[WIP] Kill Flags decal Mod

[sqk7744]

Calling Beta testers!
Note: Originally this mod started since there was not one out there, I rolled-up my sleeves to make one for the USS Thresher, and with lot's of guidance from FooFighters' and Leovampire, It was a reality. I wanted to give something back to Subsim and offer my work files 'kit' to the forum, but alot of folks out there did not have photoshop.

Thanks for understanding.
-sqk7744

Currently FooSkin Templates are ready for:

Tambor Class
SS200 USS Thresher
SS201 USS Triton

SARGO Class
SS190 USS Spearfish
SS194 USS Seadragon

PERCH Class (but listed as Porpoise)
SS180 USS Pollack

S-18 Class (Holland-type)
S38 SS-143

GAR CLASS
SS210 USS Grenadier

BALAO Class
SS287 USS Bowfin
SS310 USS Batfish
SS311 USS Archerfish

* Need testers for the rest.

PLEASE PROVIDE ANSWERS TO THESE QUESTIONS:
1. Boatname, SS Number and Class
2. The year of your campaign; early or mid/late war conning tower.
3. The exact, current FooSkin you are using; FooFighters (weathered, Hvy Weathered, Black, etc.), please provide a link to your file.
4. Total number of kills for Warship, Merchant and Aircraft
5. Your current Tonnage ( be honest )
6. Number of War Patrols Completed
7. A link to the 'Boat' Emblem, if available would be great

----
Can someone comfortable with Adobe Paintshop CS3 please test this out.

USS Thresher Skin SS200 with Kill Flag Kit
v1.0 09/08/07

0. Please download the MOD .zip file
(will post new mod-testpack shortly)

1. Download one of FooFighters Hi-res skins (Tambor Class, if another Class please let me know)
http://www.oldsmobile1958.com/silenthunter/

(see Foos' thread for more) http://www.subsim.com/radioroom/show...ht=foofighters


2. Locate and Copy your Boat's insignia into Photoshop ( or let me know your boat and I'll put one together for you )

3. Install the Photoshop DDS extensions: NVIDIA_Texture_Tools_0.94.0716.1555.exe
http://developer.nvidia.com/object/p...s_plugins.html

4. Open the T01 and T02 Conning tower .dds textures in Photoshop

5. Use the included USS Thresher Tambor T01 and T02 .dds skins as a guide to locate the proper insignia and kill flag location on your boat. (Tambor class)

6. Open USN_Kill_Flag_Kit in photoshop (use Marquee tool and copy/paste on your boat .psd file)

7. Update manually via Photoshop, save as .dds file (DXT5 ARGB 8bpp | interpolated alpha)

8. Place in SH4/Mods folder overwriting the original T01 or T02,

9. Then use JSGME

A big thanks to FooFighters for all his help and wonderful hi-res Tambor skin and thanks to Captain Cox for the original Thresher skin idea.

Thanks for testing!
sqk7744

Questions:
1. Does anyone know the kill flag icon for shot down Aircraft?
2. Is a half flag is for a partially sunk ship?
3. Is it possible to locate and tag/call a photo on the Hull similar to the Pin-up girls shown in the sonar/radar room? (Thinking of creating an image for Kills only that can be updated via JSGME at each Patrol End, instead of Paint Shopping the Hull texture)

FooFighters, Cap'n Crunch, any Ideas?

Thanks!

* Credit to FooFighters for the awesome Hi-res Tambor Skin

Kill Flag Kit


Thresher's insignia & "Score Card" on her conning tower after fleet conversion at Mare Island (6 Oct 1943)


USS Thresher War Patrol x 1943

SS200 USS Thresher Battle Flag and Commissioning Plaque

[ReallyDedPoet]

Nice idea\work


RDP

[mrbeast]

Originally Posted by sqk7744

I'm working on this now, but it appears to be a manual, Paint Shop only, copy/paste Endeavour.

Questions:
1. Does anyone know the kill flag icon for shot down Aircraft?
2. Is a half flag is for a partially sunk ship?
3. Is it possible to locate and tag/call a photo on the Hull similar to the Pin-up girls shown in the sonar/radar room? (Thinking of creating an image for Kills only that can be updated via JSGME at each Patrol End, instead of Paint Shopping the Hull texture)

FooFighters, Cap'n Crunch, any Ideas?

Thanks!

* Credit to FooFighters for the awesome Hi-res Tambor Skin

Kill Flag Kit


USS Thresher War Patrol 0 1941


USS Thresher War Patrol 3 1942


USS Thresher War Patrol x 1943

I was reading something about this the other day in the Osprey 'New Vanguard' book on US subs. It showed a picture of USS Harder's battle flag as made by the crew. It was adorned with Japanese flags denoting kills similar to the pictures above (IJN flags for warships ordinary flags for merchants).

For damaged ships it displayed a flag with a line running down the middle kinda like a crack through the flag.

There were various other bits and bobs, a star for each war patrol and a USN aircraft star with a number in it representing how many downed air crew Harder had rescued (was only one at that point).

[sqk7744]

Originally Posted by mrbeast

I was reading something about this the other day in the Osprey 'New Vanguard' book on US subs. It showed a picture of USS Harder's battle flag as made by the crew. It was adorned with Japanese flags denoting kills similar to the pictures above (IJN flags for warships ordinary flags for merchants).

For damaged ships it displayed a flag with a line running down the middle kinda like a crack through the flag.

There were various other bits and bobs, a star for each war patrol and a USN aircraft star with a number in it representing how many downed air crew Harder had rescued (was only one at that point).

Thanks mrbeast,
Here are some good examples from the USS Ray, and USS Bowfin. I know it was rare, but there has to be an emblem for shotdown aircraft.



USS RAY


USS Ray
Explaination of markings on the USS Ray Battle Flag
by ST1(SS) John Jones

Green Guy, parachute - USA - number of Army Air Corps pilots rescued (10)

Blue Guy, parachute - USN - number of Naval Aviators rescued (13)

DB insignia with stars - number of battle stars for war patrols (8)

Meatball flag w/ stripes - # of Capital Ships sunk

Meatball flag w/ stripes, white meatball - # of Capital Ships damaged

Square flag w/ meatball - # of support vessels sunk

Square flag w/ white meatball - # of support vessels damaged

[mrbeast]

Unfortunately I didn't see any info on emblems for shot down aircraft. I suppose in RL 99% of the time a boat would crash dive rather than engage an aircraft so the number of downed aircraft among the whole sub fleet would probably have been very small indeed.

Just have to keep looking, if I see anything I'll let you know.

[sqk7744]

Originally Posted by mrbeast

Unfortunately I didn't see any info on emblems for shot down aircraft. I suppose in RL 99% of the time a boat would crash dive rather than engage an aircraft so the number of downed aircraft among the whole sub fleet would probably have been very small indeed.

Just have to keep looking, if I see anything I'll let you know.

Thanks so much mrbeast

I very much appreciate it. It seems in SH4, downing aircraft are higher then in RL. Doing the research now, but the battle flags above should work nicely for the majority of 'kill emblems' to be placed on the conning tower after each war patrol.

Cheers,
Cap'n!

[sqk7744]

Calling Beta testers!

Can someone comfortable with Adobe Paintshop CS3 please test this out.

USS Thresher Skin SS200 with Kill Flag Kit
v1.0 09/08/07

0. Please download the MOD .zip file
http://www.compuglobalhypermeganet.t..._flags_kit.zip

Thanks for testing!
sqk7744

[chopped50ford]

Dude...I love this. Ill have to test it out...I might have to start another career since my current career is an S-class boat.

so manually you have to add the flags to the skins or is it automatic? (wouldnt that be cool? instant update of battle flag/conning tower.)

[sqk7744]

Originally Posted by chopped50ford

Dude...I love this. Ill have to test it out...I might have to start another career since my current career is an S-class boat.

so manually you have to add the flags to the skins or is it automatic? (wouldnt that be cool? instant update of battle flag/conning tower.)

Thanks chopped50ford!

Right now it appears to be manual, but should not take that long to add at the end of each war patrol.

I also need to make a 'kill flag' for each class.

I'll create one for the S-class, are you using FooFighters skins?

What is your current boat's name?

How many Warship, Merchant and Aircraft kills do you have?

Cheers

[chopped50ford]

Yes, im using the weathered Fooskin for my S-Boat.

Boat name (see below in sig block)

Thanks!

[sqk7744]

Originally Posted by chopped50ford

Yes, im using the weathered Fooskin for my S-Boat.

Boat name (see below in sig block)

Thanks!

Thanks will work on your Kill Flag soon.

Thought you would be interested in this:
http://www.navsource.org/archives/08/0814105.jpg
Canopus (AS-9), with the Asiatic Fleet's Submarine Squadron Five alongside, during the 1930s. The submarines present include (from left to right): S-37 (SS-142); S-40 (SS-145); S-36 (SS-141); S-38 (SS-143); S-41 (SS-146); S-39 (SS-144).

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/USS_S-38_(SS-143)

[sqk7744]

Here's your Kill Flags kit chopped50ford:
1941 (but still sporting pre-war SS Numbers)


And 1942

Enjoy!
http://www.compuglobalhypermeganet.tv/images/sh4/skins/1941 S-CLASS GREY HI-RES V1.0_Kill_Flag.zip

Just unzip and place in SH4 Mods folder, then use JSGME

To update just crop the Kill Flags psd in Photoshop

Thanks for testing!

[leovampire]

Just did a set up for my Sea Dragon skin the FooFighter made for me and it look's fantastic!



Between the special skin Foo did for me and now the new Sea Dragon Emblem sqk7744 did I feel like a King!

Thanks guys!

[sqk7744]

You're very welcome Leovampire, it was my pleasure. Rack-up those kills!

And THANK YOU for LBO

Calm seas, and red skies.
-sqk7744

Here's another close-up of that slick Sargo Class SS-194 'USS Seadragon' along with current Battle Flag and Commissioning Plaque

[sqk7744]

Here's Lagger123987 Kill, Battle Flag and Commissioning Plaque: