Bogdan

Dear Andrew, You ROCK, bar none. :cool:

Thanks lenakonrad, I didn't know that However, you've guessed what I mean. A picture really taken during fighting must present some characteristics which reveal the true combat conditions, and also the real situation where the photographer was : war, not propaganda ! Then, the real problem is to identify which are these characteristics...

Hi, IMHO, this is a well-composed photo made by russian propaganda officers. I often localize some hints on photo that make me think about a "propaganda" picture (by "propaganda", I mean a not real "in-combat" picture or an obvious fake). First, on most photos of this type, russians always (or at leats very often) represents germans as dead or losing. It could be a dead grenadier (often decorated : it means that even very good germans soldiers lose against the brilliant Red Army ), destroyed tanks, vehicles or, like here, aircraft. The more the symbol of nazism is well shown (iron crosses, swastika, balkenkreuz, SS runes...) and big, the more the photo is good ! That's propaganda ! A good hint, IMHO, is to imagine the position of the photographer when he took the pictures. Was he exposed ? Was he just trying a look over a trench ? Obviously, and it works for every photographers involved in war, you tend to take cover instead of trying to take a photo and being shot ! That idea in mind, this picture just looks fake for me ! Can you imagine yourself as the photographer, standing up in front of advancing enemies ? Also, germans tankers could make a big score by shooting at the shelter with some HE rounds... This wasn't the moment to take a photo, but to withdraw, and quickly before the panzers blow up your cover !! However, the first picture looks more realistic. I mean that the enemy cannot be localized and the photographer is not exposed to incoming fire. But the big swastika make the propaganda message too obvious. By the way, it's sometimes very difficult to clearly identify which photo is fake, which one was took in combat. Here again, I try to imagine the situation of the photographer. At which is distance is he from the soldiers, from the enemy, from a vehicle. Is he in cover, standing up ? Can a guys make a nice photo, running at the rear of a tank for cover, against incoming rounds and shrapnels ? If he only can to take a unique shot, it would be blurred, strangely composed. Remember the famous photo of Cappa of american GI's on the normandy beaches, morning of June the 6th. As soon as you can easely find a political symbol (red stars, swastika...), as soon as you can spot a retouched spot on the picture (made to hide markings, unit patches...), as soon as you can see soldiers dangerously and heroically sitting exposed in front of the enemy, you MAY be in presence of a fake !

Dear Andrew, Your Sd.250 serie is an ABSOLUTE MASTERPIECE ! ...and I'm calm What about a Sd.251 serie ? Be sure that your halftrack mods will roll over CM battlefields by dozens... ...and for a long time ! Thanks (a fan)

Hello Gentlemen, I've just discovered, goggle-ing, some very interesting maps of eastern poland ! Most of those maps are topographical and look mainly like their ukrainian counterparts (Have a look at this goldmine : http://www.lib.berkeley.edu/EART/x-ussr/ukraine.html !!). My first search was about the region of the town of Stryj, south of Lwow (Lvov or Lemberg if you prefer), which is the region of my whole family. The region, called Galicia or "Galicja" is now mainly ukrainian since 1945. The whole website and its links are in polish... ...then surfing there is a bit hazardous ! However, after clicking here and there, I found some interesting stuff about eastern 1930's Poland. The main webpage is here: http://www.brozbar23.webpark.pl/# Then, if surfing in polish is reluctant to you, here are the link to specific region of the country. Brzezany sector http://kresy8.webpark.pl/biezany1.jpg Jaliska (set of 4 topographical german maps) http://bieszczady45.webpark.pl/jaliska/jaliska1.html Lusk region http://kresy5.webpark.pl/luck2.jpg Nowy Dwor http://kresy6.webpark.pl/n27-2.jpg Kozowa - Podahcje region http://kresy8.webpark.pl/biezany2.jpg Pomorzany region http://kresy8.webpark.pl/pomorzany1.jpg Stryj region (set of 8 maps) http://kresy7.webpark.pl/# Zborow region http://kresy8.webpark.pl/pomorzany2.jpg Volinia (set of approx. 20 maps !) http://www.brozbar24.webpark.pl/mapa-wolyn.html 1939 political map of Poland (set of 12 maps, some links seem to be broken ) http://www.brozbar7.webpark.pl/pol.html Here also is a webling to actual 1:25000 maps of the Carphatian region. The sector is divided, with a grid, in multiple "mini-maps" : http://www.lemko.org/maps100/ Looking at those maps, it appears that it's a mix of polish and german maps, probably dating from the 1920-1940 period. I don't think that all those maps could be transformed in CMBB map via the magnificent "Mapping Mission" tool, however everything is possible ! Enjoy

... Panther G : Panther G late : Also, I've made a specific mod for the tracks, which takes the specific colors I used for the panzern (summer versions) : ...I also tried a "Wiking" Panther, based on pictures of the SS Panzer Division "Wiking", Russia 1943-1944... Everything is available at the usual place ! Enjoy !

Hello Gentlemen, At last, a complete serie of Panthers for CMBB is now available for download at www.cmmods.com ! As I said in a recent topic about the subject, this serie represents plain yellow vehicles, with dirt, damaged zimmerit and other battle damages. The winter versions are based on the same files, but with an hasty whitewashed coat. Here are the previews : Panther D : Panther D late : Panther A early : Panther A : ...

(Yes ! First to reply !) Dear Tarkus, I'm a BIG FAN of your wonderfull interface mod for CMBO and it would be wonderfull if you realize its CMBB (and CMAK ? ) counterpart !! This design is pure heaven :cool: PS : please mod more often !

Nice work Alexoscar ! Your work makes me remember those snow covered Sherman tanks in CMBO ! It was very impressive but, in my opinion, the tanks sometimes look like sugar covered waffles ! It's my personnal felling, of course, and it's why I tend to prefer whitewashed vehicles. However, it would be interesting to test a mix both methods : an hasty whitewash StuG III, for example, with patches of snow... The method I used for my Panthers was very simple : I added a layer over the yellow color, and painted it with white, trying to represent an hasty coat of paint made by crews on the battlefield. Hope it could help you in your tests !

Thanks to your posts gentlemen ! What I wanted to say was that I plan to release plain yellow models but with mud, dirt and damaged zimmerit. However, I'm not sure of this : what was the proportion of camo and non-camo panzer ? Is it good to represent plain yellow units ? As the serie is not very advanced, everything is possible now.

Of course it is ! Whose CM player can live without it ?? Thanks guys for your posts about this WIP, but I keep thinking that this camo scheme is not soOOOo good ! Why not releasing a complete plain yellow serie ? I'm too lazy sometimes LOL !

Hello Gentlemen, I'm actually thinking about a second Panther serie, where the tanks will be muded and dirty ! Please have a look at this Panther A : Honestly, I don't find this camo scheme very attractive... ...as it is still a test (I'm mainly working on the mud/dust effect and battle damaged zimmerit), I'm thinking about making this entire serie with plain yellow panthers. Suggestions and ideas are, as usual, greatly appreciated

hi hi ! I had the revelation of this color in front of my french mustard bottle ...not green... ...but not very yellow too !!

...it's exactly what I think to be true. But, as always, some people here will find a picture of zimmerited ambush KT or Panther ! AFAIK, historically, camo patterns made on the battlefield by crews are of WIDE variety and very complex, with a lot of exceptions and rarities... ...so everything is possible !

Great !! Your PzIV looks also excellent ! What about a winter version...?

Mods now uploaded and available at cmmods.com. The serie #1 is now complete ! :cool:

Mods posted at the usual place

Hello Gentlemen, Within the few coming days, all CMBB Panthers will be modded and available at cmmods.com. </font> Panther D</font>Panther D late</font>Panther A early</font>Panther A</font>Panther G</font>Panther G late</font> Each model with its winter version. This first serie illustrate (I don't find any other word in english) my "Fresh from the factory" concept : no mud, fresh camo. As some people around there suggested me to make them dirty... ...another serie of mod is now in my mind Here are preview of the last three mod which will be upload at cmmods.com ASAP (hey ! I've got a 56k modem... :mad: ) Panther D winter : Panther D late summer : Panther D late winter : ...as you may notice, some schürzen are missing. Maybe it's a first try for the second mod serie ? PS : I'll post something here as soon as the ZIP file will be uploaded.

I've finished TWO plain yellow King Tiger ! With zimmerit : ...or without : Both ZIP file will be with optional killrings and optional turret sides (with or without tracks). I'll post something here as soon as these mods will be uploaded at cmmods.com....

hi hi... ...sorry for bad english... I will try your method, thanks Michael. I will inform the CM community about my project... ...but shhhh !! It's a secret for the moment.

Hello all, Is anybody here kind enough to give here some info about the BMP number list for CMAK. In particular, I'm looking for the buildings (small, big and church). How many building of each type exist for the Italy theater ? Do we have a parallel with CMBB ? Thanks in advance

...by the way, the summer Panther D is now ready to upload ! I'll keep you informed (Edit) Panther D summer version is now uploaded at cmmods.com ! With the late Panther D and the winter versions, this "Fresh from the factory" serie will be done ! [ January 22, 2004, 08:25 AM: Message edited by: Bogdan ]

Do you have a Radeon 9000 card by chance? If so have a look at this entry from the Troubleshooting guide: Problem: I have a Radeon 9000 video card and while editing map elevations in the scenario editor changed elevation numbers do not display. Cause/Solution: Alt-Tab out and back in to the game. The proper elevation numbers should now be displayed. Note: You might want to try the new Catalyst 4.1 drivers that were released the other day as well. As to your second issue. I just started a battle, set the FOW to Extreme and then played one turn. I then exited the game completely and reloaded it. I then started a new QB and the FOW was still showing as Extreme, so it appears to be working as required. If for any reason you ever delete your Prefs file that setting would get reset to Full though. Note, that was tested using the 1.01 version of CMAK so if it doesn't work for you that way it was probably something Charles fixed in the patch but didn't document. Madmatt </font>

...yes, yes, I know...! LOL But 808 is the only three digits number which can be symetrical for both turret sides... At least 101. No letters too (for example the GrossDeutschland tactical markings, or the Das Reich heavy company numbers with the big S). If 3D models had two separated files for each turret side (and hull too), it would be great ! Dressler : no problemo for the plain dunkelgelb, be patient Mikey, bingo for the shell strike ! Come to Paris and I will offer to you a huge glass of beer About Panthers, I'm actually redrawing entires layers dedicated to pink zones (modders will understand). I had a bit habit but now, my pink spots problem will definitelly be resolved !

Hi all, Hope I won't paraphrase someone here or in the last thread. Here is what I've noticed : </font> Instability of the scenario editor, and the map editor in particular. After a first 3D preview of the map, or a jump to the level editor, the altitude level (the number shown in each ground tile) simply disappears, even when you switch the "Show elevation" on or off. It seems to be resolved by just leaving the map editor and going back again. I never encountered such an instability with CMBB or CMBO before. I did the test with a 800 x 800 meters map (Italy, June 1944)</font>It seems that the "Full" fog-of-war setting appears by default at the beginning of a battle/operation. AFAIK, CMBB displayed the "Extreme" level, which is the most used for PBEM and TCP. Also, I firstly thought the software kept in memory the LAST setting I did, but a select the "Extreme" FOW each time before playing. Not in CMBB.</font> Of course, I recommend some people there to test what I encountered to clear the situation and to know if these bugs come from the game by itself or from my computer.