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[karla]

EDIT 9Aug13 - ship completed; see post #36

Work has started on USS Hancock CVA-19 Ca. 1970 to enhance one of western's modernised Essex carriers. The plan is to only modify existing meshes because my modelling skills are limited. So far, I've managed to gain some experience on the mast and radar installations; an image of an intermediate stage is shown. I intend to add plenty of detail where I can and, maybe, reduce vertices in some regions. I also intend to make the most use of transparent masks to create nets and rails and save vertices that way.



I may limit the number of collision meshes and simplify shadow meshes to make things easy for myself and also keep the number of vertices low. We'll see how it goes.

I possibly will need help from time to time if I can't work things out for myself; I'm modelling in Blender (which I know well) but exporting through GMax (I last used 3DSMax 8 years ago). The process is basically: conversion to .3ds, work in Blender then use GMax as a .msh exporter tool.


IL2 MESH MODIFICATION PROCESS

MeshConv v1.18
   .msh >> .3ds (Shorter to 10 unique characters, 0 -1 1 -1)

Blender v 2.63
   .3ds >> import (size constraint OFF, image search OFF, apply transform OFF, -X Forward, +Z Up)
   edit/modify/add activities
   duplicate main model and simplify to create LOD models if wanted
   duplicate model for shadow model if wanted
        add simple boxes as collision models if wanted
   UV mapping
   always triangulate quad faces
   >> export .3ds (selection only ON, -X forward, +Z up)

GMax v 1.2
   .3ds >> import (Script 3DS Importer v1.0a Chris Cookson; import keyframes OFF, import lights OFF)

   add any material name

   BuggyBuggy v 2.52
   .3ds >> .msh (LOD whatever, for each entity in the model)

   MAXScript Listener and YAGG v 1.0.0.2
   >> .msh textfile (GMax Script Listener does not allow copying of large amounts of text)

Vista Notebook SP2
   .msh edit (check against original working .msh file; remember to change material names)

IL2 1946 DBW 1.71
   test

EDIT 12jun13 -update mesh mod process
EDIT 15jun13 -update mesh mod process

[BravoFxTrt]

Looks very promising, Good Luck with it Karla.

[asheshouse]

Those enhanced details are looking really good.

Where you are adding new objects to the model, like additional aerials, you could add them as new *.msh files instead of adding them to existing files. If they are static parts then you only need to add entries in hier.him to enable the additional meshes. Moving parts like guns or directors will also need to be defined in ships.ini

[Sleepingdragon]

Very interesting. I remember the Hancock in 73 with F-8s and A-4Fs on board, on the cover of an issue of "Proceedings" magazine. She was active in the SEA air cmpn against N.Vietnam in 72 I believe.

And you may want to take note, that she had very few guns by that time. A small number of twin 3 in. open mounts, but I don't know what you could use to simulate htem. There were no 20mm and 40mm guns on the Essex class by the time they got angled decks. A couple of 5 in may have to do though. Just a suggestion.

The US Navy really left its ships very vulnerable to air attack during the late 50s into the 70s, while the Soviets had considerable multi purpose guns on their ships.

[karla]

@ Bravo thanks, watch this space.

@ asheshouse thank you for the advice, I may create new .msh files if needed but my aim was to only modify existing .msh files. Currently, I've just re-learnt how to handle simple GMax UV maps and should now therefore make more progress. (Note that I'm trying hard and have not needed to 'pester' you about anything so far).

@Sleepingdragon thank you very much for your interest. This carrier will eventually have the number '19' on it but it may not look exactly like the Hancock. The intention is to model a modern carrier with a large amount of detail to give the right atmosphere and impression of complexity to the user. I eventually want to use CVA-19 for my F-4 skins - although it's not correct - because I don't have the inclination to create a Midway class carrier. One of the activities in my plan is to edit the hier.him file and remove some of the guns, though I don't think I'll be remodelling any.

[magot]

IL2 MESH MODIFICATION PROCESS

Too complicated convert process Carla! Make it simple.
Build model in 3dsmax9 with all correct things -> prepare and convert model via Maraz tool (it´s free tool under max9) in native format. Done.

[Sleepingdragon]

A great idea. I see no reason an F-4 couldn't have operated off the Essex class, although it would certainly have been alot more dangerous and difficult. The KA-3D sure did, and the ASW CVS versions carried a bunch of S-2s, also carried E-1 Tracers. Those may not have been as heavy as a loaded F-4, but the KA-3D was certainly close.

And those A-1s were pretty heavily loaded to. Skyraiders can fill a big gap in the air wing.

I'm sure it would have limited the load the F-4s carried though. Maybe you could just keep that in mind when rigging the ordinance load. They would sure have to drop it all before they landed.

That's one reason the FA-18E/F Super Hornets are preferred by the US Navy over the standard A/C/D Honets; they can bring back most (if not all) of thier expensive ordinance. The A/C model Hornets are mostly assigned to air superiority misns now, as I understand. For that matter, I'm pretty sure an F-18A,C,D could have operated off the Essex within load limits. The Midway carried at least 30 of them in the Gulf war.

A few mos ago there was a Midway class CV WIP, in its last config I think with the oversize deck. The Navy even considered operating F-14s off her for a while.

I suggest you make sure that all the distance versions (the ones you see at various ranges) are all complete, as a few of the mod angled deck Essex class appear to not be painted at a distance. Of course that could be on my end, but I dont think so. Lots of stuff can sneak up on you in this sim. I wish you luck on this, and let me know if there's any research or pain in the keyster stuff I can find for you that might save you some time. Im totally ignorant on making mods, but i have done a bit of FMB stuff to.

Maybe someday an A-4C/E/F/M will show up......... gasp gasp.....I'm getting greedy now.

[karla]

The mast, radar and stack are almost complete. The process has speeded up after checking the .obj and .3ds intermediate steps and realising that, if one made no errors, the .3ds intermediate stage carries more data with it. The process at the top has been edited to reflect this. Basically, modelling and UV mapping are carried out in Blender and GMax is simply used as an export tool.

@magot I used 3DSMax a long time ago but decided then to convert to free and open source software - Blender, Gimp, Inkscape, OpenOffice, Audacity, Kompozer and so on. The Hancock process is now not so tedious - all the activity is in Blender.

@ Sleepingdragon thanks for the comments. I'll watch out for LODs. Agreed, an A-4 would be just right.

[asheshouse]

If the rest is done to this standard then its going to be great.

[AG-51_Razor]

It's beautiful!! Is it possible to have the radar antennas rotate?

[max_thehitman]

That screenshot looks Beautiful! That looks real good! 
Thank you so much for this artsy good mod, Karla

[Sleepingdragon]

Wow, htat is really impressive. The detail is great. Can't wait to fly some A-1 missions off her.