All-Aircraft-Simulations
Open offer to the mod community re: ships - Printable Version

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+---- Thread: Open offer to the mod community re: ships (/showthread.php?tid=71451)


Open offer to the mod community re: ships - PlaneEater - 29.08.2010

I figured this was more or less the right place to post this, so here we go:

I worked on Pacific Fighters back in 2003 / 2004, and built art assets for the P-40B/C and for a P-61 that was never included. There were a lot of things I really wanted to see in PacFi that just didn't end up in the game. Over the last few days, I've rediscovered the current mod community and a lot of the stuff you guys have added has brought the game back to life for me. It's fantastic. Launching a fully-loaded F4U or TBF off an Essex with the catapults to go strafe Iwo Jima is something I've dreamed about for SEVEN YEARS, and I finally can do it.


One thing that is still really, really bugging me, though, is the variety of ships in the game. For a sim that lets you fly in large chunks of the Pacific - from south Japan to New Guinea to Hawaii - there are some really vital players missing, and those are the capital ships.

Between the USN, UK, and IJN, there were HUNDREDS of battleships, distinct cruisers, CVs, CVEs, and we barely have any of them. For me, playing the Pearl Harbor missions and seeing "generic US battleships" in the harbor is just offensive. I've searched around the mod forums, but haven't seen too many ship addons.

I want to fix that.

Here is my offer: if the mod community will provide me with sample models of a BB and CV (so I can mimic their structure and setup), do the research to supply me with references, and do the import and implementation work, I will build 3D models of, and texture, as many IJN, USN, and UK ships as I can cram in to my schedule. My eventual goal would be to depict major capital ships of the USN, UK and IJN through every major change in their combat service (remodels, repairs, different paint schemes), plus every major class of CA, CL, DD and DE that saw active combat in the Pacific (including the Aleutians and CBI).

First, I need to inspect ship models of a BB and / or CV that were built in the correct format for IL-2 (so I can figure out time schedules and workflow). Does anybody have samples I can look at?

Re: Open offer to the mod community re: ships - Fireskull - 29.08.2010

Hello, PlaneEater, and welcome to our community. Smile


Many people want to see more ships in IL-2.

Here at this site we have the Ship Pack 1 and Ship Pack 2 download content, if my memory is correct. At the SAS website, they have the Ship Pack 3.

We might have the link for the Ship Pack 3 in the Mods Download Forum.

As for adding more ships, you should at least communicate with the Ship Pack 3 team on what to do next. They may be able to assist you, too.

Special Aircraft Service
http://www.sas1946.com/main/index.php

As for resources and technical know-how, some guys who fly with my online IL-2 squadron and affiliated squadrons are among the most knowledgeable about modding in all the communities. It's no exaggeration to write this. Though a small group, they are at the top of knowledge about IL-2 and modding. We have generally more than adequate references and resources about World War Two weapons, including ships - I would think. Though we fly in maps of regions around the globe, we have a strong emphasis on the Pacific issues. We have 3D modellers, map makers, online campaign builders, and so forth.

Fallen Angels Squadron
http://www.fallenangelssquadron.com/index.php


These are the two which I would recommend for ship creating and resources.

I wish you well in this, because of the strong interest in the having more ships.

Fireskull Smile

Re: Open offer to the mod community re: ships - Fireskull - 29.08.2010

By the way, we know that large combat vessels are lacking, but don't forget the very important Italian ships.

Also, we should remember the LSTs (Landing Ship Tank)in the major battles such as the Normandy invasion. LSTs with doors open and doors closed would be great. Wouldn't it be a sight to see IL-2 tanks and vehicles departing from LSTs?

Re: Open offer to the mod community re: ships - PlaneEater - 30.08.2010

Thanks for the reply, Fireskull. I'll register over at SAS and the FA sites when I get a chance.

Are the ship packs included in UP2.01? I have it installed and saw some new barges and other minor ships in the FMB (VERY useful for island hopping and CBI campaigns), but not many capital ships.

My main focus is the PTO. I don't mean to discount the Italian, Free French, Vichy French, Free Polish, or other combatant navies, but for me the IJN Kaigun, USN, and UK fleets are priority. They are integrally tied to the air war we're trying to simulate in the sim for the PTO. And, while it's kind of hard to explain without a lot of rambling, I feel like I still have unfinished business with the Pacific Fighters part of the sim. I'd like to lay those ghosts to rest properly and in the most beneficial way not just for me but for the sim as a whole.

Given the evolution of 3ds max and my experience with it over the last seven years, I can probably crank out a CV or BB in three to five work days. That'll be spread out over weekends and free evenings, but I intend to build by classes so I can do minimal repaints and changes to reflect various ships within classes. That will cut down on the amount of geometry and textures I have to create entirely from scratch, and hopefully will streamline importation and setup.


One thing that will be missing and sorely needed is improved ship AI, so they respond better to air attack (circling, dodging and battle lines).

Re: Open offer to the mod community re: ships - Fireskull - 30.08.2010

PlaneEater,


It sounds like you are skilled with 3D Max. I like your determination and the new ships will be greatly appreciated by many.

Obviously most large naval action happened in the Pacific. Perhaps you should look at major battles first when deciding on the big ships - Leyte Gulf and so forth.

About UP and Ship Pack 3, I don't know the answer to that.

Link to Ship Pack 2 Download topic:
viewtopic.php?f=18&t=7580&hilit=Search%E2%80%A6+Ship+Pack+3

I know that you are really going to enjoy your projects. Smile

Re: Open offer to the mod community re: ships - Dakpilot - 01.09.2010

http://www.sas1946.com/main/index.php/topic,7714.0.html

Fireskull Wrote:Also, we should remember the LSTs (Landing Ship Tank)in the major battles such as the Normandy invasion. LSTs with doors open and doors closed would be great. Wouldn't it be a sight to see IL-2 tanks and vehicles departing from LSTs

Am sure it wont be too long Big Grin

Re: Open offer to the mod community re: ships - Fireskull - 01.09.2010

Dakpilot Wrote:http://www.sas1946.com/main/index.php/topic,7714.0.html

Fireskull Wrote:Also, we should remember the LSTs (Landing Ship Tank)in the major battles such as the Normandy invasion. LSTs with doors open and doors closed would be great. Wouldn't it be a sight to see IL-2 tanks and vehicles departing from LSTs

Am sure it wont be too long Big Grin


Thanks for that update, Dakpilot.

Fireskull Smile