Graviteam

Hi chaps,

I've made some good progress with my German infantry equipment mod. Sown in the shot below, new helmet, rolled zeltbahn, stick grenade and gas mask canister. I'm finishing positioning the new binoculars and medal/breast eagle and will post another pic soon.

(http://img834.imageshack.us/img834/9109/acesginf1.jpg) (http://img834.imageshack.us/i/acesginf1.jpg/)

I'll probably merge my recent panzer headset mod, sdkfz 251 crew/model mod (latest version 3) and my new equipment mods together and upload as one mod.

Regards

Aces

That's great work. Thanks for devoting time to our piece of the sim world.

(And the Gunners are into Champions League next year!  ;D)

My pleasure, glad you like them, the object positioning is very tricky taken me a few days so far and still got some to finish. Also had to create multiple objects because the positioning on different human models eg. infantry NCO, infantryman, tank officer, infantry officer etc. is different. I hope to be finished by next weekend and will post another screenshot or two as I've finished more but basically the plan is for all officers and panzer officers to have the binoculars added, all infantry NCOs to have the zeltbahn and binoculars added and maybe the grenade, all infantrymen to have the grenade and zelbahn and all the other infantry eg. mg gunner to have the zelbahn added.
So far I have added the grenade and zelbahn to the infantrymen, the binoculars and zeltbahn to the infantry NCOs and the hemmet and gasmask canister to all infantry so still have to do a fair bit more positioning before I'm finished. I've also done medals and breast eagle for all infantry but this will added last after all else is finished.

Cheers

Aces

PS. I wanted the grenade turcked in the belt so did a new belt buckle and belt front part of the model and changed the skin accordingly.
 

Excellent work Aces!!!
I am wondering whether you also consider to resize ammo pouches and flask and add a model for breadbag. Well, I know it is a lot work... ;)
Regards,
lajcak   

Thanks mate,

I will certainly consider those things when I have completed the mod.

Kind regards

Aces

Hi lajcak mate,

how about these?, breadbag, spade, mess kit and canteen and ammo pouches :)

(http://img833.imageshack.us/img833/1615/newinfkit2.jpg) (http://img833.imageshack.us/i/newinfkit2.jpg/)

(http://img137.imageshack.us/img137/1807/newinfkit1.jpg) (http://img137.imageshack.us/i/newinfkit1.jpg/)

To go with the helmet, binoculars, grenade, gas mask canister and zeltbahn.

To save me some time, can you redo your german infantry uniform skins to remove the bread bag and then PM me?, thanks.

:)

Cheers

Aces

Hi Chaps,

Another update as promised, testing and tweaking in-game this evening:

(http://img641.imageshack.us/img641/6421/acesgermaninfantryremod.jpg) (http://img641.imageshack.us/i/acesgermaninfantryremod.jpg/)

New stick grenade, zeltbahn, binoculars, bread bag, canteen, mess kit, shovel, gasmask canister, medals and cartridge pouches

Original uniform skin by lajcak.

Best regards

Aces

Thanks mate,

I did it, no problem,

Cheers

Aces

Aces,

Wow !!! Very nice work !!!

 :)

Thanks mate,

I'm hoping to post some in-gasme screenshot this evening all being well.

Cheers

Aces

This is simply amazing!

Thanks mate,

Been working hard on the model placements, first in-game shot below, off too bed, quite tired, more pics ASAP:

(http://img841.imageshack.us/img841/5167/acesgermaninfantrymodwi.jpg) (http://img841.imageshack.us/i/acesgermaninfantrymodwi.jpg/)#

Cheers Aces

Looking great, and quite heavily laden, if you don't mind me noticing. A great step up from the bland vanilla model, either way. :)

Eventually someone will mention it, so I'll ask it now, in my usual tactful way: What effect does all this have on frame-rates?

Hi mate,

I've done a few tests and it doesn't seem to impact of framerates much if any, I'll test more later.

Regards

Aces

Wow !!

If you add just the breast eagle to the last model it will look great.

The improvement over the stock infantry is fantastic !!


Txema

Thanks mate,

Regarding the breast eagle, I did have it but have taken it off for the time being. Actually it is a PITA. Now for one of my pet hate raves, mirroring on skins!. The only way to do (that I know of) it is to re-map the entire UV for the infantry figure models and that is a real pain and impossible as my trial of £DSMAX expired some while back and I have nothing to make dummy fragments. Its a lot of work BUT I'd love to add it. I'd also add the medals that way to the models, problem is that they are only visible in certain poses as is because of the way the human forms change when sitting, kneeling etc., but they do look good when  standing :).

Cheers

Aces

Hi chaps,

A quick update for you,

(http://img827.imageshack.us/img827/2356/otherranks.jpg) (http://img827.imageshack.us/i/otherranks.jpg/)

(http://img441.imageshack.us/img441/5485/ncopics.jpg) (http://img441.imageshack.us/i/ncopics.jpg/)

(http://img21.imageshack.us/img21/7241/officerspics.jpg) (http://img21.imageshack.us/i/officerspics.jpg/)

Cheers

Aces

Very nice work !!

 :)

Just one comment: perhaps the binoculars look a bit small.

See this example:

http://www.flamesofwar.com/Default.aspx?tabid=108&art_id=753&kb_cat_id=17


Txema

The helmets also look too big.They remind me of the 1916 model used by the Kaiser's army ( Reichwehr)in WWI rather than the 1942 model. They should be flatter on top  a bit , not so bulgy...

Agree with Frinik on the helmets, they need more work,

Hi chaps,

Regarding the binoculars I used actual measurements from 6x30 Dienstglas binoculars, there were of course several different models used by the army and the larger magnification ones were of course physically larger. Here's some 6x30s in use: (http://www.zib-militaria.de/WebRoot/Store8/Shops/61431412/4DD5/0F70/8056/788E/7C1E/C0A8/28B9/DAE7/14.jpg)
(http://i52.tinypic.com/35ddssn.jpg)

(http://news.webshots.com/photo/2759442570054010923WhZsTj)

I'm afraid that I'm not going to re-model the helmets and then spend ages trying to re-position them, it's taken about three weeks of work just to get the equipment positioning as good as possible. Edit the relevant text file, load up the mission editor, check, repeat the above cycle literally hundreds of times ad nauseum. I could go on doing this for the rest of my life! :). The other thing with the helmets is that they've got to fit the head model and be positioned as such else you get a bit of head poking out somewhere, get it right one way and it is out another way. I actually looked at this site http://www.german-helmets.com/HELMET%20SHELL%20SIZE%20CHART.htm (http://www.german-helmets.com/HELMET%20SHELL%20SIZE%20CHART.htm) regarding helmet sizing and the head size of the model is on the larger than average size regarding helemet size. If you do the maths you'll find the circumference of the head is larger that that of the most frequently issued helmet shell size ergo the head's too big :).

Having said all that, I'm not saying I won't revisit the helmet situation after finishing and releasing the mod but this has taken me , in all honesty, hundreds of hours of work to get this far and I want to finish and release, take a rest and then see what can be done.

The maths

Average height 1940s 1.6764m (they were shorter in those days).
Height model 1.68m - (pretty much spot on!)

Head circumference (of an elipse) model 58.24cm (larger than average)
Average head circumference 1940's from WW2 British army statistics) (hat size 7 UK) = 57cm.
Most issued german helmet liner size = 56/57cms (which fits with the average hat size for the 40s  as above) and thus a helmet shell size of 64cm.
Model (liner which is modelled along with the shell) circumference = 58.53cm (to fit model) ergo a helmet shell size of 66cms (larger than average issued).

That's why the helmets look to big, short of having head poking out somewhere (as it is jagged and not smooth) or re-modelling the human figures' head size there's not too much that I can do..

And this bit from that website sums it up nicely "Soldiers who were issued helmets had to accept the helmet that came closest to their true head size.  While every effort was made to do this at the time of issue, wartime photos occasionally show men that appear to be wearing a helmet that is either one shell size too small or too big."

The difference between the reality of the situation (as mentioned above)  and the game is that "all" the human models have heads larger than average circumference and thus "all" the in-game models' helmets look big.

Best regards

Aces

Okay,

I'll volunteer to try my hand at resizing and positioning the helmet.
If you could send me the helmet 3D file in .obj or .3ds format, I'll see what I can do,

okay mate,

Thanks, I'll send as .obj this evening.

Regards

Aces

Edit: I should just add a few notes which might help.

The helmet (unlike the other "add-ods") doesn't have x,y,z rotation and postioning parameters in a config file so all rotation and positioning (translation) has to be done with the 3d model itself. If you look at the helmet .go file then you'll see what I mean. left isn't left etc.. This took ages to get right as you have to keep "tweeking" the 3d model up/down/left/right front/back etc.. then switching to the mission editor and testing. Repeat these stages as many times as neccessary.  Resizing in the 3d program is a easy as you know but I'd advise aginst changing the model's orientation else you're in for a "world of hurt" as they say.

Actually I'm beginning to think there's only about 5 people (one of them me) in the world that actually care if the mod gets released or not :D.

Okay, thanks for the advice, I'll watch out for that,

Actually Aces there are probably more people interested in your mod than you think.The Silent Majority ".Anyway don't think your hard work and dedication are not appreciated.It's just that the majority of players/fqns tends to be " HUm ' contemplative ::)....Still it's great to have the best and most dynamic tank sim improved by new talent, new blood!

Hi mate,

Thanks, yes, I know all about the "silent majority" :D. It is a pity that such a great game goes largely un-noticed. I'm well used to furum posting with many views and few comments :). We are fishing in a what feels like a very small pond.

I had PC overheating problems last night, 30 degrees ambient temperature in our living room and CPU getting up to 70 degress and staying there so decided to call it quits last night until things get a bit cooler. Do me good to have a bit of a break as I've been working all available hours every evening and all weekends on modding.

Cheers

Aces

Okay chaps,

I changed the shape of the helmet somewhat using M1940 helmet template pictures and I also reduced the overall scaling to 98% of the previous size, any more size reduction or positioning tweeking and you are going to get bits of head poking throught. I also did some texture alterations and new UV-mapping.

(http://img140.imageshack.us/img140/7051/newhelmetandequipmentwi.jpg) (http://img140.imageshack.us/i/newhelmetandequipmentwi.jpg/)

(http://img848.imageshack.us/img848/3592/helmetpicsf.jpg) (http://img848.imageshack.us/i/helmetpicsf.jpg/)

You'll notice particularly that it is flatter on the top compared to my previous version.

That's it.

Cheers

Aces

Beautiful!

Right on Aces! ;)

Phew, I thought you were going to say 2.7mm to the left :D LOL.

Glad it's okay, back to other aspects of the mod.

Cheers

Aces

Excellent !!

I really like it.


Txema

This volunteer is still standing by, waiting to help with the helmet,  ::)

Thanks for the offer mate, I sorted it fairly quickly in the end.

Cheers

Aces

Hi chaps,

Something new for you today:

(http://img835.imageshack.us/img835/9607/ammoboxandstrap.jpg) (http://img835.imageshack.us/i/ammoboxandstrap.jpg/)

(http://img814.imageshack.us/img814/6703/ammoboxdetail.jpg) (http://img814.imageshack.us/i/ammoboxdetail.jpg/)

Cheers

Aces

Hi chaps,

A bit of an update for you all. Finished machine gunner with new equipment including mg-34 ammo box and ammo belt.

(http://img402.imageshack.us/img402/1488/mgunnerfinal.jpg) (http://img402.imageshack.us/i/mgunnerfinal.jpg/)

I still have a few loose ends to tidy up but the mod should hopefuly be finished and ready this weekend.

Cheers

Aces

And this just looks better and better. Its great Aces!

Hem!! Where's the field canteen with the cabbage soup???Can't survive on ammo and helmets alone you know ;D

And don't forget to bring along the spare socks, underwear and toothbrush as well  ;D Essentials when going into battle,

Morning chaps,

LOL :D,

I think I'm nearly there, sorted out one of a few loose ends last night, a couple more to sort out and that's it, so should be ready for release this coming weekend. Phew!, been a lot of work this one, need a rest after release.

Cheers

Aces

Edit: Oh and one last thing I modelled and textured this morning for your infantry officer. Wanted to do this for a long time ever since I saw a picture of an officer on the Eastern Front with one of these attached to the front of his tunic.

I could do a red or green alternative filter for the lense maybe instead of no filter white.

(http://img710.imageshack.us/img710/2193/flashlightpic.jpg) (http://img710.imageshack.us/i/flashlightpic.jpg/)

actually I like it with the red filter better:

(http://img717.imageshack.us/img717/1086/flashlightred.jpg) (http://img717.imageshack.us/i/flashlightred.jpg/)

Cheers

Aces

and here's the finished item, correctly scaled and ready to position this evening

(http://img804.imageshack.us/img804/2799/flashlightpicveryfinish.jpg) (http://img804.imageshack.us/i/flashlightpicveryfinish.jpg/)

Wow Aces! You are a man who pays attention to details!! This is outstanding work that you are doing however I wonder if it would not be more useful to focus on vehicles or bigge rpieces of equipemnt that desperately need your talents??? ???

Thanks mate but it's the "small things in life" that most interest me. Maybe, after I've had a break, I'll think more on the subject and see where I go from there. I'm really hampered since my 30 day trial of max ended. I was really getting into Max so I'm a bit limited in the scale od my work.

Cheers

Aces

Edit:

Actually when I say the small things in life what I really mean are the fine detailing or to put it another way, the attention to small historic details, that most often gets ommitted from games. I know that a new vehicle is much more "sexy" but I'm driven (excuse the pun :)) over the years by the smaller things. My work on MAT Manager was all about trying to put some historically accurate markings into the IL-2 series games. Likewise plus superdetailing the skins with the multi-skin bomber work for WOV. My mods for SH3 were all about detail again, adding things that were missing from the game. IMHO it is the small details that add much to the immersion possibly as much the bigger details.

What folks never see are all the hours that I spend modding and re-modding until I'm happy that I've done the best that I can do, "perfectionist", yes, "perfection", no. I'll never claim that my mods can't be bettered, of course they can, there's always someone who knows better and is more skilled thn oneself but I do however claim that I've done the best that I can with my current skill-set. At heart I'm probably happiest working with 2D stuff, textures and suchlike but I've enjoyed working in 3D as well. I've lost count on how many skin versions I've gone through with this mod and my previous 251 mod, I often produce many tweaked or altered versions a day before I arrive at what I consider as the finished article. Hope this all makes sense :).

I guess there are few who casually play the game that really care much about the small details and, why should they?. Differing from game to game of course but the ratio between those that notice and/or care about small details to those that don't is probably highly in favour of those that don't. My passion has always been WW2 military history since I was a kid growing up in the early sixties, especially Wehrmacht equipment, books and models and then computers and games/sims came along. When I see something missing or wrong it just "grates" and starts me thinking "could I do something about it?", I guess it is just the way that I'm wired :D and there's not a "m odder" out there, present company included, that doesn't know that "buzz" when something comes together, something that wasn't there yesterday but is today.   

Then you are pretty much as me. Thats how i started my 3d modelling (after i did that i got stuck with it). I wasnt happy with stuff in other games so i did it myself. Same as here for Steel Fury, No one had done a Jagdtiger and i love them so i did one :D And yes, im a detail geek myself. I love details. And a good example there are also the Jagdtiger. And specially the Jagdpanzer, lots of smal details that probably no one will ever see or care about. But for me it is the whole thing haha :D

So yes, i for one really appreciate your great work!

Yes mate, I think that right, I think we are the same. I much admire the work that's been produced by yourself and others here, your Jagdtiger is simply "beautiful" if that's an appropriate word for the vehicle. I suppose actually that sums it all up doesn't it?, only a military history enthusiast would use that word in that context :).  What I enjoy the most about military sims and their modding communities is that one gets to converse and occasionally meet with some very knowledgeable, helpful and talented folks who share a common interest (read obsession) :D.

Now if someone could re-map the UV on all the infantry figures I could add a breast eagle. Something I would consider but quite a bit of work, thought for the future.

Cheers

Aces