[WIP] work in progress - Type IX Cammo schemes

[Sizzolo]

Well, with many thanks to CaptainCox's handy youtube tutorials I've had a go at some more appropriate cammo schemes for the type IX.

The first skin (pics below) is just a cammo and weathering test - you can see where I'm running in to mirroring problems (the skin is re-used a lot on different parts of the hull).

I'm planning to end up with a decent pack of skins for North Atlantic, Mediterranean and Monsun zones (including the tower of course). Each will probably be in weathered and non-weathered formats. Hoping to get some done this weekend. If anyone's interested in the finished versions lemme know and I'll work out how the file hosting stuff works.
http://i256.photobucket.com/albums/hh187/Sizzolo/SH4Img2008-03-12_014817_745-1.jpg
http://i256.photobucket.com/albums/hh187/Sizzolo/SH4Img2008-03-12_014639_910-1.jpg
Cheers,
Sizz

[nautilus42]

Looks good:up:

[clayman]

Nice work. Can't wait to see the skin pack :up:

[danlisa]

Nice. Good weathering effect. Maybe a little too much stripy camo but it's a good start.:up:

BTW, what's wrong with your IXD2? It sitting too far out of the water.:yep:

[Sizzolo]

Cheers for the comments. I'll let you know how the proper skins come along.

Regarding the test scheme above - it's actually based on a U218 scheme (late war). I was originally going to do boat-specific schemes but then thought that these damn things were re-painted so many times during their career that it's reasonable to assume you captains can go back to port in SH4 and tell the painters you're going for the 'atlantic' look for this season. i.e. like the real boats, you should be able to pick a suitable scheme. Due to the method that the SH4 model uses the skin though, some schemes (like the U218) wont be possible due to mirroring.
(U218)
http://i256.photobucket.com/albums/hh187/Sizzolo/u218b-1.jpg

The Atlantic style will be the first version. I'm also hoping to mod the crew at some point so they're wearing the appropriate clothes (still researching this hex editing gumpf as I think they'll need those big floppy waterproof hats...) The rivets are going too unfortunately - I believe the upper hull was mainly welded on the late type IX's so the rivets will be replaced with welds on the Skin (ouch). There are also more bulkheads than the model hints at so...more messing around to do with the skin. :D

There'll also be a U505 scheme. I'm not sure whether her current paint scheme is accurate (it may be a post war anomaly) but the divide between the Helgrau and Dunkelgrau is far higher on the hull, unlike the SH4 scheme (although 505 was a type IX-C). I'll have to dig through my books to find some examples of lower divides.

Oh - and the model above laying high on the waterline? Well, I believe the crew were holding a party for the captain and inflated too many helium baloons. Either that or the ballast was blown....or there was too much salt in the water. I dont know to be honest but it's very weird! :D

[andycaccia]

:o IT LOOKS REALLY COOL MAN!
(not only for the iceberg...)

Well done!

[Schultzy]

Nice work so far!! Keep it up...

Good Job! :up:

[nautilus42]

Nice. Good weathering effect. Maybe a little too much stripy camo but it's a good start.:up:

BTW, what's wrong with your IXD2? It sitting too far out of the water.:yep:

He has no fuel left:oops:!

[eatmafish]

keep up the good job. :up:

[Sizzolo]

Worked on a u505 skin last night. Rivets removed and replaced with welds. Two tone upper hull worked (phew). Ageing and rust reduced but needs more cleaning still. Pics attached include one of the real u505 for colour comparison.
http://i256.photobucket.com/albums/hh187/Sizzolo/realu505.jpg
http://i256.photobucket.com/albums/hh187/Sizzolo/u505b.jpg
http://i256.photobucket.com/albums/hh187/Sizzolo/u505.jpg
Cheers,
Sizz.

[kriller2]

Hej Sizz

Look very good, nice to see some new skins for the german uboats ! :up:

[Doolittle81]

OT: Where are the icebergs located? I mean, more specifically than "North"

[Doolittle81]

Bump! ????

[Sizzolo]

Urgh. Was up until 2:30am last night skinning....forgot to keep an eye on the clock.
Anyway, update is:
Created 'clean' skin, edited the bump map for cleaning and improving welds (more to do), worked on Tower mapping, worked on improving the plank spacing, darkened the splash guards on the tower with anti-fouling dunkelgrau, created test cammo spotch-style skin (I dont have the original ww2 pic handy but this is pretty damn close).
Hope to have some final version skins done this weekend.

Doolittle81 - icebergs are from a custom mission. Unfortunately I cant seem to get custom missions working with Trigger Maru Overhaul (I get a CTD). Not having the time to browse the forums for the inevitable fix I'm unfortunately limited to the stock SH4 graphics (1.5).

Forgot to say - if anyone has a particular favourite camo scheme let me know- While everything's handy I might as well add it to the list (a photo would help however).

http://i256.photobucket.com/albums/hh187/Sizzolo/cammo.jpg
http://i256.photobucket.com/albums/hh187/Sizzolo/cammo2.jpg
Cheers,
Sizz

[Sizzolo]

Forgot to say, I need to put a bit of a time-limit on the skin requests. I dont really want to have 100 people requesting personalised skins every day - much as I'd like to do them - I do have a day job. :D

Anyway, any requests are welcome before the end of the month, up to a maximum of 10 requests for personalised skins in total lets say before Mar 31 2008, as long as photos or accurate scetches are suppplied.

Cheers,
Sizz.

[Sizzolo]

Well, quite a bit more done this weekend - almost finished.

>Final hi-rez maps for stripe and spot camouflage created
>Bump map created for depth-charge effect (oil-canning)
>Rust and weathering maps
>Colour corrections - green-tint to the spot camouflage as per some reports of colours of the day
>weathered planks and steel on deck
>Paint-peel (undercoat coming through)


http://i256.photobucket.com/albums/hh187/Sizzolo/SH4Img2008-03-16_205214_285.jpg
http://i256.photobucket.com/albums/hh187/Sizzolo/SH4Img2008-03-16_195715_735.jpg
http://i256.photobucket.com/albums/hh187/Sizzolo/SH4Img2008-03-16_205157_304.jpg
http://i256.photobucket.com/albums/hh187/Sizzolo/SH4Img2008-03-16_205714_730.jpg
http://i256.photobucket.com/albums/hh187/Sizzolo/SH4Img2008-03-16_210130_941.jpg
http://i256.photobucket.com/albums/hh187/Sizzolo/SH4Img2008-03-16_210305_279.jpg

Cheers,
Sizz

[Sizzolo]

Next steps:

>Changes to saddle tanks and upper bump map
>Minor changes and tweaks to camo schemes
>Additional (final) camo style
>Crew change (might be a separate project as I have a cunning plan...:D)
>Suggestions welcome... :D
>Compliation of the pack for distribution (6 skins - clean/rusty version of 3 camo skins)

After that, maye I'll do the other uBoat. I don't have too much research material for it so maybe it'll just be a hi-res weathered skin this time.

Cheers,
Sizz.

[Sizzolo]

Not much progress this week due to work and St Patricks day.

Weathering added on deck, cammo density altered to match photos, more rust and continued tests on lower hull map. Hope to get more done this weekend.
http://i256.photobucket.com/albums/hh187/Sizzolo/6e044548.jpg

Cheers,
Sizz.

[thasaint]

looks great, waiting impatiently for uboat skins :)

[Sizzolo]

Ah cheers! :D
Well - currently I'm working on modding the crew so that with the new skins you also get more interesting clothes (you can see one of the black jackets I'm working on in the last pic above). Running into a bit of trouble with importing stuff into dat files but slowly getting there.

I'll have to reach out to one of the experts here as my modified hat is currently invisible - I think the material possibly didnt import properly.

Cheers,
Sizz

[Sizzolo]

Hurrah! Finally managed to work out object importing so the new crew clothes will be pretty quick and easy now. Thanks for your patience! Hopefully not long now until a [REL].

(note - the hats below were just a test....the mod isnt going to include silly hats! :D)
http://i256.photobucket.com/albums/hh187/Sizzolo/HUGEHAT.jpg

Cheers,
Sizz

[Yuzver]

Hurrah! Finally managed to work out object importing so the new crew clothes will be pretty quick and easy now. Thanks for your patience! Hopefully not long now until a [REL].

(note - the hats below were just a test....the mod isnt going to include silly hats! :D)
http://i256.photobucket.com/albums/hh187/Sizzolo/HUGEHAT.jpg

Cheers,
Sizz
lllloooollll:rotfl: :up:

[kapitan_zur_see]

lol :rotfl:I didn't knew the vietnamese had uboats in the 40's :smug:

[kriller2]

:o intruders! :lol: :rotfl:

Can't wait for the new u-boats and new clothes for the crew !