Razzle Dazzle
 

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//dow...o=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. :)

This GFO player would test it!:D

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

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:

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

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

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

Rockin Robins and cdrsubron7

Please see PM :up:

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.

:)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//sho...9&postcount=23

Then I just had to use my colour picker!

Credit should go to him for the research

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

Many thanks for your job!

Fitzcarraldo :salute:

Brilliant
Thanks fitzcarraldo
Check your PM :D

noobie at attention:
 

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?

Thanks for the offer propbeanie

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

PM sent. :yeah: