Tag: Nelson

IN THE WORKS #2

Posted on by steamlococollection in Lord Nelson

LORD NELSON PROGRESS UPDATE 12 DECEMBER 2025

Hello everyone, hope you’re doing well.

I’m delighted to be showing off the first WIP renders of the Lord Nelson add-on. The first item I always model is the frames. Everything is either attached to or rests on the frames, so getting them right is paramount.

In the previous “In The Works”, I mentioned the numerous variations and modifications made to the Lord Nelsons during their working lives. Those modifications extend even to the frames. When ‘Lord Nelson’ was being built in 1926, great care was taken to ensure that the locomotive didn’t exceed the weight limit set by the Civil Engineer. Such was the attention taken that No. E850 actually emerged from Eastleigh Works, weighing 0.75 tons less than the drawing office estimate. Therefore, when the first production batch was being built, certain of those weight-saving measures were deemed unnecessary and the frames of Nos. 851 – 865 were different to Lord Nelson. 850’s frames were later modified, but it still retained a couple of unique elements.

After the frames are complete, work moves onto the front bufferbeam, rear dragbox and the frame stretchers, which help keep the frames nice and square.

Notice the underhung laminated springs and substantial rear dragbox. The hinged cover on the running plate provides access to the expansion and die block, making lubrication a little bit easier. The two valves bracketed onto the rear dragbox are where the water pipes from the tender connect to the locomotive. On top of the valve is the connection to the water feed controls in the cab.

Next time I’ll show the front bogie. If you think the frame variations are bad, wait till you see the bogie variations!

It’s worth mentioning that sometimes I’ll have progress to show, but which I don’t feel justifies a “In The Works” post. Anything that falls into this category will be posted on the SLC Facebook page and a dedicated development page here on the SLC website for the Lord Nelson add-on. This development page will also provide links to all “In The Works” posts about the Nelsons.

Until next time…

IN THE WORKS #1

Posted on by steamlococollection in Lord Nelson

LORD NELSON RESEARCH

Hello everyone, and welcome to the first ‘In The Works’.

Work on the ‘Lord Nelson’ add-on is well underway and I look forward to sharing some renders with you soon. However, long before I sit down to set up the drawings and start the actual modelling, research needs to be completed.

Research can often be overlooked; a bar on a progress chart, a passing comment. But research provides the foundation on which the add-on is built. But how do I go about doing research?

The first step is acquiring research material, this takes the form of books, photographs, drawings and magazines. Of course, obtaining a copy of every photograph and every book to mention a particular class can be a) expensive and b) not every item will contribute significantly to my research so a balanced view is required.

The next step is to start transferring all of that data and observations into a Spec Sheet and a Data Sheet

The Spec Sheet lists all the variations and livery changes I’ve identified across an entire class. The Data Sheet is where I dive down into the details and list all the variations for each individual engine, when they took place and any other observations.

Going through the books I have often reveals small discrepancies with information; dates might be different, engines might have a change listed in one book that isn’t mentioned in another. I have to work out which is the accurate narrative, not an easy task!

This whole process, of course, takes time and concentration. For the ‘Lord Nelson’ add-on, I estimate the process took about 3 months, but that doesn’t mean that I stop looking for further photographs and details, I’m always on the lookout for more information just not with the same intensity!

So how many variations have I identified? Discounting any livery-related changes, I have so far identified over 170 different modifications, some small and some large. This will mean that the ‘Lord Nelson’s will be the most detailed add-on I have produced, and that’s not including trying to create 3 different sound sets, different simulation setups, as well as trying to convey all this information in a easy to read manual!

Still, it’s all part of the fun.😀

In the next ‘In The Works’ I’ll share the first WIP renders of the add-on.

Until next time …

SLC Update – 1 February 2019

Posted on by steamlococollection in Lord Nelson, SECR H Class

Hi everybody. I thought it was about time I wrote another blog post, so here we go.

Work on the ‘H’ class continues apace. January has been a busy month with a lot accomplished. Unfortunately though, I don’t have any in game screenshots to show in this blog post.

One reason I’m so excited to be bringing you the ‘H’ class is because of the little gems of new information that I’ve been able to uncover. There is precious little published, detailed, information on the history of the class besides D. L. Bradley’s The Locomotive History of the South Eastern & Chatham Railway from 1980. However, looking at photographs of the class during their working life has revealed several variations which have, as far as I have been able to ascertain, have never before been revealed in books or magazine articles.

It’s much the same story with the ‘Lord Nelson’. Research, which has included visiting the National Railway Museum to view original works drawings, has turned up a number of new variations/changes which haven’t been mentioned before.

Hopefully I’ll have some screenshots to show in the next blog post so keep checking the website.

Till next time

James (SLC)

SLC Update – October 2018

Posted on by steamlococollection in Announcements

Hello everybody, welcome to another blog post.

Let’s dive right in with the updates.

The V1.3 update of the T9 has unfortunately had to be put on hold, as I need to gather more research on the Drummond 3,500 gallon tenders, among other things.

In the last blog post I mentioned one of the reasons why I’ve restarted the modelling on the Lord Nelson add-on. An additional factor is that I was hoping to release the add-on around the same time that 850 returned to steam after overhaul. As the overhaul hasn’t started yet, I’ve been working on a number of intermediate projects, including the ‘T9’. Another of these intermediate projects is nearing completion and I’m pleased to announce in this blog post that the next SLC add-on will be…

H_Announcement.jpg

The Wainwright SE&CR ‘H’ class 0-4-4T

This beautifully proportioned 0-4-4T has been a class that I’ve been wanting to do for some time, so I’m thrilled to be building it for Train Simulator.

In a first for an SLC add-on there will be rolling stock included, I’m not going to reveal what just yet, but I’m confident you’ll all enjoy it!

Make sure you keep checking the blog, as my posts are irregular at best!

Until next time …

James (SLC)

 

SLC Update – 4 April 2018

Posted on by steamlococollection in Lord Nelson, LSWR T9

Hi everyone,

It’s been a while since the last blog post, so I though it was about time I gave an update of what’s been going on in the SLC workshop.

LSWR T9

It’s now been 2 months since the release of the ‘T9’ and a big thank you must go to everyone who’s purchased the add-on, and also to those who have offered feedback.

As a result of said feedback I’m currently working on what will become V1.3 of the ‘T9’ add-on. While there will be a number of minor niggles fixed, the vast majority of the update will be adding new sounds and scripts. If you’ve purchased the ‘T9’ and have any feedback, then NOW is the time to send it in.

As well as the new sounds and scripts already mentioned the update will also add the 2 variants of the Drummond 3,500 gallon six-wheeled tender. Work on the 14 ft. wheelbase version is progressing well and a couple of renders are shown below.

I don’t know how long it will be before the update is released, so keep checking the blog for further updates.

Maunsell Lord Nelson

It might seem odd that in 2016 I was showing renders of a nearly complete Lord Nelson model and now seem to have reverted to the early stages of construction. The fact is that I’ve completely restarted the locomotive and tender models due to new research and new 3D modelling techniques that I’ve learnt while building the ‘T9’.

Work on researching the locomotive modifications is nearly complete, and work is well underway on the 4 different tenders.

Previously I’ve shown the progress on the flat-sided 5,000 gallon tender, which was the the usual style of tender coupled to a Lord Nelson. However, two Nelson’s, Nos. 852 and 853 were coupled to six-wheeled 4,000 gallon tenders from new until 1930. The 4,000 gallon tender was based on the flat-sided 5,000 gallon tender. This type of tender could be seen in various incarnations coupled to the Maunsell Moguls & Schools classes throughout Southern Railway and into BR days.

Hopefully it won’t be too long before I can show the first renders of the locomotive model.

That just about wraps up this post, thank you for reading.

Until next time …

James (SLC)

SLC Update – 8 February 2018

Posted on by steamlococollection in Lord Nelson, LSWR T9

Two blog posts in a week! What is going on!

Many thanks to everyone who has purchased the ‘T9’, it seems to have been received quite well and I’m always grateful for any feedback that you send me. Don’t forget you can get in touch via the contact us page on the website or via email: steamlococollection@gmail.com

As the result of said feedback, I’m pleased today to release V1.1 of the ‘T9’ add-on.

The following changes/additions have been made:

  • Incorrect Facing BR First Emblem fixed

Sincere apologies for this blunder.

  • Added Incorrect BR Second Emblem tender

Photographs that I’ve not come across before have shown that most the of the ‘T9s’ to receive the second emblem, received the incorrect emblem with the lion facing forward on both sides.

  • Added section in manual regarding adding T9 to a scenario

Apologies for not adding this to the manual in the first place. There are also instructions on how to get the crew to appear in the cab.

  • Added see-through coal rails for LSWR, Early SR and Maunsell E liveries

The No. 120 preserved liveries are unaffected.

  • Modified Tender water bounding box

Hopefully any issues with filling the tenders should be gone.

  • F4 hud water level indicator fixed.

This turned out to be a conflict in the control part of the locomotive blueprint, all sorted now though.

 

I’m also pleased in this blog post to show of the first renders of the Maunsell 5,000 gallon flat-sided tender which will be included in the upcoming Lord Nelson add-on. These tenders were also coupled to the ‘S15s’ and a number of ‘N15s’ during the years. Work has also started on the smaller 4,000 gallon tender and I hope to show some renders of that in the near future.

15_January_2018_0115_January_2018_02

Thanks for reading and until next time …

James (SLC)