Instructions to install Custom Sounds to BLW F7 Loco Pack

[StackTalk]

The is a continuation of the previous topic about Gary Gagnon's EMD L&N F9 soundset and its incorporation into BLW new F7 Pack issued this week.

The new Loco Pack consists of two downloads from BLW, and mentions that the L&N Promo F9 file should also be installed. The new GaryG custom EMD sounds are needed by the BLW F7 Pack, but are NOT included. Those required sounds are installed with the ValleyPass member free L&N F9 Promo pack.

To make a long story short, follow these steps:
1. Download the BLW F7 Pack, and the BLW F7 Setup files.
2. Create a temporary folder outside of the MSTS Train-Sim, then unzip the two files into it. The temporary folder now contains two EXE files, only.
3. It is a good practice to install the models into this temporary folder in order to know what is being installed, and to what folders inside MSTS Train-Sim they will be installed and what other files they might affect or overwrite.
* The F7 Pack EXE installs the F7 models and associated ENG, Cabview, and Sound SMS files, and Common Cab/Sound files FOR the ORIGINAL, OLDER sounds.
* The F7 Setup EXE upgrades the ENG files and REPLACES the SMS files in the Sound folders with SMS files referencing GaryG's superb EMD F7/F9 sounds.
4. IF you have not previously installed Gaetan's L&N F9 Promo Pack, use the link he provided in the PATCH, UPDATE, BONUS Forum: http://www.valleypass.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=284; download, unzip, run its EXE to install the L&N F9, caboose, AND NEW F7 Sounds into the Common Sound Folder. It does not replace any Wav sounds, but does add 57 additional sounds.
* (BE SURE to read the 'Aliasing' rich text file(.rtf) in its "-DOC" folder for instructions to upgrade any other EMD F-/GP-7/9s you might have in MSTS -- this soundset is so good that it will be worth the time and effort!)

The EXE installer packages worked perfectly. If my memory serves, there were NO problems with ANYTHING: the Engine files were in good shape, the friction calculations were correct, and the bounding boxes and SD files were almost perfect, and the Consist files were installed to allow you to run any or all of these engines immediately. It literally takes 45 seconds to execute the 3 files and to be set up to run in MSTS. (Backup first, to be safe.)

My hat is off to Gaetan and to his TEAM MEMBERS for making this most enjoyable, trouble-free, most beautiful Locomotive Pack ever issued by BLW. I have waited 3 years for Gaetan to issue the Frisco F7, and am pleased to have it installed and running. To me, the Seaboard Coast Line F7s are even more beautiful than my beloved Frisco units. AND for a Bonus, Gaetan updated his ValleyPass D&RGW passenger car set this week to go along with the D&RGW F7 model.

Lastly, I emphasize 'Team Members' -- no one person could produce such a complete package. On behalf of all the members of the ValleyPass Forum, thanks to:
* Gaétan Bélanger for original Model, Car & Cab graphics
* Antoine Marty for lighting.
* Rod McLauchlan for Beautiful screenshots
* Gary Gagnon "GaryG" for Eng setup & beta testing
* PI Engineering for permission to use TrainMaster 4.3 sound effects
And special thanks to Gary Gagnon and Frits From Piston Pete Productions for SMS setup sounds for the L&N F9 Promo, and the BLW F7 Pack.

StackTalk, Oklahoma City