Geezer

Progress shots below of stuff for WW1 AA guns, maintenance stuff, and 1940 desert landing ground stuff.

No, in principle I have no problem with sharing this stuff. The only potential problem is file conversion so IL2 can accept textures and models designed for FE2. I have no interest in learning how to do that, but if someone else will convert the files I'm willing to talk to them.

Steven 1918 and I are hatching a plot to develop more ground objects. First shot shows WIPs for WW1 AA stuff, plus a balloon winch. I'm also working on ground objects for 1940 desert war airfields and landing grounds.

Thanks. While I honestly don't know how far I can push the FE envelope, I intend to find out. I suspect that high-res graphics will be the problem, rather than polycount. When finished, the Halberstadt's polycount should be 12K-15K, while the standard game's RE8 model is somewhere in the mid 20s. TK once wrote that FE uses mip-mapping, so I hope that the impact of hi-res graphics will be confined to aircraft close to the gamer. If any of the old-timers here have experimented with BIG artwork, I'd love to hear about the results.

I'd also like to thank you guys for the guidance you have given Shoresroad. It's been so long since I had FE2 installed that I am pretty much starting over again, and the info above will be a big help.

The finished model will use two 2028 x 2048 bitmaps, plus a couple of small ones for wires, spinning prop, etc. I'll also make a couple of LODs - hopefully, that will reduce impact to frame rates. Two more shots below: cockpit and "Evil Hun" pilot figure (still a WIP).

As I started to dust off my old files for Storm Over The Sahara, I realized I had forgotten a great deal about mapping complex shapes. So, I thought I would start with something a bit easier, with few compound curves and then apply lessons learned to the desert war stuff. Shots show mapping and texture progress for the fuselage - wings and wing struts will be done on a second bmp.

Excellent! The camels and cavalry are impressive, as is the terrain artwork. Looks like the ground tiles are 512 x 512?

Gorgeous stuff! You put a LOT of effort into that, and it shows.

OK - I've found all of my old backups for WW1 pilots, WW1 AA guns, and Storm Over The Sahara (SOTS). I've also found FE, and FE2 - to avoid TK's tinkering, I don't want anything more recent? I have been away for some time and have forgotten A LOT, so bear with me when I ask questions. I also found a 1916 Morane-Saulnier Type P that is more-or-less complete and ready to map and texture. Some time ago, Panama Red very graciously tested some new FE pilots, but then I had to check out so we have lost touch with each other. I'm a models/textures guy, so someone else will have to assist with getting the new stuff ingame and working - contact me by PM if you are interested.

Sorry for the long silence, but I've been busy with real world stuff. I'm just now returning to modding, so I still have to inventory everything and figure out where I am. The good news is that, being recently retired, I will now have more time for Third Wire.

Good thinking! FE is the best Third Wire sim for low altitude action because of ground tile size. You could call your mod First Helos!

A number of WW1 airfield ground objects are undergoing test right now, many of them suitable for 1930s conflicts and WW2.