Hi guys. I’m showing you the final stretch of the latest project I’m working on. The Union Pacific articulated steam locomotive, nicknamed “Big Boy.” I’ve finished the modeling and texturing and have just started making some test renders, comparing different types of scenery, lighting, etc. until I find the best result. For now, it’s all just testing, but it’s practically finished.
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As part of their project to rebuild a Big Boy and put it on the road, the Union Pacific Railroad created CAD models of this engine which they make publicly available. It was an engineering “labor of love,” and they did it.
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I really appreciate your information. I was able to find a wealth of information about this locomotive in those CAD files, which helped me greatly in finishing the model.
Amazing job Raúl, I guess it took a lot of time, I wonder how many different meshes compose this train. Could You provide some information about the time this Big Work takes, please.
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Thank you so much, I’m glad you like the work. I’ve been working on the model for approximately three to four months. I’ve had to search a lot of references on Google, Flickr, Pinterest, YouTube videos, and look at some existing models on Artstation. Many hours of searching and also doing and undoing until I found the correct measurements and the right proportions. The model consists of 10 parts, each with its own texture map made in Substance Painter.
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Yep, I imagine this is a very strenous work, I model small things and I know first hand how proportions vary from source to source and making changes sometimes is tedious but on a big object like this it must be even even more.
Congratulations buddy, this is amazing and thank you very much for the information.
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Thanks a lot 
Really nice job!!
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Thank you so much !!!
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That locomotive is awesome. I think one of the biggest steam engines ever built.
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Yes, the Big Boy locomotive is considered the largest, heaviest, and most powerful steam locomotive ever built, and the largest working locomotive in the world after the restoration of unit 4014 as of 2019. Measuring over 40 meters in length and weighing over 530 tons
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And that, ironically enough, was one thing that lead to the downfall of steam. The only practical way to get more power was to build a bigger, hence heavier, single locomotive. Whereas, with diesel-electric, the diesel powered alternators powered an electrical bus which could be shared among all of the engines, and electric motors drove the wheels, being attached directly to them. (Purely rotational force … did not “pound the rails.”)
Diesels could be switched on and off according to the demand for traction at the time, and they all could be controlled from a single cab. Simply attach as many locomotives as you need, and they all pull together, driving the same electrical bus. “Pushers” and “pullers” within the train can be directed by remote control.
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Thank you so much!!! I appreciate your kind words and I’m glad to know you enjoy the work. That’s very encouraging. I appreciate it.
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This is EPIC… well done … i think it’s crazy 
cool
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Thank you so much!! I’m glad you like it
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