[REL] Merchant Skinpack v1

[sergei]

A set of skins to replace those used for all freighters, tankers and troop transports.

Works with Stock, TMO 1.9 and RFB.
IMPORTANT UPDATE: TMO 2.0 has v2 included. If you are running TMO 2.0 you do not need this. I'll leave it here in case anyone is still running 1.9.

I can't figure out how to add images to the forum so here are some image shack links





If you like the look of any of these then give 'em a try.

Screenshots of every skin included in the download so you can weed out the ones you hate!

Download link
http://www.subsim.com/radioroom/down...o=file&id=1329




VERSION 2 NOW AVAILABLE

No new skins I'm afraid. But a smart suggestion by McHibbins led to this.
Included now are revised roster files.
Rather than replacing all the stock skins, version 2 now has my skins as additions.
Get all stock skins plus all my skins in the game.
Twice the fun, at no extra cost.

Version 2 for TMO 1.9 (with or without RSRD)
http://www.subsim.com/radioroom/down...o=file&id=1644
IMPORTANT UPDATE: TMO 2.0 has this included. If you are running TMO 2.0 you do not need this. I'll leave it here in case anyone is still running 1.9.

Version 2 for RFB 2.0 (with or without RSRD)
http://www.subsim.com/radioroom/down...o=file&id=1643

I'll knock up a version for stock if anyone wants it.

[Hitman]

Excellent! Downloading now

[Fish40]

They look good to me Need confirmation on compatability with RFB though. Just out of curiosity, is there any historical basis for these? Just asking They look better than stock, and I doubt the stock ships were painted historicly anyway. Good job!

[AVGWarhawk]

These are very nice. I like what you have done with the skins.

[sergei]

Hey Fish!

You are right about the RFB compatability issue.
I've had a quick look at the RFB Sea and Roster files and it looks ok to me - but I've never done anything like this before (I'm p*****g in the dark to be honest with you) so would appreciate anybody with more knowledge than me (ie. anyone!) to check this out.

As for historical basis - I'm afraid this skinpack has absolutely zero historical basis. I did many google searches but all the images I came up with were in mono. I was just tired of continually sinking Marus that looked like scrapyards so I changed them to something a bit more aesthetically pleasing. I like bright colours, many other people may not.

If anyone can supply me with colour pics of WW2 Japanese Marus then I am game to give it a go. Until then - this is what I got!

[keltos01]

just paste imageshack's link in here.

good job !

keltos

[lurker_hlb3]

Very nice work

[Distortion]

Thanks m8, very well done!!

[Pumpkin]

These look great.

I'm downloading them now...

[iambecomelife]

Nice skins. According to some photos & text accounts the Japanese kept some ships in their civilian colors up until 1942, around the time of the Guadalcanal campaign.

[tater]

Actually, the "stock" nature of the skins in SH4 would not really be much of a problem had they picked the right skins, lol.

The prewar japanese merchant marine effectively was divided roughly into thirds before the start of the war. The IJN took a third, the IJA took a third, and a third remained commercial ships.

2/3 then, got military paint on them, and many of the remaining 1/3 as well, I think most after some point in 1942.

The RL colors tended towards greenish gray, or outright light green with many sporting dazzle paint in IJN/IJA service.

The palette seems to have been a darker green, lighter green, dark gray ("battleship gray," or darker), light gray (like "haze gray"), black, and white.

Images below from Iwashige's excellent site (his book is great, too, though I cannot read most of it ):
http://ww6.enjoy.ne.jp/~iwashige/modellist.htm

Gray:

(IJN aux transport)
Most all oilers early in the war had been commandeered by the IJN, and took gray paint. I saw 1 in Iwashige's book that was green.

Dazzle:

(IJA transport)

Green:

(IJA transport—note the dazzle paint on the inset image)


wartime standard merchant ship (not sure who she belongs to, they came from the yards in this paint, though, I think).

Overall, I like variation, but it should IMO be somewhat rare, and really rare by 1943.

The green and dazzle paint would be the neatest thing to see

I tried some reskins, but clearly I lack your skill, sergei, cause I gave up quickly in utter frustration.

[tater]

Here's a sample page from the excellent book I referenced. There are hobby stores that sell it for around $45. It's worth every penny.



Note the color chart in that image, BTW.

Another thing is that the ships were heavily armed by SH4 standards, least the IJN/IJA ships. Even in 1942, the Nagara sized units were far more heavily armed than Nagara is.

[cdrsubron7]

Very nice job, sergei. Shooting at merchants that look the same all the time is kinda boring. So far, these skins are working very nicely with RFB.

[McHibbins]

Is it possible to make this as an addition like the "merchant variety pack" once for SH3, not only as an replacement ?

[Kessner]

I'll take your word for it, all I got was never ending video commercials....