[WIP] Wolves of the Kaiser:1914-1918 Mod [Archive] - Page 12

iambecomelife

09-15-23, 08:04 AM

Mini update Wolves of the Kaiser: 1914 - 1918, 08/15/2023:

-Returned from vacation and resumed fulltime modding.

-Many new Armoured Cruisers added. Drake Class, Duke of Edinburgh Class, Warrior Class, and Minotaur Class successfully implemented...Monmouth Class and Cressy class are coming very soon.

-Updated .zon files to make capsizing of ships easier after torpedo damage.

-Perfected behavior of AI torpedoes (see other thread). Many ships, such as battleships, pre-dreadnoughts, and armored cruisers will have them, and they will be deadly...be careful out there.

-Tweaked ASW sensors yet again to make destroyers deadlier.

-Added changes to the interface, enabling larger icons for special abilities/character traits/crew icons.

-Began to implement new sailor personality/character trait system. All sailors and officers will have a hometown & personality traits. Some characters will have ancillaries/objects that may be beneficial to you. For instance, an associate of Rudolf Diesel will enable slightly better engine performance. An associate of Admiral Scheer will increase crew training/performance. Knowing a journalist will increase fame/renown, making it easier to win medals. And so on. For people not interested in this type of thing, the mod will offer the option for stock character traits via a sub-mod.

1Patriotofmany

09-17-23, 04:45 PM

I'm still ready and able to serve as a beta tester SIR!

iambecomelife

09-28-23, 07:08 PM

I'm still ready and able to serve as a beta tester SIR! Thank you!

Mini update Wolves of the Kaiser: 1914 - 1918 09/28/2023:

Still smooth sailing, several nice additions to the "testbed" installation:

1) -The U-139 Class U-Cruiser has been created at long last; in the previous screenshots it was a "dummy" object attached to another sub. Now it exists as a fully-functional and cloned playable unit.

Type IX was used because it is also German and has the correct number of torpedo tubes: four forward and two aft, plus it is a big boat with a large crew size (although not as big as U-139).

It will be an amazing contrast - sailing on tiny UB-I boats early in the war, less than 100 feet long and less than 20 men - and in 1918 getting to command this monster submarine, with 24 torpedoes! The U-139, in fact, was longer than a lot of good-sized oceangoing freighters of the time.

2) -Added Monmouth Class and Devonshire Class cruisers to the game.

3) -Added Acheron Class destroyers to the game.

4) -Prepared the last Royal Navy battlecruisers for final release: HMS Tiger, HMS Queen Mary, and Lion Class.

5) -Additional work on Ancillaries/Special Items for your officers, which may improve performance.

6) -Conducted research for 3d medals like Pour le Merite, Iron Cross, Hanseatic Cross, Max Joseph Order, and more.

I am quite happy with progress made, especially since I used no vacation time and have been working 7 day 56 hour weeks! Very soon I will be taking a good chunk of time off that will speed up progress so hang in there people! I am really liking the position we are in.

As a bonus, most of the mod is backed up off my PC on a storage account. There will never again be a hacker attack that destroys years' worth of work. I can guarantee that. :yep:

https://i.postimg.cc/Kv0VxGzt/8724559291-42a384ea13-b.jpg
https://i.postimg.cc/wj3rBCyZ/Photo-WW1-12ss-Ger-U139-1-PS.jpg
https://i.postimg.cc/q73Zs2GG/u-139.png
https://i.postimg.cc/FHqBkT0R/U139.jpg

1Patriotofmany

10-04-23, 05:52 PM

I'm hanging! I'll be downloading the minute i see it's ready, looks fantastic and thank you for all the work!

fitzcarraldo

10-05-23, 01:43 PM

I'm hanging! I'll be downloading the minute i see it's ready, looks fantastic and thank you for all the work!

+1 here! I want to play this! :Kaleun_Cheers:

Fitzcarraldo :Kaleun_Salute:

Kapitain Oliver Leinkraunt

10-10-23, 04:27 AM

Any news out there ? :))

pitti

10-10-23, 09:35 AM

I would also like to help as a beta tester.....:Kaleun_Cheers:

1Patriotofmany

10-12-23, 07:23 PM

[In little kids voice] Are we there yet, are we there yet?:ping:

iambecomelife

10-22-23, 04:11 AM

Any news out there ? :))

Unfortunately, got bogged down in bug fixing! On top of that I have been working 7 day weeks (including this week) and had to cancel a planned big update with screenshots for subsim and the facebook WOTK page, I sincerely apologize. :oops:
Had been implementing the last battlecruisers, HMS Tiger and Lion/PR/Queen Mary .... Had a very, very frustrating issue with new battlecruisers not displaying damage properly. But I have overcome it. HMS Tiger now displays holes, catches fire quite nicely, and leans over when she gets torpedoed.

Also reviewed SH4 torpedo damage values and learned a lot.

I am in preparation for the final version of WWI sub interiors, don't want to promise too much as always but they will be nice.

Also made minor environmental changes, using the waves in the game UBoat as an inspiration. I found that having larger waves gives the ocean a nicer look at low windspeeds.

1Patriotofmany

10-24-23, 12:50 PM

Thank you again for taking time out of your life to do this for SH4 fans!!!!

iambecomelife

10-31-23, 11:25 PM

Good news! The Halloween update is a go (technically it will be a few days after Halloween).

The focus will be on:

-U-31 Class capabilities .... Basically, images, stats, and capabilities of this iconic WWI sub!

-Early work on WWI interiors - I can confirm that I am starting on new interior rooms! With all new crew positions...right now up to 8 or 9 men in existing compartments when battlestations are called. No more "command room only" interior.

-The last few major UK surface units. The "Splendid Cats" Lion & Princess Royal, plus Tiger, have been modeled. Also many new cruiser classes.

-Also the last few German surface units ... Nassau Class BB's, Kaiser Class, Furst Bismarck Armored Cruiser, and more.

-Possibly, the awards system....3d versions of the Iron Cross, Blue Max, Hanseatic Cross, etc.

The update should be posted no later than Sunday night, here and on the facebook page. :salute:

iambecomelife

11-02-23, 10:28 PM

Mini update: whenever I get home I have been working on the following:

-Further progress on submarine interiors. Jeff Groves has helped with some things (thank you!), others I will be making myself....
In particular I will be making new 50 cm torpedo tubes - started on them
and am very happy with how things are going. UB-III Class photos are being used as the primary reference.
Did the following:

-Torpedo tube clamshell doors
-Torpedo tube bodies
-Valve wheels (various sizes - round and star shaped)
-Butterfly Valves
-Compressed air hoses
-Gauge faces
-Machinery base plates
-Assorted nuts & screws

-Changed the color of some existing items in the command room, mainly valve wheels which were too brightly colored

-Also fine tuned ship damage based on the speed of Lion-class sinking....this is always an ongoing process

-Prepared screenshots for the Autumn update (this takes much longer than you think)

-Additional German award research.

-Also did a little clean up of the comments on the facebook page ... :haha: let's just say that the WOTK
Facebook page, which I pay to promote, is not a democracy.
I am a busy person with family commitments; I make no apologies for putting my loved ones before this mod.
Which I am giving to the public absolutely free.

Many private issues have gone on behind the scenes delaying
release - you are not entitled to an explanation ..... but suffice it to say
that taking care of sick relatives comes first. You have been warned, and you know who you are.

A sincere thank you to the 99% of followers who are polite, and don't act entititled. :Kaleun_Applaud:

SlySkydiver

11-02-23, 10:42 PM

Awesome! Didn't even realize this mod was gonna include sub interiors. It's gonna be sick going through and exploring them in the future. Thank you for all the hard work.

iambecomelife

11-03-23, 08:12 AM

Awesome! Didn't even realize this mod was gonna include sub interiors. It's gonna be sick going through and exploring them in the future. Thank you for all the hard work.

Absolutely.... My pleasure. Out of necessity lots of parts will be reused. I only managed to find one single photo of the UB-II class interior, for example. And there definitely will not be a full U-Cruiser/U-139 Class interior, that would just take too long. I am thinking about having one torpedo room for all classes with four forward tubes and another torpedo room model for the 2 forward tube boats, like the U-31 class. It will be easy to replace two of the torpedo tubes with pipes and extra oxygen cylinders.

Surprisingly, the U-139 forward torpedo room was extremely cramped, despite them being huge submarines; I was looking at photos last night and their bow compartment was almost as cramped as the UB-III class. The U-139 forward living/working stations were unpleasant - to say the least .... filthy, claustrophobic, and made worse by having four torpedoes taking up bunk space ..... until they were fired off while on patrol. There simply was not much attention to habitability on subs in WWI, their crewmembers truly were men of iron!:salute: It turns out, this helps me ... it means that one 4-tube forward torpedo room can plausibly be used for the biggest U-Boats. :haha:

iambecomelife

11-03-23, 08:23 AM

https://i.postimg.cc/CxhybpLW/Untitled-4.jpg
https://i.postimg.cc/VNh3ySB8/Untitled-5.jpg
https://i.postimg.cc/rpsvYG4j/Untitled-6.jpg
https://i.postimg.cc/hvW6jH5Z/Untitled-7.jpg
https://i.postimg.cc/Px80dt28/Untitled-8.jpg
https://i.postimg.cc/8zt2HX7s/Untitled-9.jpg

Very early progress on Torp Tubes and new battle stations positions for crew. Crew will sleep when off duty.

Kal_Maximus_U669

11-03-23, 03:52 PM

Hey iambecomelife...:Kaleun_Cheers:
Personally I really can't wait to test... especially since this part of the conflict is never dealt with in games... that said, take your time... your work is colossal... Full grown respect for this modding..:up::yep::salute::subsim:

iambecomelife

11-05-23, 03:12 PM

Good news, a big chunk of the forward torpedo room interior modeling is now done! I had been dreading this stage of the project but, it is going great.

Pleasantly surprised at how much got done in just two days of work. Some of the parts are even textured.

Our belated Halloween screenshot update is now on the Facebook site, I will also be posting it here today. Tentative plans re: interiors are for the following rooms to be modeled:

-50cm Torpedo Room (2 tube variant) - Bow and Stern
-50cm Torpedo Room (4 tube variant) - Bow
-45cm Torpedo Room (2 tube variant) - Bow and Stern
-Electrical Engine Room
-Diesel Room (Germaniawerft variant)
-Diesel Room (MAN variant)

Other rooms will be included but they are already-created components I have secured permission for - adapted from other modders' WWII Type II interior.

Very happy with where things stand now. :Kaleun_Applaud:

ElCid97

11-05-23, 03:38 PM

Outstanding work!

:Kaleun_Salute::Kaleun_Thumbs_Up::Kaleun_Cheers:

The more I see of this, the more I realize this whole genre of sims is truely a labor of love -- regardless of the era!

Keep it up!

ElCid97

iambecomelife

11-05-23, 06:09 PM

OK, finally got the Fall update ready on the other site .... the 50cm torpedo room has already been improved since early this morning.

[IMG]https://i.postimg.cc/90yGt9G2/0000000000000-Image10.jpg
https://i.postimg.cc/mgLQCthx/000000000000underwater02.jpg
https://i.postimg.cc/V6CMmtZt/00000000000-Image24.jpg
https://i.postimg.cc/t4BF5pVs/0000000000-Image25.jpg
https://i.postimg.cc/L6BtJz9B/00000000-Big-Cat-03.jpg
https://i.postimg.cc/HsC0WSgk/00000000-Camels01.jpg
https://i.postimg.cc/DzDs966F/00000000-Feur04.jpg
https://i.postimg.cc/Vv9Cb88L/0000000-Salute02.jpg
https://i.postimg.cc/2jdbGrsC/Armoured-Cruisers04.jpg
https://i.postimg.cc/T3sp1wDJ/Big-Cat.jpg
https://i.postimg.cc/52D21RhP/CA04.jpg
https://i.postimg.cc/MTm67Kv4/CADefence01.jpg
https://i.postimg.cc/t4n9rzsF/Cruiser-01.jpg
https://i.postimg.cc/DzVnRbGH/Defence03.jpg
https://i.postimg.cc/W4MTVb63/Drake01.jpg
https://i.postimg.cc/HxzmJZN1/Duke-of-Edinburgh-Armoured-Cruiser-1914.jpg
https://i.postimg.cc/fbjnFqDS/G101-2.jpg
https://i.postimg.cc/x88wX0HL/Gun01.jpg

iambecomelife

11-05-23, 06:11 PM

https://i.postimg.cc/xjFrWzD5/Hamp01.jpg
https://i.postimg.cc/02Mgxy9s/Hamp02.jpg
https://i.postimg.cc/5NZhtWtF/Hamp03.jpg
https://i.postimg.cc/wjLSy4t4/HMS-Defence-1916-Jutland-Armoured-Cruiser-Arbuthnot.jpg
https://i.postimg.cc/02J4FXC5/Image07.jpg
https://i.postimg.cc/SQw4nMTs/Image15.jpg
https://i.postimg.cc/k5X30F4j/Image19.jpg
https://i.postimg.cc/JnswnrjZ/Image20.jpg
https://i.postimg.cc/hj6kQk0w/Image21.jpg
https://i.postimg.cc/brnKxmCv/Image22.jpg
https://i.postimg.cc/wBBZfqfZ/Image26.jpg
https://i.postimg.cc/j5w9T8rh/Image27.jpg
https://i.postimg.cc/MTCLpy6J/Image28.jpg
https://i.postimg.cc/d3GxkL3k/Image29.jpg
https://i.postimg.cc/L6M7dBQz/Image30.jpg
https://i.postimg.cc/fWdFggCz/Image31.jpg
https://i.postimg.cc/xTYspjq5/Interface-Last.jpg
https://i.postimg.cc/nhh3Zd4Q/Interface0-1.jpg
https://i.postimg.cc/W3gnSxvx/List01.jpg

iambecomelife

11-05-23, 06:13 PM

https://i.postimg.cc/Xqx9zbD1/Severe-Damage.jpg

https://i.postimg.cc/90fDzqJ1/Untitled-1.jpg
https://i.postimg.cc/j2VDWKhD/gfdhh.jpg
https://i.postimg.cc/fyxJmFHB/Invy0000.jpg
https://i.postimg.cc/fWX3Gtwm/kittyuu.jpg
https://i.postimg.cc/RVB34SF8/Tyg000.jpg
https://i.postimg.cc/sD4M2kG2/Tyger01.jpg
https://i.postimg.cc/Jz7GHpj5/Tyger02.jpg
https://i.postimg.cc/KzxkSWT6/TTubesbest02.jpg

ElCid97

11-05-23, 10:38 PM

:Kaleun_Cheers::Kaleun_Applaud:

Patience is a virtue we're all having in abundance now, because this will DEFINTATELY be worth the wait!

Excellent, excellent job!

ElCid97

iambecomelife

11-05-23, 11:24 PM

:Kaleun_Cheers::Kaleun_Applaud:

Patience is a virtue we're all having in abundance now, because this will DEFINTATELY be worth the wait!

Excellent, excellent job!

ElCid97

Thank you kindly sir....El Cid you have a PM, I may be able to think of a few other things after work tomorrow!

In other news, guys, I have done even more work on the fwd torpedo room (50cm) that I already posted; I got to work modeling right after posting my updates on facebook and subsim. I found some priceless new photos of the interior of UB-110 (not the ones you see all over the internet, these are really rare) - very helpful. They allowed me to figure out certain mysteries, like what was between the forward oxygen tanks and the crew lockers.

Also have been looking at Tomi's past work on engines and other interior spaces (disclaimer - the videos are all his work, not mine). Very good for inspiration:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Fz-LLPsfnOs

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Mjuc613k7ns

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=366X9UUrev0

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pM4d0rcHdjw

SlySkydiver

11-06-23, 12:32 AM

These look beautiful! The interiors really do looked lived in. The hammock especially sold me. I'm sure I don't even need to tell you how excited I am just from looking at these videos. Honestly from when I first found this mod to now it's been just looking better and better.

Kapitain Oliver Leinkraunt

11-06-23, 08:29 AM

That’s GORGEOUS!! I really have no other words. Beside of all, I really love these new environment filters and the sea color, it seems like an art work; so nice :)

iambecomelife

11-06-23, 10:23 AM

Thanks everyone!!!! But just want to clarify - the videos are Tomi's work - not mine. The rooms in the videos will not be in the mod because he never released them, and I do not have permission even if he did - they were just posted as an example that helps me, as a beginner at interior modeling....again, that is NOT my work.

Early this morning I continued work on the torpedo room and will post more progress very soon ..... next step is to work on the floor, various steel beams, pumps, compressors, and crew bunks. I also want to conduct some experimentation with animated "dummy" crew, who will not be linked to any crew slots but who will perform simple tasks in the background - working with wrenches, loading torpedoes, etc. I can give them better-looking bodies and uniforms than the standard SH4 crew. I think I have a way to get them to change behavior based on if the sub is at battlestations or not....more news soon.

iambecomelife

11-07-23, 02:21 PM

Had a pretty productive evening doing mundane but necessary interior work.

Created a whole bunch of cables/electrical wires facing in random directions - that way the sub interiors will have a more cluttered feel. Also began work on miscellaneous control panels/electrical boxes and boxes with vents, which I have seen in some subs. Also did research on the UB-110 photographs as well as Tomi 99's beautiful work....I really hope he comes back to subsim and releases it one day.

Early this morning I began work on the enlisted men's beds - never thought I would ever research U-Boat mattress springs! :haha: But everything is going nicely, there will be a pause as I take a flight for the American Thanksgiving holiday in a few days ,and I will not have access to a PC. But I will use my typical strategy of working on text-based files, radio messages, etc on my laptop while i am away. When I return I will take time off Christmas for another binge of modeling work!

1Patriotofmany

11-09-23, 06:26 AM

Beautiful videos! You guys are going way indepth! Question about the diesels, I took diesel mechanics in tech school a long long time ago, I can't figure out what the middle rocker arm is for?

iambecomelife

11-09-23, 08:36 PM

Beautiful videos! You guys are going way indepth! Question about the diesels, I took diesel mechanics in tech school a long long time ago, I can't figure out what the middle rocker arm is for?

Not sure; my old man is a trucker so maybe he knows - I think the stages of diesel propulsion are intake, compression, combustion, and exhaust, so it may have to do with one of those things.... Again, not 100% sure; I might ask dad!!

I am, again, pleasantly surprised at how interior modeling has been - I was afraid that it would be a huge time sink but things have been going great - considering I am just one week into the process.

To save time all medium sized U-Boats will use the UB-III style interior, since we have so many excellent photographs of it.... for minor details that aren't known, I will use Type VII and Type IX parts. But over all I am also happy with how much source material I have. In addition to WWI photographs, pictures from the "Das Boot" set and U-505 have been a great guide.

I plan to have more posts with screenshots very soon - also, elcid has kindly volunteered to transfer the radio messages I spent months developing!! More news coming soon.

A mix of WWI and WWII interior images below:

https://i.postimg.cc/MT5Zm2pw/Bigforumpost01.jpg
https://i.postimg.cc/GhH3Gfw0/Bigforumpost02.jpg
https://i.postimg.cc/3rLJyTqC/Bigforumpost03.jpg
https://i.postimg.cc/MG8WkKcx/Bigforumpost04.jpg
https://i.postimg.cc/C1hS1PHQ/Bigpostxx.jpg
https://i.postimg.cc/PJNHbC7b/Bigpostxx00.jpg
https://i.postimg.cc/C5KhvPRq/Crewinbunks.jpg
https://i.postimg.cc/Fzq4T9tM/Submarine-German-World-War-1-14-1200x1454.jpg
https://i.postimg.cc/tTByV3BC/Submarine-German-World-War-1-19-1200x872.jpg
https://i.postimg.cc/c150xcKF/Submarine-German-World-War-1-21-1200x906.jpg
https://i.postimg.cc/J4f8J45J/Submarine-German-World-War-1-27-1200x1424.jpg
https://i.postimg.cc/yxrV2mRr/Submarine-German-World-War-1-6-1200x949.jpg
https://i.postimg.cc/g2hYB62N/Submarine-German-World-War-1-7-1200x1517.jpg

iambecomelife

11-10-23, 09:57 PM

Forward torpedo room coming along .... as usual, lots of things to correct and not everything is in its proper place, but getting there. More pipes, valves, machinery, crew lockers, beds, and other stuff.

About four days' worth of modeling, so things are pretty good. Mattresses on one side have been moved to accommodate a spare torpedo - you can see how uncomfortable it was until the crew had fired off some of their "eels". You'll remember this was discussed in "Das Boot". :yep:

https://i.postimg.cc/RhCxVYpd/Untitled-15.jpg
https://i.postimg.cc/tCSp7Xjx/Untitled-09.jpg

https://i.postimg.cc/TPm6kgWV/Untitled-12.jpg
https://i.postimg.cc/V68c2vj3/Untitled-13.jpg
https://i.postimg.cc/Y9zw77Rj/Untitled-14.jpg

https://i.postimg.cc/MHs2cYhS/Untitled-10.jpg
https://i.postimg.cc/bw4PH3dY/Untitled-11.jpg

1Patriotofmany

11-12-23, 03:45 AM

I'm also a trucker and went to tech school for diesel mechanics while in high school. Not sure; my old man is a trucker so maybe he knows - I think the stages of diesel propulsion are intake, compression, combustion, and exhaust, so it may have to do with one of those things.... Again, not 100% sure; I might ask dad!! That's accomplished by the two outer rocker arms.

Rhodes

11-12-23, 04:55 AM

Beautiful videos! You guys are going way indepth! Question about the diesels, I took diesel mechanics in tech school a long long time ago, I can't figure out what the middle rocker arm is for?

I'm also a trucker and went to tech school for diesel mechanics while in high school. Not sure; my old man is a trucker so maybe he knows - I think the stages of diesel propulsion are intake, compression, combustion, and exhaust, so it may have to do with one of those things.... Again, not 100% sure; I might ask dad!! That's accomplished by the two outer rocker arms.

Is the 3rd rocker like the middle one similar to the one in this video?

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TxSklJP_-D0&list=FLKte-0fwH-3WRwBM5eof1VA&index=15

Could it the fuel injector? I always thought that was, but i'm not 100% sure.

1Patriotofmany

11-13-23, 03:54 AM

Rhodes

11-13-23, 05:16 AM

On that train one, It looks like all three are for valves, Two are either exhaust or intake and the middle the opposite. On the Uboat one it's not a full length rocker like that train one. Got me stumped.

I see. I always thought that could be the injector. I will try to look if there any info on a few books of diesel engines (maritime and/or U-boats ones) that I have.

iambecomelife

11-17-23, 09:28 PM

Good news, the modeling of the torpedo room has gone so well that I will be proceeding with new rooms soon. I removed the torpedo tubes from the model in the screenshots and added even more details to them...

Now they have a very large number of pipes, valves, and gauges. Many of the boxes and rods alongside the TT's were apparently for guidance equipment. The German navy was one of the first (maybe the first) to introduce torpedoes with changeable gyro angles.

Next will be Petty Officer's quarters and Engine Rooms .... one Germaniawerft and one MAN.

MAN engines on U-Boats were initially preferred to Germaniawerft engines. Germaniawerft diesels (used on U-31 and her sisters) had a bad reputation. At first, Germaniawerft engines were so bad that submarines using them failed to reach their top speed. The U-31 Class typically had a realistic top speed of only 13 knots until about 1915. This made it very difficult to chase down ocean liners, cruisers, and other fast ships.

Eventually, however, the teething problems were resolved and Germaniawerft submarines went on to achieve great success - in fact, U-35 of the U-31 class finished WWI as the top scoring submarine in the world, with over 500,000 tons sunk.

MAN still exists over 100 years later BTW! My cousin used to drive a nice 12-wheel MAN dump truck .... guess I will get another look at a MAN diesel engine as I finish this project. :haha::haha:

https://i.postimg.cc/PqKNZsfd/truck-dump-truck-MAN-TGS41-460-1647503644346785764-big-22031709534506659800.png

No 3d modding during Thanksgiving but I will work on radio messages and other items using my laptop!

https://i.postimg.cc/kMVJftXr/EEng01.jpg
https://i.postimg.cc/WpQ2Kbhd/Eng02.jpg
https://i.postimg.cc/CLkFVTqm/Eng03.jpg
https://i.postimg.cc/T3xTd7jG/u35.jpg

d@rk51d3

11-18-23, 02:16 AM

vickers03

11-18-23, 07:15 AM

good work with the interiors!

juliantheblaze22

11-18-23, 03:36 PM

Been following this mod for along time im very excited, i also you guys have made alot of progress. Is their any estimate on a test version yet?

iambecomelife

12-01-23, 08:24 AM

Been following this mod for along time im very excited, i also you guys have made alot of progress. Is their any estimate on a test version yet?

I will try to get something out by late Spring 2024. I am considering a demo version that showcases the new interiors, damage effects, weather, and has a small unit roster that will include RMS Lusitania. And likely a single mission for May 1915, in which you patrol off the Head of Kinsale in Ireland and intercept the Lusitania.

Good news, I have flown back after Thanksgiving (I can't stand American Airlines!!!!) :) At least they got me to the Left Coast in one piece, in between my job hrs I am hard at work on the Petty Officer's quarters and commander's bed! TMore to come soon.

1Patriotofmany

12-03-23, 02:05 AM

KaleunMarco

12-03-23, 02:59 PM

To be honest I could give a rats ass about the interior, would it be possible to get it out sooner with out the detailed interiors so we can start sinking those damn limeys? And regarding airlines, just give frontier a try and you'll want to slit your wrist before you get there 24 hours late with 3 delays.......

ease up on the salty language, ok?
"No vulgarities, obscenities, hate speech, or foul language. Do not use *******ing w*rds with aster*cks, that's the same thing as vulgar languge."

https://www.subsim.com/radioroom/faq.php

KM
Moderator.

iambecomelife

12-04-23, 01:10 PM

To be honest I could give a rats about the interior, would it be possible to get it out sooner with out the detailed interiors so we can start sinking those damn limeys? And regarding airlines, just give frontier a try and you'll want to slit your wrist before you get there 24 hours late with 3 delays.......

Hey there! After some consideration I'll definitely try to get a demo out sooner; I will attempt late winter - in the interest of saving time I agree, the full interiors will not be in the demo version.

Weekly Update:

This was not a full week of work due to me vacationing with no PC access, but upon return more progress was made on the PO's quarters! Cabinets and bunks are nearly finished, now I need a little piping and I need to model lamps, foldable tables, PA system speakers, and Naval telephones.....found a very nice source for modeling the phones on an Axis militaria page.

Still watching "Das Boot" and looking at images of surviving Uboats quarters - like U-505 and U-995; WWI crew quarter pics are very rare but the bedding arrangements for WWI and WWII boats were quite similar.

Good news in re: animal modeling, I found free sources for cows, horses, and sheep! It may seem like a small thing but this is a big help to me; it means no time wasted making livestock and about $60 - $120 saved, since I will no longer need to buy animal packs. All I will have to do is make different fur/skin colors, very easy.

Also spent time researching when aces reached certain milestones; you will receive intelligence messages when Von Arnauld, Hans Rose, Hersing, and others get to the 50,000 GRT mark and the 100,000 GRT mark. At which point they get recommended for medals, IIRC about 50,000 was needed for Hanseatic Cross, 75,000 for Hohenzollern Order, and 100,000 for Blue Max/Pour le Merite!

Also spent time rearranging the S Boat interior for use as the interior base, this has gone very well.... I now successfully placed the dive plane operators so that they are on the correct side (Starboard) and removed the radar station. Interior stations will be very crowded! With all the processing power of modern PC's there's no reason not to have an interior with 20-30 men visible; I have gotten no slowdowns on my old computer while conducting tests.

Take care all, I will try to have pics of additional interior parts and other stuff posted this evening or in 1-2 days along with facebook updates!

bricko

12-05-23, 05:49 PM

@1Patriotofmany

That was a little rash for a lone developer. I understand your point, and I agree with it, but that was a tad bit uncalled for.

bricko

iambecomelife

12-06-23, 06:21 AM

12/06/23 update:

https://i.postimg.cc/ZRsPr10w/Lion01.jpg
https://i.postimg.cc/ZRwHwWsF/Lion02.jpg

Images of the latest sea state changes; I will probably reduce choppiness at lower windspeeds. SH4 tends to repeat the same wave patterns too many times, so the whole thing is a delicate balance. I have a few ideas as to how to make lighting on water better; I will try them as the mod approaches its conclusion!

More importantly - the interiors. More beds and clutter created for the PO quarters - still need to finish the telephone system and some furniture, plus lamps.

Started swapping out the American equipment in the "S" Class..... now there is a working German depth meter and engine room telegraph. Disregard the US equipment that still exists - it will of course be removed as modding progresses. Again, note that I did not have access to my PC for multiple days, so things still look rough. A very large number of items and many rooms will be added in the coming days....at which point you will no longer recognize the standard "S" class interior.

https://i.postimg.cc/MKNPkj69/Beds01.jpg
https://i.postimg.cc/66Hb0mDJ/Beds02.jpg
https://i.postimg.cc/9Q9xcFzC/Graph01.jpg
https://i.postimg.cc/rFKnY9kd/Helm0.jpg
https://i.postimg.cc/d0m4TH8f/Helm01.jpg

https://i.postimg.cc/KzxpqSGF/Officer00.jpg
https://i.postimg.cc/zf5k5C9F/Officer01.jpg
https://i.postimg.cc/rsd1gQrM/Officer02.jpg
https://i.postimg.cc/c4n7nkWc/Officer03.jpg
https://i.postimg.cc/bJwHSzYG/Officer04.jpg
https://i.postimg.cc/kMZFD304/Officer05.jpg
https://i.postimg.cc/GpQxpBRw/Untitled-32.jpg
https://i.postimg.cc/90vGkZdT/Untitled-324.jpg

Kapitain Oliver Leinkraunt

12-06-23, 10:39 AM

It's so nice to see there so many improvements on your project; I really love the new interiors and can't wait for the demo; in fact i think i have to rework on my sound mod if you haven't already did it.
:Kaleun_Cheers:

btw, I was viewing again your work on the interfaces and i thought I could be, some way, useful on this thing too.

https://i.postimg.cc/nhh3Zd4Q/Interface0-1.jpg
"U-BOAT" from Rössler has some of the most detailed drawings of imperial navy's submarines, so I took ones for the sub. you want in your first release and bit modified with my phone (to make them look like an old "blueprint"), so you can use them as sub. figures for the interface. Hope you like them :D
U9/12 class boat
https://imgur.com/rjR515Z
U19/22 class
https://imgur.com/pH7Tdnl
U23/26 class
https://imgur.com/MnE3BIO
U27/30 class
https://imgur.com/CQISnKn
U31/41 class
https://imgur.com/HCdbm92
U51/56
https://imgur.com/C7QmZOq
U63/65 class
https://imgur.com/7hiU2vs
U81/86 class
https://imgur.com/ukPghcH
U87/92 class
https://imgur.com/6s8yXat
U139/141 class
https://imgur.com/ilbTymD
UB1/B17 class
https://imgur.com/oouoaQG

iambecomelife

12-06-23, 03:39 PM

Thank you for the images! I love old blueprints, the ones in "Shells of Fury"
were absolutely grand and added a lot to the interface of that game - something
similar should be done for SH4 mods of all kinds.

I am on lunch break now and drinking lots of coffee!!
Got a long night ahead of me, with much more interior stuff. :haha:

The animated German engine room telegraph was a nightmare to add,
this modding process really has a way of humbling you... but
now that it's in and finally displaying proper speeds I will improve it.

Think I will make the Tiefenmessers/dive gauges less colorful -
based on one of my few color sources, the depth gauges in WWI Uboat control rooms were
red, and black on a white face - no green and yellow trim, like on WWII boats.
IMHO the WWII style gauges from Das Boot etc look too colorful/"modern".
Any thoughts?? :hmmm:

Also, a lot of brass-colored faces and trim were used for gauges and instruments,
in WWI UBoats, so I will replace the low polygon items with more detailed frames
that have nuts/bolts and a shinier surface. More news coming very soon!

vickers03

12-06-23, 05:27 PM

Think I will make the Tiefenmessers/dive gauges less colorful -
based on one of my few color sources, the depth gauges in WWI Uboat control rooms were
red, and black on a white face - no green and yellow trim, like on WWII boats.
IMHO the WWII style gauges from Das Boot etc look too colorful/"modern".
Any thoughts?? :hmmm:
check U-995 for more realistic instruments..Das Boot has some movie
"inventions" e.g. dark grey interiors, red lights (mostly used on american boats as far as i know)..

1Patriotofmany

12-08-23, 09:11 AM

ease up on the salty language, ok?
"No vulgarities, obscenities, hate speech, or foul language. Do not use *******ing w*rds with aster*cks, that's the same thing as vulgar languge."

https://www.subsim.com/radioroom/faq.php

KM
Moderator. 10-4 Sir, would rats butt and darned pass muster? I apologize to iambecomelife, I'm just so excited, I want to play this so bad. I appreciate and many others, probably thousands will also appreciate your labor! Why isn't we can't contribute financially to the the project?

KaleunMarco

12-08-23, 09:59 AM

10-4 Sir, would rats butt and darned pass muster?

lol. re-think a response.:hmmm:

Why isn't we can't contribute financially to the the project?

read the FAQ's (https://www.subsim.com/radioroom/faq.php).
we do not do that here at subsim. no fees. no sub-contracts.
this is fun. are we having fun yet?
:haha:

iambecomelife

12-08-23, 11:26 AM

No offense taken I didn't feel insulted or anything! And thanks for the offer but money is not really a concern right now.

December 8th update:

-Finished new brass depth meter and engine room telegraph for the control room

-Got depth meter to display accurate depths using .Sim file edits

-Continued a very intensive exam of UB-110's interior....by far the best WWI sub interior photos.

-Designed new high poly valve wheels for the interior

-Began work on high poly food for the control room, there will be hams and sausages hanging like in Das Boot

-Researched SH4 Ambient Occlusion and bump mapping....took many hours but worth it I now know how to make textures much more realistic

vickers03

12-08-23, 04:59 PM

-Researched SH4 Ambient Occlusion and bump mapping....took many hours but worth it I now know how to make textures much more realistic
did you find a way to make it work with the unified render controller (interiors)?

iambecomelife

12-08-23, 07:36 PM

[QUOTE=vickers03;2894999]did you find a way to make it work with the unified render controller (interiors)?[/QUOTE

Sometimes... but it is still touch and go .. I am a beginner, one thing I had not realized was that Wings3d can occlude models itself for you, and SH4 render controller displays them fine! Embarrassed I didn't know this.. no need for a 3rd party AO map baking software.

Some items are displaying OK with render controllers except for the fact that they are ugly/grayed out...much more work trial and error to come this weekend. Expect more screenshots and videos soon guys!

iambecomelife

12-12-23, 09:11 AM

Short private message sent to Jeff, Kapt. Lehmann, Oliver, and other recent contributors, please do not share for now. Many thanks!

I will say that the engine room is under construction and things are going great. As planned, one medium-sized sub interior with a couple engine/torpedo room variants has definitely been manageable. Many more updates & items later this week and leading up to Christmas. :up:

Jeff-Groves

12-12-23, 01:56 PM

Nice!
:salute:

iambecomelife

12-12-23, 02:07 PM

Nice!
:salute:

Got a super important question for you, will send a PM! I have something on my modding "wish list" and you are one of the only modders who might know how to do it.

Thanks to everyone for all the support! Soon there will be new images, a short video, and updates to the front page here and on facebook. We are gathering steam here.

Jeff-Groves

12-12-23, 02:48 PM

Ask away Mate.
:up:

iambecomelife

12-12-23, 05:58 PM

Ask away Mate.
:up:

Argh, something happened to the message, I sent it some time ago...just resubmitted, apologies if I flood your box.

Not sure if it failed to send because it contained a youtube video link of Qmin's stuff?? :hmmm:

If you can achieve this, drinks are on me!!!:Kaleun_Cheers:

Jeff-Groves

12-12-23, 07:05 PM

Never got the video.

iambecomelife

12-14-23, 07:03 PM

An update to this threads front page is coming tonight
, mainly for new followers .. some screens may be repeats but others will be original. Very good progress and lots of good talk with important subsim people behind the scenes, let's leave it at that!

iambecomelife

12-14-23, 07:45 PM

https://youtu.be/0RhUYvGSGwQ

New video and interior images, showing the "Germanized" S class interior - more German istruments are being added to replace the WW2 American ones. :D

https://i.postimg.cc/fLbzrrDB/AAAA-Image-No00.jpg
https://i.postimg.cc/1R2mvBTr/AAAA-Image-No00-B.jpg
https://i.postimg.cc/bNnzWbfc/AAAA-Image-No1.jpg
https://i.postimg.cc/tgqpsMZp/Divemeter-01.jpg
https://i.postimg.cc/T1zTh2m4/Divemeter-02.jpg
https://i.postimg.cc/J0D11HyX/Divemeter-03.jpg
https://i.postimg.cc/YCftqHSd/Divemeter-04.jpg
https://i.postimg.cc/nzwFbGLZ/Divemeter-05.jpg
https://i.postimg.cc/kgdnm47V/Divemeter-06.jpg
https://i.postimg.cc/pdsxzJz8/Static.jpg

SlySkydiver

12-15-23, 03:51 AM

The interior looked really nice and the sailors looked pretty cool as well. Its neat to see their damage control positions. The models themselves, crew and ship alike also look really good. I love how the interior almost seems darker than how it usually is in SH4. At least to me it seemed like that. The water seemed to be a little off but that could just be me. Was nice to see the sub underwater though I would've loved to watch it dive lol. These previews and sneak peaks always get me in the mood to launch SH4 again and put some more time into it. I'm already looking forward to what you're planning to share next!

iambecomelife

12-15-23, 01:15 PM

Thank you! The water was actually replaced yesterday with Environmental Mod 5.0 water ... this is a temporary measure because we want to improve the water even more, that's all I can say for now lol... Next screenshots are coming this evening or tomorrow... the Gernaniawerft engine is coming along well, so its time to reveal it! They were a failure at first...in fact U35 and her sister boats could only make about 11 to 13 knots at first.

Once teething troubles ended they made a satisfactory speed of about 16 to 17 knots ... and the U31 class as you may know became the highest scoring submarines in World History!

So stay tuned for some engine pictures. Also for new followers screenshots from the archive have been added to page 1 of this thread so take a look at them.

iambecomelife

12-16-23, 01:25 AM

Germaniawerft engines for the interior, more items needed but progress being made - so glad that this part will be done soon, it was much less painful than I thought. Once again, we are getting over some of the big "humps" in this project. :up:

Nice thing is, a lot of the components can be reused for the MAN engine IMO. This engine itself incorporates items from my new 88mm gun and torpedo tube - lots of pre-skinned cylindrical items and pipes can be reused for various models to save time.

:yep:

https://i.postimg.cc/TYbdK4sh/Germania-01.jpg
https://i.postimg.cc/t4t95Vpj/Germania-02.jpg
https://i.postimg.cc/XY0VdgML/Germania-03.jpg

1Patriotofmany

12-16-23, 01:34 AM

I noticed in a video, the sailors are speaking standard SH4, how hard or time consuming would it be to put the German voices from OM Darkwaters into the mod?

iambecomelife

12-18-23, 06:12 PM

I noticed in a video, the sailors are speaking standard SH4, how hard or time consuming would it be to put the German voices from OM Darkwaters into the mod?

I can definitely ask permission! Although Kapt. Oliver is already doing quite a bit of sound-related stuff for the mod; if any phrases still need to be added I may well use OM Darkwaters files to supplement what he does.

bricko

12-18-23, 07:25 PM

I have to admit, it would be pretty cool if we got a bunch of voice actors as volunteers to just record a bunch of lines for different characters, put that in, and then have a big batch of people. Could add some interesting things, like the Engineer is voiced by XY, the Hydrophone man is voiced by XX, etc.

bricko

Kapitain Oliver Leinkraunt

12-18-23, 08:36 PM

I noticed in a video, the sailors are speaking standard SH4, how hard or time consuming would it be to put the German voices from OM Darkwaters into the mod?
Well: the sound pack I created (still to be tested in game, but it’s practically finished) is based on Thomsen sound pack and the sounds of OM Darkwaters, plus many phrases and quotes taken from movies like Das Boot, Murder on the Atlantic, U-571, the last u-boat etc. and various documentaries.

would be pretty cool if we got a bunch of voice actors as volunteers
Some things are recorded from volunteers (not many) and, as realistically I mixed the voices of the 9 stock folders into one, so there will be the sensation that the submarines is populated by many people, not just 9 or worst 1, like in SH3.

bricko

12-19-23, 07:22 PM

iambecomelife

12-19-23, 10:39 PM

May I make a suggestion?

This may be a tad bit inhistorical, but from what I remember, some certain Airplanes had started to be deployed with Depth Charges (not excluding blimps-which I could only see as a hell to add to the game) around 1917. Maybe it would be cool if certain variants of the Sopwith Camel were to be equipped with some basic depth charges (of course, very weak and would most likely only be intended to instantly detonate after hitting the water)

bricko

There will be Sopwith Camels and RE8's with light bombs. Most aircraft bombs will be too light to do damage unless they get a direct or near direct hit.

Strafing, however, will be much more dangerous; I have already modified the game so sailors get killed and injured MUCH more often. This is more accurate than standard SH4. Even a MG round that misses a crewman in real life can cause fatal casualties from chipped metal. Or kill from bullet fragmenting against submarine equipment. Tests of WW2 submarines proved machine guns could kill or wound men belowdecks, and WW1 subs would have been even more vulnerable.

There will also be Short 184 seaplanes, which were potentially dangerous to U-Boats because they carried torpedoes. During WWI they never torpedoed any U-Boats, but the possibility did exist.

Rhodes

12-20-23, 07:25 AM

Halo, i found this one video from a WW1 UB. Do not know if it helps.
The tittle say WW2, but in the description it's correct.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5MEgSKwRk3I&t=18s

iambecomelife

12-21-23, 08:52 PM

Thank you Rhodes! :up:

Major components done last night; now I am texturing - more than 200,000 polygons.

https://i.postimg.cc/hjQFByKr/Untitled-00.jpg
https://i.postimg.cc/g0T91Fbj/Untitled-2.jpg
https://i.postimg.cc/QMtG6NPv/Untitled-3.jpg
https://i.postimg.cc/Jnff4NnW/Untitled-4.jpg

Alex.B

12-22-23, 06:24 AM

https://i.postimg.cc/QMtG6NPv/Untitled-3.jpg

:o :Kaleun_Applaud::Kaleun_Thumbs_Up:

Rhodes

12-22-23, 06:48 AM

Thank you Rhodes! :up:

:salute::up:

iambecomelife

12-23-23, 08:22 PM

https://i.postimg.cc/SKb6XmNg/Crew01.jpg
https://i.postimg.cc/hG89TNXc/Crew02.jpg
https://i.postimg.cc/SsycrV98/Crew03.jpg

Several nice historical pix I found on my HD....:03:

iambecomelife

12-23-23, 08:27 PM

Since the most recent video, water has been altered. Early morning, low wind sea state....There will be better flecks of sunlight and less choppiness at low wind speeds, so the waves are not unrealistically "bunched up".

Thanks, Jeff, for offering to look into the additional water improvements that are being researched! :yep:

Note that these images feature an optional Reshade preset with high exposure; of course you do not have to use Reshade - the final product will let you tune the appearance of sky and sea to your heart's content.

https://i.postimg.cc/k57V3G5P/BazaFX.jpg
https://i.postimg.cc/tJ81LzsB/Flag-Jerry.jpg
https://i.postimg.cc/k5w2nCV6/Improved-Water-02.jpg
https://i.postimg.cc/8PrfLxY9/Improved-Water-03.jpg
https://i.postimg.cc/9Qd4nZCB/Improved-Water-04.jpg
https://i.postimg.cc/gc76XGg3/Improved-Water-05.jpg
https://i.postimg.cc/x1DJ5tDC/Improved-Water-06.jpg

iambecomelife

12-23-23, 08:34 PM

Miscellaneous screens I found including alternate environments (with U-87 model), U-63, battleships, and skinninf of the Germaniawerft Diesel Engine:

https://i.postimg.cc/mgYwyPnv/Battleship.jpg
https://i.postimg.cc/Dz5PRtn5/BB01.jpg
https://i.postimg.cc/wB9kf687/Bigbanger.jpg
https://i.postimg.cc/9XDstBYs/Fenwick.jpg
https://i.postimg.cc/Sssf4DK4/Harry-Tate.jpg
https://i.postimg.cc/nM84vxGV/Harry-Tate-02.jpg
https://i.postimg.cc/bw95NVqS/Merchie-01.jpg
https://i.postimg.cc/X7Fht7h8/Merchie-02.jpg
https://i.postimg.cc/zD46dRdv/Merchie-03.jpg
https://i.postimg.cc/Gp35BPp7/Nassau-01.jpg

https://i.postimg.cc/9fxNy4RW/Ruder.jpg
https://i.postimg.cc/J0X6wPTn/Sinkingfeelin.jpg
https://i.postimg.cc/wxRbsj6p/Sopwith-01.jpg
https://i.postimg.cc/pLC0t9BD/Steam-Launch.jpg
https://i.postimg.cc/kgqjZNWJ/Submarines-WWI.jpg
https://i.postimg.cc/cHphcfsN/U-87.jpg
https://i.postimg.cc/02pWcXMX/U63.jpg
https://i.postimg.cc/fbgBJ6py/U63-v1.jpg
https://i.postimg.cc/6QQM69HF/U63-v2.jpg
https://i.postimg.cc/4NTw7vL6/UBSubmarine.jpg
https://i.postimg.cc/v8n3Z2z8/Untitled-1.jpg

https://i.postimg.cc/bwcgnxm0/Brite-Future00.jpg
https://i.postimg.cc/440BfktS/Brite-Future01.jpg
https://i.postimg.cc/ncQTMRGc/Brite-Future02.jpg
https://i.postimg.cc/KjCNJBx2/Dark-Future00.jpg
https://i.postimg.cc/mD5NgCcH/Dark-Future01.jpg

Kal_Maximus_U669

12-26-23, 08:13 AM

iambecomelife

12-26-23, 08:34 AM

Hey iambecomelife..:Kaleun_Cheers:
https://images-wixmp-ed30a86b8c4ca887773594c2.wixmp.com/f/feba39cb-a64c-4c11-bd35-aaafad39ecf6/d5jxhpo-3d51a1f2-2dd7-4729-a304-502fef4983b6.gif?token=eyJ0eXAiOiJKV1QiLCJhbGciOiJ IUzI1NiJ9.eyJzdWIiOiJ1cm46YXBwOjdlMGQxODg5ODIyNjQz NzNhNWYwZDQxNWVhMGQyNmUwIiwiaXNzIjoidXJuOmFwcDo3ZT BkMTg4OTgyMjY0MzczYTVmMGQ0MTVlYTBkMjZlMCIsIm9iaiI6 W1t7InBhdGgiOiJcL2ZcL2ZlYmEzOWNiLWE2NGMtNGMxMS1iZD M1LWFhYWZhZDM5ZWNmNlwvZDVqeGhwby0zZDUxYTFmMi0yZGQ3 LTQ3MjktYTMwNC01MDJmZWY0OTgzYjYuZ2lmIn1dXSwiYXVkIj pbInVybjpzZXJ2aWNlOmZpbGUuZG93bmxvYWQiXX0.L1v2rT8h 7C5O2DAXAC2_cdqoDuMCucW3k6-BG_hIvnU
I can already smell the Diesel fumes... A work that goes beyond anything we know... You are remarkable... You are, as in mathematics, a "remarkable identity" continue to make me dream... it's excellent after several years spent on this project...I've been following you for a very long time practically from the beginning...I admit that when you lost your hard drive...there was a period...I no longer believe it ...Then miraculously you continued and conquered the storm.. I wish you success...As well as a happy end of year holiday...it is completely deserved...
Regards Kal Maximus U669 :yeah:

Wow, you are too kind; thank you for your words!

I have to say, credit goes to my mother, who got me interested in reading at a young age. I still remember being a youngster when Robert Ballard discovered the Titanic, and I was fascinated. My parents bought me books on the Titanic, and then I became fascinated with the Battle of the Atlantic, the Bismarck, and so on.

In terms of updates, I am glad to say the GW engine has been "installed" on the U-31 boat. :up:

It has animated rocking arms and base. On Christmas I added a diesel engine room to the American S Class command room; now players can travel seamlessly from command room to the diesel compartment aft.

Getting a working engine in the interior is a huge milestone; I had been dreading it but it went well. The MAN engine of course can use a lot of the same parts; this means some of the most difficult days are behind us.

Unfortunately the rocking arms do not have multiple speed settings, but players will be able to turn off the animation while underwater.

Next steps: adding particle effects like oil, fumes, etc. and crewmember slots; there will be several men performing maintenance and adjusting fuel flow, working with wrenches, etc.

I am tempted to post screenshots but I will add a video and images when the work progresses......right now the engine room is still pretty bare, it needs a lot of pipes and other details. But things are going very well.

My holiday break is over now and I am about to go to work, but as soon as my workday ends I will be "back in the saddle". :up:

iambecomelife

12-26-23, 06:20 PM

Jeff and Kapitan Oliver Leinkraunt, you both received a PM; any help you could give would be valuable.

I'm always asking for something!!! :haha:

Work's over - back to adding stuff to the engine room! Among other things. :D

Jeff-Groves

12-27-23, 02:36 PM

PM answered.

Kapitain Oliver Leinkraunt

12-27-23, 03:53 PM

Same as for me :Kaleun_Salute:

Jeffg

01-08-24, 03:31 PM

Any news on a timeframe for this Mod?

JeffG

iambecomelife

01-08-24, 06:10 PM

Been following this mod for along time im very excited, i also you guys have made alot of progress. Is their any estimate on a test version yet?

We will attempt late winter/early spring 2024. So basically the end of March. Thank you everyone for the support, it makes it worthwhile. In one of the upcoming updates you will see the animated WWI engine room, with many new details.

1Patriotofmany

01-12-24, 07:44 AM

This is going to be one of the best mods of the best mods. Just incredible work here, I only wish I could do that magic, DOS was my thing back in the day LOL! Thanks again for all the time and effort!

Kapitain Oliver Leinkraunt

01-24-24, 12:04 PM

Any smoke on the horizon, Captain ? :)

iambecomelife

01-30-24, 05:56 PM

Any smoke on the horizon, Captain ? :)

A nice update with the engine room is coming, but for now - DONATE DONATE DONATE! The subsim fundraiser is active, and every bit helps. If you can't donate yourself, then please encourage your friends to become subsim members and provide support.

As a reminder, Wolves of the Kaiser will be 100% free - despite having hundreds of ships and being the largest Real Time/3d WWI naval simulator since Jutland! Although we do not ask for mod funding, contributions to subsim are most appreciated; I just made my own gift. Very few websites work as hard as Subsim to preserve the history, traditions, and stories that honor the World Wars and their veterans.

Thanks in advance to all who contribute. :up:

Doctor Haider

02-19-24, 05:41 AM

SlySkydiver

02-29-24, 12:04 AM

Is that possible to change dates in career to 1914-1918?? I thought that dates prior 1938.01.01 aren't supported in the game.

I'm looking forward to this mod anyway, the WWI is a very underrated period.

I think I remember it being mentioned a while ago that he figured out how to make the correct dates appear. But I could be wrong because it has been some time.

Doctor Haider

02-29-24, 04:01 AM

I think I remember it being mentioned a while ago that he figured out how to make the correct dates appear. But I could be wrong because it has been some time.

That would be cool, I tried to do so but failed.

Doctor Haider

02-29-24, 09:22 AM

ErdiFerenc

02-29-24, 03:41 PM

Hello iambecomelife!

First of all, I have been following your amazing project for years now, and let me tell you how extremely impressed with your work I am. This project started 15(!) years ago, and astonishingly, it is still on its path towards success. I have never ever in my life met anyone with this amount of discipline. It impressed me even more, since I myself struggle to work on the same project even for a month.

Okay, I just wanted to let you know this above, but it wasn't the reason for me finally joining this thread actively.

I found an interesting photograph on Instagram, in the description it says, it is the engine compartment of a WW1 german U-boat. Of course this thread was the first thing that came to my mind, because I saw that you struggle to find useful photographs of the WW1 U-Boat interiors. I'm going to link it here, I hope you didn't find it already.

Wish best luck for this amazing project!

Link:
https://www.instagram.com/p/C376MvzN_e5/?igsh=MWE4ZWl1dHp5OGx6dw==

ReallyDedPoet

03-01-24, 12:19 PM

DONATE DONATE DONATE! The subsim fundraiser is active, and every bit helps. If you can't donate yourself, then please encourage your friends to become subsim members and provide support.

Very few websites work as hard as Subsim to preserve the history, traditions, and stories that honor the World Wars and their veterans.

Thanks in advance to all who contribute. :up:

:agree:

Even though it's now over, and you may be late to the game, you can still donate to the page at anytime :yep:

OLZS

03-01-24, 01:51 PM

Fantastic job! :up: At one time, I had the idea to create a similar modification for SH5.

ErdiFerenc

03-01-24, 05:04 PM

:agree:

Even though it's now over, and you may be late to the game, you can still donate to the page at anytime :yep:

Where can I donate? I cannot find the fundraiser I saw a few days ago, only the donate button on the top of the site. Is it the one?
Thanks:Kaleun_Salute:

Kapitain Oliver Leinkraunt

03-01-24, 07:39 PM

Now tried and did the same for a single mission, setting mission back in the year 1921.

Perfectly possible for a campaign I suppose, just a lot of files to rewrite.

https://i.postimg.cc/NKbqnz35/1.png (https://postimg.cc/NKbqnz35)

https://i.postimg.cc/4KtMg2M6/2.png (https://postimg.cc/4KtMg2M6)
I read on other forums you and other guys are working on a similar project with the submarines of the Imperial Russian Navy. It's so nice to see that the 1914/18 period is finally receiving the interest it should deserve :Kaleun_Applaud:

One thing guys: I practically finished the sound mod for WotK, but I'm not able to properly test it (I'm on a windows 11 pc and the compatibility mode doesn't work :oops: ) and I don't know know how to make appear some new sounds (it should be used SEDeditor, but I have no clue how to use it), so if someone would like to help me, it would be very nice :salute:

Last thing. Based on what I read on facebook IABL: is true than we could have an alpha version of WotK by the end of the month? :D

KaleunMarco

03-01-24, 09:38 PM

Where can I donate? I cannot find the fundraiser I saw a few days ago, only the donate button on the top of the site. Is it the one?
Thanks:Kaleun_Salute:

that's the place.
:Kaleun_Salute:

SwissSubCommander

03-05-24, 03:28 PM

I read on other forums you and other guys are working on a similar project with the submarines of the Imperial Russian Navy. It's so nice to see that the 1914/18 period is finally receiving the interest it should deserve :Kaleun_Applaud:

One thing guys: I practically finished the sound mod for WotK, but I'm not able to properly test it (I'm on a windows 11 pc and the compatibility mode doesn't work :oops: ) and I don't know know how to make appear some new sounds (it should be used SEDeditor, but I have no clue how to use it), so if someone would like to help me, it would be very nice :salute:

Last thing. Based on what I read on facebook IABL: is true than we could have an alpha version of WotK by the end of the month? :D

Whats this about WW1 russian submarines? That would be awesome! Where did you read about this?

Doctor Haider

03-06-24, 09:37 AM

I read on other forums you and other guys are working on a similar project with the submarines of the Imperial Russian Navy.

This is mainly LUKNER's effort, I help him with some things in my free time, like:

https://i.postimg.cc/SxTXbT82/18.png
https://i.postimg.cc/dQL4bpyd/17.png

This is conning tower of the Bars class submarine, still work in progress state

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bars-class_submarine_(1915)

Aktungbby

03-06-24, 10:54 AM

Doctor Haider :Kaleun_Salute: & ErdiFerenc:Kaleun_Salute: resurfaced after 7 and 4 year 'silent runs'...respectively!:yeah:

ErdiFerenc

03-06-24, 11:02 AM

Doctor Haider :Kaleun_Salute: & ErdiFerenc:Kaleun_Salute: resurfaced after 7 and 4 year 'silent runs'...respectively!:yeah:

:Kaleun_Salute:

iambecomelife

03-30-24, 11:46 AM

I read on other forums you and other guys are working on a similar project with the submarines of the Imperial Russian Navy. It's so nice to see that the 1914/18 period is finally receiving the interest it should deserve :Kaleun_Applaud:

One thing guys: I practically finished the sound mod for WotK, but I'm not able to properly test it (I'm on a windows 11 pc and the compatibility mode doesn't work :oops: ) and I don't know know how to make appear some new sounds (it should be used SEDeditor, but I have no clue how to use it), so if someone would like to help me, it would be very nice :salute:

Last thing. Based on what I read on facebook IABL: is true than we could have an alpha version of WotK by the end of the month? :D

Unfortunately no - I ran into massive problems with the interior texturing/materials. However, things are getting back on track and I have a plan to solve the issues.

Thank you for the sound assistance, and ErdiFerenc thanks for that photograph, it is quite helpful.

A new update will be posted no later than Sunday evening. :yep:

vickers03

03-30-24, 01:17 PM

Unfortunately no - I ran into massive problems with the interior texturing/materials. However, things are getting back on track and I have a plan to solve the issues.
what problems?:hmmm: maybe i can help.

iambecomelife

03-30-24, 01:33 PM

what problems?:hmmm: maybe i can help.

Do you use Wings3d? If so ... I badly need this plugin to work so I can create pipes for the interior of the U-Boat; however it is not working for me.

If, in fact, you can get it to work on your Wings3d install and tell me how, it would be very helpful.

https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/1WnicWPgbjhCwAKQDzoyu2PyPnDnVBpUc

Alternatively, if you know of a method to extrude realistic-looking pipes in Wings3d I would love to know!

Thanks.

vickers03

03-30-24, 02:01 PM

it should work in 2.3, installed it with no problems.
did you see the tutorial on the wings forum?
https://www.wings3d.com/forum/showthread.php?tid=2580&pid=15871#pid15871

iambecomelife

03-30-24, 06:51 PM

it should work in 2.3, installed it with no problems.
did you see the tutorial on the wings forum?
https://www.wings3d.com/forum/showthread.php?tid=2580&pid=15871#pid15871

Have you actually tried to create "curves" or other shapes with it?

I should have clarified - I can install it fine, but it doesn't work when I actually try to select the function in wings3d. :yep:

Anyway, thank you for your help, I will try it again.

vickers03

03-31-24, 05:10 AM

yes it works just like in the tutorial. i select tools/curve, another window
opens where i can right click and select the curve i want to draw.
i have not figured out every detail but i was able to draw a curve
and make a pipe object out of it:up:

iambecomelife

03-31-24, 09:41 PM

Latest progress as promised; the most important thing is probably the engine room, with animated rocking arms, vibration, and working engine room telegraphs.

https://i.postimg.cc/tTsWjGsk/Germaniawerft-01.jpg
https://i.postimg.cc/hjNx4ZxB/Germaniawerft-02.jpg
https://i.postimg.cc/jqJP3K0d/Germaniawerft-03.jpg
https://i.postimg.cc/5yvzX5qF/Germaniawerft-04.jpg
https://i.postimg.cc/5yZH1XhN/Amflag-01.jpg
https://i.postimg.cc/VNYJYQVM/Amflag-02.jpg

https://i.postimg.cc/bwfGB20m/Boot-01.jpg
https://i.postimg.cc/v8jx5K4F/Crew0-Commandrm.jpg
https://i.postimg.cc/CKmz5P32/Crew1-Commandrm.jpg
https://i.postimg.cc/YqWGRxF4/Crew3-Commandrm.jpg
https://i.postimg.cc/fLPyj3Tj/Damage-FX.jpg
https://i.postimg.cc/6qG3H98s/Damage-FX-02.jpg
https://i.postimg.cc/qRqg3c0v/Danish01.jpg
https://i.postimg.cc/vDFmkpn4/Disaster.jpg
https://i.postimg.cc/wxSc9Mcm/Drake01.jpg
https://i.postimg.cc/XYWfyPPN/Drake02.jpg
https://i.postimg.cc/qMycqrjZ/Dutch00esf.jpg
https://i.postimg.cc/JzQb3qwN/ffesssmr.jpg
https://i.postimg.cc/kMVvrK8C/Fire-at-sea.jpg

iambecomelife

03-31-24, 09:43 PM

https://i.postimg.cc/Bbc6WmBN/Germaniawerft-05.jpg
https://i.postimg.cc/MZyXjGJR/Germaniawerft-06.jpg
https://i.postimg.cc/63C6RMgw/Germaniawerft-07.jpg

https://i.postimg.cc/BQ4b5GJz/Hamp01.jpg
https://i.postimg.cc/N03f53Np/Hunt.jpg
https://i.postimg.cc/HkPLCcbG/Interior.jpg
https://i.postimg.cc/QdMMPk9k/Inv01.jpg
https://i.postimg.cc/br8yRQfn/Kaiser01.jpg
https://i.postimg.cc/28kjbFwR/Merch01.jpg
https://i.postimg.cc/2ywz9VCK/Merchant02.jpg
https://i.postimg.cc/GhXLk87B/merrtgy.jpg
https://i.postimg.cc/HW4skPb9/Mon01.jpg
https://i.postimg.cc/Dwm25vHx/Mon0444.jpg
https://i.postimg.cc/k5b73jn8/Nas01.jpg
https://i.postimg.cc/VkTzhycm/sdfdf.jpg
https://i.postimg.cc/k4Pqnx4H/Sink01.jpg
https://i.postimg.cc/mD3Rht1g/Stopped-01.jpg
https://i.postimg.cc/NFpc7S4h/Sub-01.jpg
https://i.postimg.cc/NFgtXBR7/Sub-02.jpg
https://i.postimg.cc/9fZHNrpY/Tiger01.jpg
https://i.postimg.cc/3xPHBggw/Tiger02.jpg
https://i.postimg.cc/vZ1sfPxj/Tiger03.jpg
https://i.postimg.cc/qMv0MBJp/Untitled-19.jpg
https://i.postimg.cc/y6PsH3zf/Untitled-3.jpg
https://i.postimg.cc/vH2y1RTf/WIp1.jpg
https://i.postimg.cc/0NMy5kCz/Germaniawerft-08.jpg
https://i.postimg.cc/fTCLBgLR/Germaniawerft-09.jpg

vickers03

04-01-24, 02:56 AM

engine room is looking great:up: how did you do the animations? any fps drop?

iambecomelife

04-01-24, 04:48 AM

engine room is looking great:up: how did you do the animations? any fps drop?

Yes unfortunately, FPS drop to about 30FPS. No stuttering but I would rather have a higher value.

Also there is only one speed right now for the rocking arms (again - unfortunately!) I admit I am not familiar with how to use state machine controllers or how to tie the rocking arm speed to the sub's speed. The engine telegraphs, however, work fine.

I would be happy to send the engine files to you or Jeff Groves - or another experienced modder, you will be credited in the final product. :)

vickers03

04-01-24, 05:26 AM

iambecomelife

04-01-24, 07:47 AM

i managed to get smooth fps with my s-class engine using particle (object)
effects for the moving parts. it's also possible to control the animation speed
this way. i could take a look and try to adapt my library to your engine:salute:

Thanks I have it ready for you to look at! Just pm me your email or preferred sharing method.

It will be the interior for the American S-class, so just start any mission with S-18 class or S-44 class and enter interior free cam to look at it. :up:

fitzcarraldo

04-01-24, 07:55 AM

Looking awesome...Work for the ages :Kaleun_Cheers:

Many thanks

Fitzcarraldo :Kaleun_Salute:

Jimbuna

04-01-24, 11:27 AM

Coming alongnicely :Kaleun_Thumbs_Up:

iambecomelife

04-01-24, 02:00 PM

i managed to get smooth fps with my s-class engine using particle (object)
effects for the moving parts. it's also possible to control the animation speed
this way. i could take a look and try to adapt my library to your engine:salute:

Uploaded my interior to the folder so you can look now .....thank you vickers03 !!:Kaleun_Salute::Kaleun_Salute::Kaleun_Salute:

iambecomelife

04-01-24, 02:55 PM

Prize warfare pop-up screen example; these will only be visible when you get close to neutral & unarmed merchants. Also, they will only appear when you are surfaced and using the bridge camera. :up:

That way, no cheating by using free camera to see if a ship can be torpedoed.

Also, there will always be a chance it's a Q-ship, so be careful.
There will be lots of different cargoes depending on the ship - I may adjust the screen but this is the basic idea.

https://i.postimg.cc/43NjHGyG/Prizewarfare.jpg

WWI French magazine illustration of a Q-ship attacking a U-Boat - surprising the German crew!

https://i.postimg.cc/qR8hxKhc/Q-Ship-WW1.jpg

iambecomelife

04-01-24, 10:58 PM

vickers03, you are a genius! :up:

Got your file and tweaked my existing file based on it. I feel like Capt. Miller after they blew up the German bunker on D-Day: "we're in business!"

This takes care of a major hold up; the remaining interior can now get worked on. Beds and torpedo room have already been made - just need texturing, so I really like the position I'm in right now.

The one last issue is realistic small pipes and wiring to add '"clutter" - because good looking pipes are deceptively simple, taking more work than more complex parts. But i have some ideas I will probably implement this week once I get back from work.

Alongside this is final tweaking of new damage effects for ships and ship weapons systems, which isn't too hard.

The mod as a whole needs more merchant vessels but these take very little time to produce, so - again - things are going quite well.

Rhodes

04-02-24, 08:52 AM

iambecomelife

04-02-24, 12:44 PM

Thanks Rhodes! I also will have some interaction icons - visible in Bridge mode only - so you can recover people or items for renown. I will modify one of the guns as a life ring/lifeline to "sink" items you can get rewarded for. A few possible examples:

-Taking a British captain prisoner for renown
-Getting a code book or secret documents from a body in a lifeboat
-Saving a crashed pilot in the water
-Rescuing a German officer who was held prisoner on board an allied ship

Each U-Boat will only have about 4 life rings, so only 4 chances to rescue prisoners/items - just to keep it realistic because space on a submarine was limited.

The most prisoners I have heard of a WWI submarine taking was about 12, and that was (I think) on one of the large, U-Cruiser submarines.

Kapitain Oliver Leinkraunt

04-04-24, 01:50 AM

Prize warfare pop-up screen example;
https://i.postimg.cc/43NjHGyG/Prizewarfare.jpg
I don't know if you still want to add this thing, but knowing that you wanted to add names to the merchant ships, it would be an intresting small detail adding in this chart the ship's home port and/or the Shipping Line.
If you want, it's not a problem to me searching the main home ports and lines (I can find them on my copy of "1912, Lloyds' book of house flags and funnels" or send directly the pdf to you) :Kaleun_Salute:

iambecomelife

04-08-24, 01:55 PM

I don't know if you still want to add this thing, but knowing that you wanted to add names to the merchant ships, it would be an intresting small detail adding in this chart the ship's home port and/or the Shipping Line.
If you want, it's not a problem to me searching the main home ports and lines (I can find them on my copy of "1912, Lloyds' book of house flags and funnels" or send directly the pdf to you) :Kaleun_Salute:

I actually have a slightly different job for you if you're interested, I will PM you. Thanks!

Also, any watchers who have decent writing/storytelling abilities, feel free to PM me too.

By way of weekly update: Started work on the final version of several merchantmen.

Detailed 3d damage for cargo ships is being implemented.

Spent time adjusting average tonnage for merchantmen ... in WWI, ships were more numerous but lighter tonnage than WWII. In fact, freighters of 5000 - 8000 GRT were not too common - so you will need to make tonnage by sinking larger numbers of smaller ships, on average. There will, however, be many types of liners from 10,000 tons to 30,000 ton giants like RMS Lusitania, Mauretania, Justicia, and so on...:)

1Patriotofmany

04-18-24, 01:14 AM

Are you getting close to release? I'm dying to see this so bad! It's gonna be great, you will live forever or until Microsoft kills off any ability for the game to work :)

iambecomelife

04-22-24, 08:59 PM

WOTK: Late April Update:

A very warm thank you again to people who helped out recently - vickers03, Kapitan Oliver Leinkraunt, Jeff Groves, Darthlucky, and SlySkydiver.

Once again, vickers03 is owed a particularly huge debt!

He resolved a crippling frame rate bug. Were it not for him, the new sub interiors would have been unplayable on some older systems. Before his help, I was getting about 35 FPS - now I am getting smooth performance! Smooth as a baby's ... stern, lol! Consistently 150-210 FPS, no hiccups, with engine parts operating!

In the interest of honesty, I must admit development slowed to an unacceptable pace throughout April due to me working overtime at my job. It will be slow for a couple more weeks - I have a family vacation, and they will smack me in the head if I spend my time modding during family time, I am sure you guys know how it is! :haha: But on the plus side, work will be back to its standard output after the first week in May. I worked this Saturday and Sunday, but here are updates that I managed in recent days:

-Heavy Merchant model ~ 90% Complete
-Medium Merchant model ~90 % Complete
-New Lifeboat for most merchant ships ~80% complete
-Additional work on destructible hull plates
-Merchant ships now equipped with realistic Wellin Davits - modelled based on real diagrams of the RMS Titanic's lifeboat davits
-Work on crew boarding/lifeboat launch sequence for merchant ships
-For interiors, began making Wireless Room and Kitchen
-Research for minor tweaks to HMS "Hampshire" and sister Armored Cruisers
-Research on typical ranks present on WWI U-Boats, plus number of each type of crewman - officers, sailors, and "stokers" or engine staff
-Tweaked shell damage values
-Reduced potential damage area/blast radius for torpedoes
-Various changes to zones.cfg

One thing I would like to stress with cargo ships - although you only see a few types in recent screenshots, the final product will have many different bridge arrangements, masts, funnels, and paint schemes for the individual hulls. So you will see huge variety in ships. However, getting other parts of the mod ready is the top priority.

Doctor Haider

04-23-24, 01:42 AM

:Kaleun_Thumbs_Up:

Great respect! You're doing a tremendous job.

bricko

04-27-24, 06:12 PM

iambecomelife

04-27-24, 08:29 PM

Will there be choices over what happens at the end of the war/after your trapped?

Not the best choice of wording, I meant more like; what happens if its game over? Say its the end of the war, will you have choices to enter British/French Harbors, and surrender, or will you be able to scuttle the ship, or can you just order the crew abandon ship and leave the submarine to its fate in the middle of the sea?

Also, how is progress going?

brickvapie
"We die in the dark so you can live in the day"

Nothing special will happen at the end of the war - aside from all enemy ships reverting to "Neutral" allegiance after the armistice is signed. Because of SH4's limitations there will be no scuttling or special surrender event.

One thing I have planned for Single Mission mode is an alternate history mission where you are ordered to sink German battleships during the 1918 mutiny at the end of the war.

Historically, the Submarine U-135 did have a stand-off in harbor with the battleship Thuringen at the end of the war - Thuringen was manned by Leftist/Communist rebels, and U-135 was manned by sailors still loyal to the Kaiser. U-135 was ordered to sink Thuringen, if necessary, but the rebels backed down and the loyalists arrested them with no bloodshed.

Progress is going very well! Again, I have a family vacation coming up when I cannot mod, but after early May it will be full speed ahead again. Right now, multiple things are being worked on:

-Final version of AI crew bodies, for naval ships and war ships
-Many new merchant ships being created, including ships based on the following:
-RMS Carpathia medium liner, 13,603 GRT (made famous by the "Titanic" incident)
-SS Cadillac oil tanker, 12,000 GRT
-Medium-Light merchants, 2,000 - 3,000 GRT
-Mini Merchants, 800 - 1,000 GRT
-More work on sub interior - wireless room and kitchen have been started

iambecomelife

05-04-24, 11:05 AM

Update - wise: merchant building continues, I have done damage modeling for two new sizes of merchant ship. Between 3,000 GRT and 1,800 GRT. These hulls will be used as the basis for many new cargo ships. I am inspired by "Aces of the Deep"; I really liked the large tonnage variation for ships in that game.

Soon I will be adding the new medium to large ocean liners, with damage modeling.

Also ran some lifeboat launch tests which were excellent! The standard lifeboat lowering and launch is working perfectly after an AI ship is torpedoed .... next I will be modeling failed lifeboat launches, where the boat tips over or breaks when the crew try to launch it.

U-Boats are not being neglected either, interiors will progress as soon as my family vacation in May is over. I will post a few screenshots later today.

bricko

05-04-24, 08:48 PM

Sounds pretty good. I like the idea of using the AotD modeling, I do think it would be a pretty big extension of an already big mod...but I don't question dev intentions and ideas. Creative Control baby!!!

Do you have any videos of the lifeboats though? I just came back to this forum, and most of the videos are a year or two old and a bit outdated.

Thanks,
bricko

We live in the dark so you can live in the light

iambecomelife

05-04-24, 09:32 PM

Thanks, I will try to add new videos, including lifeboats, in the coming days after my vacation.

Here are a few new shots of merchant ship sizes ingame and in Wings3d - plus destroyers and a few alterations to the interior; there will be a couple new crewmen stationed at the valve wheels behind the control room officer.

https://i.postimg.cc/BvJs5qY1/Image01.jpg
https://i.postimg.cc/LhdFJRg5/Image02.jpg
https://i.postimg.cc/SRYpQjsH/Image03.jpg
https://i.postimg.cc/t4j7fGv9/Image04.jpg
https://i.postimg.cc/G364Fyk8/Image05.jpg
https://i.postimg.cc/j55b9Mrx/Image06.jpg

https://i.postimg.cc/cJTWXV2k/Image08.jpg
https://i.postimg.cc/WpdDqnJc/Image09.jpg
https://i.postimg.cc/m2Mt8gwd/Image10.jpg
https://i.postimg.cc/pLJyMc3z/Image11.jpg
https://i.postimg.cc/Ls459BM7/Image12.jpg
https://i.postimg.cc/25H6Vbk5/Image13.jpg
https://i.postimg.cc/MTvGR6Hm/Image14.jpg

1Patriotofmany

05-05-24, 05:21 PM

xiaodoupi

05-21-24, 08:20 PM

So I can try to merge WW1 uboats into SH3. Worthy a try

iambecomelife

05-28-24, 11:16 AM

So I can try to merge WW1 uboats into SH3. Worthy a try

I will let you know after completion; there is still a lot to do ATM.

Here's a minor text update:

Vacation is over, and now I am free to mod again! Continuing a major shipbuilding spree now; the focus is on civilian ships instead of the mostly military ships you have seen.

As promised, lots of new merchantmen will be coming out.

Heads and clothing for adult male AI characters have been decided on, now bodies will be higher poly and have an appropriate, 1914 era look with typical Edwardian era fashion - based on what sailors were seen wearing in real videos of WWI merchant ships.

Women & children's clothing has been researched and is in progress. This is a lower priority of course.

More importantly, I noticed that the Gato class conning tower compartment may be usable as the basis for certain interior rooms; this is good news and should help finish the inside of the subs faster.

By now, the 500+ foot hull for ships of 12,000-13,000 GRT has been 3d modeled, last night all shell hole damage modeling was done for it, pretty happy with that! Another big push is starting, thanks for everyone's support.

Doctor Haider

05-31-24, 03:12 AM

I'm looking forward for at least alpha release :Kaleun_Thumbs_Up:

Revan227

06-04-24, 12:02 AM

Hey Iambecomelife;

Just wanted to chime in with some words of encouragement, I've been watching your progress on the mod over these many long years and I'm blown away at seeing how far this mod has come along! It looks excellent!

Fair winds and Following Seas to you in this final stretch of development!

:Kaleun_Salute:

Aktungbby

06-04-24, 08:57 AM

Revan227!:Kaleun_Salute: 'chiming in' after 5 year's 'silent running'!:up:

Kapitain Oliver Leinkraunt

06-05-24, 12:39 PM

iambecomelife

06-07-24, 08:04 PM

Morning, Sir :Kaleun_Salute: (or evening)
your interiors are gorgeous and I found a thing that could be intresting to you. On internet i found the image of an original ww1 submarine's engine order telegraph. Maybe you can replace thw ww2 style you already have with this if you like :D
https://imgur.com/a/ub-26-engine-order-telegraph-7RFh4d3
I know it's a very small and unusefull detail, but it could be a nice addiction :up:

Thank you! I will snap that up... I hope you are not offended I have had little time to review your latest sound pack, however the one you submitted to me before the recent one was excellent - you have done great work. I will listen to the newest sounds ASAP.

Part of the problem was mandatory family vacation time, lol. :haha: I can't work on WOTK when relatives come to visit. :)

Now that the mod work schedule is back on I am laboring full speed on merchants still! Fighting to churn out liners, tankers, and freighters - the ships that you see most often.

One bit of good news is that I solved a problem with my new 3d shell hole damage model for ships - Silent Hunter 4 was causing all the shellholes to appear at once when a ship breaks in two. Now, ships only show damage near the breakup, so another headache with modeling is resolved!

Eventually. as promised, there will be ships in the mod that can even break into 3 or 4,

Most merchantmen will have 30 - 60 individualized shell hole zones in the hull! So you can literally shoot a ship to pieces.

Everything still going well with lowerable lifeboats, though no time for new images/video yet.

iambecomelife

06-07-24, 08:42 PM

Here's a good article about eating on a WWI German U-Boat. As I'm sure you have guessed, they were far from luxury liners! The food situation in WWI was even worse than in WWII because, after 1916, Germany experienced a severe food shortage caused by Britain's blockade.

Submarine crewmen, as military personnel, got more food than German civilians, but it was seldom appetizing. There wasn't adequate refrigeration, so they were only provided with several days' worth of fresh food. After that, U-Boat men lived on preserved food - nevertheless, filthy living conditions spoiled even these foods. Meals were often moldy, rotten, oil contaminated, or all three! :haha:

Captured food from merchant ships or trawlers varied their diet, but this was not always available.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XBzrfRKOPSU

SlySkydiver

06-08-24, 06:26 AM

A great watch. Learning about how the men went about their day to day is one of my favorite parts of history.

iambecomelife

06-09-24, 01:28 PM

Good news - just did 3 ocean liner hulls and a bunch of smaller ship hulls last night!

Next - damage modeling the shell or torpedo holes!

And after that generating lifeboat-lowering sequences. :Kaleun_Thumbs_Up:

Fighting like crazy to get some nice new screenshots for you people and videos, unfortunately I am doing overtime at my job this weekend. But I will do my best - updating here and on the facebook site. Compared to warships merchant ships are easy.

This is one of the last major projects before the release.

This entire mod is basically a series of big sub-projects.

Major things 80-100% complete:

-All surface warship models & skins
-Working diesels
-All player unit external 3d models
-Main menu artwork selection
-Anti-submarine warship behavior & sensors

Major things 40-60% complete:

-WWI deck guns
-Aircraft
-Prize warfare & prisoner rescue
-Torpedo room

Major things still to be done:

-Electric engine room
-Shore buildings
-Campaign Layers
-Medals/awards

"Reach" goals/not started:

-Austro-Hungarian awards/career features etc
-Sea life
-Revamped weather system
-Railroad network
-Buoys & navigational aids system

1Patriotofmany

06-12-24, 11:24 PM

THANK YOU! We're all dying to play this mod. You don't know how much it will be appreciated.

KaleunMarco

06-13-24, 05:23 PM

Good news - just did 3 ocean liner hulls and a bunch of smaller ship hulls last night!

Next - damage modeling the shell or torpedo holes!

And after that generating lifeboat-lowering sequences. :Kaleun_Thumbs_Up:

This is one of the last major projects before the release.

my apologies if you discussed this in an earlier post.

i DID read the first page of posts and did not see it. the photos of the ship artwork were beautiful.

is this mega-mod built for application to Silent Hunter 3 or Silent Hunter 4?

:up:

iambecomelife

06-13-24, 11:20 PM

my apologies if you discussed this in an earlier post.

i DID read the first page of posts and did not see it. the photos of the ship artwork were beautiful.

is this mega-mod built for application to Silent Hunter 3 or Silent Hunter 4?

:up:

This is for Silent Hunter 4 only.

iambecomelife

06-13-24, 11:23 PM

https://i.postimg.cc/QxffhW8Z/Atattention.jpg
https://i.postimg.cc/Z5gjytvf/Damage-Explosion.jpg
https://i.postimg.cc/QtZb0Qb1/Encounter01.jpg
https://i.postimg.cc/XYXQJ7qG/Expl000.jpg
https://i.postimg.cc/BvKpTYxJ/Fire-01.jpg
https://i.postimg.cc/Wz27Psx4/Gun01.jpg
https://i.postimg.cc/0QGC3zW3/Gun02.jpg
https://i.postimg.cc/v8zzt66x/Hatch-01.jpg
https://i.postimg.cc/FzDVr2QV/Headlib.jpg
https://i.postimg.cc/L68VC6zC/Headlib2.jpg
https://i.postimg.cc/SN1fwFdy/Helpless.jpg
https://i.postimg.cc/htJ1nyZV/Impact01.jpg
https://i.postimg.cc/mg0NgYKJ/Lifeboat-03.jpg
https://i.postimg.cc/jjP6wWb5/Lifeboatlower.jpg

Recent work on merchant ships, guns, crew heads, progressive damage from shelling, and lowerable lifeboats.

iambecomelife

06-13-24, 11:27 PM

https://i.postimg.cc/V6wqjYfF/Lifeboats-01.jpg
https://i.postimg.cc/HxtQzfj1/Lifeboats-02.jpg
https://i.postimg.cc/Gt7vwGkM/Med-Merch-Obsolete.jpg
https://i.postimg.cc/FFDyL52j/Medium-Merchant-Low-Funnel.jpg
https://i.postimg.cc/m2kQ3psK/Morning.jpg
https://i.postimg.cc/9QqZK4zp/San-Fernando-01.jpg
https://i.postimg.cc/xTZL6Gj8/San-Fernando-02.jpg
https://i.postimg.cc/nLbBJHDt/San-Fernando-03.jpg
https://i.postimg.cc/nL47V649/San-Fernando-04.jpg
https://i.postimg.cc/Y0qQsbmG/san-hilario-1913-1.jpg
https://i.postimg.cc/k4wbKKhn/Shelling.jpg
https://i.postimg.cc/xCsXcYc8/Silent-Hunter4-1-28-2023-12-43-54-PM.png
https://i.postimg.cc/yd7RDvjQ/Spy01.jpg
https://i.postimg.cc/sxXZcxt5/SS-San-Jeronimo-Eagle-Oil-Tanker.jpg
https://i.postimg.cc/3rSGwjv1/Steamer-Render-02.jpg
https://i.postimg.cc/nrP9wZJg/Steamer-Render-03.jpg
https://i.postimg.cc/7Y52JC1k/Sunk091.jpg
https://i.postimg.cc/wjJRFSb4/Tanker-01.jpg
https://i.postimg.cc/TYBWVRQW/Tanker-Distance.jpg
https://i.postimg.cc/W4vFyXBN/Tankerlarge.jpg
https://i.postimg.cc/DZfWvmfR/Wings3-D-1-28-2023-12-53-53-PM.png
https://i.postimg.cc/xd3JVLQK/Zebra01.jpg

The second part of post, including a 12,000 ton oil tanker. Trials went well, it has 3d hull damage, historical skins, and breaks in 2 properly....... I was advised there were no tankers this big back then, but that is not correct. Around the time the RMS Titanic was constructed, in 1912 - 1913, shipyards were able to build 9,000 - 12,500 ton tankers - some tankers in WWI were even bigger than the T2 tankers from WWII. So you will get your big tanker "fix" in the game...lol. :up:

Kapitain Oliver Leinkraunt

06-14-24, 08:42 AM

:Kaleun_Applaud: :Kaleun_Applaud:

Doctor Haider

06-18-24, 03:38 AM

That's uber, uber cool! :Kaleun_Cheers:

areo16

06-26-24, 03:17 PM

@iambecomelife (https://www.subsim.com/radioroom/member.php?u=215754)

I really appreciate the effort put into this work. It's been going on for years, and I'm really impressed by the modelling. I've been following for quite some time.

As a software engineering and project leader I'd like to ask you a question:

Have you considered doing an agile development process and a pre-alpha or beta releases to get the communities feedback? Iterating on minor releases rather than waiting for a final product? I'm asking, because it seems you have something special here, but it seems you've taken a more waterfall approach to this project.

It appears you might be waiting for everything to be completed before you let others to get hands-on. Am I incorrect in this assumption?

I'd really love to see this project eventually released. And the chances of it being released in a totally completed state are very slim if your taking the waterfall approach. I'd hate for that to happen to this project.

Also, have you considered soliciting help in areas you might not be so skilled in?

Much appreciate the years of effort here.

:Kaleun_Salute:

iambecomelife

06-26-24, 06:27 PM

There will be some form of trial release before completion; I am non-professional so not 100% sure of Alpha/Beta terminology, but perhaps it can be called a demo.

Note that, there were three major issues holding the project back:

1) I am a professional who needed to take a legal exam and work long hours as a junior associate

2) Several years ago there was a ransomware attack that destroyed many ships and aircraft files (HUGE disaster for the mod)

3) I had been helping with care and finances for a terminally ill relative (since deceased).

Rest assured, this is the optimal way for me to work. People have assisted me at certain points, and they definitely have my thanks.

I am approaching this as a group of major sub-projects. Several are basically complete at this point - including 3d modeling for player subs and warships - as well as AI sensor adjustment. Things are going fine, and I will definitely see the project as a whole through.

areo16

06-27-24, 08:17 AM

iambecomelife

06-27-24, 07:55 PM

I wish you the best of luck in your approach!

Argh - clumsily worded! I mean that I am not a professional software developer .... although I am a professional with regards to Federal Government legal issues - lol!

By way of updates: Things are still going well, last week was spent on additional merchantmen and research of submarine interiors, in preparation for my second attack on the crew compartments!

I have done work on ship details that will help me save considerable time. To put it briefly, the 3d modeling program Wings3d can be annoying in that, if you separate sub-objects made of individual shapes, you end up with many tiny ship parts that are tedious to work with. To avoid this, I have been learning how to make "one piece" objects like doors, ventilators, deck machinery, and winches. It's been a good learning experience and the end result is very convenient.

iambecomelife

06-27-24, 08:02 PM

Miscellaneous recent test screenshots - I have some ocean liner hulls coming up, but they are too basic right now to make for good screenshots. :haha:

...the tanker shows deck gun damage in some screenshots. Players will need to invest in a talented gunner, because sinking ships by deck gun with an inexperienced crew will take longer and use a lot more ammunition.

https://i.postimg.cc/QMBWCnf1/Burntank01.jpg
https://i.postimg.cc/Dzt4XdND/Deck-gun-attack.jpg
https://i.postimg.cc/BbCjRWv9/Heavytank01.jpg
https://i.postimg.cc/4dV7bHk3/Ingena.jpg
https://i.postimg.cc/fys3HWDf/Panic.jpg
https://i.postimg.cc/sDVQ72nV/Patroling.jpg
https://i.postimg.cc/3rj0kGFS/Shipping-v2.jpg
https://i.postimg.cc/VLDSRcTX/Tankerfire.jpg
https://i.postimg.cc/L85JQbKw/Tankersub.jpg
https://i.postimg.cc/9Qkr6YcM/Tension-02.jpg
https://i.postimg.cc/tgVYpngz/Torp01.jpg
https://i.postimg.cc/SsFjsQ2b/U-35-No1.jpg
https://i.postimg.cc/C1G5fykB/U-35-No2.jpg
https://i.postimg.cc/0j9QYt0t/Wreckage.jpg

vickers03

06-28-24, 03:29 AM

very nice!:Kaleun_Thumbs_Up:

iambecomelife

06-29-24, 04:26 PM

very nice!:Kaleun_Thumbs_Up:

Thank you! Most recent update: More work on light-medium merchantmen; the ship with the tall funnel in the screenshots is actually obsolete and being replaced by even better work, with more details. Should be getting many more of those merchantmen done.... plus more details on my ocean liners. Planning to add at least one liner based on the "Carpathia" and her near-sisters - as you may know, Carpathia saved Titanic's survivors only to be torpedoed in 1918; fortunately, loss of life was small.

In re: player submarines, I have an idea for adding rust, sea moss growth, and minor cosmetic damage to your sub as time goes on....I am almost 100% sure my method will work, although other things are a priority. But once the interior and non player units are more advanced, I will try to implement it.

Major sub-projects that remain include:

-Shore Buildings
-Campaign Layers
-Award/Rank System
-Finalize Particle + Damage Effects
-Complete work on non-player human figures

Over all, feeling really good about how it's going ATM.

Kapitain Oliver Leinkraunt

07-05-24, 06:32 AM

It's very nice to see the project entering in its final shape and I love the new big tanker. Can't wait to see new, or better to say old, merchantmen sailing on the sea :D
just one question: will we encounter only steamers or there will be sailing ships too? And what about the shape? I mea, only standard steamers or old vintage ships like:
"city of new york
https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/8/8e/City_of_new_york.jpg
or mixed steam/sails
https://www.artnet.com/WebServices/images/ll00147lldQC2FFgUNECfDrCWvaHBOcD5J/antonio-jacobsen-the-steam-sail-ship-critic.jpg
https://www.anb-online.it/wp-content/uploads/2012/10/0472.jpg
or medium sized paddle ships
https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/6/69/HS_Koningin_Regentes.jpg
Even if kind of rare, these 1880s/90s kinds of ships were still a thing during the war and many were sunk by u-boats.

-Mini Merchants, 800 - 1,000 GRT
Talking about mini merchants I think, it would be an interesting addiction to have even smaller steamers.
like these 30/40m x 200t water tankers
https://www.anb-online.it/wp-content/uploads/2012/10/0631.jpg
https://www.anb-online.it/wp-content/uploads/2012/10/0650.jpg
diesel powered
https://www.anb-online.it/wp-content/uploads/2012/10/0692.jpg
50/60m x 550t merchants
https://i.ebayimg.com/images/g/lXIAAOSwZVlXtKpO/s-l1600.jpg
https://www.anb-online.it/wp-content/uploads/2012/10/0346.jpg
small (30m x 200t) passenger ships like this one (Clodia) which was used as Hospital ship (they call it ambulance ship) by Italy
https://www.anb-online.it/wp-content/uploads/2012/11/0509.jpg
https://www.sanitagrandeguerra.it/images/phocagallery/naviospedale/thumbs/phoca_thumb_l_nave%20ospedale%20clodia.jpg
Especially in the mediterranean sea, many countries like Austria, Greece, Turkey and Italy had very small merchants to trade goods, water, coal and passengers between their island or up to the front, using safer shallow waters of te lagoons (like in Venice and Grado); not to mention, obviously, the famous British Clyde Pyffers.
What do you think about it? Hope I didn't sound pretentious :oops:

iambecomelife

07-07-24, 12:41 PM

Thanks for the profile drawings! They give me some good ideas. :up: There will be several small types of merchant and coastal ship, plus sailing ships, but for now I can't say how many.

Allerberger

07-10-24, 07:35 AM

Hello! I appreciate your work, and i can't wait for the final release:03:. I wondered how i can help you with the mod and i found a very nice site of all ships used in Hochseeflotte https://www.german-navy.de/hochseeflotte/ships/battleships/index.html
I'm also thinking about learning the wings3d software
Have a nice day :Kaleun_Thumbs_Up:

iambecomelife

07-10-24, 10:17 AM

Thanks for the support guys and thanks for that website - above all, thank you Kapt Oliver for the new sounds you sent!

Minor update: created a replacement medium-small merchantman for the ship seen in the screenshots of 2500 - 3000 GRT; I will post images later. I also explored ways of getting ship damage modeling done faster and researched WWI soldier uniforms because you will see soldiers on troop ships and in shore bombardment missions - more news coming soon. :up:

Allerberger

07-11-24, 07:23 AM

Hello again! I found "few" nice videos about Q-ships, if you considered animating the guns and their behaviour. Enjoy the records:Kaleun_Thumbs_Up:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hnzjlxHuqpU
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mn3lBZe_dBM
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U9LVOrV7Yio
https://www.youtube.com/watch?
https://youtu.be/rOd0wLdxyyA?si=-r0hLvOPhkCQ9TlA
https://youtu.be/W646WQVt3uw?si=MFieKLzNk7dG6ACH
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=roErjoxYZ04

Aktungbby

07-11-24, 10:45 AM

Allerberger!:Kaleun_Salute:

iambecomelife

07-11-24, 06:31 PM

Thank you Allerberger! It's good to see new people here .... I may add some of those clips or captures of them to the mod.

Lots of merchant ship work was done last night; basically ship cloning and 3d modeling, along with work on the new 3d shell holes for ship hull plates. I am eagerly awaiting a new "attack" on the interior - when I will add the remaining rooms and finish the parts that gave me trouble several months ago.

Allerberger

07-12-24, 03:45 AM

I'm happy with the nice response, i always wanted to take part in something big :salute:

iambecomelife

07-14-24, 10:49 AM

I'm happy with the nice response, i always wanted to take part in something big :salute:

Thanks again!

To all, small screenshot update coming today. So look out for it.

iambecomelife

07-14-24, 05:57 PM

Ship deck gun damage testing and a little interior stuff.

https://i.postimg.cc/xdzJFb5J/360-F-103550264-e3n-Exv-Veot-AJVIOUB3-Ciizow-SIE5-ZBo4.jpg
https://i.postimg.cc/FRbfh52h/July-UD-01.jpg
https://i.postimg.cc/DfgWDhrg/July-UD-02.jpg
https://i.postimg.cc/x80XCp2M/July-UD-03.jpg
https://i.postimg.cc/QtZ9LxY6/July-UD-04.jpg
https://i.postimg.cc/prqpnQW7/July-UD-05.jpg
https://i.postimg.cc/QxdBZzSr/July-UD-06.jpg
https://i.postimg.cc/L6QJ9V0g/July-UD-07.jpg
https://i.postimg.cc/FHf77J2W/July-UD-08.jpg
https://i.postimg.cc/zG93WGNJ/July-UD-09.jpg
https://i.postimg.cc/BvHbCfZ2/July-UD-10.jpg
https://i.postimg.cc/JnQh93kn/July-UD-11.jpg
https://i.postimg.cc/PxHx3VN9/July-UD-12.jpg

Allerberger

07-19-24, 07:30 AM

Hello again, can you send me the current list of the Warships, that has already been made, so i could fill the eventuall holes in the list of ships? Have a good day:Kaleun_Thumbs_Up:

Allerberger

07-19-24, 08:46 AM

I have finnaly installed the wings 3d, the only problem is rotating the camera. The rest "shouldn't" be a problem since i was using the blender for smaller things. I really like that program, it's less complicated than blender haha

iambecomelife

07-20-24, 11:35 AM

Hello again, can you send me the current list of the Warships, that has already been made, so i could fill the eventuall holes in the list of ships? Have a good day:Kaleun_Thumbs_Up:

Thanks! I will be working at my real world job Saturday and Sunday but we will definitely be in touch. I will msg get you a list of ships I have done soon.

I can tell you that, right now, modern British and German battleships, battlecruisers, cruisers, and destroyers are a low priority. Most of them are done.

Ocean liner hulls are badly needed, if you are willing to work on them, from 10,000 GRT up to about 30,000 GRT. Because I have been focusing on different freighter hulls for several weeks.

Another need - sailing ships from about 1880 - 1914, since a lot of cargo still moved by sail back then.

Also, important.... non-British & non-German warships; my initial plan was no other navies until after release but if you can help, I think that Italian/French/Austrian/US warships should be next. :Kaleun_Cheers:

Kapitain Oliver Leinkraunt

07-23-24, 06:09 AM

I can provide, in case, the blue prints for the others navies :Kaleun_Salute:

Unexp.U-Boater

07-25-24, 05:30 PM

iambecomelife

07-25-24, 06:39 PM

Hello. I'm new to subsim and have been very interested in this upcoming mod. Here I have the German version of the movie "Q-Ships" which has been posted earlier. This version differs from the English version as it is edited to look like an informative documentary (with added footage from SM U-35 from the 1917 film). I hope this can be helpful.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VXdIyDbhjTA&list=LL&index=28

Thank you and welcome to subsim! I appreciate the video - the image quality is much better than many of the other WWI submarine movies available online; I had never seen it before.:up:

Unexp.U-Boater

07-25-24, 10:12 PM

Thank you and welcome to subsim! I appreciate the video - the image quality is much better than many of the other WWI submarine movies available online; I had never seen it before.:up: Thank you! I don't know if you already went through this part in development or stumbled upon this website, but I'll send anyway. So the U-Boat Archive in Cuxhaven gives the ability to purchase U-Boat Datasheets and Log Book scans for every individual U-Boat from both wars. As an example they showed the datasheet for SM U-9, and there it lists the crew for 1910 and 1914. I suppose it gives the surname and the duty/rank of the crew member. I don't know if you already finished the crew, but still I thought it could be useful.
https://dubm.de/u-boat-data-sheets/?lang=en
I also came across a website which posted a few pages on several individual WWI U-Boats, there they posted a few photographs including some of the interior.
https://www.navsource.org/archives/08/08438.htm
Also if you need some help in research, I'd be happy to assist. I research a lot for my history YouTube videos.

Aktungbby

07-25-24, 10:42 PM

Unexp.U-Boater!:Kaleun_Salute:

Allerberger

07-27-24, 04:45 AM

iambecomelife

07-27-24, 08:27 AM

Hey! Few days has passed and i still didn't received the list of ships that were made and i started to worry:03: By the way, i purchased few books about World War 1 haha, nothing can get you more interested in history than the video games or a good book. Have a nice day!:Kaleun_Salute:

You have a PM. :up:

List of my existing ships has been sent. I forgot to emphasize in the PM how badly harbor buildings and European style town buildings are needed....Warehouses, townhouses, apartments, cottages, and farms from the late 1800's to 1918 in style .... not much work has been done on them. I know how to make them but making ships and subs has consumed lots of time. Aside from ships that's a big need.

iambecomelife

07-28-24, 11:05 AM

Would like to thank Allerberger and Kapitan Oliver for their responsiveness and help regarding recent PM's!

It may seem quiet due to lack of recent screenshots but a lot of grunt work is being done. Very good news regarding freighters, the hull damage/destructible object work for several new types has been done or is near completion:

- 330 foot Medium Merchant

- 340 foot Medium Merchant

- 380 foot Medium Merchant

All are the "three island" type, but they can easily be converted to tanker or coal carrier models - so this saves me even more time!

A few of them will also be converted to military types like minelayers and armed merchant cruisers - the British sometimes used merchantmen as armed merchant cruisers, not just liners.

On top of that, I found nice new textures for use in the wireless room, as well as nice pictures of old Wireless sets, telegraph wiring, and communications amplifiers from the WWI era - really interesting stuff, I will use them to build the wireless room for the sub. Since the MAN engine room is complete, next interior components will probably be Wireless room and galley - I am happy to report this is easier stuff than the engine room because no rocking arms, etc. need to be animated ..... all I need is perhaps a few actions for the cook, chopping vegetables etc.

Bosses owe me some time off and I will be taking it soon! lol. :Kaleun_Applaud::Kaleun_Applaud: :Kaleun_Cheers:

iambecomelife

08-04-24, 01:41 AM

Minor update: The chief modeler is on leave from the project (haha)... but within about 2 weeks, new information will be posted! Before taking leave, more work was done damage modeling merchant hulls; nothing screenshot-worthy, so I will not bore you with images from Wings3d that are nearly identical to images from a couple weeks ago.

On the plus side, we have a new modeler (Allerberger) who has offered his services; he was brought up to speed re: our requirements and will receive additional documents during my 2 week break. Kapitan Oliver, you may receive additional updates too. :salute:

Kapitain Oliver Leinkraunt

08-07-24, 04:22 AM

:Kaleun_Salute:

I already sent to you both private messages, hoping to giving my contribute :D

dramaticuser

08-16-24, 02:33 AM

Awesome work! excited to play this whenever its finished.

but i am curious, is there a list anywhere of what submarine types will be playable?

ReallyDedPoet

08-20-24, 01:42 PM

gregb41352

08-29-24, 08:46 PM

I'm 73 years old and hoping to live long enough to actually play this.

Aktungbby

08-29-24, 10:07 PM

johnb41352!:Kaleun_Salute:...as a fellow 73 yearold myself, I empathsize with your concern.:D:timeout::Kaleun_Los:

Kapitain Oliver Leinkraunt

09-07-24, 08:26 AM

Any news from the front ? :)

iambecomelife

09-11-24, 10:02 AM

Any news from the front ? :)

Good news! "Vacation" is over - new medium merchant was built yesterday, it was one of the fastest building and damage modeling of a new unit I've done. No screenshots in this post, but I am working on civilian ships and the additional interior compartments mentioned earlier.:Kaleun_Salute:

iambecomelife

09-13-24, 07:11 PM

I am so angry at myself. Thanks to reckless saving procedures I accidentally ruined the damage modeling for two very nice medium merchants. On the plus side I used the opportunity to replace the old hull forms on them with an even better one. I am also happy to report the most critical files for the mod have been saved to both an external HD and an online Microsoft account. Dozens of gigabytes of battleships, subs, sub parts, menu screens, uniforms, textures, and more are saved....if my computer was destroyed tomorrow I would still be in good shape. I learned my lesson several years ago after ransomware annihilated nearly the whole mod. Never again!! This is a tiny setback, hang in there..more images here and on the Facebook group coming soon. Tasks for tonight...rebuilding these two lost ships and work on the WWI era wireless room for sub interior.

iambecomelife

09-18-24, 02:59 PM

Minor update: Smooth sailing, I successfully tested the replacement for the lost merchant ship, it looks nicer! Ocean liner basic hulls have been done. Right now collecting source material for the Wireless room. I only have one photograph of a WWI boat radio room, so I will use some plausible guess work ... and use images of the
Titanic/Aquitania wireless equipment for reference.

SlySkydiver

09-18-24, 07:39 PM

iambecomelife

09-22-24, 11:30 AM

Happy to hear about the new progress and recovery from the merchant accident, I'm looking forward to seeing what you're cooking up for the wireless room when that's eventually all squared away in the future!

Thank you! Weekend update: I am working a 7 day week but modding goes on! I made some changes to external ship damage - they will allow me to finish visible AI ship damage modding much faster. The ship shell holes used to take long; now they will be completed quickly.

I am happy with the replacement medium merchant ship - it's so much nicer than the Merchant Fleet Mod ships I made for Silent Hunter 3 around 2009. With different funnels, masts and bridges these new ships will have a huge variety. Just remember a few of them will be Q-Ships! With guns hidden behind cargo crates.

Also collected more pictures of 1900's - 1918 era wireless equipment.

One thing I am planning in the next few days is to test the default Balao conning tower as a basis for new WWI rooms - so far, the base unit for much of the interior (S Boat) has a lot of rendered shadows and parts that slowed down modding of the engine room. The Balao/Gato conning tower, on the other hand, looks promising because it doesn't have these issues - if it works well it could help me finish up the interior a good deal faster.

Hang in there all you followers, everything is going fine despite no screenshots. And the faster external damage is a big step forward.
I will update again soon.

1Patriotofmany

09-23-24, 11:38 PM

iambecomelife

09-25-24, 08:30 PM

I just hope I don't die before you get this done. It's looks to be the best mod ever for SH4. Thanks again for the effort and skill. If i knew anything except dos(which is forgotten) I'd love to help LOL!

Trust me that won't happen! :)

OK I can't guarantee it, but a couple things to keep in mind re: timeframe -

1) A ransomware virus attack a couple years ago destroyed nearly every ship and submarine - at that point I considered dropping the project. Thankfully I didn't!

2) I used to be a Junior Associate working 13 hour days - sometimes 6 days a week

3) I was making frequent visits to a seriously ill relative

Right now, things are much better progress-wise; I have a new job that's less demanding and lots of time off.... I am now much better able to finish up the mod. And I have made sure to back up critical files, so there will never be another loss of data like before. :Kaleun_Salute:

xiaodoupi

09-28-24, 02:34 PM

We are waiting for so many years>_<
Can you share the ww1 uboats 3D model files (*.dat)? I wan to plant it into SH3. Thanks

loftyc

09-30-24, 04:08 PM

...at that point I considered dropping the project. Thankfully I didn't!

my nomination for understatement of the year/decade/century!

iambecomelife

10-02-24, 01:36 PM

Thanks to everyone who has shown interest; I regret that a lot of the current work does not lend itself to screenshots. But I will try to put together something, plus new video(s).

Minor Update: This week the following tasks have been accomplished:

-Implemented new 3d shell holes for ships. Old model was about 6000 polygons per shellhole - new model looks better and is only about 800-900 polygons per shellhole.

You will be able to see nicer-looking damage now as you batter ships into submission!

-Added better medium merchant models. The great thing about WOTK cargo ships is that each hull will have several deckhouses, many different cranes, multiple funnel sizes, and dozens - sometimes hundreds - of different company colors! Naturally, as the war goes on enemy cargo ships & liners will be painted in grey or dazzle camoflage schemes.

-Conducted research on the appearance of medium-small cargo ships. From 2000 - 4000 tons. Now two new ships of this type have been "launched", with a smaller sister ship coming up very soon, I worked on her last night.

-Located photos of WWII sub radio room. Once again, unfortunately I only have one single photo of a WWI radio room, so I need to improvise.

More updates to follow!

Niume

10-03-24, 10:10 AM

Awesome, I haven't played Silent Hunter for a few years now, but I will definetly try it out again when this awesome mod comes out:Kaleun_Cheers:

1Patriotofmany

10-03-24, 08:34 PM

Will there be an Japanese destroyers in the mod? I recently came across the fact that Japan participated with the Brits in escorting duties in the Med and Indian ocean areas. I read a lot about WWI and II and never came across that info before reading a book from a Japanese Destroyer captain "The Japanese navy in wwii..in the words of former Japanese Naval officials" edited by David C. Evans. Learn something new everyday. Good read for fellows that devour books, available on Kindle.

iambecomelife

10-04-24, 06:50 PM

No Japanese destroyers unfortunately....due to the need for faster release, all navies other than UK and Germany will have very small rosters...just generic patrol boats etc. Except for existing SH4 WWI units like the American 4 stack destroyers, which will take little work. I agree the Japanese WWI destroyers did valuable work, in one case they rescued hundreds of British passengers from a torpedoed liner. The survivors had the utmost praise for how brave and kind the Japanese sailors were...sad to think that less than 20 years later, these nations would be at war.:hmmm:

1Patriotofmany

10-04-24, 07:45 PM

Yes it's amazing how fast allies can become enemies and vice versa. Sounds good, thanks for the reply.

iambecomelife

10-14-24, 12:15 PM

Hurrah, the Wireless Room equipment is almost finished. :Kaleun_Cheers: Next I will just need to skin it.

I can't get over how useful the internet has been; compared to 2009 when I was designing the Merchant Fleet Mod for SH3. Now, no matter what I research, I usually find massive numbers of images, paintings, plans, etc! Military research has come a long way. :up:

In re: interiors - I've been looking at other modders' piping arrangements - in my opinion that's one major weakness in my interiors. But once I figure out how to create nicer pipes/wiring we will be in excellent shape.

Ship modeling is also coming along, even more cargo ships have been designed to ensure better variety. More news very soon!

Hitman

10-21-24, 02:27 PM

Not to mention how much processor and VGA power has allowed to use more polygons :Kaleun_Cheers:

Allerberger

10-22-24, 11:08 AM

Hello, it's nice to see the progress of the mod, unfortunately i have to abandon the 3d modelling, because some time ago i started to experience headaches and the pain in the eyes after sitting behind the screen for some time, so i decided to optimize the time behind the screen for one hour per day ( i switched to paper modelling and reading books instead). I didn't knew that ww1 on the seas was that interesting before checking this mod and buying books. Thank you guys for support and kind words. I wish you all the best :Kaleun_Salute:

iambecomelife

10-22-24, 07:44 PM

Not to mention how much processor and VGA power has allowed to use more polygons :Kaleun_Cheers:

Quite true! And to Allerberger - don't worry, things are pretty well in hand.

By way of update I am continuing the big assault on interior piping! This has been another big thorn in the side of the mod .... pipes are one of those deceptively simple items you need to pay extremely close attention to, I am cautiously optimistic about things.

Nearly everything for the Wireless Room is done, thankfully. I am much more experienced at making interior fixtures that do not have weird rendering issues due to Wings3d triangulation ...

Furthermore, much has been learned about lighting for interior figures - I now know how to make sure that the crew inside the U-Boat aren't enveloped in shadow!

In terms of ships, I am cruising along - will probably use the "Empress of Ireland" and "Royal Edward" as basis for certain intermediate passenger ships.

I have a soft spot for "Royal Edward" - an absolutely beautiful ship that, along with "Lusitania" and the battlecruisers at Jutland, was one of the worst British tragedies at sea. Wartime censorship and other disasters have overshadowed her, but it's said over 1,000 may have died - the passenger death toll may have been worse than that of the Titanic.

https://i.postimg.cc/QCGrZgx8/RMS-Royal-Edward.jpg

1Patriotofmany

10-22-24, 09:25 PM

Quite true! And to Allerberger - don't worry, things are pretty well in hand.

By way of update I am continuing the big assault on interior piping! This has been another big thorn in the side of the mod .... pipes are one of those deceptively simple items you need to pay extremely close attention to, I am cautiously optimistic about things.

Nearly everything for the Wireless Room is done, thankfully. I am much more experienced at making interior fixtures that do not have weird rendering issues due to Wings3d triangulation ...

Furthermore, much has been learned about lighting for interior figures - I now know how to make sure that the crew inside the U-Boat aren't enveloped in shadow!

In terms of ships, I am cruising along - will probably use the "Empress of Ireland" and "Royal Edward" as basis for certain intermediate passenger ships.

I have a soft spot for "Royal Edward" - an absolutely beautiful ship that, along with "Lusitania" and the battlecruisers at Jutland, was one of the worst British tragedies at sea. Wartime censorship and other disasters have overshadowed her, but it's said over 1,000 may have died - the passenger death toll may have been worse than that of the Titanic.

https://i.postimg.cc/QCGrZgx8/RMS-Royal-Edward.jpg Yeah everyone's heard of the Lusitania, I've never heard of the Royal Edward and I read a ton of books on the subject.

Jimbuna

10-23-24, 10:13 AM

Yeah everyone's heard of the Lusitania, I've never heard of the Royal Edward and I read a ton of books on the subject.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/HMT_Royal_Edward

https://www.royaledward.net/the-last-voyage/

malthus gamer

11-16-24, 06:58 PM

hello! I have a question: which passenger ships will go to the mod?

iambecomelife

11-16-24, 11:20 PM

hello! I have a question: which passenger ships will go to the mod?

Lusitania and Mauretania for sure. Britannic and Olympic maybe as add-ons later after release. There will be several generic ocean liners with 1, 2, or 3 funnels of different sizes. Basically, ships that look a lot like "Empress of Ireland", "Royal Edward", "Arabic", "Carpathia" and similar styles - with the same tall funnels and big masts you usually see on ships from 1900 - 1918. But most will not be exact copies, to save time. Because creating an exact, error free copy of a ship - even a simple ship - takes a long time.

Tonnage will range from small coastal liners that are about 2,000 tons to large liners of 25,000 - 35,000 tons.

malthus gamer

11-17-24, 08:33 AM

Thanks!!!!! I really want to sink the ocean liners ;)

iambecomelife

11-17-24, 11:10 PM

Thanks!!!!! I really want to sink the ocean liners ;)

Are you sure?? lol, These are not going to be ordinary ships, there will be UNPRECEDENTED details - when ships get sunk there will be passengers/crew reacting, and desperate survivors. Also non-survivors. :03:

Due to Subsim regulations, some of the more realistic aspects may have to be available as an optional mod.

It will be important to distinguish between regular passenger ships, troop transports, hospital ships, and diplomatic transports (which were painted green with white crosses).

:D

malthus gamer

11-18-24, 09:43 AM

Very cool!!!mod it's good, but realistic this way better! Congratulations on the incredible work! ;)

1Patriotofmany

11-18-24, 08:57 PM

Are you sure?? lol, These are not going to be ordinary ships, there will be UNPRECEDENTED details - when ships get sunk there will be passengers/crew reacting, and desperate survivors. Also non-survivors. :03:

Due to Subsim regulations, some of the more realistic aspects may have to be available as an optional mod.

It will be important to distinguish between regular passenger ships, troop transports, hospital ships, and diplomatic transports (which were painted green with white crosses).

:D There's another mod that shows floating bodies, I forget which one it is, is that really a thing here? Fact of life, people get killed in war and it isn't pretty. If we don't want to show it, we should stop playing a game that is sinking ships and subs. Further, I've read a lot of books in my years, it seems we never want to take photos of our dead, but generally don't have any problem with photoing the enemy dead. Kind of strange but understandable. The British during the Falklands were the same way. I wonder if it's the same way with Iraqis, Iranians, Israelis. I know weird subject. I guess psychologically any army needs to dehumanize the enemy.

iambecomelife

11-21-24, 10:57 PM

There's another mod that shows floating bodies, I forget which one it is, is that really a thing here? Fact of life, people get killed in war and it isn't pretty. If we don't want to show it, we should stop playing a game that is sinking ships and subs. Further, I've read a lot of books in my years, it seems we never want to take photos of our dead, but generally don't have any problem with photoing the enemy dead. Kind of strange but understandable. The British during the Falklands were the same way. I wonder if it's the same way with Iraqis, Iranians, Israelis. I know weird subject. I guess psychologically any army needs to dehumanize the enemy.

That's quite true. I think that, part of convincing young men to sign up for war is pushing that kind of propaganda. :yep: Convincing them that, it's always the other side that gets killed. Not you & your own friends.

Couple this nationalism with the youthful belief in your own invincibility - it's easy to see why so many people have seen war as a glamorous adventure - and not found out the truth until it was too late.

Every nation, I'm sure, is guilty of this mindset. As a 1980's - 1990's kid I myself bought into the late Cold War hype of America's military being awesome .... we kids were raised on Tom Cruise in "Top Gun", etc. with the good guys always beating the bad guys.

It was only when I delved more deeply into history that I found out just how disastrous certain US military defeats were. Like the Battle of Savo Island, the Schweinfurt Raid, Operation Drumbeat, Bataan, the Java Sea, & many more.

I am all the more thankful now for previous generations' sacrifices - so that I, myself, have never had to find out firsthand how terrible war is.

iambecomelife

11-21-24, 11:57 PM

Good news! The MAN Engine Room is nearly done.

I am getting great frame rates - over 120 FPS on a pretty old PC (from 2020).

I just had to tone down a few lighting effects, but it was better than having just 15 FPS. The trick was to add a Unified Render Controller to each of the individual objects in Silent 3d Editor.

The Germaniawerft Engine Room will just require some small cosmetic changes to the engine casing - the animations will be almost 100% similar.

Yes, I know there were lots of different engine types used in WWI, but I am sticking to just 2 for the mod - I would go crazy trying to make them all.:haha:

Current plan is just these 2 engine rooms to represent all boats - in other words, 1 Germaniawerft style and 1 MAN style.

I may design one different engine room for the UB-I boat, but that is a "Reach Goal" because of time constraints. The same goes for Kerosene engines.

malthus gamer

11-22-24, 03:22 PM

Very good! congratulations! I'm looking forward to the mod.:Kaleun_Salute:

ReallyDedPoet

11-22-24, 08:02 PM

Nice :yep::up:

iambecomelife

11-22-24, 08:43 PM

Thanksgiving screenshot dump coming in a few hours. Hang in there everyone, the work on the interiors is a big step forward. :up:

iambecomelife

11-23-24, 06:22 PM

https://i.postimg.cc/xCBmkHBF/Merchant01.jpg
https://i.postimg.cc/h47xkydF/Merchantman.jpg
https://i.postimg.cc/QxQ7tFm0/sink01.jpg
https://i.postimg.cc/pXb8Rffm/Submerged-U35.jpg
https://i.postimg.cc/KYz3JJ2H/Submerged-U35-2.jpg
https://i.postimg.cc/BnN1TRdF/Sunset-WOTK.jpg
https://i.postimg.cc/qR6hdqgc/Tanker-B-WOTK.jpg
https://i.postimg.cc/90GDrkdr/Tiger01.jpg
https://i.postimg.cc/7LWGc0PY/Torp01.jpg
https://i.postimg.cc/cCqK1W8p/TTubes.jpg
https://i.postimg.cc/XNFGHrR4/TTUbes-2.jpg

iambecomelife

11-23-24, 06:23 PM

https://i.postimg.cc/d377w11m/BPrince.jpg
https://i.postimg.cc/Pq4vM99Z/Cargo-Crates.jpg
https://i.postimg.cc/Ss1XB8yx/Collier.jpg
https://i.postimg.cc/ZR5BsjzQ/Cruiser.jpg
https://i.postimg.cc/yxwDdH3q/DD-Attack.jpg
https://i.postimg.cc/MZ4MtyPs/DD-Attack-02.jpg
https://i.postimg.cc/Hk1J1TCX/erl-2024-01-05-18-54-13-76.jpg
https://i.postimg.cc/RVH3YN2v/Freighter-01.jpg
https://i.postimg.cc/bw0Zz4zM/Freighter-010.jpg
https://i.postimg.cc/7LxfbXhL/German-Battleship01.jpg
https://i.postimg.cc/k5fDS8Rv/Invy2-WOTK.jpg

iambecomelife

11-23-24, 06:31 PM

Crew laboring in the engine room - working on two MAN diesels. Many of the medium-sized boats used twin six-cylinder machinery. The U-19 Class, including U-20 which sank Lusitania, were unusual, because they had twin 8-cylinder diesels instead.
https://i.postimg.cc/ThMPxJBf/MAN-00.jpg
https://i.postimg.cc/x8bdB4x6/MAN-01.jpg
https://i.postimg.cc/Tw11JwrM/MAN-02.jpg
https://i.postimg.cc/V6h6G8RS/MAN-03.jpg
https://i.postimg.cc/J7yc17S2/MAN-04.jpg
https://i.postimg.cc/dVF8m23b/MAN-05.jpg
https://i.postimg.cc/rFx1rnVG/MAN-06.jpg
https://i.postimg.cc/sftP1drD/MAN-07.jpg
https://i.postimg.cc/SKNCHmWV/MAN-08.jpg
https://i.postimg.cc/vmqfsChy/MAN-09.jpg
https://i.postimg.cc/bJZbNLVt/MAN-10.jpg
https://i.postimg.cc/KjLMtj2c/MAN-11.jpg

dramaticuser

11-23-24, 10:48 PM

im not sure if this was asked before, but we'll we be able to "walk" inside the interior or will it be simply details we'll see by using a free cam inside the boat? im just curious

iambecomelife

11-23-24, 11:55 PM

im not sure if this was asked before, but we'll we be able to "walk" inside the interior or will it be simply details we'll see by using a free cam inside the boat? im just curious

You definitely will get to "walk" from bow to stern!

One useful trick for anyone modeling the interiors is using Silent 3d editor's "minrenderdim" or minumum render dimension controllers.

You can use it so the game doesn't waste resources displaying parts at a certain distance. For instance, when the player is in the bow torpedo room, you can tell the game not to render the engines, the stern torpedo tubes, the toilet, and so on because you would never see them from where you are located.

Conversely, you can tell SH4 not to render the bow torpedo tubes when you are in the stern torpedo room.

This is also a great way to improve frame rates with ships. For instance, you can avoid rendering high polygon turrets, crew figures, etc. when a battleship is on the horizon.

I am surprised that few other modders seem to use this technique, it's very helpful.

I have not fully optimized the new interior parts and FPS is still 95 - 130 on my old computer, so I am optimistic about how things will go once the last few interior parts are finished. :up:

vickers03

11-24-24, 03:09 AM

good work on the engine room, very nice texturing!:salute:
btw, if you don't want the player to walk through objects or the subs
hull you can use blockers that keep you on the path.
i'll pm you about this if you're interested.

One useful trick for anyone modeling the interiors is using Silent 3d editor's "minrenderdim" or minumum render dimension controllers.
wow:D didn't think about that!!:doh: thanks man

malthus gamer

11-24-24, 10:32 PM

Hello! I have a question, can a "demo" of the mod or the U-20 and Lusitania model be made available?

iambecomelife

11-25-24, 01:05 AM

Hello! I have a question, can a "demo" of the mod or the U-20 and Lusitania model be made available?

That's not a bad idea, I will consider that. Although I am concerned that people may steal the models and post them for profit. This happened with one of my ships before.

malthus gamer

11-25-24, 10:35 AM

I understood! It's sad that people keep profiting from works that aren't even theirs

iambecomelife

11-25-24, 12:51 PM

Coming soon - the Marconi equipment. Hang in there people, things are moving right along.:Kaleun_Wink:

1Patriotofmany

11-25-24, 05:36 PM

Hanging!

iambecomelife

11-26-24, 09:10 PM

More good news; for the first time I joined together a sub interior with the engine room, command room, radio room, and hydrophone.

It really gives a whole different feel to the mod; you can see how the complete interior as a whole is approaching completion.

I deleted many of the Omni lights in the engine room - once I had it attached to the command room I wanted, there was too much light. When I finished working last night there was a nice balance of lighting, and the interior didn't look like a floodlight was shining in the poor sailors' faces. :haha:

Depending on how well things go I may be able to model Kortig/Kerosene Oil engines for U-9 Class and UB-I engines after all! If progress stays good it can be done.

This week - deleting more WWII odds and ends, skinning more interior parts, and work on the ocean liners mentioned before.

Bubblehead1980

11-27-24, 12:35 AM

iambecomelife

11-27-24, 02:58 PM

Thank you for the update. I have been away from subsimming for a very, but have checked this thread periodically, amazed at your progress. Look forward to getting on patrol with this mod one day.

Hey there! Great to see guys like you and Jeff Groves posting again.

By the way - major thank you to Jeff Groves and vickers03 for helping me research a major problem with Silent3d Editor. Had it been unresolved, the mod would take much longer to produce; all is well now and the modding program is working properly.

Now I'm going to put giant statues of Jeff and vickers03 in the Wilhelmshaven base as Easter Eggs...:haha:

malthus gamer

11-27-24, 05:13 PM

hello! I have a question: is the mod close to release?

iambecomelife

11-27-24, 06:01 PM

hello! I have a question: is the mod close to release?

Still a lot left to do but things are in full swing! Getting so much of the interior done was important...not long ago there were no engines, etc and now they are done. So a lot of the hard work's done.

dramaticuser

11-27-24, 09:48 PM

im curious, how many Uboat types will there be(playable and even not playable)?

and also what happens at the end of the war? will there be a "surrender" mechanic?

iambecomelife

11-28-24, 12:54 AM

im curious, how many Uboat types will there be(playable and even not playable)?

and also what happens at the end of the war? will there be a "surrender" mechanic?

Good question! Current line-up is:

1) UB-I Class: Diesel Mini-Sub
2) U-9 Class : Kerosene Sub
3) U-19 Class: Diesel Sub
4) U-23 Class/U-27 Class/U-31 Class : Diesel Sub (Early)
5) U-23 Class/U-27 Class/U-31 Class : Diesel Sub (Improved 9-10 Torpedoes)
6) U-51 Class: Diesel Sub
7) U-63 Class: Diesel Sub
8) U-81 Class: Diesel Sub
9) U-87 Class: Diesel Sub
10) U-139 Class: Diesel Large Cruiser-Type Sub

There will be no special surrender mechanic. There will be a screen at the end of the game with a newspaper/etc and images of the war ending. There will also be a unique radio message broadcast - it's not 100% historical, since I could not find any special radio message text sent to WWI subs in Nov. 1918. But it works well enough, in my opinion. It is inspired by the real message sent to WWII German submarines in 1945:

"Officers and men of the Kaiserliche Marine: your fighting spirit is unbroken and your record unblemished; if our Kaiser demanded it, you would gladly fight on. Today, however, we must lay down our arms. Our nation now seeks peace with honour. Further combat would jeopardize the armistice negotiations now taking place. Therefore, all operations shall cease as of 11:00AM today - the 11th of November, 1918. ..... Though the war ends, your deeds endure in the pages of our history. Our Kaiser and his Empire thank you for four years of valiant service."

iambecomelife

11-28-24, 01:04 AM

Although the message is fictional, the date and time when combat stopped is accurate.

I have to brag about the radio messages - I added THOUSANDS of unique press reports that will let you know how the war is going. It was one of the biggest sub-projects for this mod, but I finally finished researching them. Hundreds of different events are covered. From the Archduke Assassination in 1914 to the German Revolution/Allied victory in 1918. No matter when your campaign takes place, you will have an idea of what is going on. Battles in the trenches, major ships sunk, aces scoring victories, and a lot more. :Kaleun_Cheers:

malthus gamer

11-28-24, 05:49 PM

Will the ships take a long time to sink? Because in SH4 passenger ships take a long time to sink, and usually only sink with more than 1 torpedo

iambecomelife

11-28-24, 08:18 PM

Will the ships take a long time to sink? Because in SH4 passenger ships take a long time to sink, and usually only sink with more than 1 torpedo

There will be a large variety of ship sinking times. RMS Lusitania has been programmed to sink in 15 minutes if you hit her where U-20 did. :03:

If you hit "Lusitania" somewhere else she may take an hour to sink.

Most merchants, tankers, and liners of about 10,000 tons or more will take 30 minutes to 4 hours to sink with one torpedo. Two solid hits will usually sink them in 15 minutes or less. There will be exceptions. There is a chance that 1-2 torpedoes will not be enough, especially if you just hit the tip of the bow/stern.

Small merchants of about 1,000 - 2,000 tons will almost always go down with one torpedo in 5-10 minutes. Especially when carrying steel or iron ore. Merchant ships carrying lumber will usually need about 2 torpedoes.

Battleships will take no more than 4-5 torpedoes. A lot of people seem to forget that, even the strongest battleships could not be fully armored a great distance below the waterline. Furthermore, a torpedo has devastating force beyond the area of the torpedo hole - when a ship is hit, watertight hatches will often warp or pop their fittings for a great distance away from the impact location.

This shock and metal distortion effect is what doomed HMS Audacious in 1914, even though she just hit one mine. And she was one of the UK's newest battleships. Just a little bit of metal distortion can keep the crew from sealing a watertight door - leaving a watertight compartment system like on "Titanic" and many battleships crippled.:yep:

German battleships will be somewhat stronger than British ones.

IMHO, a battleship needing 10-12 torpedoes to sink is just silly, except for the best post-WWI battleship classes like Yamato. Even HMS "Barham" - one of the best WWI warships - only took three torpedoes to go down with over 800 men.

dramaticuser

11-28-24, 08:29 PM

will there be ai subs in other navies?

iambecomelife

11-29-24, 03:54 PM

will there be ai subs in other navies?

Yes, there will be at least 2 enemy classes in initial release. Probably both British, like E Class and C Class.

In the first major update AFTER the initial release, I would like to add French, Italian, and other subs. Don't want to add too many sub classes for initial release to avoid delays.

iambecomelife

11-29-24, 06:06 PM

Excellent news .... while experimenting, I managed to port an entire Interior sub model, with crewmembers and all, to external mode!

For context, SH3 and SH4 usually treat the sub interior as "another world". Not rendered in the actual free mode.

With a little work you can change this! Using camera settings, you can tell the game not to show the interior compartments in free mode. It's the same technique of adding controllers that I am using to generate cargo screens for WWI prize warfare.

The next step was to move the interior compartments vertically to a distance where you can't see ocean water. Also, rain/weather does not fall thru the compartments.

Then, you assign the free compartments floating over the sub camera settings similar to conning tower mode.

That way, you get a new interior mode for the sub - rendered in real time in the same world - that you cannot see in free camera. Better still, your PC does not waste power rendering the interior when you are in free mode. Or rendering high poly ships in the new realtime interior mode. :D

A lot needs to be done, and the main issue so far is there are no night lights - but I suspect this can be fixed. Note that the game has star shells, lights for buildings onshore, etc that I could mod into lightbulbs for the new interior.

In theory, this opens the door to lots of things - including using new crew models. I don't think I will convert Wolves of the Kaiser to use this technique due to the amount of time needed to convert and test everything - but this could be a big breakthrough for future mods - WWI, WWII or whatever you want.

iambecomelife

11-29-24, 06:13 PM

Minor update:

-Tweaked sinking values for small merchantmen. Now, small merchants will sink faster when hit.

-Altered lighting to make the sub interior dimmer away from lightbulbs.

-Changed the position of engine crew for the Germaniawerft 6 Cylinder Diesel.

-Research on medium ocean liners of 1914 - 1918.

-Preparing update of high resolution depth gauges and engine room telegraphs for medium sub interiors.

1Patriotofmany

11-29-24, 07:32 PM

Iambecomelife, I think you missed my great suggestion in another thread.

Anyway I'm thinking you should give up 100% of your family life and pare down your worklife by at least 50% and you can move up the expected release date by at least 10 months.

Have a wonderful Thanksgiving, I appreciate what you are doing immensely and frankly I wish we could reward you monetarily for your selfless time on this project.

vickers03

11-30-24, 04:57 AM

Excellent news .... while experimenting, I managed to port an entire Interior sub model, with crewmembers and all, to external mode!
wow!:doh:

iambecomelife

12-08-24, 02:10 PM

Thanks to 1Patriotofmany, vickers03, Kapt Oliver, and everyone else for your continued interest!

Minor No Screenshot Update, December 2024:

-A major addition to the game that I am keeping secret lol! :D:D:D I don't want to promise too much but this feature is working well so far and will add depth to the game, making it more like UBoat. It will be optional for casual players.

-Revised the .UPCGE file for the U-31 Class Submarine, which will be a template for new changes to the sub compartments.

-Experimented with more severe fatigue effects for crewmembers, to prevent players from having unrealistically long patrols.

-Conducted an experimental patrol in the North Atlantic for over 30 days with no ill effects or crashes. Fatigue changes worked well.

-Experimented with (and was satisfied with) slightly faster sinking times for Small Merchant/Small Freighter/Small Collier Types. Ships of 900 - 2500 tons should sink easier.

-Added much better looking high resolution crew icons for Officers, Deck Officers, and Matrosen. They are based on WWI submarine movies, etc. A few other interface improvements thanks to the great Subsim user jimimadrid - his interface editing software is excellent, and I am able to make changes I did not think were possible. :Kaleun_Cheers:

-Prepared to reduce the early war crew size for medium U-Boats. Crew size used to be about 37 - 39 for medium diesel boats, this will be cut to about 30-32 men. That was the crew size for U-29 and U-31, which were medium sized subs sunk early in WWI.

Back to work at my real 21st Century job!! Working on the weekend for a bit of extra cash ...... I will be rolling up my sleeves this evening and delving into 1914-1918 again.....:yep:

Kapitain Oliver Leinkraunt

12-09-24, 01:58 AM

Can’t wait to see new images :D

1Patriotofmany

12-10-24, 02:11 AM

Back to work at my real 21st Century job!! Working on the weekend for a bit of extra cash ...... I will be rolling up my sleeves this evening and delving into 1914-1918 again.....:yep: But wait a minute, my suggestion to cut out 100% of your personal life and 50% of your employed life doesn't jibe with that! Think of how fast you could get the mod out!

Pochalo

12-11-24, 08:15 PM

Aktungbby

12-11-24, 11:08 PM

Pochalo!:Kaleun_Salute:...finally on the surface after a decade's 'silent run'!:up:

1Patriotofmany

12-13-24, 06:37 PM

Pochalo!:Kaleun_Salute:...finally on the surface after a decade's 'silent run'!:up: Holy smokes! No kidding!

iambecomelife

12-13-24, 09:26 PM

Sorry for my English. There are many of us who are eagerly awaiting this very attractive mod. To move forward a little and while the mod is being finished, it might be useful to know how the firing solution was calculated in the First World War. In the First World War, there were no stadiometers on the periscope, for example. What calculations were made before launching the torpedoes? I think that is one of the fundamental and at the same time most fun aspects of the game. On a theoretical level, would it be possible to have, right now, a pdf manual on how this firing solution was calculated? Thanks.:salute:

I am going to quote another Subsim member, Rhodes:

"From what I gather, WW1 "(...) computing a target intercept course for a torpedo was a manual process where the fire control party was aided by various slide rules[13] (the U.S. examples were the Mark VIII Angle Solver (colloquially called the "banjo", for its shape), and the "Is/Was" circular sliderule (Nasmith Director), for predicting where a target will be based on where it is now and was)[14] or mechanical calculator/sights.[15] These were often "woefully inaccurate",[16] which helps explain why torpedo spreads were advised." from Wiki.

And http://www.tvre.org/en/torpedo-attacks-during-wwi

this has the slide ruler image and drawings of attacks methods.

So i think they did what the TDC during WW2 did manually, almost like Curd Jürgens character says in the movie."

Unfortunately I will not be including 100% accurate WWI slide rule and manual computer firing in the game - due to time limits and also due to not enough primary source material to make the aiming devices look accurate. Lastly, I am just not that good at devising targeting interface mods. :oops:

In Wolves of the Kaiser, WWII equipment will be retained, but with technological advances disabled. For instance, there will be no FAT/guided torpedo provisions in either aiming equipment or in torpedo loadout. :yep:

On the plus side, although you will not have guided torpedoes in the game, you WILL have demolition parties that sail out in rowboats. That way you can save a torpedo when sinking unarmed merchants that are standing still. To prevent cheating by the player, demolition parties will be slow (3-4 kts) and have a very long arming distance. So no stupid stuff like using them against a destroyer, or an undamaged merchant ship.
__________________

Kapitain Oliver Leinkraunt

12-15-24, 05:48 PM

IABL, I have a bit out of contest question.
Some time ago I was reading again your ship list and (as well as very curious to see screenshots of never seen ships :D ) I was wandering if in the German roster will we see any of the older 1906 GroÃŸTorpedoboote series, or the LM-Boote MTBs and some others more "generic" warships like the M1916 class minesweepers. :hmmm:
http://www.modelwarships.com/reviews/ships/sms/auxil/M50-350-com/M50-Page-01.jpg

I realy don't want to bother you; it's just a personal curiosity hahaha

btw, in the post about the new engine room, you talked about a new engine telegraph. Idk if you already have one, but here there is a nice looking example from UB-88. Hope it could be. useful :salute:

https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjKuhy2KaOoMenyrlbdbRTU5hGeK6YFqSoohyphenhyp hend8_40gSgNob291dk24H0G1MyslXZ9h1Z3wXOKj4uyUsAY-VZ6PXMlt3c6EBvask62ZZ3MtfLruO933TaJT-zllXYdzHbuOjApS7CUXbQ2/s1600/telegraph.jpg