Razzle Dazzle

[max-peck]

EDIT - this now a release. Download link at the bottom of this post!

I have just recently got back into SH4 and one thing that disappointed me is the way the ships appearance does not seem to change during the Pacific War.

I do not have any 3d modelling skills, nor do I have any access to any 3d modelling software

However I do know how to use Photoshop, and from my sh3 days I have a rudimentary understanding of roster files and SH3D

Taking inspiration (and reusing) files from http://www.subsim.com/radioroom/showthread.php?t=155973
and here
http://www.subsim.com/radioroom/showthread.php?t=173962

I have made an approximation of what I want to achieve

As I said I have no 3d experience, so my scope is a lot more limited that what Sergei and Tater were trying to achieve
However I have managed to do the following

My plan is as follows

For the first six months of the war, up until mid 1942, the skins will be a 50/50 mix of civilian black and plain grey

http://i.imgur.com/k7S6Bqo.jpg

http://i.imgur.com/eq5K9uV.jpg

About mid 1942 the civilian black skin gets phased out and you start seeing grey dazzle camos

http://i.imgur.com/b43KJHp.jpg
http://i.imgur.com/A3bCrf7.jpg
http://i.imgur.com/Jv3PsWO.jpg

Then at the start of 1943 you start seeing plain green with buff superstructure, along with the same colour scheme with a basic dazzle applied

http://i.imgur.com/LSEcVXu.jpg
http://i.imgur.com/0LwGJcx.jpg
http://i.imgur.com/ZJBxVzt.jpg
http://i.imgur.com/Rb3Da0F.jpg
http://i.imgur.com/4jmK8Q3.jpg

I have finished most of the texture work, and expect to finish my skins on Friday evening.

Then I need to do a little notepad work on the roster files to make the textures turn up at the right times.

Hopefully Saturday looks good for testing.

I am asking if there is any Subsim members who will help me test this before I release it.

I have made this using TMO 2.5, but as it only changes the texture files and roster files it should be relatively easy to make it work in RFB or GFO

So first off - any RFB or GFO players want to test this for me?

Secondly, I would love for people to try either careers or single mission starts in 1942, 1943, 1944, 1945 to see if we see the variety of different skins expected.

Finally - and I know this is a big ask (:oops:) if anybody feels like checking the roster cfg files to make sure I haven't made a typo I would very much appreciate it.

I'll be back tomorrow evening (GMT)

UPDATE:
Release Day!

Here is the subsim download link for the standard version
http://www.subsim.com/radioroom//downloads.php?do=file&id=4956

I have marked this as non TMO, but works just fine in TMO
The only issue you will have is you will be missing new skins for 2 ships that appear in TMO but not in other installs (Ryuun and Momoyama)
Sorry - I should have been clearer about that :doh:

|I am still trying to get the two pesky extra TMO ships to show my dazzles!


To all you guys who have been testing for me, you will not need this. It is identical to the test version I sent you. :)

[Rockin Robbins]

This GFO player would test it!:D

[DieReeperbahn]

I have no time to test but great work! :rock:

[cdrsubron7]

I've got the latest version of RFB on my computer at the moment, I'd be more than happy to give your mod a test run. :yeah:

[max-peck]

Thanks for the offers.:)
I am ony way to work now, but should have a test version ready this evening (UK time)

[cdrsubron7]

A couple of questions.

1. Is there any specific install order for your mod to run correctly?

2. Do you have to be in port or doesn't matter?

Just thought I'd ask. :D

[max-peck]

Install after TMO if you are using the TMO version. It overwrites the TMO roster files and texture files.
If you are using the non TMO version I would guess pretty late in the install order
(Please note I have not made the TMO and non TMO versions yet, but I will be :))

I am not sure about RSRD compatibility yet - I have not looked at the RSRD roster files

Personally I would like to be in port when installing it.
If it was just textures it would probably be fine to enable anytime.
But from reading old threads I have a feeling when you start a patrol it loads all the coming shipping layer, so I do not know what would happen if you then went ahead and overwrote the roster files mid patrol.
This is just a wild assed guess :D

[max-peck]

Rockin Robins and cdrsubron7

Please see PM :up:

[iambecomelife]

Excellent job - the civilian paint schemes too late in the war always bothered me. And the shade of green looks exactly right for Japanese merchantmen painted around 1943-1945.

[max-peck]

:)Thanks so much iambecomelife

I have been following your Wolves of the Kaiser thread for a few years now.

I honestly do not think I would think I would have the commitment to follow through on what you are doing.

Very much looking forward to what you are working on.

To hear you say you think something I have done looks OK means a lot to me.
Thanks a lot mate :up:

PS I didn't have to research the colours myself
Tatar had already posted them here 5 years ago
With a bit of searching and reading old threads I found this
http://www.subsim.com/radioroom//showpost.php?p=1326939&postcount=23

Then I just had to use my colour picker!

Credit should go to him for the research

[fitzcarraldo]

I can test your mod this weekend in my RFB installation.

Many thanks for your job!

Fitzcarraldo :salute:

[max-peck]

Brilliant
Thanks fitzcarraldo
Check your PM :D

[propbeanie]

propbeanie reporting for duty, sir... GFO+ in one install FOTRS in another, bone-stock 1.5 in a 3rd, willing to give it a whirl in the bathtub... However, I will be "on patrol" for the next week, and unavailable until the 27th (unless there's broadband where I'm going), if that'd be OK?

[max-peck]

Thanks for the offer propbeanie

I will probably have released this before the 27th
But I appreciate your offer, thank you :D

[cdrsubron7]

PM sent. :yeah:

[max-peck]

Can I just ask - Rockin Robins, cdrsubron7, and fitzcarraldo

Have you received my PMs with the download links?

Only reason I ask is because when I check my PMs, I cannot see the messages in my sent folder?

[max-peck]

1. Is there any specific install order for your mod to run correctly?


Just had a thought

Install my skin mod last

If you get any overwrite warnings from JSGME, please let me know what they are

Then I can take a look at them :salute:

[Rockin Robbins]

Got it! I look forward to trying this out in GFO. I'll begin in the different date ranges, looking for color schemes and I'll end up by putting a few on the bottom for the fishies!:D:D

[max-peck]

Outstanding

Cheers RR :D

[max-peck]

To cdrsubron7

I have sent you 3 PMs with the download link
But I cannot see any of the messages in my PM sent folder :oops:
I guess old age is catching up with me :)

If you have not received the download link please let me know and I will post it on the forum

[cdrsubron7]

To cdrsubron7

I have sent you 3 PMs with the download link
But I cannot see any of the messages in my PM sent folder :oops:
I guess old age is catching up with me :)

If you have not received the download link please let me know and I will post it on the forum

PMs received. :up:

[max-peck]

Brilliant - thanks for your help cdrsubron7

[cdrsubron7]

Brilliant - thanks for your help cdrsubron7

My pleasure, sir. :salute:

[cdrsubron7]

max-peck, please check your PMs :yep:

[fitzcarraldo]

Working fine in RFB according the dates.

Many thanks and best regards.

Fitzcarraldo :salute:

[max-peck]

max-peck, please check your PMs :yep:

I have sent you what should be the download link
Sorry the first one did not work

PS - try copying the link and pasting it into your address bar if they do not seem to work

EDIT just seen your PM, glad it worked :D

[cdrsubron7]

Working fine in RFB according the dates.

Many thanks and best regards.

Fitzcarraldo :salute:

As Fitzcarrado mentions, the mod works just fine. There was no overwrite when installed via the JSGME.

Nice work, max-peck. :D :salute:

[max-peck]

Outstanding - thanks for your help cdrsubron7

I have been trying the TMO 2.5 version myself, and it looks good

Reckon I will wrap this thread up and go for a release :salute:

[cdrsubron7]

Outstanding - thanks for your help cdrsubron7

I have been trying the TMO 2.5 version myself, and it looks good

Reckon I will wrap this thread up and go for a release :salute:


Happy to be of service, max-peck. :yeah:

I look forward to giving your TMO version a try. :D

[Fish40]

This looks promising! This is almost like the work Tater was trying to do before he ran into texture problems: http://www.subsim.com/radioroom/showthread.php?t=173962&highlight=japanese+merchant+marine

I've been looking forwards to something like this since Tater's work. I currently run RFB plus RSRD. I would be glad to install it and give it a try. I wish you luck with your work, as this Mod is much needed IMO, and would add greatly to the immersion factor!:up:

[Ludwig van Hursh]

Why is that water so blue.

[Rockin Robbins]

Smashing success, I say. I executed my classic Dick O'Kane technique from 500 yards on an obliging and nicely painted merchie.

But first, the JSGME tromped on report:
It changed only the .dds files for each ship type, exactly what we would expect. Since the source of those .dds files in my case was the GFO mod, it gave a couple dozen warnings and those were not a problem. I mashed the accept button with relish and pressed on!

We'll skip the boring setup part. There she was, so close she couldn't help but see my periscope, raised by a captain who couldn't bear to hear booms without seeing stuff flying all over and fire--he's a sadistic chap you know.... Look! He's firing us a salute! Too bad it's much too late for him...

Snazzy paint job he has there, courtesy of this mod I'm testing!

http://i196.photobucket.com/albums/aa293/RockinRobbins13/Silent%20Hunter%204/SH4Img2016-05-23_21.10.33_094_zpsjvxdv6tx.png

We'll back off and see the whole thing just as she explodes.
http://i196.photobucket.com/albums/aa293/RockinRobbins13/Silent%20Hunter%204/SH4Img2016-05-23_21.11.25_346_zpsm9gaml3p.png

What a great paint job she has! Too bad it's all being blown to bits. But wait! Something is wrong with this picture. She's well past the boom point. What's up??? Check the f6 screen! Curses! There are all three torpedoes stopped dead in the water 400 yards out. Not one even ran as far as 500 yards! 1942 sucks! Curse you Webster! Curse you!:rotfl2:

[Rockin Robbins]

I want to make it clear that this mod isn't just reskinning four ships. It's pretty extensive:
http://i196.photobucket.com/albums/aa293/RockinRobbins13/Silent%20Hunter%204/screenshot.440_zpsppaplfyl.jpg
http://i196.photobucket.com/albums/aa293/RockinRobbins13/Silent%20Hunter%204/screenshot.441_zpsu9xiubcf.jpg
http://i196.photobucket.com/albums/aa293/RockinRobbins13/Silent%20Hunter%204/screenshot.442_zps6pyonzug.jpg
http://i196.photobucket.com/albums/aa293/RockinRobbins13/Silent%20Hunter%204/screenshot.443_zpsoawqlrlo.jpg
http://i196.photobucket.com/albums/aa293/RockinRobbins13/Silent%20Hunter%204/screenshot.444_zps97dfnbzi.jpg
http://i196.photobucket.com/albums/aa293/RockinRobbins13/Silent%20Hunter%204/screenshot.445_zps5wrsklxc.jpg

This is a VERY ambitious mod, reskinning all or nearly all the Japanese merchant ships of the game! Great job I say.:up:

[max-peck]

Thanks for your help RR

Yep - I gave every freighter, tanker and troopship I could find 6 skins to choose from :)

Will be releasing in the next few days

Thanks for your help everybody :salute:

[max-peck]

Why is that water so blue.


That is what the TMO 2.5 environment looks like.
If you are not playing TMO, your ocean will not look anything like my screenies :D

[Benti]

awesome work! Thanks a lot mate and surely a good reason to fire up a new install of sh 4 :arrgh!:

[max-peck]

A few more teasers

release Friday :salute:


http://i.imgur.com/PO1rraS.jpg

http://i.imgur.com/m3m5mLi.jpg

http://i.imgur.com/tkLYbZu.jpg

http://i.imgur.com/F2T9Cb0g.jpg

http://i.imgur.com/J3qBnxY.jpg

http://i.imgur.com/DknF5n1g.jpg

http://i.imgur.com/beY1dezg.jpg

http://i.imgur.com/Yauk5Chg.jpg

http://i.imgur.com/cbWaBdzg.jpg

http://i.imgur.com/TIAm6Qe.jpg

http://i.imgur.com/I3w0grhg.jpg

Release on Friday Evening. :D

[max-peck]

Well something went wrong there :D
I am still going to release Friday

Thanks for your help everyone :up:

[fitzcarraldo]

What a great work! Many thanks!

Regards.

Fitzcarraldo :salute:

[Onkel Neal]

I am still going to release Friday

Thanks for your help everyone :up:

Tube loaded, standing by, sir :Kaleun_Salute:

[max-peck]

Tube loaded, standing by, sir :Kaleun_Salute:

Many thanks for your help:up: Neal

[max-peck]

UPDATE - Release Day!

Have just updated post 1 with the SUBSIM download link

[Benti]

max,

you wrote that you tested it with tmo 2.5, but now released the non tmo version only. Is that correct, or are the versions identically?

best regards

[max-peck]

max,

you wrote that you tested it with tmo 2.5, but now released the non tmo version only. Is that correct, or are the versions identically?

best regards

Hi Benti

I was testing the TMO version on my machine, and the guys that were helping me were testing the non TMO version in GFO, RFB and stock.

You can use this release in a TMO install.
It will not break your game.
All that will happen is you will be missing new skins on 2 ships that appear in the Japanese TMO Roster, but not in GFO, RFB or stock.

I am at work now, so cannot talk much
When I get home tonight I will take a look and see if my TMO version on my PC is in a release state.

But you can go ahead and use the Non TMO version if you want :up:

[max-peck]

To Admins

I have tried to change the thread title to [REL] Razzle Dazzle, but I cannot seem to get it to change
Any idea what I am doing wrong?
Does an admin have to change the title for me?

[Benti]

Hi Max, thanks for your quick response, especially considering the circumstances, :D

I'll try it out and let you know if I can see the different skins :)
Thanks for your mod mate.

[max-peck]

To Admins

I have tried to change the thread title to [REL] Razzle Dazzle, but I cannot seem to get it to change
Any idea what I am doing wrong?
Does an admin have to change the title for me?

EDIT
Never mind, ignore this
I have just realised I need to PM an admin to do this for me!

[Rockin Robbins]

Max, let me do a sales job on you. My big campaign lately has been Universal Plugin Mods: one version of a mod that works for ALL game configurations. In your case, it would be easy. Just include ships that belong to all the mods. If one of the ships is not called by the game engine, that won't crash the system.

Then you are left maintaining one mod, not three or four. And there is one download for everybody. And you'll join the family of Universal Plugin Mods.:D

[propbeanie]

Download complete, but I have to wait until this evening before I get time to play... I do like the name you decided on.

[max-peck]

Max, let me do a sales job on you. My big campaign lately has been Universal Plugin Mods: one version of a mod that works for ALL game configurations. In your case, it would be easy. Just include ships that belong to all the mods. If one of the ships is not called by the game engine, that won't crash the system.

Then you are left maintaining one mod, not three or four. And there is one download for everybody. And you'll join the family of Universal Plugin Mods.:D

By all means - if you can figure a way of making that work I am all ears

However - the problem as I see it is as follows

In the TMO version of Razzle Dazzle, I will have two cfgs in the Jap roster folder that are not in GFO, RFB, Stock etc

They are
KMSSHogIslandJPN
KMSSRyuun

They are versions of stock ships (Hogisland and Warmelody) that Ducimus cloned for the Jap roster
The cloned versions of these are not stock ships.

I have only a basic understanding of how the game works, but I think if the game tries to spawn either of these ships in a non TMO install it will crash, because it will not have the corresponding files in the Sea folder to reference?

[max-peck]

PS
just got back from my patrol in the Celebes, and got given a shiny new Salmon Class (was in a porpoise before) :yeah:

Plus I have one of them new fangled surface search radars fitted. And we have just gone past June 42 so I should start to see grey dazzle cammos on ships.
Oh happy day��

[Aktungbby]

propbeanie!:Kaleun_Salute:

[Fish40]

Excellent work Max! Started a new patrol in late 44', first contact was a small Tanker sporting her new green dazzle paint job! Cheers my Friend!:yeah:

[Benti]

works and looks like a charm.
Last mission I was able to intercept a maru freighter just off Japans east coast. I'm currently running Bleientes Modsoup, cloudless night, bright moon so I had a perfect way of looking at the beauty before i shot a spread of torpedos. But unfortunately for me I'm a bit rusty so no nice explosions.

Thanks max, this mod is great eye candy :)

[Navigator857]

What is the AWESOME water mod you are using in your screenshots?

:arrgh!: Jack

[Rockin Robbins]

What is the AWESOME water mod you are using in your screenshots?

:arrgh!: Jack
He's using TMO 2.5 which gives the blue water. I used GFO, which gives stock green/gray water.

@max-peck If your mod contains ships the player's version of the game doesn't use, it makes no difference. The game only crashes if it looks for a ship type that has no data files. You would have TOO MANY, and the game would just not grab all of them.

Even in the stock game it only grabs what it needs to render what you see and leaves the rest alone.

[Navigator857]

Excellent, thank you

[Rockin Robbins]

Excellent, thank you
As a snarky aside, TMO water has been ridiculed for ages with people beside themselves on how "bad" it is.

Here's a real sailor and he thinks it's awesome. I agree with him. TMO needs no apology!:salute:

[CaptBones]

I sailed the Pacific for 20 years in surface ships and submarines...NorPac, MidPac, Westpac, SoPac, SoWesPac, SChina Sea, EChina Sea, Sea of Japan, Arafura Sea, Banda Sea, Bering Sea, Bismarck Sea, Celebes Sea, Coral Sea, Java Sea, Philippine Sea, Sulu Sea, and Tasman Sea. All different, but sometimes also the same; it depends on many factors, even the observer's height of eye and the height/angle of the sun or moon. I've seen an almost complete change of appearance by just walking down from the Bridge to the lowest Weather Deck of a DE or from the Flag Bridge to the Hanger Deck of a CVN.

But, the environment Mod in TMO does a pretty good job of creating a close-to-perfect presentation of the typical (or "average") appearance of most of the broader/open Pacific Ocean areas (especially the Mid and South Pacific). That's not to say that any of the other environment Mods aren't good, I've tried them all and they all make good representations of one or more of the Seas that I've been to, mentioned above. Even the stock game is a good representation of a couple of those "turquoise" Seas.

I doubt that anyone could create an affordable representation that would emulate the appearance of the ocean/seas in every area and under all different weather conditions and times of day. Just crossing from the open sea through the reef and into the lagoon at Midway or Seeadler Harbor at Manus produces a rapidly changing view of the sea's color.

BTW...back on topic...a big "thank you" to max-peck for this great Mod. It puts a lot more "real life" into the simulation for the later war years.

Anyway, just my 2-cents worth.

[Hitman]

max-peck :salute:

In case you missed it, the new ship models I created for the ill-fated JMM are still up for grabs at my media fire account. Maybe you can get them into the game :up:

https://www.mediafire.com/folder/9mt1aqnu21x9l/SH4_Models

[max-peck]

max-peck :salute:

In case you missed it, the new ship models I created for the ill-fated JMM are still up for grabs at my media fire account. Maybe you can get them into the game :up:

https://www.mediafire.com/folder/9mt1aqnu21x9l/SH4_Models

Wow - thanks Hitman :salute:

I'll take a look at them

Maybe let Rockin Robins know too - he may want to add them to FOTRS Ultimate :D

[Rockin Robbins]

Got 'em! Thanks Hitman. They will be plugin ships for FOTRS Ultimate with full credit to you of course.

[Hitman]

I would love to see them in game :salute:

One thing I should mention, they use a mix of skins from several ships as parts were mergued, and one of them requires some retexturing in a modified part. I can nowadays do texturing, but I just don't have time for that ATM :-?