Making sub models in SH5.

maillemaker · 07-25-15, 11:52 AM

Hi.

I am interested in making new submarine models for Silent Hunter 5, such as the Type IX and the Type XXI.

What software would one use to make such models?

What software was used to make SH3 models?

Thanks,
Steve

gap · 07-25-15, 06:51 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by maillemaker

Hi.

I am interested in making new submarine models for Silent Hunter 5, such as the Type IX and the Type XXI.

What software would one use to make such models?

What software was used to make SH3 models?

Thanks,
Steve

Hi Steve, no idea what program devs used for modelling game 3D objects and units. 3ds Max or Maya probably. For the level of detail we need in game, Blender or Wings3D are well-suited too, and they are free. Personally, among them I prefer Wings3D due to its rather basic but user-friendly interface. Another program I use mostly for post-processing my 3D projects (automatic polygon reduction, backing of texture maps on top of the model, various operations with vertices, edges and faces unsupported by W3D, etc.) is Softimage Mod Tool, a free version of Autodesk Softimage. Lastly, when your model is ready and textures, you will need TDW's GR2 Editor. It is an unofficial tool and due to the unks of the GR2 format, it got some limitations, but as of now this is the one program we have for getting our models in game.

The programs above are more than you need for a start. Stick in mind that playable units are hardcoded in game, so atm we can only have new AI controlled subs. A while back Targor Avelany was working on a type IX model, and judging from the screenshots he posted in the WIP thread, the voat was pretty close to completion, but never released. Maybe you can PM Targor before you go through the hassle of modelling a type IX from scratch.

For any other help, I am here

Jeff-Groves · 07-25-15, 09:45 PM

Mostly 3DS Max 2008 and XSI were used.
XSI does a better AO burn and the free version is way better then Max at AO.

gap · 07-26-15, 12:23 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jeff-Groves

Mostly 3DS Max 2008 and XSI were used.
XSI does a better AO burn and the free version is way better then Max at AO.

Hi Jeff, nice to see you around!

Yep XSI/ModTool is the program I am using for baking my AO maps. The program can be a bit confusing at the beginning, but nothing compared to Blender.

By the way, have you read that they are discontinuing it?

Jeff-Groves · 07-29-15, 07:47 PM

The last release of Softimage was April of 2014.
Seems most features were rolled into newer versions of Max and/or Maya.
I rolled into a free version of Houdini but have not really had time to fully use/learn it.
Topogun is another I'd like to check out. If I like it?
At $100 bucks it would be a good deal.

Targor Avelany · 08-17-15, 04:03 PM

Phew... It has been a very while all, good to see some old faces )

In regards to creating the models of subs: the problem is not really the creation of them: if you can do stuff in 3d no matter what the program is you can make a sub model no problem. The real problem is to make it properly work in SH5, import it, assign all the proper stuff...
GR2 editor is an amazing program and I will have huge respect for TDW for the rest of my life probably for making such an amazing thing, but it is not finished. Last time I've read up on his replies on the GR2 editor he mentioned that he found that there are few things that he doesnt' like about it and found a bit of mistakes, etc and he has to recharge to work on it again.

But even with unfinished and somewhat tricky way of working with it I have been playing around even while being very very away (what is it, almost a year? more?) on the implementation of subs.

So far the best I can do is to somewhat convert a VII AI sub into IX AI sub. That is, to be honest, without creating the IX sub from scratch, but just taking it out of SH3 or SH4.

07-25-15, 11:52 AM	#1
maillemaker Sea Lord Join Date: Apr 2007 Posts: 1,639 Downloads: 75 Uploads: 0	Making sub models in SH5. Hi. I am interested in making new submarine models for Silent Hunter 5, such as the Type IX and the Type XXI. What software would one use to make such models? What software was used to make SH3 models? Thanks, Steve

07-25-15, 09:45 PM	#3
Jeff-Groves GLOBAL MODDING TERRORIST Join Date: Sep 2014 Posts: 5,649 Downloads: 137 Uploads: 0	Mostly 3DS Max 2008 and XSI were used. XSI does a better AO burn and the free version is way better then Max at AO.

07-29-15, 07:47 PM	#5
Jeff-Groves GLOBAL MODDING TERRORIST Join Date: Sep 2014 Posts: 5,649 Downloads: 137 Uploads: 0	The last release of Softimage was April of 2014. Seems most features were rolled into newer versions of Max and/or Maya. I rolled into a free version of Houdini but have not really had time to fully use/learn it. Topogun is another I'd like to check out. If I like it? At $100 bucks it would be a good deal.

08-17-15, 04:03 PM	#6
Targor Avelany Ace of the Deep Join Date: Jan 2010 Location: Vancouver, BC, Canada Posts: 1,183 Downloads: 225 Uploads: 0	Phew... It has been a very while all, good to see some old faces ) In regards to creating the models of subs: the problem is not really the creation of them: if you can do stuff in 3d no matter what the program is you can make a sub model no problem. The real problem is to make it properly work in SH5, import it, assign all the proper stuff... GR2 editor is an amazing program and I will have huge respect for TDW for the rest of my life probably for making such an amazing thing, but it is not finished. Last time I've read up on his replies on the GR2 editor he mentioned that he found that there are few things that he doesnt' like about it and found a bit of mistakes, etc and he has to recharge to work on it again. But even with unfinished and somewhat tricky way of working with it I have been playing around even while being very very away (what is it, almost a year? more?) on the implementation of subs. So far the best I can do is to somewhat convert a VII AI sub into IX AI sub. That is, to be honest, without creating the IX sub from scratch, but just taking it out of SH3 or SH4.