Erwin

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.

You can use these to basically replace any mdr object in the game including flavor objects or vehicles. This means you can "fire and drive" flavor objects basically like shown here with the cargo ship:
This was just a quick test done replacing the BMP2 amphibious APC with the Cargo Ship. It doesn´t make much sense realism wise with such huge ships but could open some options for combined arms including armed forces supported by naval boats (torpedo/gunboats, destroyers). By shore marsh tile placement you could "lock out" the amphibious vehicles from coming to land and other solution for full naval action would be of course to mirror the terrain tiles i.e. turning land into water and vice versa. I`ll upload the ship for bmp testfile to the dropbox.
When replacing flavor objects its important to keep the draw distance of the original in mind. Replacing the crate1.mdr with the blackhawk isn´t a good idea as it will go invisible to quick. The biggest draw distance is provided by flavor objects such as "street (traffic) lamp" and "shelter" etc. It can also be an alternative to better replace an unimportant vehicle (taxi) and give it a destroyed condition, as vehicles have excellent draw distances.
When replacing vehicles with custom flavor objects (or other mods/vehicles), the associated .lod files also have to be replaced too. A quick fix is simply getting this done by creating copies of the main .mdr file and then add -lod-1 to -lod-4 to them. Not all require 4 of them, I think infantry even can have 5 lod files but I always do 4.
Missing picture from the Syrian Winter Minimod:

Campaigns are the best way to enjoy the CM games imo.  However, once you've mastered the Training Missions and start thinking you know how to play the game well and are a great commander, here are a few of some of the best standalone CMSF (1 and 2) scenarios (that I recall playing (apologies to other good designers whose scenarios I may have forgotten) that should challenge you:
"Conventional" scenarios :
"A Helluva Road Opening" (ANA and USMC versions) and "Helluva Takeover" (UK as well as USMC-NATO versions available).
"Into the Green"
"The Passage At Wilcox"
"Royal Mud Marines"
Of course the most original and innovative scenarios are by MOS who has reimagined what the CM2 system can do esp re UNCON.  The brilliant scenario he developed for CMSF2 is "Coup d-Etat".

In CM1 the walking off of surrendered soldiers was cute for the first couple of times.  Occasionally one could get a friendly unit close by and rescue the POW's - they returned to active service but with no weapons and reduced morale or somesuch IIRC.
But, after that it became almost irritating - one more silly thing to worry about that had no bearing on the main game experience.  I suppose that rescued POW's could be used as medics and re-arm themselves, (or acquire support weapons from a vehicle or cache).  But, most of us would probably agree that there are other more pressing features that BF could/should be working on that would have a more dramatic effect on the gameplay experience.

Whoop!

That is the new name in the release version of CMSF2 and that is the scenario one should be playing.

+100   From your mouth to God's ears...  
(CM1 system lasted 8 years.  CM2 is now 12 years old.  It's definitely time for a major upgrade.)

yur welcome...  due to travel schedule and new responsibilities, have hardly any time to play - only have time for the very best entertaining scenarios - and yours are some of the most reliable.
hope you are still designing new stuff... 

Cheers Erwin - glad you enjoyed it. I did a bit of reworking this for CMSF2. So nice to hear the work has paid off. 

Thanks for the work you did.  But, you describe 11th armoured as the Desert Rats, when that was 7th armoured.  11th was "The Black Bull".
 

Thanks for the work you did.  But, you describe 11th armoured as the Desert Rats, when that was 7th armoured.  11th was "The Black Bull".
 

Thank you Kaunitz for the very informative (June 5 post) video re platoon formations and scouts!
The video answered many questions I have had for years of playing WW2 CM games:
1)  A platoon would be spread out covering about 150 yards when moving (either column or in various combat formations).  
2)  A typical 13 man squad would consist of two 2-man scout teams, a 2-man BAR team and a 5-man fire team and leader plus radioman/messenger.  
3)  Scouts would be dozens of yards and even a few hundred yards in advance (or on the flanks) so long as visual contact was maintained with the platoon (or squad) leader.
This raises issues in the WW2 CM games.  1)  We cannot split our 13 man squads in this way.  2)  It's rare that the CM2 maps allow sufficient long distances for proper scouting tactics or platoon dispersion.
Also around 1800 there is a pic of a tank called "Fury" - just like the movie.
The other videos in the series are probably worth studying as well.

Here's some helmet p0rn for you all but especially Frenchy  - pure filth!


Announcing (taken from the readme) ...
Lucky_Strike’s - SS helmets
This mod uses the superb work of Tashtego, Jaquinot, EZ, JorgeMC and of course Battlefront, as a starting point. It unashamedly borrows, amalgamates and hacks their work plus adds some brand new textures inspired by genuine WW2 Waffen SS helmet covers and camouflage ‘effects’, as well as some ‘probable’ applications. There are 15 possible helmets all numbered and ready to install and enjoy, or hack some more if you prefer!
I design these mods for my personal gaming experience. I use a custom version of BarbaricCo’s WarMovie shaders ADVANCED v.112 for CMBN. Below you can see what the mods look like in game with some of EZ’s fantastic uniform mods. Please don’t expect the colours within your own game setup to look exactly like they do in the preview images.

Files are at CMMODS III here
Lots more preview images - go knock yourselves out!
All thanks and praise to Tashtego, Jaquinot, EZ, JorgeMC and anyone else I forgot for their original mods, help and inspiration, and of course to the guys at Battlefront for such a great and enduring game.
Lucky_Strike
 

When FI is complete they would have most of the units that would be needed for NA.  Considering the popularity of CMSF I and II you'd think that people would love to get back to the desert in WW2.

Dear GOD.... I hope so... Operation Compass, BattleAxe, Crusader, Gazala Battles... hell could you win a campaign as the Italians vs the UK?    So many great battles.  Sidi Barrani,  Bardia,  Tobruk, Bedda Fomm.  1st and Second German campaigns.  You could do some UK LRRP scenarios.  Naval support, Air Support...   To me it was a damn good Combat Series.

By the way, regarding fighting in woods, this might be interesting (the channel also features a video on us. rifle squad tactics which is highly recommendable): 
 

Looks great!

I like the theory that happy people don't accomplish much - why should they - they are happy with the way things are.  
ie: The world is moved forwards/changed by the disaffected folks with bad childhoods who have an axe to grind/chip on their shoulder/something to prove.  NB: PR often presents such people as happy, but if one digs into their BG, there's usually something dark. 
 
 

For average gamer purposes that looks amazing.  Hope the historical accuracy grogs don't put you off.

Welcome back, Koh...

yes

Impressive work, guys.  100% accuracy is less important than the feel and the visuals imo. "Verisimilitude."

Of course the number of computer gamers who care about WW2 or modern tactical sims that attempt to be realistic is probably also in the "low single digit range". 
That doesn't mean that there aren't enuff of us who appreciate what dedicated folks like Sgt S and MOS are attempting to do "re-imagining/re-energising" the CM2 game system to make the effort worthwhile.  Should be encouraged imo.

Of course the number of computer gamers who care about WW2 or modern tactical sims that attempt to be realistic is probably also in the "low single digit range". 
That doesn't mean that there aren't enuff of us who appreciate what dedicated folks like Sgt S and MOS are attempting to do "re-imagining/re-energising" the CM2 game system to make the effort worthwhile.  Should be encouraged imo.

Of course the number of computer gamers who care about WW2 or modern tactical sims that attempt to be realistic is probably also in the "low single digit range". 
That doesn't mean that there aren't enuff of us who appreciate what dedicated folks like Sgt S and MOS are attempting to do "re-imagining/re-energising" the CM2 game system to make the effort worthwhile.  Should be encouraged imo.