help reduce reliance on 'default' assets. Some images of fencing assets can be found in recent  Fastline Simulation Blog posts.

We like to hear from folks and especially when they have words of encouragement or useful criticism to make. We would ask though that folks please don't pester for release dates. Things are released when they are ready and the developer in question is happy. For many this is just a hobby income so increasing pressure is something we really don't want to do. Alongside this we know that customers get upset when something doesn't hit an arbitrary date.

Stock Packs

HBA/HEA air braked hoppers. The model creation stage of these is complete and they have passed an initial shape test from our test team. The shapes themselves are currently being unwrapped and prepared for baking which should be completed by the end of this week.

The Night Capitals. Shape creation for the passenger coaches is continuing and now that braking layouts for different brake types and bogies have finally been nailed down these should start to move forward again.

Car Flats: Like the stock above these had stalled waiting a little more information on the brake rigging but with one shape now complete the others should follow fairly rapidly behind.

Team Changes

We're still trying to recruit some extra asset builders to the team. This is the one area that is a serious concern at the moment with rolling stock modelling having to stop to create route assets.

So often we get contacts that seem interested and they continually come to nothing. To ease the construction of routes we really need additional modellers to create all that extra scenery.

At the same time we would love to add additional rolling stock modellers and route builders (but only if they create their own assets!).

These are commercial projects so there is hard cash involved (possibly the best rates in Train Simulator Land) in return for your efforts. If you have experience of modelling or route building for Railworks or another simulator and fancy making some cash from your talents do please get in touch.

Light nights and a hectic day job are really putting pressure on the Railworks development at the moment when it comes to modelling. Luckily the scenario writer and route builders are finding time to keep plying their trade with stunning results.

North Staff Minerals

It's continually wonderful to pull new updates to the route from our development repository, there's a constant growth to the scenery applied and atmosphere is developing in every area.

All the track work is now in place and the long slog of terrain painting, scenery placement and asset creation for all of the unique buildings is underway. With massive contrasts of location, from the urban sprawl of Stoke-on-Trent, through collieries, a power station and various quarries, there's a wide variety of landscapes to accurately create in a Train Simulator.

The North Staffs route builder has a huge passion for the area and has amassed a large number of contemporary resources which are helping make this route as close to life as possible and should make for some interesting scenarios when the time for their creation comes.

Ages of the Train

Our first scenario pack for RailWorks is making steady progress when it's not creating headaches for the scenario builder. The desire to create extreme realism through the the scenarios is causing a myriad of problems for the Train Simulator, especially the dispatcher which is at times deciding it doesn't like things which had worked previously. All of the scenarios have had their moving parts tested and are in the process of having static vehicles added and last tweaks where required.

Two added bonuses have appeared for the pack since the last update. A set of temporary speed restriction signs suitable for the 1970s and early 1980's and a demo scenario is under development to give you an idea of what to expect.

The Night Capitals

Modelling progress has been pretty slow on his project of late with day job pressures seriously limiting modelling time. Both the TCV and GUV master shapes are in game and the majority of work is complete on the generic Mk1 coach parts which should then allow rapid construction of the sleeper vehicles and the other coaches needed to complete the formation of the Night Capitals.

Web Presence Changes

When we introduced the forum back towards the end of last year it was an experiment to see if people would like to engage in a forum and discuss existing and future projects.

It's fairly safe to say that people didn't want to do that, as a consequence the forum will be removed in the near future.

On the flip side we're trialing something a little more informal by way of an additional blog in the form of a developers notebook that all of our developers will add quick notes to as an update to what they've been doing. You can find the notebook at www.fastline-simulation.co.uk/devblog or by using the menu item at the top of the site.

It is possible to subscribe to the RSS feed from the developers notebook and we may consider linking the feed to Facebook in the future.

Asset Creators

We're still trying to recruit some extra asset builders to the team. This is the one area that is a serious concern at the moment.

So often we get contacts that seem useful and they continually come to nothing. To ease the construction of routes we really need additional modelers to create all that extra scenery.

These are commercial projects so there is hard cash involved in return for your efforts. If you have experience of modelling for Railworks or another simulator and fancy making some cash from your talents do please get in touch.

Ok, another update that starts with an apology. Sorry it's been so long since the last update, the pressures of personal life along with a manic day job means the update has been on the list of things to do that just haven't happened.

Don't worry though, most of the team have still been very busy in their respective copies of RailWorks and those of you following the blog and social media will have seen the screen shots that keep filtering out.

Ages of the train

The first scenario pack in the range (ECML Freight) is making great progress with all of the five scenarios complete with player service and AI added.

As you read this the last of the scenarios will be with the testers for the check that all the services interact properly and go to the right places. At the same time, static items and various bits of atmosphere are added in to the other scenarios that have already passed the initial test phase.

The scenarios themselves have seen a lot of additional effort in an attempt to improve realism, with the alteration of various aspects of the base route taking place and various custom assets being added to help improve the atmosphere. It's surprising as we look back, at just how much traffic now doesn't travel by rail, especially when you look at the traffic in the 1970's scenarios.

One thing is for sure, goods trains don't travel very fast and do a fair bit if waiting, if you're thinking of buying the pack when it's released you may want to get thicker cushion for your computer chair!

FenRail

Just a quick note to let all those that are still waiting on information and progress reports for the route that due to the personal circumstances of the route builder the route is currently suspended. It hasn't been cancelled, but there may be a considerable delay before any substantial progress is reported.

North Staffs Minerals

Progress on the route is back into full swing after a computer rebuild by the builder at the start of the year. Every few days I'm greeted by more screenshots in my inbox that just have to be shared with the world. The atmosphere that is now being created really starts to drag you into the scene. If you haven't checked out the slide show on the product page it might be worth a quick visit.

The Night Capitals

As previously mentioned the TCV is now complete and the last week has seen the final detail added to our generic GUV shape ready for a general shape test before individual versions are created. Work is just starting on the Mark 1 Sleepers with the roof ducting virtually complete and the windows about to be cut. Once the body shell is complete, fairly rapid progress should be possible as the majority of under frame components can be adapted from the GUV.

Then there's just the bogies (commonwealth and B4) which no doubt those of you who follow the happenings on Twitter and Facebook will know about as I share that world of pain - bogies being the one thing I hate modelling!

Route X

We're really pleased to have a new route builder on board. A new project that is his own personal desire is taking shape and we're sure to share a few more details with you very soon - I already have screen shots ...

Asset Creators

We're still trying to recruit some extra asset builders to the team. This is the one area that is a serious concern at the moment.

So often we get contacts that seem useful and they continually come to nothing. To ease the construction of routes we really need additional modelers to create all that extra scenery.

These are commercial projects so there is hard cash involved in return for your efforts. If you have experience of modelling for Railworks or another simulator and fancy making some cash from your talents do please get in touch.

So here we are approaching the end of 2011 and what an exciting year it's turned out to be, three addons released for RailWorks Train Simulator and you all seem pretty pleased with our offerings so far.

The first point of order is to wish all our present and future customers a happy and prosperous new year and to thank you for your custom and support in 2011 and invite you to continue on this ride through 2012.

ZCA Sea Urchins

Having waited for the point when we were happy with them these have ended up with a slightly less than conventional release date. If you hadn't already realised, the ZCA Sea Urchins are now available to purchase here.

The Sea Urchins have been a bit of an odd project for us, falling outside of our usual area of interest but it just felt like the right thing to do, having spent so long with the VDAs, that we saw the story for a large number of them through to the end.

We've had some really positive feedback so far and extend hearty thanks to all those that have purchased so far.

North Staffs Minerals

Having been taken back to scorched earth back in October after the release of Train Simulator 2012, track laying and terraforming has progressed well and the mainline and branch all the way to Caldon are now in place, along the track for a number of the wayside collieries, industries and yards. The only long length of track now to be laid is the branch to Oakamoor from Leek Brook Junction, which can then be followed by signalling and scenery placement.

One really exciting development has been the addition of a professional 3D artist to the route building team as asset creator for the route. It's safe to say that his existing portfolio is stunning and you should be delighted with the images that start to filter out during the new year.

Ages of the Train

The first of the scenarios is ready for it's first round of testing with good progress being made on a number of the others including a demo scenario to show case the scenarios prior to release.

The Night Capitals

Progress has generally been on hold as we've finished off the final testing and tweaks to the Sea Urchins ready for release. The progress on the GUV continues with the bogies having final detail added when time permits.

Mailing List

Give that we never really had the time to produce a newsletter to the quality we wanted the publication has been shelved and we've transformed the newsletter into a straight mailing list to send notification via email to folks who would like a heads up about announcements and releases.

If you haven't already added your email address please do so by using the link at the bottom of the majority of pages on the main website.

Happy Talk and Share

There are a number of ways that you can socially get in touch and keep an eye on the day to day development of products. We really do want to know what you think and want.

Forum: At the top of the page you should see a link for the forum, feel free to give it a click and register.

The forum is a real experiment at the moment and a way we're trying out to try and have a bit more interaction with our over 35s as you don't seem to be using the social media like Facebook and Twitter so much as the young uns!

It's going to be up to you how the forum grows and develops (if it does at all) and we want you to tell us what you'd like to see and how you want to use it. This is the reason why when you take a look you'll see it's quite empty and boring, it's because you haven't registered, made a suggestion or started a post!

Google+: It's the new social networking attempt from Google and we've decided to give it a try. If you've already got a Google+ account you can find us by searching for Fastline Simulation or go to our profile by clicking here.

We like the layout and control it gives and really want to give it a try, it could just do with a few more people in there to keep the cobwebs at bay!

Facebook, Twitter and the Blog

Don't forget you can find links to these at the bottom of the page too.

It seems to be constantly exciting times here at the moment. With a new product range starting to rear its head, two successful releases so far this year and progress being made on various products ready for release later this year and into 2013.

VDA Vans

Obviously the big happening for us has been the release of the VDA vans and the surprise that they looked even better in RailWorks 3 Train Simulator 2012 than they had before.

These had a much longer development cycle than we'd ever envisaged as the subtle variations in the fleet started to rear their heads including suspension changes, braking development and changes to the doors themselves. Compounded with a desire to have a suitable brake van or use in one of the scenarios we soon found ourselves approaching 150 models in the pack along with the four scenarios!

The reception of the vans seems to have been very positive and we extend heartfelt thanks to all the people that have bought a copy and those who have taken the time to get in touch.