How to skin an object such as a ship or torpedo

Wolfcat · 08-07-21, 10:07 AM

I am looking for a tutorial on how to reskin an object such as ship, torpedo or even a plan in the game. Would anyone enlighten me on this.

Polak2 · 08-07-21, 09:22 PM

1st step: you need to open and extract models and textures from Graphics folder, file 3d.grp.
2nd: find and repaint the texture and save in mostly in dds format, some bmp
3rd: put back into 3d file

which step do you need help with?

Wolfcat · 08-12-21, 10:42 AM

I know how to do the first step. Need help with 2nd step. I am kinda new to this process. So it would be better if I can get a step-by-step tutorial. A video would be great.

Btw, I am building some missions/campaign about a Sino-American conflict for the strait of Taiwan under RA 1.5 environment. Those Chinese ships in current RA are just ugly. I have been hoping people would repaint them, but nobody seems to care. So I said forget it and I will do it myself. My plan is as follows:

1. Repaint Type 52C, 52D and 055A
2. Revise the skin for Arleigh Burke Flight II and IIA to have helo hangers hopefully
3. Repaint MK48.

Polak2 · 08-12-21, 07:47 PM

In order to reskin 52 types you need to repaint luda_0.dds However, all of the 3 types 52C, 52D and 055A are using the same texture. Actually, I could not see 055A but maybe that came with the latest 1.50 RA.

Arleigh Burke Flight II and IIA also single model. So if there is a difference between them then you need to assign 2nd model (duplicate and alter as needed) in the database.

Wolfcat · 08-12-21, 08:35 PM

055A is using some French frigate, I believe. 052s are using the same model. Btw, is it luda or luyang? I thought it was luyang. Also, I need to know how to do the repainting part. Like what software to use. Do you know where I can find some tutorials on this?

Polak2 · 08-12-21, 08:36 PM

Re skining can be done but it is a substantial work with rather mediocre results . I have tried. Sorry for the quality of Photobucket , I cannot even retrieve those pictures now.

Wolfcat · 08-12-21, 08:50 PM

Hey Polak. Let's connect offline. I just sent you a PM. Please check your inbox.

Polak2 · 08-13-21, 03:59 AM

Thank you for contacting me PM. Yet, perhaps we continue our conversation here for the benefit of others.
For proper reskinning, you also need a 3D Object Converter which is free.
http://3doc.i3dconverter.com/index.html

Wolfcat · 08-13-21, 07:58 AM

This one is for Mac/linux. Is there one for Windows?

Polak2 · 08-13-21, 11:20 AM

No, it is for Windows, just that 1st line with the link at the END is perhaps misleading.

Polak2 · 08-13-21, 08:03 PM

Quote:

Btw, is it luda or luyang?

Yes, I stand corrected, but the 3D models are all a big mess anyway. Comparison with 2D photos reveal completely different ships.

Wolfcat · 08-13-21, 10:21 PM

wow, I can't even download Computil and decompress file util from Subguru.com any more. The file link is corrupted somehow. Any other way to extract files from 3d.group?

Polak2 · 08-14-21, 12:12 PM

Quote:

wow, I can't even download Computil and decompress file util from Subguru.com any more. The file link is corrupted somehow. Any other way to extract files from 3d.group?

Decompress is available in SC utilities. Not sure if it works in DW and if Computil is around somewhere ?

Wolfcat · 08-15-21, 01:59 PM

Nope, can't find it. I now understand why nobody repaints those ugly ships. The game and its files are so outdated that there are no tools around to do the job anymore. I also read the other post about 3d Max being not supported any more. Sigh....

Polak2 · 08-16-21, 04:14 PM

...but why my avatar has those letters that I cannot read or understand?

08-07-21, 10:07 AM	#1
Wolfcat Chief Join Date: Nov 2012 Posts: 325 Downloads: 27 Uploads: 0	How to skin an object such as a ship or torpedo I am looking for a tutorial on how to reskin an object such as ship, torpedo or even a plan in the game. Would anyone enlighten me on this.

08-07-21, 09:22 PM	#2
Polak2 Weps Join Date: May 2005 Posts: 371 Downloads: 60 Uploads: 0	1st step: you need to open and extract models and textures from Graphics folder, file 3d.grp. 2nd: find and repaint the texture and save in mostly in dds format, some bmp 3rd: put back into 3d file which step do you need help with?

08-12-21, 10:42 AM	#3
Wolfcat Chief Join Date: Nov 2012 Posts: 325 Downloads: 27 Uploads: 0	I know how to do the first step. Need help with 2nd step. I am kinda new to this process. So it would be better if I can get a step-by-step tutorial. A video would be great. Btw, I am building some missions/campaign about a Sino-American conflict for the strait of Taiwan under RA 1.5 environment. Those Chinese ships in current RA are just ugly. I have been hoping people would repaint them, but nobody seems to care. So I said forget it and I will do it myself. My plan is as follows: 1. Repaint Type 52C, 52D and 055A 2. Revise the skin for Arleigh Burke Flight II and IIA to have helo hangers hopefully 3. Repaint MK48.

08-12-21, 07:47 PM	#4
Polak2 Weps Join Date: May 2005 Posts: 371 Downloads: 60 Uploads: 0	In order to reskin 52 types you need to repaint luda_0.dds However, all of the 3 types 52C, 52D and 055A are using the same texture. Actually, I could not see 055A but maybe that came with the latest 1.50 RA. Arleigh Burke Flight II and IIA also single model. So if there is a difference between them then you need to assign 2nd model (duplicate and alter as needed) in the database.

08-12-21, 08:35 PM	#5
Wolfcat Chief Join Date: Nov 2012 Posts: 325 Downloads: 27 Uploads: 0	055A is using some French frigate, I believe. 052s are using the same model. Btw, is it luda or luyang? I thought it was luyang. Also, I need to know how to do the repainting part. Like what software to use. Do you know where I can find some tutorials on this?

08-12-21, 08:36 PM	#6
Polak2 Weps Join Date: May 2005 Posts: 371 Downloads: 60 Uploads: 0	Re skining can be done but it is a substantial work with rather mediocre results . I have tried. Sorry for the quality of Photobucket , I cannot even retrieve those pictures now.

08-12-21, 08:50 PM	#7
Wolfcat Chief Join Date: Nov 2012 Posts: 325 Downloads: 27 Uploads: 0	Hey Polak. Let's connect offline. I just sent you a PM. Please check your inbox.

08-13-21, 03:59 AM	#8
Polak2 Weps Join Date: May 2005 Posts: 371 Downloads: 60 Uploads: 0	Thank you for contacting me PM. Yet, perhaps we continue our conversation here for the benefit of others. For proper reskinning, you also need a 3D Object Converter which is free. http://3doc.i3dconverter.com/index.html

08-13-21, 07:58 AM	#9
Wolfcat Chief Join Date: Nov 2012 Posts: 325 Downloads: 27 Uploads: 0	This one is for Mac/linux. Is there one for Windows?

08-13-21, 11:20 AM	#10
Polak2 Weps Join Date: May 2005 Posts: 371 Downloads: 60 Uploads: 0	No, it is for Windows, just that 1st line with the link at the END is perhaps misleading.

08-13-21, 10:21 PM	#12
Wolfcat Chief Join Date: Nov 2012 Posts: 325 Downloads: 27 Uploads: 0	wow, I can't even download Computil and decompress file util from Subguru.com any more. The file link is corrupted somehow. Any other way to extract files from 3d.group?

08-15-21, 01:59 PM	#14
Wolfcat Chief Join Date: Nov 2012 Posts: 325 Downloads: 27 Uploads: 0	Nope, can't find it. I now understand why nobody repaints those ugly ships. The game and its files are so outdated that there are no tools around to do the job anymore. I also read the other post about 3d Max being not supported any more. Sigh....

08-16-21, 04:14 PM	#15
Polak2 Weps Join Date: May 2005 Posts: 371 Downloads: 60 Uploads: 0	...but why my avatar has those letters that I cannot read or understand?