Skinning AI subs?

[Syxx_Killer]

I was sailing out of Wilhelmshaven in my nice looking U-556 (running Rubini's harbor traffic mod with sergbuto's AI subs included). I cam across another Type VII sailing in and a little bit later a Type II. Those things sure are rust buckets compared to my boat. Is there a way to apply the custom skins I use for use with AI subs? It almost makes me feel "special" again when my boat is the only one different. :lol:

[Rubini]

Those things sure are rust buckets compared to my boat. Is there a way to apply the custom skins I use for use with AI subs? It almost makes me feel "special" again when my boat is the only one different.

:rotfl: :rotfl: :rotfl:

Rubini.

[HundertzehnGustav]

shure!
you can open the respective DAT file for the AI subs (in the submarine folder) with timetravellers DAT exctractor.

then all you have to do is copy the paintjob.TGA of the AI sub (i suggest one you downloaded) and rename it according to the AI submarines DAT file

[sergbuto]

All the AI-sub textures are independent of other subs. Just extract them from the respective DAT file, chnge to your liking and improt back or put into the data\Textures\TNormal folder.

[Syxx_Killer]

The Type VII skin I am using is Fubar's skin. Can an AI sub use all those files? Here they are:

mask_type7
NSS_Uboat7c_coning
NSS_Uboat7c_deck
NSS_Uboat7c_hull
Turm7c_1_deck
Turm7c_2_deck
Turm7c_3_deck
Turm7c_4_deck
Turm7c_5_deck
UFlak_High

[sergbuto]

Yes, if you rename them in accord to TGA names inside of DAT files of each AI sub.

[Syxx_Killer]

I browsed through the DAT files for the 7c41, and the Turm DATs for the 7c41. I didn't see anything for the mask_type7. Of the files I listed in my post above, are these the only ones that really need to be named for the 7c41?

NSS_Uboat7c_coning
NSS_Uboat7c_deck
NSS_Uboat7c_hull

The Turm7c_5_deck (etc) files have the same names. Also, is the UFlak_High file a generic one, or does it somehow have to be named specifically for the 7c41?

Browsing the Turm DAT files, I noticed a Turm7c_6_deck and Turm7c_7_deck. What are those files for? Here is part of the readme for the skin I am using:

1x bridge deck(turm 2): with this deck if you make 3 more copies and change names to Turm7c_3_deck, Turm7c_4_deck,Turm7c_5_deck and place
these files in silenthunter3/data/textures/TNormal/tex folder then all conning tower setups will be covered.

If all conning towers will be covered, what are the 6 & 7 decks?

[sergbuto]

Okay, you made me take a look at the DAT file. :)

Yes,

NSS_Uboat7c_coning,
NSS_Uboat7c_deck,
NSS_Uboat7c_hull

are the ones you need to chnage by replacing 7c for 41.

Turm7c_5, 6,7 are different conning towers for AI VIIC/41:

Turm7c_5 is with one AA gun;
Turm7c_7 is with two AA gun;
Turm7c_6 is for U-flak boat.

It is easy to find out what Turm belongs to what by looking at the EQP file.

[Syxx_Killer]

Ok, I added the files for the Type VII skin I am using. I renamed these files for the 7c41:

NSS_Uboat7c_coning
NSS_Uboat7c_deck
NSS_Uboat7c_hull

I also copied a Turm file and renamed it for the Turm_6 & 7 decks.

I entered the museum and it appears to work. However, when I clicked to see the 1942 version of the 7c41, the conning tower was all rusty again. The prior version was skinned properly. :-?

I also tried to use a skin for the IIB. I copied the DAT that I am using the IIA. I renamed the DAT itself, then opened it in a hex editor and changed the tga to a IIB. I then replaced the DAT in the IIB folder. When I try to load the Museum, I get a CTD. I reverted back to the stock DAT for the IIB. Isn't the IIB model the same as the IIA model? What did I do wrong this time? :-? :damn:

[sergbuto]

Turm7c_6 and 7 have different TGA names inside. Look them up and fix the appropriate TGAs for them.

You can't simply rename a DAT file and use it as another unit. You need to change a bunch of numbers inside as well as in corresponding CAM, DSD, SIM,VAL, and ZON files. Look at some threads about ship cloning for more info.

[Syxx_Killer]

Turm7c_6 and 7 have different TGA names inside. Look them up and fix the appropriate TGAs for them.

Will that fix the rusty conning tower (1942 onwards in the Museum)?

You can't simply rename a DAT file and use it as another unit. You need to change a bunch of numbers inside as well as in corresponding CAM, DSD, SIM,VAL, and ZON files. Look at some threads about ship cloning for more info.

Doesn't the real type IIB have all this stuff already done? Why can't the DAT just simply be renamed (and the TGA inside via hex edit)? I'm not renaming the DAT to use exclusivly as another usit, just skin the type IIB (Or is that what you meant?). Are there other hex strings in the DAT that need to be changed? If that's the case I'd never get it. The type IIB can stay rusty. :lol:

[sergbuto]

Will that fix the rusty conning tower (1942 onwards in the Museum)?

Yes, it should.

If that's the case I'd never get it. The type IIB can stay rusty. :lol:

Extract TGA files from IIA (I guess those textures you want to apply to IIB), rename them appropriately for IIB and put in data\Textures\TNormal folder.

[Syxx_Killer]

Sorry for the continuing dumb questions. I must be driving you crazy. :oops:

I extracted the TGA for the IIA and nameed it NSS_Uboat2B. That doesn't work. I also had the file named Typ 2B_Hull. That was also a no go.

I checked out Turm7c_5_hd, Turm7c_6_hd, and Turm7c_7_hd DAT files. The Turm7c_#_deck is the same for all three. I don't know what needs to be changed for the deck. I thought maybe it was the NSS_Uboat7c_coning tga that needed to be changed. In the Turm7c_6_hd file and Turm7c_7_hd file, they seem to use the same texture, but with different names. I then named the NSS_Uboat7c_coning tga to NSS_Uboat7c_contr7 and SSUboat41_6_coning. Still didn't work. :-?

When I say the above textures don't work, I have placed them in the Textures folder in the main SH3 directory.

[Syxx_Killer]

When viewing through the museum, it looks like the Turm7c_#_deck files are working. It was kind of hard to see for sure, so I started a new campaign in 1943 at Brest. The AI sub docked there, did have a working Turm file, as is shown in the screenshot. There is a timestamp iin the lower right. The conning tower, though, is still rusty. I went through the Turm DAT files like I said above and changed the conning tower tga to correspong to that of the DAT. Since the Turm tga's are working, but the conning tower isn't, could it be a hex edit issue?

http://img378.imageshack.us/img378/6264/sh3img1492005164469069cz.th.jpg (http://img378.imageshack.us/my.php?image=sh3img1492005164469069cz.jpg)

[sergbuto]

There are also texture like NSS_Uboat7c_tur7 and SSUboat41_6_hull and others for Turm7c_6,7. Have you tried them as well? The names of textures in Turm7c_# made different intentionally, because conning towers can be used for different models.

As to IIB, name Typ 2B_Hull with the space may be the source of the problem. You can try to repack textures to the IIB and Turm files or replace the name with one without space, something like Typ_2B_Hull.

[Syxx_Killer]

There are also texture like NSS_Uboat7c_tur7 and SSUboat41_6_hull and others for Turm7c_6,7. Have you tried them as well? The names of textures in Turm7c_# made different intentionally, because conning towers can be used for different models.

That seemed to work. Finally! :lol: Thanks! :yep: Not sure why the hull would affect the conning tower, but it did. :dead:

As to IIB, name Typ 2B_Hull with the space may be the source of the problem. You can try to repack textures to the IIB and Turm files or replace the name with one without space, something like Typ_2B_Hull.

The Type IIB, however, is still dead in the water. I renamed the tga Typ_2b_Hull and NSS_Uboat2B and placed them in the Texture folder. Neither one worked. :damn: :damn:

[sergbuto]

As I said try to import textures to the IIB and Turm files.

[oRGy]

Any textures will have to be same byte size as the originals to be repacked, remember.

This means to have the .tga's the same colour depth, size etc. I believe Photoshop handles this better than paint shop pro, not sure about irfanview.

[Syxx_Killer]

Well, I think it finally works! I used timetraveller's SH3 Unpacker to unpack the IIA TGA, then used the DatTexExtract tool to repack the tga into the original IIB DAT. The game no longer crashes when it loads the IIB DAT. I guess just renaming the DAT and then the tga inside with hex edit isn't enough. I think there are other hex strings involved. :doh:

Anyway, thanks for all the help! :yep: :up: :up:

[kriller2]

Could you upload your file to Terrapins site or rapidshare, so I could download it? :) I allso think it's a shame the AI boats are so rusty, but it's awesome that they have crew onboard in the new harbourtrafic-mod! I believe it's Sergbutos work? :up:

[Syxx_Killer]

Ok, I uploaded it to Rapidshare. If terrapin sees this and wants to add it to his site, he can. I used the 7Zip format. It took the file size down from 213MB to only 27MB! You will need the latest version of WinRar or the 7Zip program to unzip it. In time I will probably convert more skins for use with AI subs, but for now these will do. Enjoy. :cool:

Maybe I should start another thread? :hmm:

http://rapidshare.de/files/5130828/AI_Sub_Skins.7z.html

[kriller2]

Hi syxx,
Thanks alot, I will try this out :rock:
/Kriller