Gordon

Well, since it snowed in Chicago, I figured I'd better work on the winter version of the Matilda II. This along with the summer versions should be released sometime before CMAK. Gordon

Lou2000, Oh, I won't delete the graphics, but I'm sure Kwazy Dog will provide a very nice Matildas for CMAK. Andreas, Yes, those images are what I used to base the colors for the left-hand version. Gordon

A Portee was an ATG (and/or field gun?) carried on the bed of a truck rather than towed behind. Gordon

Lou2000, Well, I was as much in the dark as anyone, so if the truth is "out there", it's somewhere else. In fact, I'll probably ditch my desert Matilda mods now as they're pretty much obsolete. Gordon

Portees? Gordon

Congratulations, looking forward to the release. Gordon [ April 04, 2003, 03:04 PM: Message edited by: Gordon ]

Tracer, Yes, the very first step (at least for me), is to find the exact onlines of the various polygons on each and every BMP. I do this by substituting a grid image on the BMP and then using that to trace the outline of the various parts of the BMP that are mapped onto the 3-D model. I'm not sure that all modders do this, but I know it helps me a lot as I'm trying to lay out the graphics. Gordon

Very nice, looking forward to it. I guess I can *scratch* that one off my long-term, to-do list. Gordon [ March 30, 2003, 10:13 AM: Message edited by: Gordon ]

Tracer, See my response in Caunter camo Matilda II thread Gordon

Tracer, Definitions of what "from scratch" mean varies from person to person, but the meaning that I attach to it is to start with blank BMPs and draw all the features and details. There's no "erasing" of existing camo as you are starting with "bare metal" so to speak. This is how Kwazy Dog and the other artists who worked on CMBB textures did 90% of the default BMPs shipped with the game. You end up drawing lot's of highlights and shadows to create the appearance of 3-D where there isn't any and adjusting the brightness and darkness of the various BMPs to accent the 3-D model. It's an extremely tedious and slow process, but when done right can often be more realistic looking (IMO) than photos because all the shadows, hightlights, etc. can be made more consistent. Another way of doing a "from scratch" mod, which is how I did my CMBO King Tiger, is to work from digital photos or scanned images and splice them all together on the BMPs and make them blend well across all the BMPs so that it looks consistent. Gordon

Tracer, The way you're going it won't be long. Runyan99, That's one of the examples I based it on. Gordon

Fionn, The "Caunter" style of camouflage used on British tanks in North Africa was based on naval camouflage practice first adopted in World War I. It was designed to disguise the outline of the tank (to confuse enemy gunners) rather than to make the tank blend into its background, obviously . The original designs were worked out mathematically (which I had to adapt to the constraints of the CMBB 3-D models). Gordon I think I'm waiting for a turn, btw.

Excellent work Gordon. The Valentine is next, I hope ? Noba. </font>

You mean something like this? My Matilda II Gordon

Here's a WIP shot of the caunter camouflage version of my Matilda II mod. Still rough in places, but it will give you an idea of where it is at. Gordon

Rob, Yes, you might want to seek medical treatment. Mike_the_wino, Nope no pictures of them burning. My tanks never burn. Gordon

Oh what the hell, Here's a pic of the "factory" colored version. The Russians still got it all dirty. Gordon

Matilda II, see Mo' Matilda Madness Gordon

Ok, here's an update to my Matilda II project. It seems the Russians have gotten it all dirty. It will be available in British factory dark green as well as the "standard" Soviet color. My sources state that the Soviets usually didn't repaint lend-lease vehicles, but this way folks will have the option. Gordon [ March 23, 2003, 05:50 PM: Message edited by: Gordon ]

Andrew, Looks great as usual. One question about the roadwheels. Aren't the highlights backwards? Most vehicles are drawn assuming the light is coming from the front. Just an observation. Gordon

I hope you don't mean "Nevermind" don't do the mod. Gordon

Makjager, Now don't be put off that you haven't seen the BMPs yet. Nobody has except for Marco who's been my guide on this spirit journey. You'll be part of the beta, have no fear. Gordon

Thanks all. I hope you'll like the finished product(s). I'm not really as much "back into modding" as I am just trying to not forget everything that I've learned over the last 3 years. So, please don't expect that I'll be producing a steady stream of mods, or that I'll have time to take up CMMOS development again (as much as I'd like to). MikeyD, Yes, I had previously downloaded your excellent Valentine mods, and while the manlets/3-D model are similar, and I'll be able to use your Valentine for inspiration/ideas to further improve the Matilda, they are sufficiently different to cause particular Matilda-specific problems. I'll provide further preview pics as the situation warrents it (especially the Caunter Camouflage version as that's going to be "striking" to say the least). Gordon

Well, when I retired from the day-to-day grind of modding I decided that I'd at least keep my finger in it slightly by working on a single long-term modding project, and this is it. a "from scratch" (as they say) Matilda II. It is still a WIP (which translated into Makjager-speak means it could be published within the life time of some of those alive today ). It will eventually be offered in both the original British base color as well as the Soviet base color (my sources say that most lend-lease vehicles were not re-painted by the Soviets), clean and dirty, and I'm also toying with doing a Caunter Camouflage (North Africa/dazzle camo) version, a Malta version and several others. Gordon

Please see Your (CMMOS) ship has come in for all the details. Gordon