View Full Version : "NATO" Mechanized Infantry skin


ZedderZulu
Jan 03, 2006, 03:57 PM
Hey all - first post and attempt at skinning, basically I saw that there are one or two skins that turn the Modern Armour into desert camo to match the Mech Inf. Well I decided to reverse that - and give the Mech Inf some green camo like the tank (I *think* "NATO Camo" is a more technical name for it) that said I don't know how accurate the camo I've used is - but anyway.

Well, like I say, it's the first version, so I'm certainly open to opinion. :)

/edit - I haven't done a "button" for the new version, just so you're aware

Golem_Ryder
Jan 03, 2006, 04:16 PM
can i use that for a unique unit im making for a civilisation? (Togo) ill make sure i mention that you made the texture.

Togos a country in west africa and i just thought it might suit them as a lot of land there is forested.

as you can tell that means i like your skin :)

Hell's Angel
Jan 03, 2006, 07:53 PM
Cool first post:goodjob:
You could make another one with a lighter green,will look really cool.

Iron Beagle
Jan 03, 2006, 08:52 PM
That looks good, but it's a little hard to see. In the real world, of course, that's the whole idea...

ZedderZulu
Jan 04, 2006, 06:11 AM
Cheers very much for the comments and welcome :)

I've done a slightly lighter version that may/may not be better suited.
I've also done one in a Soviet-esque camo drab - mimicking a possible BMP-2 - a real-life Russian counterpart for the Bradley.
It's mostly for people who want to create another UU or perhaps have it form part of a East/West tech side thingy. If that makes any sense.

I'm not quite done with it, but I'll release it - as a skin and unfortunately nothing more because I'll be damned if I can get my head around the XMLs and Python at this point - hopefully soon. For the Soviet camo, I had to adjust the envi file as well. The release version will include that and also a new button picture - but I'm toying with whether to base it off the Mech Inf in that skin, or find a suitable picture of a real BMP-2.

@Golem_Ryder - I'd be absolutely delighted if you want to use my skin in your mod. It's interesting what you said though, because it gave me an idea. Basically I thought I'd reskin the Marine model and create a unit looking like a generic African Government soldier - I thought the model of the Marine, especially with its Kalashnikov, was too good to pass by for a reskin. :)

It too needs a little more work, but I'd really appreciate opinions on it :D

Golem_Ryder
Jan 04, 2006, 06:41 AM
Thanks ZedderZulu, looking at the two mech infantrys i think the soviet version looks more suitable as soviet vehicles tend to be more widely spread than nato vehicles (in africa) i also like your african government infantry and i may want to use that too. trouble is i dont want my civ to have 2 unique units so im not totally sure what to do. maybe i could just add the infantry as a replacement for normal infantry but not alter its stats as a sort of "flavor unit". what id really like is a mech infantry with a african soldier poking out of the hatch with his ak-47 but i dont think you can do that yet can you?

finally could you tell me where all the dds files go as i cant find them :(

Aranor
Jan 04, 2006, 06:48 AM
man your on a roll woth these skins:D they look fantastic:goodjob:

ZedderZulu
Jan 05, 2006, 11:39 AM
Cheers again :)
What I'll now do is merge the Soviet camo with the original game's marking system, because I don't think (I don't know to be honest though) that a Red Star would remain on the Soviet vehicles in Africa - even if the paint scheme does. :)

I think probably the best thing to do is replace an existing infantry unit with my African Infantry - though you will have to fiddle with stats because as it stands, surely the Mech Inf would replace normal soldiers. But I mean, I painted the African Infantry on the Marine model - perhaps that is the best unit to replace for the Togo forces. :)

As for the mechinf dds, I place mine in the ...\My Documents\My Games\Sid Meier's Civilization 4\CustomAssets\art\units\mechanizedinfantry folder - that should make it work ingame. If that's what you're asking about.

Moving on, I thought I'd try something different with the Modern Armour - I thought I could create a Soviet look there as well, by replacing much of the original details with details from T-72 schematics. Needless to say I don't think it went very well - so I think I'll wait till the SDKs...

Gunner
Jan 05, 2006, 05:30 PM
That BMP-ish soviet mech infantry is great considering that you're working with a Bradely model. Good job!

Golem_Ryder
Jan 06, 2006, 12:47 PM
Yeah i think your rigth about the soviet insignia, if possible could you replace it with a tiny togolese flag? a picture of the flag can be found on google image search.

im gonna just include your african infantry texture as a replacement for the normal marine texture and (with your permission) i will try to get the maker of the superciv mod to include it with every single african civ :)

i found all my dds files, i didnt realised i had to unpack the fpks to access them. youre right about the modern armour texture it doesnt really make much difference, im sure that once the sdk comes out you will be able to make your own (or get some else) 3d model which looks like as t-72 so your creative skills can work at there full potential :)

ZedderZulu
Jan 10, 2006, 05:36 PM
Okay, here we go, I've got the African infantry and Togoese APC done I think. :D

You'll have to rename the names of the texture files if you create them as unique units because as is all they'll do is replace the marine and mechanized infantry. Anyway, I'll leave that up to you - I *think* the buttons work, you may have to get back to me on that in case they don't.

As for changes, I retextured the African soldier so that fabric covering some of the boot was removed, and that the wood in the Kalashnikov is darker as well. I think it works. As for permission for using the soldier skin in African civ mods - I'd be delighted :)
I've done a button (it's ironically an photo of a Togolese soldier) - this I may change later, I'm undecided.

As for the Togo MechInf I took the liberty of two small Togo flags on the side, but also I put on the turret a marking that is (or at least was from 1960 to some time in the 90's) used on Togolese Air Force planes. I simply have no idea whether they use the same marking on Army vehicles, so I took a liberty with that.
Hope you likes :D

I've also done Soviet WWII infantry on the stock infantry shape. The shape is not ideal, but I'm fairly happy with it. I've still some work to do with it however.

Golem_Ryder
Jan 11, 2006, 03:42 AM
very good , now all im waiting for is a leaderhead (C rolands making it) and then i can release this civilisation :)

i wont include your marine in my first version but later on im going to make an "African Civ" mod which adds all the african civs which have been made and replaces their marine skin with yours.

Thanks and keep watching the "New Civilisations" forum for the mod

Sir espectral
Jan 11, 2006, 08:21 AM
what does NATO means?
I saw in Ufo AS:
7.62mm Ammo
7.62mm NATO ammo

and now a NATO tank?
:confused: :confused: :confused:

Golem_Ryder
Jan 11, 2006, 08:28 AM
Nato is the "North Atlantic Treaty Organisation", it was founded by the us to protect the interests of it and its allys in europe (france, turkey, greece,U.k...i cant remember other countrys which are in it)

Lord Olleus
Jan 11, 2006, 09:02 AM
isreal, germany and most of europe these days

Grohan
Jan 11, 2006, 12:35 PM
Wow, all your skins look excellent!:goodjob:

Iron Beagle
Jan 11, 2006, 03:14 PM
what does NATO means?
I saw in Ufo AS:
7.62mm Ammo
7.62mm NATO ammo

and now a NATO tank?
:confused: :confused: :confused:

NATO is the acronym for an alliance of European countries, The US and Canada.
The reason ammunition was stamped NATO is that this particular caliber was standard among the military small arms all the member nations. That way they could share ammunition.

Harada the Grea
Jan 14, 2006, 01:51 PM
1st ever post

using the skin, makes for more real unit, :blush: anyone know where I can get mech artillery or a mech aaa as seen in civ 3 :confused: :

Sir espectral
Jan 14, 2006, 03:03 PM
Nato is the "North Atlantic Treaty Organisation", it was founded by the us to protect the interests of it and its allys in europe (france, turkey, greece,U.k...i cant remember other countrys which are in it)


Oh, of course.
NATO = OTAN :rolleyes:

RED DIAMOND
Jan 21, 2006, 04:04 PM
Thank you thank you thank you! So many times the unit skin color is overlooked in games like this. Frankly, they should have included the option for more dark skinned units like the Mali Skirmisher for the African civs.

Can you do the other gunpowder units and then the melee units too?:D

BTW, I can help you with the additional UU and add-on unit issue you mentioned in the readme;)