jmacnamara's Units and stuff

[Stormbringer]

Thanks

[jmacnamara]

Not much to report, cause I have been busy with tons of non PzC related things that required my attention. Plus the weather is nice for a change. I messed up my E-100 working file, so I will have to start from scratch. Bear with me please. One little thing I did today is blend one of my two favorite skins, Ambush Spring and the SE Vanilla approximation skin. Attached the Ambush SE skin.

[guille1434]

Very good looking! Thanks for sharing!
Will you upload the Se Vanilla Approximation skin also?
Sorry to read about the problem with the E-100 project...

[jmacnamara]

Very good looking! Thanks for sharing!
Will you upload the Se Vanilla Approximation skin also?
Sorry to read about the problem with the E-100 project...

Thanks. The vanilla_SE skin is included in the pack; download link on the first post. I try to put everything I do (Well, PzC related anyways ) in there, although I haven't included the Ambush_SE skin yet. Laziness. The E-100 will get done. I learned new things while failing once, so I do not consider it a complete loss.

[guille1434]

Thanks for the info, and also for keeping up with your excellent jobs!

[jmacnamara]

The E-50 Jagdpanzer - Jagdpanther II. The original model credit goes to Flakfernrohr and Rezaf.

Later I'll come up with some stats and efx data, but for now just the unit. When those are done, I'll update the main file in the first post.

I have left the cables and shovels in, which I normally don't, to provide some contrast. I believe it works; if it doesn't, I can always remove them.

[jmacnamara]

Btw, once I have done all the units that I have set out to do, I am going to revisit each one of them to add some patina and equalize their colors, cause they do look a little too polished at the moment.

[jmacnamara]

The E-100 Jagdpanzer - Krokodil. The original model credit goes to Flakfernrohr and Rezaf. Stats and efx to follow; I'm spent.

I have shortened the barrel considerably to keep the body as big as the Panzer E-100. Perhaps I should remove the black thingy on the end of the barrel (-- you may notice my complete lack of expertise on the subject of barrels --) and let the gray barrel continue for as long as 148px allow to give it an illusion of length.

[guille1434]

Jmac: AWESOME heavy jagdpanthers... You are really an ace of german armor icons!
About the Krokodil, the darker part on the end of the barrel is called the muzzle brake... Its function it to divert some of the propellent charge generated gases to the sides and rear of the projectile line of fire to damper some of the gun recoil forces. I think you should leave it, because is a prominent feature of the 17 cm gun that was mounted on that "What if?" vehicle... I would make it a little lighter and in color and a tiny bit shorter if you allow me to give an opinion.

Comments apart, thanks for sharing your outstanding work!

[jmacnamara]

Jmac: AWESOME heavy jagdpanthers... You are really an ace of german armor icons!

One of these days you'll make me blush. Thanks for the compliment, but I have some seriously good source material to work with here. I'm particularly happy with the coloring of the Krokodil. I used the Hetzer for a template, whose patina carries over extremely well. When I have done what I set out to do, I'll revisit each and every icon to bring some consistency to the pack.

About the Krokodil, the darker part on the end of the barrel is called the muzzle brake... Its function it to divert some of the propellent charge generated gases to the sides and rear of the projectile line of fire to damper some of the gun recoil forces. I think you should leave it, because is a prominent feature of the 17 cm gun that was mounted on that "What if?" vehicle... I would make it a little lighter and in color and a tiny bit shorter if you allow me to give an opinion.

Comments apart, thanks for sharing your outstanding work!

Thanks for the info. Yeah a muzzle brake would make sense. Pity about the 148px limit. I've done both your suggestion and mine, and will take them in game to see which looks better. Yours is attached to this post, mine to the next. The winner will be included in the pack. Speaking of the pack, may I include the Kadzchens? Full credit to you of course, but it would be nice to put all the hypothetical vehicles in one neat little basket.

[jmacnamara]

Muzzle brake removed and barrel extended to the max.

[jmacnamara]

E-100_comparison.jpg (132.63 KiB) Viewed 4240 times

Not bad. Not bad at all. Note that the E-100 Tiger-Maus also had its muzzle brake removed to extend the barrel.

[guille1434]

Speaking of the pack, may I include the Kadzchens? Full credit to you of course, but it would be nice to put all the hypothetical vehicles in one neat little basket.

Of course you can add the Katzchen! The MTW series will be a nice adition to the pack, also I would be proud to have been able to collaborate in your project...

[rezaf]

It's jaw-dropping into which beautiful icons you managed to turn those raw images I sent you jmacnamara - outstanding work.

Also, I deserve no credit whatsoever for these icons, you needn't mention me each time. Thanks for making it known that they came from flak initially, though - I wish he'd been able to complete the set himself. (Flak, I hope you're well, wherever you are.)
At least now (once you're finished) everyone can make use of these fine units.
Once again, excellent work - thanks for making the effort.
_____
rezaf

[jmacnamara]

Guys, thanks again for the praise. I find that I handle criticism with a lot more ease than I can handle compliments. Nevertheless, it is greatly appreciated.

Now attached a work in progress. I need to do the shadows and polish the mask a bit in any case, but I am primary concerned with the turret, which could use some additional contrast. The track base is of the exact same size as the JagdPz E-50 Jagdpanther II, so I am happy about the size of the Pz E-50 Panther II. Also attached the old E-50, as used by Churchlakecity and Guille1434, based on a Gunpoint3D render.

[McGuba]

Many thanks for all these top quaility units, jmac!

Some of these will definitely find their way to the next update of the Battlefield: Europe mod even though, it will take some time... I am especially happy that you also added the animation offsets and the stats which will save a lot of time.

The mod ends in July 1945, so there is nothing against adding some of these planned tanks designs for the final months...

[jmacnamara]

I'm looking forward to seeing them in action!

A question for all interested: Attached you fill find the E-50. On the left my first attempt, on the right my second one, with the contrast cranked up, except for the wheelbase, which is slightly brighter. I think it looks better, but I would appreciate your opinions.

[McGuba]

Yeah, I also think the one with more contrast looks better. Just do not add too much contrast. I would again suggest taking a look on the vanilla units and compare the new units to them: they should have more or less the same amount of contrast, brightness, darkness, etc. etc. I know it is hard if not impossible to make an exact match, but as long as it does not stand out when placed next to vanilla units it is all right.

Just my 2 cents.

[jmacnamara]

The left one has a problem with its turret. It almost looks welded fixed onto the body, like a little jagdpanzer that wants to be a tank when it grows up. Contrast solved this, but the glaring side-skirt might pose another problem. Photoshop should have a "fix everything" function.

[jmacnamara]

Hmm. My new version (with some contrast to emphasize the turret) looks ugly beyond belief in game. Almost like the unit is embossed on the background.

Here:

e50_ugly.jpg (130.35 KiB) Viewed 4152 times

E75s provide for comparison.

I'll go back to my too bland E50 and will have to figure out a way to make the turret stand out more. Perhaps freehand darkening of the line between it and the main body.