Sofu Gan revisited

[aanker]

I haven't lost interest in seeing Sufu Gan in SH4. Right now the best I have seen is the RSRD mod adds it as a place name on the chart which is nice.

Wiki says, it is approximately 84 meters east-west and 56 meters north-south, with a summit height of 99 meters. (plus the 60' water depth at that location in SH4)

325' = 99 meters above sea level (sea level is 60' above seabed at that location)
385' = 117 meters tall if placed on seabed
276' = 84 meters east-west
184' = 56 meters north-south

Since Sofu Gan was an important navigational landmark during WW II used by submarines and aircraft I for one would still like to see it added to SH4. I pass that location on many of my patrols (and I would bet that others do too) so it wouldn't be wasted effort to build it.

I'm not sure how to do it though plus I don't think I have the right software. I have built 3ds meshes and textured them for an astronomy program but my past efforts with SH4 have not worked.

- need to build a rough mesh 84m x 56m x 117m high and maybe texture it using the actual Sofu Gan picture from Wiki, edited and converted to tga(?) for a texture (complete with bird droppings - on the Sofu Gan basalt pillar ;-)
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sofu_Gan

Or here is a rock that is roughly the correct shape. Does anyone know how it could be enlarged... lol - I am desperate!

http://i127.photobucket.com/albums/p157/ptcbupers/SH4Img_Rock.jpg

- (please don't beat me up for starting a new topic on this... I reviewed the old topics but they mostly focused on Truk)

Happy Hunting!

Art

[Armistead]

As stated it's in RSRD. I'm not sure if you could texture it right or not, but interesting. I'll look it myself, would be cool for SS's. Bet a few here could do it.

[DarkFish]

If you supply me with a model + textures i could import it into the game if you wish:up:

[Jten]

Correct me if I'm wrong (need i ask?:haha:) but isn't the SH4 land in the sim generated from a height map and the problem is to render Sofu Gan to proper size it would only be 1 or 2 pixels on the height map and it would not be created?

[aanker]

You're right - the land or sea is relatively easy to do using Ref's Terrain Editor and Photoshop, however rather than have a lump of squares stacked up to approx 300' ( it is 60' below sea level there now) I thought building a model would be easier and look better.

Then add it to SH4 at the same location RSRD uses (they have the place name location correct) like you would place a large, medium, or small port etc.

Sure would be cool ......

Happy Hunting!

Art

[aanker]

Here is the 3d model - so far. According to Wiki It is suppose to be about 325' above sea level, 385' tall if placed on seabed at that location, 276' east-west, and 184' north-south.

What I did was import a Gato class submarine model which should be about 312' in length and used that as a scale to get the Sofu Gan model size approximately right and hopefully orientated correctly on the x, y, z axis. These programs import and export models differently.

It is close but certainly not perfect and I am no 3d modeling guru. It is intended to be a representation of Sofu Gan, not an exact duplicate my crew can climb and measure.

http://i127.photobucket.com/albums/p157/ptcbupers/sofu_gan_skin.jpg


So, I exported it as 3ds and obj. Now to figure out how to get it into the game.

- - then, watch it be upside down and balancing on a corner or floating on a side etc.... lol

Happy Hunting!

Art

[Bubblehead1980]

cool, hope to see this in RSRD soon.

[aanker]

Funny thing. Keep in mind that this should be a simple project.....

S3D is fired up and ready to go..

And NOW for the moment of truth,

the countdown to Import begins.....

5, 4, 3, 2, 1, "Import"

"It's a dud, Sir"

"That's right, the sign says you must use triangles, not polygons (you idiot), Sir!"

So, I am making triangles out of polygons in my "spare time". - lol

Happy Hunting!

Art

[Bubblehead1980]

lol that sucks, well keep up the work, will be ready before long.

[cgjimeneza]

go, Art, go!!!!!!!!!

your friendly BuPers boss, the one with the keys to the boats!

C

[aanker]

Hey Carlos! It's a lot of work toteing concrete and plaster 385' up there by myself.... lol

I just can't get my head around S3D enough to import this into SH4. Arrgh!

Happy Hunting! - mister with keys to all the boats .... and don't forget what nice boats I used to give you either ;-) ..... ha!

Art

[cgjimeneza]

You going asiatic or PH?

I have many S boats and a few newer ones for old friends

and should have some pull with the subron CO´s

C

[aanker]

You going asiatic or PH?
Funny thing, in SHCE I preferred to start in sowespac/asiattic with "my" old gal S-39 (SS-144) but in SH4 I am beginning to appreciate Pacflt more and more....

So, to give you a straight answer, Pearl please. Allen and I have talked - should be a fun campaign!

Happy Hunting!

Art

[aanker]

Thanks to Nisgeis & DarkFish who really helped a lot in getting this model into SH4.

After playing with the settings in Campaign_LOC a couple of times and seeing nothing, I was delighted to see my Sofu Gan 3ds model when I went up on the bridge for a look the 3rd time. All I can say is Wow! (and of course thanks to Nisgeis & DarkFish).

My first sighting of Sofu Gan in SH4

http://i127.photobucket.com/albums/p157/ptcbupers/SH4Img_Sofu_Gan01.jpg

Here are some more screen shots:

http://i127.photobucket.com/albums/p157/ptcbupers/SH4Img_Sofu_Gan02.jpg

http://i127.photobucket.com/albums/p157/ptcbupers/SH4Img_Sofu_Gan03.jpg

Even went diving:

http://i127.photobucket.com/albums/p157/ptcbupers/SH4Img_Sofu_Gan04.jpg

http://i127.photobucket.com/albums/p157/ptcbupers/SH4Img_Sofu_Gan05.jpg

http://i127.photobucket.com/albums/p157/ptcbupers/SH4Img_Sofu_Gan06.jpg

I'm so happy!

I'll put a link to dl this if anyone is interested - I guess after I discuss it with a couple people because of the Campaign_LOC edit.

Happy Hunting!

Art

[virtualpender]

That looks amazing! Great job on recognizing the need and getting it into the game. Please post this as a mod!



http://www.history.navy.mil/photos/images/g80000/g80424.jpg

[Nisgeis]

Does it go clang if you sail into it? I like the way it even has a reflection.

[keltos01]

I never thought I'd say that I love a rock, but yes I do love this one !:up:

keltos

[aanker]

Does it go clang if you sail into it? I like the way it even has a reflection.
I haven't checked - I never try those things - like sailing inside the Flying Dutchman etc.

Actually it should destroy a submarine if anyone collided with it, right.

I'll see what happens. I am a 'victim' of having the habit of always playing for realism - is my only excuse, and I'm sticking to it.

Art

Edit - Yes, colliding with it makes that screeching noise and 96% destroyed my hull after the 3rd collision. cool - it behaves like a rock..... lol.

I feel a little bad about injuring the three torpedomen though......

http://i127.photobucket.com/albums/p157/ptcbupers/SH4Img_Sofu_Gan11.jpg

http://i127.photobucket.com/albums/p157/ptcbupers/SH4Img_Sofu_Gan12.jpg


.

[aanker]

Here is the link to the [REL] topic and the Sofu Gan mod:

http://www.subsim.com/radioroom/showthread.php?p=1245788#post1245788

With Thanks to Neal & Subsim for allowing me to upload it here - and for providing such a great website.

Happy Hunting!

Art


.

[Armistead]

Will the rock hide radar...lol, I'll just hide behind it and maybe they'll never notice.

Cool Job...:up:

[aanker]

Will the rock hide radar...lol, I'll just hide behind it and maybe they'll never notice.

Cool Job...:up:
Thanks, I don't know if you ever had Silent Hunter I Commanders Edition, but that SJ radar picked up land masses and the Japs could be hiding behind a small peninsula etc and the SJ couldn't "see" them - vice versa too.

One of my few SH4 complaints - that, and "insignificant" targets like fishing boats & Sampans aren't reported by the operator. They do show as blips on the screen.

From what I understand they are both hard coded issues......

Art

[Armistead]

Well, I love details....glad you fixed it... I can't wait to win another SS competion using it.....once I find the right conditions....Lovely...Lovely...

[Hitman]

cool - it behaves like a rock..... lol.

:rotfl2:That made me laugh a LOT

Good one :salute:

[FIREWALL]

Nice work :up:

[skwasjer]

Nice work! :yeah:

For the record, the game does not support polygons made up of quads or more vertices per face, and for the same reason S3D won't accept it. It wants triangles, triangles, triangles. So, triangulate any work before exporting to OBJ. :D

[aanker]

Thank you Sir, I need to put some time in trying to familiarize myself more with S3D (what a great program ) and find another 3d program, UV mapper etc.

Because ..... I was 'out' for a few months and came back to find Vickers outstanding WIP with the interiors. Wow, now that's something!

Happy Hunting!

Art