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View Full Version : Sneak Preview of Very First CMAK Mod--UPDATED!!

AndrewTF
10-09-2003, 04:40 AM
Ok, so I'm either an amazing visionary, a pathetic dweeb with way too much time on my hands, or perhaps merely a semi-talented guy with a Mac, a copy of PhotoShop and an yearning for a thing called CMAK!

So I got ahold of a few desert war uniform pix (courtesy of various members of this very forum) and started farting around, and a few days and a lot of missed sleep later I came up with this,

http://www.foxarts.com/actionpack/ak1.jpg

which is meant to represent early-war Afrika Korps infantry. I think it looks pretty good. Here's a back view:

http://www.foxarts.com/actionpack/ak2.jpg

I couldn't leave well enough alone and decided to ditch the "cut-n-paste" the photo of field gear approach and I drew all, well, almost all, the field gear by hand in PhotoShop, using secret techniques only known to myself and the elves who help me occasionally. Actually, the belt buckle and some of the insignia are derived from photos. And I lied about the elves, too. smile.gif

More in the pipeline. I figured I'd get them done early and then maybe play the game for a change, when it's released.

Personally, I think BFC should front me a free copy of the game because not only am I a swell guy, but the pre-release of a mod will inspire perhaps dozens of rabid modsluts to purchase CMAK just to use this mod! ;) :D

[ October 13, 2003, 08:27 PM: Message edited by: AndrewTF ]
Michael Emrys
10-09-2003, 04:51 AM
Pretty good, Andrew. smile.gif I think the boots need a little more work though.

;)

Michael
Wisbech_lad
10-09-2003, 05:26 AM
Given that a number of tanks will be the same in CMAK I had half expected large numbers of desert Matiltas, Shermans, Tigers already...
MAsta_KFC
10-09-2003, 05:34 AM
Excellent work, Andrew!! I hope you start a trend, so that even before the demo comes out, we can mod like crazy!!! :eek:
phil stanbridge
10-09-2003, 05:59 AM
Very very good. I'm wanting to play this game more than CMBB now smile.gif
Moshe Malyevshevsky
10-09-2003, 06:05 AM
Andrew..... :D :D :D

A simply beautiful mod.....really outstanding!! I think you have surpassed your earlier works of art (in CMBB,IMHO)!! You might make a khaki pith-helmet as an option, as the pictures I have seen of the first arrivals in N. Africa were wearing that item...! And, finally....I'll actually see the Ramke Brigade with khaki uniforms!! Yeeaahh!

I think that the CMAK mods (as they are made), should be uploaded to CM Mods Database....so the mod junkies (such as myself)may begin to download a fix!! Thank you alot..... :D

Moshe

"Come,let us peel back the foreskin of misconception and apply the wire brush of enlightenment."
Ant
10-09-2003, 06:29 AM
You might make a khaki pith-helmet as an optionThose 'coal scuttle' helmets are hard coded. You can't make pith helmets unless BFC gave them pith helmets in the first place. If I remember rightly I think I've seen some pith helmeted troops in one of the screenies. Italians I think.

Great work Andrew.
Runyan99
10-09-2003, 07:43 AM
Pretty sweet Andrew, but the unis are a little too clean and sharp if you ask me.

Can we have an, "I've worn this tunic for the last month straight" version?
Jussi Köhler
10-09-2003, 07:49 AM
Originally posted by Runyan99:
Can we have an, "I've worn this tunic for the last month straight" version? Just look at them through a dust cloud :D
Which can be seen with a ATI card by the way, thanks to Rune for correcting my earlier statement tongue.gif
carlrender
10-09-2003, 09:52 AM
I think they are great :D
The boots probably can't be improved due to the nature of the hard coding?
carlrender
10-09-2003, 09:57 AM
It's those damn elves that Andrew has working for him that makes the boots like that! :rolleyes:
_Axe_
10-09-2003, 11:02 AM
I like the detail on the boots.

Nice work Andrew. As always, you reconfirm my decision to make my uniform mods Andrew-only zones.
Gordon
10-09-2003, 12:21 PM
Andrew,
The whole issue of who's had the first CMAK mod is currently tied up in the courts, and will probably take decades of litigation to untangle.

Still in all, very nice work (as always).

Gordon
Michael Emrys
10-09-2003, 01:58 PM
Originally posted by Axe2121:
I like the detail on the boots.There is no detail on the boots. Maybe you're thinking of the leggings, which look superb. But Limey may be right about the boots being hard coded.

Concerning the helmets, most pics I see of the Afrika Korps troops show them wearing the khaki cloth cap, but I wonder if they put their helmets back on when the shooting started.

Michael
AndrewTF
10-09-2003, 02:05 PM
Gordon - you may be right there... but that's for the courts to decide. You can address further correspondence to my attorney tongue.gif . Actually I forgot about your Matilda mod from way back, so that is probably the first CMAK mod. I'm sticking to my sensationalistic title, though. smile.gif

Moshe - Ramcke brigade uniforms are in the works. smile.gif

All the rest of you - yeah, they look new and clean, that's because they're *supposed* to look that way. Through the magic of Photoshop adjustment layers, I'll be offering versions in various stages of weathering and fading. May I remind you that I don't even have the stinkin' game yet, so don't expect perfection now.

These actually started life as an updated uniform set for MikeT's famous DFDR mod, but were set aside when CMAK was announced. I worked them over completely in the last week to bring them up to my current standards.

I'd like to start on the British and Americans, but they're going to have to wait for now.

And what's wrong with the boots? Given the limitations of the 3D model I think they look pretty good. :confused:
AndrewTF
10-09-2003, 02:12 PM
Originally posted by Michael Emrys:
</font><blockquote>quote:</font><hr />Originally posted by Axe2121:
I like the detail on the boots.There is no detail on the boots. Maybe you're thinking of the leggings, which look superb. But Limey may be right about the boots being hard coded.

Concerning the helmets, most pics I see of the Afrika Korps troops show them wearing the khaki cloth cap, but I wonder if they put their helmets back on when the shooting started.

Michael </font>[/QUOTE]Ah... now I understand. The 'legging' bit is the top part of the cloth/leather desert boot. The foot part of the boot was mostly leather and yes, the 3D model distorts the texture too badly to really show a lot of detail.

My understanding (although I could be wrong) was at least early on in the desert war AK troops were not issued steel helmets, only pith helmets and caps. Steel helmets were something of a luxury and had to be scrounged up by individuals. From the screenies we've been seeing it looks like the squads at least will be wearing helmets.
Michael Emrys
10-09-2003, 02:15 PM
Originally posted by AndrewTF:
And what's wrong with the boots? Given the limitations of the 3D model I think they look pretty good. :confused: Since my main gripe is that they are the wrong shape, you are certainly right about the 3D model. But they also seem to be utterly lacking in detail. My first impression was to be reminded of the pictures I made in first grade by cutting out colored bits of construction paper and gluing them in place.

Don't take it personally, I'm just playing the critic. Like most critics, I couldn't do half this well if you gave me lessons!

:D

Michael
_Axe_
10-09-2003, 02:23 PM
Originally posted by Michael Emrys:
</font><blockquote>quote:</font><hr />Originally posted by Axe2121:
I like the detail on the boots.There is no detail on the boots. Maybe you're thinking of the leggings, which look superb. </font>[/QUOTE]Niggling groggy horseman. Don't you have a technical manual on armor penetration or sumfink to read? :mad:
AndrewTF
10-09-2003, 02:25 PM
Yeah, the feet sort of have that "South Park" look to them. Don't know if I can do anything more but I can try. I've got some time yet. smile.gif
Michael Emrys
10-09-2003, 02:28 PM
Originally posted by AndrewTF:
My understanding (although I could be wrong) was at least early on in the desert war AK troops were not issued steel helmets, only pith helmets and caps. Steel helmets were something of a luxury and had to be scrounged up by individuals.I don't know either. Pics of troops in any kind of helmet are pretty rare and of the steel helmet are extremely rare. I've only seen one or two. But on the othe hand, in a coupld of accounts there was mention of troops in their steel helmets. Maybe it was a particular unit that brought theirs to the desert.

The pith helmet use by German troops seems to be mainly confined to the very early period when they first arrived in Tripoli. Pics of them after they get out into the desert rarely show them. May have been more common among the Italian soldiers, I don't know.

From the screenies we've been seeing it looks like the squads at least will be wearing helmets. I hope that's just due to the "work in progress" thing and it will be corrected before the game is released. The khaki cloth cap (the precise name of which escapes me at the moment) is one of the trademarks of the Afrika Korps, more recognizable even than the palm tree swastika.

Michael
Michael Emrys
10-09-2003, 02:32 PM
Originally posted by Axe2121:
Niggling groggy horseman. Don't you have a technical manual on armor penetration or sumfink to read? :mad: Heh. Actually, that's not my bag. That degree of grogginess I leave to the real experts like Rexford. Unsubstantiated opinion mongering is more my line.

:D

Michael
Moshe Malyevshevsky
10-09-2003, 04:54 PM
YES YES YES.....RAMKE BRIGADE....Preciousssssss iss sssssso HAPPY Me am ssssso happy too!!!

Moshe

Cogito, Ergo Spud .
I think, therefore I Yam!
carlrender
10-09-2003, 05:35 PM
Uh-oh. Sometimes throw away lines get misinterpreted in forums. Glad you got the idea in the end about the boots though Andrew. The leggings are fine - very nice & detailed. The boots (ie the feet)are just plain odd: hard-coded that way. Hopefully da new engine can fix for games after CMAK. smile.gif
AndrewTF
10-09-2003, 06:07 PM
*sniff*.... you hurt my feelings. :( ;)

I understand, don't fret. There's just not much we can do about the feet and hands. smile.gif
David Chapuis
10-09-2003, 06:59 PM
Originally posted by AndrewTF:
Personally, I think BFC should front me a free copy of the game because not only am I a swell guy, but the pre-release of a mod will inspire perhaps dozens of rabid modsluts to purchase CMAK just to use this mod! ;) :D I bet they will send you a free copy of the demo.
Michael Emrys
10-09-2003, 07:15 PM
Originally posted by AndrewTF:
*sniff*.... you hurt my feelings. :( ;) There, there, old boy.

[pats Andrew consolingly on the back and hands him half a gallon of Old Granddad]

Now take your medicine like a good lad and get back to work!

*damned prima donnas, every one of them...mutter...mutter...worse than grogs, I tell you...mutter...mutter*

Michael
K_Tiger
10-09-2003, 08:03 PM
What, no elves at all?? A world is crashing down... :(
M1A1TC
10-09-2003, 08:12 PM
Andrew
I hope you are still working on that late war Soviet leaf camo?
Thank you
Flesh
10-10-2003, 12:15 AM
Originally posted by Michael Emrys:
The khaki cloth cap (the precise name of which escapes me at the moment) is one of the trademarks of the Afrika Korps, more recognizable even than the palm tree swastika.You seem to be referring to the M1940 tropical peaked field cap.
lcm1947
10-10-2003, 01:38 AM
Excellent job Andrew as usual. Actually I really think this one is about your best so far or maybe I just think this particular uniform is really cool looking. If somebody hadn't of mentioned the boots I'd personally never would have noticed. But hey you do what you can with what you've got. It works for me. Thanks Andrew.
AndrewTF
10-13-2003, 11:30 PM
Here's one more:

http://www.foxarts.com/actionpack/fj_ak.jpg

Now of course these are still Beta versions as I don't even have the game yet. That's doo-dad-less steppe posing as desert.

Thanks to forumite Moshe Malyevshevsky for the FJ photo references. smile.gif
von Lucke
10-14-2003, 12:42 AM
Originally posted by Flesh:
</font><blockquote>quote:</font><hr />Originally posted by Michael Emrys:
The khaki cloth cap (the precise name of which escapes me at the moment) is one of the trademarks of the Afrika Korps, more recognizable even than the palm tree swastika.You seem to be referring to the M1940 tropical peaked field cap. </font>[/QUOTE]The feldmutze.

I agree --- it just makes them look so... Afrika Korps-ish!
patboy
10-14-2003, 09:16 AM
Where can we download your last lovely mods A.FOX ? Thanks patboy
Ant
10-14-2003, 01:19 PM
Originally posted by patboy:
Where can we download your last lovely mods A.FOX ? Thanks patboy LOL. We're downloading the mods before the game even comes out :D
Ant
10-14-2003, 02:00 PM
Interesting page on Afrika corps uniforms.

http://www.diggerhistory.info/pages-uniforms/afrika_korps.htm
MeatEtr
10-15-2003, 12:05 AM
Wow, nice uni's Andrew and the game is not even out yet, how kool is that. A mod like this makes me look even more forward to the CMAK release. smile.gif

I may be over stepping my bounds here by saying this. But why doesn't BTS just hire Andrew to do the uniforms? No offense to the fella who does the stock uniform textures, but Andrews uniforms are simply the best. Just curious.
AndrewTF
10-15-2003, 03:48 PM
They'll be ready for download when the game's out. smile.gif

There are a few things to fix yet, and of course I don't even really know how'll they'll work in-game so we'll all just have to wait.
Private Bluebottle
10-15-2003, 10:50 PM
Richard Bender in his excellent (although a bit dated now perhaps) book on the Afrika Korps makes the point that as far as head dress went, all troops were initially issued the cork solar topee and the fore-and-aft cap (whose name escapes me at the moment). Infantry retained their helmets. The Solar topee was quickly discarded because of its bulk in favour of the peaked field cap when it became available.

He makes the interesting point that individual soldiers were responsible for camouflaging their own helmets, so the finish was quite variable from simple applications of mud through to professional paint jobs. Often the German helmets were refitted by individuals with British chin straps as they were more comfortable apparently.