[WIP] U-Boat Type IXB AI Unit
 

Ok, first off, why am I making this thread, if I'm not actually giving anything to download?
a) because it seems that I'm stealing space for screenshots and explanations from other threads, that are completely unrelated to this topic. I don't feel that it is appropriate.

b) It also seems that just "mentioning" this work, creates misconception on the part of me creating a PLAYABLE unit.
At this time - it is not true. I am working on importing a IXb type as AI only at this time. Why? Because PLAYABLE unit requires a lot more work, detailed, tedious, requiring a LOT more knowledge than I poses right now. So, this AI unit is a test ground and discovery map of things to come.
I am also unable to do a lot of details at this time: one of the examples, I cannot do animation for the tube doors. At all.

c) And the last, but not least: I ask lots of questions all over the place (linked to answer a again). So it is much healthier to just ask people in this thread.

Now, in regards to playable units: yes, I am hoping to accomplish that. Eventually. And that is it on that topic.

For now, enjoy the screenies:
(just as a note: I'm importing a SH3 9b type. Simple as that)

http://img14.imageshack.us/img14/171...1153649.th.jpghttp://img10.imageshack.us/img10/713...1153654.th.jpghttp://img546.imageshack.us/img546/2...1153701.th.jpg
http://img824.imageshack.us/img824/4...1153707.th.jpghttp://img109.imageshack.us/img109/8...1153807.th.jpghttp://img191.imageshack.us/img191/8...1153904.th.jpg
http://img593.imageshack.us/img593/7...1154442.th.jpghttp://img855.imageshack.us/img855/2...1154502.th.jpghttp://img23.imageshack.us/img23/438...1154824.th.jpg
http://img404.imageshack.us/img404/8...1154959.th.jpghttp://img208.imageshack.us/img208/8...1155004.th.jpg

Great work so far.:yeah:

Well done Targor, this look excellent, if you want me to test the AI unit for the IXB, I'd be happy too.

Thank you for the offer. At this point it is too early, but I will let you know.

And here's a question:

IX conning towers? I cannot seem for the life of me find any information on conning towers for IX type uboats. Were they all pretty much same turms as on VIIs?

There definitely were differences. For one, the Type IXs were fitted with 3.7 cm Flaks much earlier than the Type VIIs. I will see if I can dig up some specifics.

awesome. Thank you very much, keysersoze.

I'm not as much worried about the armament - it is described pretty detailed all over the place, but the turms themselves. The only mention I found so far, says something along the line: "... that VIIs and IX started to really look alike after both received Turm type 4 upgrade..."

But that is all I am able to find on the topic.

The trouble is there's not much of a distinction to be made between the turms and the AA armament. Generally speaking, a turm upgrade was an AA upgrade (I'm generalizing a little bit, as there were some relatively minor modifications for late-war sensors). Modeling turms and AA guns separately is a peculiarity of the SH games. Historically, an upgrade to Turm II, for example, would only have occurred to permit the installation of two C/38 FlaKs (one on the bridge and one on the Wintergarten). Similarly, Turm IV existed only to allow boats to fit two C/38 Zwillings and a C/38 Flakvierling (later the 3.7cm M42).

Anyway, I 'll see what I can turn up about IX turms. It's strange that there's so much available about Type VII designations but so little about the Type IXs. I wonder if this is because the IXs were often operating in more remote locations, farther from Allied air cover? :hmmm:

Can't wait to see your Type IX in action, Targor

:Kaleun_Salivating:

The only thing that bus me at the moment is the behaviour of the AI - before it dives on the contact, it circles around the ship, almost running under ship's bow and trying to die.... Than it finally dives and starting to hunt it with periscope raized... weird....

Just wondering, why didn't you just use the SHIII conning tower?

I might, when I get to the conning tower cloning. Right now I'm working out quirks with the hull. I had major problems with some parts (started with the tubedoors) being lit up by light (sun, moon, whatever) when they were on a shadow side, while the site that was supposed to be lit up - was dark.

I am starting to figure it out and just need to re-do both planes and both rudders.

Plus, if when I get to making a brand new model of the IXb (which I am, I found some amazing u-505 plans), I want to know what turm to model.

so, little update. Unfortunately, it has been a busy week, so haven't done much.

Created new front dive planes, as the imported version was screwing up lighting in the game: the shadowed planes was lit up like from a direct sun, while the opposite plane was dark like in a shadow. Looks very nice now :)

todo in the next two weeks:
1) back dive planes (same story)
2) both rudders
3) figure out what to do with turms. I can just import, but it annoys me that we don't have info.