Does Anyone Want Another Moon Mod?

[Kafka BC]

A long time ago when I was a youngster, I would go out on very cold, clear, winter nights with a pair of binoculars and my prized 40x power Tasco telescope to look at the stars and the Moon. Bundled up to the point of near immobility by my mom, I would set the telescope up on the picnic table that my dad built, point it at the Moon, and marvel at the craters that I could see along its terminator.

When I first played Silent Hunter III, I was, of course, appalled at the sorry looking moon that was in the game, and replaced it with a modded version first chance I had. However, none of the Moon mods, fine as they may be, gave me the warm (cold?) feelings and sense of wonder that I remember when looking at them through the in game binoculars. So I figured I might try to make one myself.

After weeks of searching for the right images, touching up, manipulating, and resizing them, and trying to figure out alpha layers...this is the result.







Maybe not quite as sharp as people would like, since I didn't want to use a 4 meg targa file, but I think it is pretty good. The intent is to look like a real Moon as seen from the Earth and through the atmosphere...and I wanted to look at the craters again.

Special Note:
The images used to make this mod are from photos taken by John French, who is the
Planetarium Production Coordinator for Abrams Planetarium at Michigan State University.

Visit his website: http://www.pa.msu.edu/people/frenchj/
and his Moon Photo Page: http://www.pa.msu.edu/people/frenchj/moon/

to see them as he explains the Moon's various features as they come into view.


Download Link: KJF_Moon_v1.1.zip

SmallMoon version: KJF_SmallMoon.zip (For those who don't like movies or looking at craters.)

[Jankowski]

HOLY CRAP! thats nice! and you can alo look at it with binoculars on the conning tower! that is so awsome! i dont think theere are many moon mods for sh3, so i think this should be put in downloads section!

[fw66]

Would be great to see that in the downloads section. You've got the intensity just right, it looks brilliant!

[SquareSteelBar]

Hi Kafka,

that's exactly what I was lookin' for since a long time

Why don't you upload it temporary to FileFront for everybody's sake?
I'm quite sure there're many people who like it, too.

Cheers,
SquareSteelBar

[Sailor Steve]

It looks good, but I'm using AIL's Small Moon mod, which makes it less than half that size.

[Magic1111]

Originally Posted by Kafka BC

So, does anyone want this, and if so can I upload it to the Subsim downloads section or do I need a special rank for that? If anyone does, and I can, give me time to bundle it together with a readme.

Hi !

It looks very good, I want to test the Moon in my game !

Another Possibility is, open an free Account at MediaFire (www.MediaFire.com) and upload the MOD for free there (look at my MediaFire Page for Example, klick on my Sig).

Best regards,
Magic

[Jimbuna]

Looks good mate

[Kafka BC]

Originally Posted by SquareSteelBar

that's exactly what I was lookin' for since a long time

Why don't you upload it temporary to FileFront for everybody's sake?
I'm quite sure there're many people who like it, too.

Cheers,
SquareSteelBar

Thanks for the tip, That's exactly what I've done.

Download Link: SH3-KJF_Moon.zip

Will update the first post later.

[Kafka BC]

Originally Posted by Sailor Steve

It looks good, but I'm using AIL's Small Moon mod, which makes it less than half that size.

Sorry, I can't help you there. I just happen to like the Cinemascope, Epic Movie feel that the stock size gives. Making it smaller would lose to much detail and defeat its intended purpose.

[brett25]

thanks mate

[Kafka BC]

Originally Posted by Magic1111

Another Possibility is, open an free Account at MediaFire (www.MediaFire.com) and upload the MOD for free there (look at my MediaFire Page for Example, klick on my Sig).

Best regards,
Magic

I might if I need to, but I would rather not do that. I try to limit the places that have particulars about me, especially my e-mail address. In fact, I am registered at only two other forums on the web (one for Homeworld, the other for Master of Orion III, both of which may have lapsed by now) and only two other people in the world have it.

No, I am not on the run. Yes I am a wee bit paranoid. Mostly, it is because I am a very solitary person and I hate the spam that ensues when I used to give it out freely.

But if people like this mod all I ask, if there are no bugs in it, is for people to share it.

Regards,
Kafka BC

[Jimbuna]

Probably not to your liking but this is the one I'm currently using.

[Bill Nichols]

Any chance of making a smaller version? The moon should cover 1/2 degree as seen through the periscope.

[Kafka BC]

Originally Posted by jimbuna

Probably not to your liking but this is the one I'm currently using.

Nice Shot. Is that the GWX HiRes Moon? I tried using that but it had this strange blackish edging on my computer.

I also thought that it had a little too much contrast. The images that I used are from an actual eight inch backyard telescope and may not have enough contrast. I might try to correct that sometime in the future.

[Jimbuna]

@Bill and Kafka....try this by Timetraveller:

http://www.filefront.com/16403491/SH3MoonMod.rar/