[WIP] Sea Worn Boat Mod

[DS]

I've been working on a mod to modify fleet boats into a more realistic (I believe) representation of a boat that has seen several patrols since it's last overhaul.

The first boat I'm working on is the Gato. I've been working from some reference books, on-line sources, and input from this forum in another thread.

Completed so far:

-New skin including some rust, barnacled scummy hull below the waterline, quick paint patches above the water line, etc.

-Slightly reduced maximum speeds on surface and submerged

-Slightly reduced endurance



I am looking to finish this project with adding random system failures, and am looking for input from modders more advanced than me.

My questions:

1. Working with the damage system, are there any thoughts on how to add random failures?

2. I am also looking to lengthen repair times for certain internal systems. Does anyone know if damaged but not detroyed systems suffer performance degradation assuming they are still working? (ie: if radar is "damaged" but still functioning, is detection performance affected?)

[Webster]

very interesting project :up:

[DS]

I'll be posting some pics in the next few days.

[DS]

Here's a few pics I managed tonight (click pics to expand):

A well used Gato making 19 knots at flank speed

http://img373.imageshack.us/img373/5439/sh4img20080812235435617fs9.th.jpg (http://img373.imageshack.us/my.php?image=sh4img20080812235435617fs9.jpg)

Arriving in Brisbane for a quick re-arm, re-fuel, and minor dock side repairs and replenishment before putting back out to sea.

http://img373.imageshack.us/img373/7669/sh4img20080813000526563gu1.th.jpg (http://img373.imageshack.us/my.php?image=sh4img20080813000526563gu1.jpg)

Dockside photo, noting extra limber holes cut for quicker diving.

http://img373.imageshack.us/img373/8617/sh4img20080813001538636jy9.th.jpg (http://img373.imageshack.us/my.php?image=sh4img20080813001538636jy9.jpg)

[Task Force]

I like the sound of this mod.:D Sounds intresting.:up:

[DS]

Standing beside the forward 20mm mount:

http://img134.imageshack.us/img134/5084/sh4img20080813001758293hy4.th.jpg (http://img134.imageshack.us/my.php?image=sh4img20080813001758293hy4.jpg)

Definately due for a good hull scraping and fresh paint:

http://img134.imageshack.us/img134/4570/sh4img20080813001403628ts0.th.jpg (http://img134.imageshack.us/my.php?image=sh4img20080813001403628ts0.jpg)

The veteran hunter in her element:

http://img524.imageshack.us/img524/4903/sh4img20080812235913317ci1.th.jpg (http://img524.imageshack.us/my.php?image=sh4img20080812235913317ci1.jpg)

[Fearless]

Looking good :up:

[DS]

I thought the original interiors were more dingy yellow than the real life photos I've seen, where the interior of the conning tower and control room were usually painted off white. Also, I've always read that cork insulation was used (and it often rained cork during depth charge attacks). Here are some shots of the WIP new interiors for this mod.

Original look:

http://img178.imageshack.us/img178/833/originalia8.th.jpg (http://img178.imageshack.us/my.php?image=originalia8.jpg)


New look with white paint and insualtion:

http://img148.imageshack.us/img148/5100/sh4img20080818011438738sh4.th.jpg (http://img148.imageshack.us/my.php?image=sh4img20080818011438738sh4.jpg)


http://img512.imageshack.us/img512/5108/sh4img20080818011853277bk5.th.jpg (http://img512.imageshack.us/my.php?image=sh4img20080818011853277bk5.jpg)

http://img178.imageshack.us/img178/7428/sh4img20080818012055282qp5.th.jpg (http://img178.imageshack.us/my.php?image=sh4img20080818012055282qp5.jpg)

With thanks to Digital Trucker for help finding the correct files!

I expect release of this mod in the next 7 days. Still a few things to iron out.

[Task Force]

maby alittle less white.

[Digital_Trucker]

Looking good:up: Just a suggestion, but maybe "dirty" the white up a bit so it doesn't look so , ah, white:D? Oh, and see if you can get rid of the Amish guy at the dock:arrgh!:?

It's really a shame that the game won't allow for "dynamic grunginess" where the boat would progressively get worse looking until you returned to port for clean up and a refit. Just another thought (I have them occasionally even though I'm not equipped properly:doh:), any thoughts on doing several versions of the textures ranging from clean to outright slimey along with the changes in operational capabilites. Perhaps one set for each two or three weeks of patrol. I'm not sure if changing the .cfg and .sim files in the middle of a patrol would work very well, but changing the textures would. With JSGME, it would be simple to activate the correct version based on the time on patrol.

[DS]

I agree, the interiors in the above WIP are too clinical. They were a test to locate the various texture files and light maps. The light maps had to be altered as they cast a yellow tinge on everything. I reduced that and added the "cork" texture, which unfortunately also goes in places that cork would not have historically been applied. Limitations of the design. I expect the final version will come a with or without cork option. Also, research shows that while the interiors were painted white, most of the instrument panels were painted a glossy grey. Final interior shots should be ready in a few days.

Progressivly more battered looks are certainly an option. I've got lots of experiments in my WIP folder to work with.

[gimpy117]

make the texture a little less repetitive that would be nice...

[gAiNiAc]

You've got a lot of rust on the hull............

I'd say more "patchy" looking paint is more realistic. USN never lets corrosion get far.

Interiors are way too white as well..........

Nice try though!

[AVGWarhawk]

I like the cork you have. If you can, attempt to reduce the texture a bit it would be darn great. The color is good but perhaps a bit darker. The amount of cigarette smoke that gets into the paint turns it a bit yellowish. Darn cool so far.

[DS]

Thanks for all the input folks. Work in RL has been busy for me, but I did manage to get the interior nearer to completion, while incorporating some of your suggestions.

Minor touch ups here and with the external skins and this one should be ready for release.

[/URL]
[URL=http://img82.imageshack.us/my.php?image=sh4img20080823213329959dd3.jpg]http://img82.imageshack.us/img82/2875/sh4img20080823213329959dd3.th.jpg (http://img82.imageshack.us/my.php?image=sh4img20080826213917634yg3.jpg)

http://img205.imageshack.us/img205/6287/sh4img20080826213917634lj6.th.jpg (http://img205.imageshack.us/my.php?image=sh4img20080826213917634lj6.jpg)

[Task Force]

looks better.;)

[tigone]

That's some impressive texturing; I like the color shift especially. But I've seen the cork insulation on a Gato-class boat (Cavalla SS-244), and it's different in appearance. It's a very fine-grained cork, like on a cork bulletin board, and with several coats of think paint, it's almost indistinguishable from other materials. There are occasionally cracks and chips in it -- not clear if this is from the slight flexing of the pressure hull, age, or a combination of both -- but otherwise you'd never notice it's not steel unless you pushed against it.

YMMV.

[ReallyDedPoet]

Nice work here :yep:


RDP

[Task Force]

Maby not the best quality but here is what the inside of a gato class sub. It is maby a little to clean though.;) http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XQIM-RjHKPA&feature=related

[The General]

This is definitely an improvement.

Not only are white hull linings more historically accurate, but it also gives a better sense of claustraphobia, as the walls 'feel' closer than the stock game.

Grreat work! :up:

[BellJack95]

DS, that is awesome work you are doing. I wish you the best as you continue to develop the natural aging of the sub exterior/interior mod. I appreciate all the hard work and long hours spent in doing this and I look foward to one day being able to download and see for myself.

Cheers! :up:

[Hitman]

The new interiors are so much better looking :rock:

Looking forward to have them in game :up:

[DS]

I managed to get a few more hours in tonight. Version 1.0 release is getting very close now...

@ Task Force. Thanks for the video. There were some segments that helped there.

I made some more adjustments to the interiors, in particular smoothing the cork texture a bit to reflect multiple layers of paint. I have some minor final work on the exterior to do and she should be ready to launch.

Both Gato and Balao boats will be in Ver 1.0. Other classes will follow in future versions.

I'm also trying to come up with a better name for this Mod.

It will be nice to actually get back to playing the game, which I have not really done in almost two weeks.

[Task Force]

Cool cant wait for this mod.:D Been tierd of a perfect boat.;)

[DS]

In the interests of tying these two threads together, the release can be found here:

http://www.subsim.com/radioroom/showthread.php?t=141593