Aquila-SmartWargames

@Aquila-SmartWargames made a U-Tube video.  Very cool Battle Pack. 
 
 

Hello, I am currently am working on a campaign for Black Sea. totally new to the scenario editor and learning as i go.
The campaign has the player command core units of the U.S. Army National Guard 33rd Infantry Brigade Combat Team. It's unofficial nickname being "Golden Cross". This brigade actually had elements of it deployed to Ukraine prior to the 2022 invasion advising and training the Ukrainian army under the name "Task Force Illini". The brigade is based in the state of Illinois under the Illinois Army National Guard.
My goal is to have the player follow the journey of this brigade and preserve it as best they can to get it through its tour on the eastern front. I liked how I got attached to the various units of Task Force Thunder in CMSF2, following A, B, and C companies of the stryker units and trying to preserve the pixel truppen through the war.
Background: 2025, The Ukrainian army is worn down and has lost most of its professional contract servicemen, the vast majority of the army is mobilized conscripts with an average age of 45. The US government is unwilling to allow a peace deal between Ukraine and Russia, and decides to commit American troops under the premise of preventing RU from gaining a foothold in Europe. Unfortunately for the US, they have also deployed troops to the middle east again and are also preparing for a fight for Taiwan after significant signs China is about to invade. This leaves the US stretched thin with its active duty force. Desperate to avoid a draft, the US begins to mobilize the National Guard to fill in the gaps. The entirety of the 33rd Infantry Brigade is one of those brigades selected. The brigade had recently finished its culminating training exercise known as JRTC and is considered "ready" to deploy during its availability window. The 33rd will relieve beleaguered Ukrainian brigades and is expected to hold static positions due to the Ukraine theater commander hesitant to commit National Guard brigades to offensive action.
33rd IBCT Order of Battle (open source info) core units
2-106 Cavalry squadron
3 Infantry Battalions:
2-130 INF RGT
1-178 INF RGT
1-196 INF RGT (Puerto Rico Army National Guard)
766 Brigade Engineer Batallion
2-122 Field Artillery Rgt (1 BN, 3 Batteries)
State of the Brigade:  The majority of the GWOT vets have gotten out so all of the battalions are "green", this will be most soldiers first combat deployment. The battalion cmdrs and Platoon sergeants are "veteran" to reflect soldiers that stayed in and have deployments under their belt. the 33rd faces recruiting and retention issues like the rest of the US army, all of the battalions are at varied levels of being understrength. The war's are unpopular with the american public and the US is struggling to retain and recruit people. The brigade also suffered a series of AWOLS after news of its mobilization hit the force.
The Campaign so far: the condition of the eastern front worsens, it is decided to send in the 33rd to conduct offensive action on its assigned sector of the front. The player will face the understrength 200th MRB, which is set to "conscript" experience to reflect the brigade's destruction in 2022 and subsequent reconstitution.
1st mission "Tow the Line":  elements of A Trp 2-106 CAV conduct reconnaissance on positions of the RU 200th MRB.  The players ability to spot and call artillery on the RU force will determine the condition of the RU positions in the next mission when the infantry assaults.
2nd mission: "Blackhawk Batallion": elements of 2-130 infantry conduct an attack against RU trench lines after recon by the 2-106. player will have the brigades Arty battery in support. This mission will show the current reality of trench warfare in Ukraine. with the 2-130 having to take two trench lines from the enemy.
3rd mission: "Hold the Line": Player will have to hold the captured trench lines, facing an initial wave of RU disposable infantry (Storm-Z, Wagner prisoners). Follow on waves will be RU VDV in BMP 3s. This is to reflect current observed russian tactics of "recon" of positions with disposable infantry and then attacking weak points with dedicated assault infantry.
overall, I want the campaign to be brutal but also fun. I've tried to balance things by making the RU force severely understrength or at conscript status, at least for static positions. The player will face more experienced forces when terrain is taken. The player will have limited or no replacements, to reflect the US having not set up the infrastructure of a combat replacement system due to no draft in place.
I welcome any suggestions or questions!

Ive had this map of the Fullujah Jolan District on my hard drive for over a year working on it little by little. It's still being tweaked. I would like your thoughts on it. Ive tried to keep it reasonably accurate and still make it playable. It is 1376m wide and 1440m deep. It included the rail station and the large cemetery. To do the cemetery and not having the typical burial facilities that Iraq used, I had to improvise by creating the tombs with the smallest single story buildings in the editor and submerging them into the ground. Then make them all look the same. It's not perfect but hopefully will give the impression of a large cemetery.
Since I am planning on making a campaign of the battle I would like some thoughts. I can use the entire map and have the action at battalion level combat with a lot of moving pieces, or cut the map in sections for a smaller scale action. Or a combination of both. Obviously for those who are not fans of MOUT combat this will not appeal too. But for those that do it should be a urban slugfest.
Anyway here is the link to some quick screenies so take a look and let me know what some thoughts are. I am still tweaking it, height adjustments, terrain tweaks etc.
http://www.mediafire.com/folder/39mh26tih7w6r9n,cqj2oksu1mq0qto,240ri57s14p8idt,139ayqn99wft6nn,p7f3aw7h5lzgqlf,np1izv5e5cedjwl,mya8xyjqraeq2dh,pbfsj6hdbubak8j,au74m03ubwqa3un,5dxj0x9q4weg9df,naszyrf0rttzksr,ec8mc02hkckglbp/shared
Thanks
Michael

@BFCElvis - For pinning please.
 
Steve has let me off the proverbial leash to release some bones for CMBN in 2023.
 
Relive the opening days of the Normandy Campaign from the perspective of American and German forces fighting for control of the Cotentin Peninsula of France. From D-Day through to the 13th of June, take command of forces from the 4th Infantry, 101st and 82nd Airborne Divisions, as they fight for a foothold on the western edge of Operation Overlord. Alternatively, take command of German formations in the area, including the 6th Fallschirmjäger Regiment as it tries to hold back the Allied Invasion.
A Taster of Included Content
 
-          Three Campaigns
o   We Start Here – Follow the exploits of the 101st Airborne and 4th Infantry on D-Day. Follow the first paratroopers to hit the ground just after midnight, through to the evening of June 6th. Get off the beach.
o   Purple Heart Lane – Command the 101st Airborne from the Battle of Ste Come du Mont through to the Battle of Carentan.
§  A slight experiment in campaign design, allowing the player to fight a rolling battle at their own pace over several in game days. Can you keep pace with history or will the 17SS Panzer Grenadier Division arrive in time to make your task more difficult?
Current count, 110 scenario variants so that is quite a long campaign script.
§  A recreation of the Carentan Operation from Combat Mission: Beyond Overlord.
o   Fist of Iron – Take control of the 17SS Panzer Grenadier Division on the 13th of June as they launch their counterattack to retake Carentan. Can you defy history?
-          Scenarios (purposefully incomplete to leave some surprises)
o   La Madeleine / Tare Green – The 4th Infantry Division head north along the beach to clear the German Strongpoints.


o   Clash of Eagles – 101st Airborne and 6 Fallschirmjäger Regiment elements clash around Vierville.
o   Hill 30 – 101st Airborne try to hold the line southwest of Carentan against a determined 17SS Counter Attack.
-          Master Maps
o   Seven maps covering just over 70 square kilometres of now famous battlefields, recreated from Allied aerial photographs and D-Day planning maps from 1944.
-          (Possibly) Master Unit Files. In combination with the Master Maps will allow players to easily put together fight their own linked multiplayer campaign battles. [Let me know views on this one].
Requirements
 
Players will be required to own:
-          Combat Mission Battle for Normandy Base Game;
-          Commonwealth Forces Module;
-          Market Garden Module; and
-          Vehicle Pack.
 
Likely Questions
 
Why are we going back to D-Day?


When the CMBN base game was designed there was a conscious decision to focus on the US Army and German Heer forces only. This meant that key German formations that were fighting around the 101st Airborne area were not available. With Waffen SS and Fallschirmjäger formations now part of the game family we are able to recreate these famous engagements inside the CM2 engine. It's also a chance to present a number of different tactical scenario situations rarely used in previously in stock scenarios such as the use of naval gunfire, extensive fortifications, spotting victory point allocations etc.
Why the focus on the 101st Airborne? No love for the 82nd Airborne?


There are already a number of community made scenarios and maps available for players focusing on the exploits of the 82nd Airborne to the north of the location depicted in this Battle Pack. We didn’t want to crossover too heavily with the work the community had already undertaken.
Will any new formations or units be added to the CMBN family with this release?


No. Like other Battle Packs the focus is on campaigns and scenarios. Unlike Modules which focus on the new units and formations introduced, Battle Packs provide us the opportunity to mix and match all the content available in a game family.
What’s the release date?


When it is ready. This will be sometime after the CMBN Steam release. This pack has also been a bit different when compared to others to date. When this was announced at the start of the year the actual work had only just commenced rather than being in development for some time already. Saying that, the mapping is virtually complete and scenarios are being built.
How will I be able to get my hands on it?


From all the existing places you can currently buy Combat Mission products.
In the promotional photos that bush is 0.764 meters away from where it was historically!


Everything is a work in progress. Also, I suggest you may want another glass of a fermented vegetable drink.
Wait a minute who the hell are you?
One of the volunteer beta team. Like GeorgeMC and JonS before me, one of us generally leads a Battle Pack development though this time I've been lucky enough for a number of other betas to help out and get all that mapping done. Also dabbled in some modding and YouTube in previous years.
Can we see some pictures?
Oh alright.

NIne out of possible twelve scenarios almost completed. Two might be dropped due to lack of interesting subject matter. Had to modify a few scenarios based on newly acquired information. Spending last few days writing and rewriting a complex AI script for a large and long German attack on a complex map. The thought came to me today that scripting a large AI plan is like creating the coreography for a theatrical production. Every new impulse demands another play test to check the timing and effect.

The final version of this Battle Pack will consist of the following stuff:
1. Campaign "Partizans Land":  6 missions in a period from May 31st to June 6th 1944 
Player will command Axis Anti-Partizan Forces in a small operation along the railway line Orscha - Lepel.
 
2. Campaign "Into Hell": 8 missions in a period from June 8th to June 23rd 1944
Player will command units of German 252nd Infantry Division during the defensive actions north of Witebsk
 
3. Campaign "Our Father": 7 missions in a period from June 27th to June 29th 1944
Player will command mixed remaining units of German 12th, 31st Infantry Division and Panzergrenadier-Division "Feldhernnhalle" 
during the encirclement of Mogilev.
 
4. Campaign "Five Bridges": 12 missions in a period from June 26th to July 2nd 1944
Player will command units of German 383rd Infantry Division and 20th Panzer Division during the desperate pocket battles
around the city of Bobruisk.
 
5. Campaign "Tiger Trail": 17 missions in a period from July 17th to July 26th 1944
Player will command units of 3rd SS-Panzer Division "Totenkopf" during their counter offensive actions around the 
city of Grodno.
 
6. There will be included 16 Mastermaps
 
 
In summary the Battle Pack will contain 50 single missions from tiny sized to huge. All the campaigns can be called as 
"semi-historical". The player will command units that are as historically accurate as possible. A large number of the maps are 
based on original/historical maps. Much time and effort have been invested to the detailed research of the historical battles.
Some historical participants of the events are introduced with additional information. 
 
The whole Battle Pack is a fan made project of my own without any financial interest. I have created it just for my personal fun.
And now important information for everyone interested:
There will be no option to download this Battle Pack from any website. Because it is an exclusive product, I also chose a special way to order it:
If you want to pre-order the Battle Pack (or order it after the release), you have to pm me here in the forum. Give me your e-mail adress and forum-name and I will register you. As soon as the Battle Pack is released, I will send it to you.
In this way I will keep an overview of how many people will actually order the Battle pack - regarding this, I currently have no idea/expectations of numbers.
 
Estimated date of release is February 1st in the 80th anniversary year of Operation Bagration.
Pre-orders are open now !!!
 
Regards
Mr.X 

No, I had to do the substitution and also substitute a 4th squad in my German platoons for my 1942 TOE. 
When will BFC get to 1942? Never? Give us mod support. 
Moving to CMx3? Give us mod support. 

@StieliAlpha  the others BFC modules horizons doesn't works...?
Is this only the horizons or all around, like Falaise mod seasoned terrains and trees?
Perhaps can you working on one that already exist and have the perfect aspect from what you want...
For infos I am working myself on horizons view for Belgium 40 but for the spring with real Ardennrste pictures, this is my first one I will see if this works...
Edit @Aquila-SmartWargames was making also some test with real towns city's pictures, is a question to check how we can have the best way that we want...

Tiger Late with Woodland/Snow Camo
- a camo port of the previous one for the late Tiger with standard woodland + [snow] tagged version added.
- should work in all CMWW2 games as AFAIK they all have the late Tiger.
- alignment wasn´t modified from the previous mod and thus is not perfect as obviously the late Tiger is different from the early one.
- commander hatch now without issues, perhaps something wrent wrong in the previous camo net release one as the "origin" (the three colored arrows in blender) of the hatch was not placed at the hinge of the hatch (thanks @sbobovyc for the info).
- the video shows just a light snowy base skin but for the demo its okay. The camo nets would look more beautiful with a proper snowy Tiger skin.
 
Simple method to create snow and desert skins in seconds in GIMP 2
1) GIMP2 free photoshop tool
2) With it open your texture of interest
3)Decide if you want to modify the complete texture, or select specific parts of the texture, or temporarily cut out parts you don´t want to colorize (vehicle lights etc.) and paste them in back in place when you´re done.  
4a) Upper UI -> Colors -> Desaturate -> Colors to Gray will turn it into a snow skin
4b) Upper UI -> Colors -> Desaturate -> Sepia will turn it into a desert skin
5) done and save it
6 optional) refine it further (some good options are color-> saturation/brightness and contrast/hue chroma)


And be a cool guy and provide your creations to the community by either uploading it to CMMODS, clouds, or file hosters. Some options just take seconds and don´t be afraid about people being judgemental, The majority of the CM community are happy about every mod or skin.
https://www.dropbox.com/sh/1tviryry89g6py7/AAAJpSvGH6u1iEx4WzwVLSnJa?dl=0
https://1drv.ms/u/s!Agho21MGTssHaTHHgpIcaQWqWpU?e=5rKEzK
 
 

Thanks @Sgt.Squarehead 
In case someone else is looking for the campaign. I´ve uploaded it to my dropbox:
https://www.dropbox.com/sh/1tviryry89g6py7/AAAJpSvGH6u1iEx4WzwVLSnJa?dl=0
 

M1 Abrams vs Osa Naval Patrol Vessel:
That ship is rough work but it works. I will upload the complete blender project folder and mdr to the dropbox.
You can basically turn every texture in CM invisible by adding a blank texture. For example the jeeps were designed with 3 randomized spare wheels by using -optiona -optionb -optionc in the editor wich means only ONE will get be displayed. However the third spare got a blank texture so there is a chance that the jeep simply has no spare. As real objects and flavour objects do not collide its possible to combine them to get obstacle characteristics, there are alot of options which just require some creativity. 

In the course of dozen playthroughs and experiments with Blender/CM2 Tools (http://community.battlefront.com/topic/118928-combat-mission-modding-tools/) several assets were created which I want to share with the community:
Big Cargo Ship

 
BF109

 
Radar Station

 
Downed Blackhawk

 
Fire Truck

 
Ambulance

 
Barricade + optional Smoke/Burn Stash (Wreck, an invisible alternative is created by 37MM)

 
Barricade (three sizes)

 
Humvee V3 Woodland (Randomized Gear)

 
Humvee V3 Desert (Randomized Gear)

 
Humvee V2 Geardo Desert (Permanent Full Gear) 

 
AFRICAN UNCON (now also including conventional African Forces conversion by 37MM, original work by MikeyD) 

 
Falklands War Scorpion, Scimitar, and Argentinian LVTP-7 conversion

 
Makeshift VBIED

 
Humvee Wreck

 
Uncaged M2 Stryker

 
Marines to Army Special Forces or Navy SEALS conversion skins (including work of mjkerner, Combatinfman, Blimey)

 
BMP1/2 to BMD1/2 conversion (with corrected hatches)

 
Desert KAMAZ Skin

 
Marines frankensteined Armored MTVR Skin

 
New Syrian Special Forces and Woodland vehicles (based on the work of various modders)

 
Syrian Winter Mod (just terrain and partial "winterization" of vehicles, created for a Hasrabit Campaign playthrough)

 
PK Pickup to PK UAZ conversion

 
Russian Forces (original work Euroscape + various modders)

 
US Army & Marines Woodland Forces (original work Euroscape + various modders)

 
All these mods and many more can be found in this Dropbox:
https://www.dropbox.com/sh/1tviryry89g6py7/AAAJpSvGH6u1iEx4WzwVLSnJa?dl=0
Credits to modders, 3D-Artists, and Battlefront.
For better quality footage and more information about 3D custom models check out the recent videos & descpriptions here:
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCeK7fSyoEE8aorVLlVfNcAQ
The custom flavor objects have a "crate1" box placed into their center. Click it to interact with its placing. Zoom into the model if difficult. There are some FOV issues with bigger flavor objects can perhaps fixed by making the original "crate1" box bigger in Blender/CM2tools. Combine flavor objects with "visible/invisible" wreck objects to give them obstacle characteristics.
Good free library of 3D models you could use for importing. .max does not work with Blender. There are others.
http://www.cadnav.com/
Tutorials on Blender and CM2Tools can be found here:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lkbTOSIrNV0&feature=youtu.be
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MXVAMaELSao&feature=youtu.be
The main intent was to explore the possibilities of this method. As I see this as accomplished I´ll step back now and hope it will motivate others to get into it. Prior getting into custom CM models I had absolute zero experience in 3D modelling, Blender or whatever but found my way into it in a short period of time and once you figure out the specifics it is not that difficult. Give it a try.  Anyone interested in custom CM models can reach out on Discord.
Happy wargaming.

Because this is an Alpha version, I propose you @37mm that you are waiting to let me working on a little more, to added for exemple the off nco helmets (caps) that I am working  now on, and  perhaps also added the us helmets with chinstraps mix that I did this will give a real aspect to the us troops the chinstraps mix are not perfect, but I have a good wish to include it.

I am also working to added some “Kamikaze”, using the feather helmet files, helping with the exelent and helpful mod from @MOS:96B2P (with his consent), that will added the possibility that japanish are wearing helmet or not, all is in the tube and in my head, perhaps not realizable with perfection, but personly I  have also the wish and the mood to introduce it (but perhaps all will stay only in my mind).

I can only say like I said in many time already, to see the advancing project and realization on this time of the Pacific theater from @LongLeftFlank that I keep a good remind, and take my hat off, of his gigantest job from years ago, taking in the lupe from our friend @Aquila-SmartWargames and realized with open arms, and details by another friend @37mm, that personly I admire the job,for his Heaven and Earth.
Personly I am very happy that this remake see the sun again, I found this already rich of idea and capabilities, and hope very much to see more enthusiasm and support about it, If BFC dont seam to be interrested to it, but also perhaps see some interested peoples to make some news maps and scenarios, we can also include for exemple, some realized job from @aquila (again him...)with his little boat availble on his titnatest mod that he let us very kind a welcome copy.
I think this mod could be useful to another model for another period very awaiting, that are the Korea war,  but I dont have enough knowledge to realized it in details, I can only support it with a little job left or right like I do it now for this period of bloody war, (just knock on the open door).  
I know I write always (tooooo) much but let me added a last thing...
My text will perhaps stay in darkness on the forum, but for the one s that are interested to see more about it, I would recommand to have minimum ten secunds to thinking about all efforts from all modders on the forum and the one s that stay always in darkness, but are also doing something for this community, to have a short thought about them,  to the time that they are using their time to propose to everybodys a moment to change something to let you a smile, and enjoy it, this will appease, and let a smile to themself, the long hours that they have dedicated to realised the things that you have now in your hands.
PS
I hope that my text will be understanding enough, for everybodys including the bad use of the time in my sentences and the errors in my english text, but believe me... nobody is perfect but  "en francais ca veut dire exactement la meme chose".
JM
 

In commemoration of the 80th Anniversary of the start of Operation Uranus on 19 November 2022, I am diligently working on a few CMRT Romanian Mod scenarios...
ROM KLETSKAYA BALKA BASH
ROM GROUP LASCAR
 

Ok new try @37mm with the original mod from @LongLeftFlank renamed for the Italians !
blender view right uk airborne  I guess that you are using in the frst screenchot ?? left the new japanish 

 

 
In game overview 
 
 
 

 
Opinion reclamation...
if there are ok I will try to work on (off and nco helmet) cup
JM

I PM'd @laurent 22 and will **TRY** to fix it in my Blender tank repair facility.

Yep, don´t get distracted (too much) ATM. 😎 I just keep doing my loud thinking sort of if I find or found something that might be for good, future use.
Yes, levels is the next league for when figuring out all these inner workings, in case it´s doable at all. Poking in the fog can also be a big time waster if one is not quite so successful. So better focus on those things that at least seem doable ATM. Just place any the indi builds in 2D editor so you can see what height they are actually. I still lack an overview ATM. Didn´t even know until yesterday that we have this factory w chimneys in RT-FR. 🤪
Exactly, yes. While I´m at the wooden shelter I also keep doing some experiments with FH/trenches and let you all know about any findings. I still see some potential to make these look and maybe also working "better". One caveat likely will be that it´s then almost all scenario/map maker assets and not usable in QB or missions/maps made earlier. But I just keep seeing benefits.
Yep, think all our combined efforts should give us anything playable, whether be mere eye candy or yielding functionality as well. Another thanks to @sbobovyc and @Aquila-SmartWargames (and those I miss mentioning) for making this possible. 😎
Can only make my guess about that. Beeing in fortification category and purchasable it got to be be a playable unit type category and so it was an obvious choice not making it a neutral terrain object instead..I guess. But that´s a very limiting approach, entirely neglecting that forts in fact can change ownership repeatedly. Also terrain objects do not apply to FOW and there´s likely no data or programming concepts that could change that easily. But I´m not a programmer. So likely all easier said than done.
I´ll try doing some testing. Now that I know how to get these exported successfully some new info should pop up soon.
Guess to allow for some variety for when there´s lots of the 45 degree diagonal roads on a map. Some are just variations while some others seem unique. Though diagonal indi builds are somewhat tricky, game play wise (ptroopers path finding and placement/LOS/LOF). Also they got to fit into the 8x8m AS concept. We know one can place any builds at an offset (half slicing a neighboring AS) as well. All might play a role in here.
Yep, all seems doable. But who´s the time for all this ATM? lol 😅🤪
So would be cool if we could draw more wannabe Blender artist into all of this. 😎 Required info is on the table and keeps beeing maintained, here and at other forum places.
Just noticed I used wrong terms. It´s actually 2 colors (plain black or white) or 256 grey scale tones needed. 🙄
Yep, Blender scripts are imperfect. As said wanted to bring that to sbobovyc´s attention, just when he vanished and got busy elsewhere. But material name (not texture name) is key and that is what got stored in MDR files. One can work around this, but still got to dig some more into Blender 2.79 peculiarities for better understanding. That for more precise preparation so exports will always be successful.

I really appreciate these videos by @Aquila-SmartWargames which helps me TRY to keep pace with @37mm who has his own youtube video production capability. 
IF ANYBODY WANTS TO MAKE A SCENARIO USING THESE MODS AND HAS QUESTIONS, PLEASE SEND ME A PM. THANKS
EDIT: In the below, I do not see a video on the CMRT Romanian Mod. It does exist. I better get on that!
CMRT FINN MOD
 
CMRT HUNGARY MOD
CMRT ITALY MOD
CMRT BARBAROSSA MOD
 

Download for updated 04302021 Romanian mod brz and play as axis only scenario
This is the new version of the mod that I briefly tested in CMRT F&R and it seems to account for the new M44 uniforms. I renamed the M44 mds files.

Oh, and the R35 (though it is actually from CMBN and luckily not my headache how to get in CMRT😉)


https://www.dropbox.com/s/lspzik65iiz7rq1/R35.zip?dl=1

lol... thanks bud! 😁🍻 Though would never had put my guess on the pillbox.  😁
Lots of effort but I think these issues were to be expected unfortunately. Though cool idea but maybe yet a step too far ahead. So I´d another look at CMRT goodies and found some in FR module BRZ:
Beside windmill I also saw that big cathedral building derivate looking like a tall factory with 2 smaller chimneys. Didn´t yet know that this one was in there at all. 🧐
Windmill, editor commercial #9
\red thunder v210b\buildings 1\building 108 windmill
Factory building w Chimneys, editor commercial #10
\red thunder v210b\buildings 1\building 109

So my likely approach would be to investigate both these buildings first, then see what we could possibly do with them. Windmill for beeing a multi level building and having a halfway rounded shape. Factory for seeing how its chimneys are beeing set up re META data and such. Then maybe we could combine gathered knowledge (or advanced guessworks lol) for creating a chimney that is both multi level enterable and avoids your mentioned FOW/ownership issues.
I used a similar idea in my YEG mission when hacking a 8x8m mod building to have a flat roof, then serving and look like a concrete pillbox. Though it´s just an expedient due to its  sh*tty cover value. 😛 Yet it´s a "neutral", pillbox like looking structure that both opponents can try fighting for. ⚔️ For final version I´d removed flat roof again since it didn´t yield any improved cover or other benefit (beside looks). Then decided for "damaged version", just having its facade textures changed.

 

My suspicion is that it wasn't actually the hedges, more some weird aspect of working on & saving the map to a later version... indeed I just checked @Aquila-SmartWargames later conversion hex edits without any difficulty, Tall Bocage & all.
Finishing the conversion is taking a little longer than I'd hoped. On the Japanese side, I have to swap out all the British bunkers (at least the ones not burning) for Italian ones... I'm about halfway through that task.
On the American side, the converted forces were kinda screwy so I had to rebuild & replace a lot of them.
However the extra time has had some added benefits, for instance motivating me to work on the US uniforms which are now all HBT* (original mods by KilgoreT )...

As well as converting the LVT mod for M3a1 Half Tracks (I don't think there are M5a1's in FI)...

I've also broken up the "wave 3-5" reinforcement into its individual waves, just to make things a little less daunting for the player.
Here's an example of a screwy conversion artifact, a 3 man Sherman carrying Demo charges...

I've also added some force backgrounds, a rudimentary splash screen, some music & played around with the floating icons... oh & tidied up the tiny concept scenarios with some basic victory objectives & AI plans.
 
Better get back to swapping those bunkers!
 
*The late war Marines from the original Pacific mod are now activated by a [brown] tag.

Its "CM Container Closed" in the OneDrive folder.
 
A Black Hawk Down or an african theatre campaign in general would be a dream.
 
I am always using the small crate1.mdr as a primer for the custom models but I believe its ill-suited as bigger objects would likely lead to less FOV issues. What is the biggest (widest) original flavor object one can find in the CM2 family?