GeneralMatt's Creation Thread

[IagoAlberto]

Looks very good, now, however I can see a spot where there is no side plating at the bottom of the bridge at the very front. Otherwise Wolf, give my compliments to Matt for some more high quality work. It temporarily satiates my lust for more ship models. Any idea what Matt will be working on next?

 

[Wolfshanze]

Looking good. Will you still raise the front deck ?

Looks very good, now, however I can see a spot where there is no side plating at the bottom of the bridge at the very front. Otherwise Wolf, give my compliments to Matt for some more high quality work. It temporarily satiates my lust for more ship models. Any idea what Matt will be working on next?

I have no idea what either of you are talking about... I sent the Graf Spee back to the docks about 1,000 times to get the look just right...


Real Graf Spee:

Civ4 Graf Spee:

Do realize that in-game, you're not even going to see it that detailed, you'll be looking at it overhead and probably zoomed out considerably... I think it looks fine now.

 

[mamba]

I have no idea what either of you are talking about... I sent the Graf Spee back to the docks about 1,000 times to get the look just right...

I was talking about this (see front)

but from your shot, the blueprint is not accurate

IagoAlberto probably talks about your 3rd pic, at the left (front) end of the buildings, there is a gap in the wall (you won't notice that one in game)

Do realize that in-game, you're not even going to see it that detailed, you'll be looking at it overhead and probably zoomed out considerably...

agreed

I think it looks fine now.

it does, so what is the difference between the final version and the one in your mod ?

 

[Wolfshanze]

but from your shot, the blueprint is not accurate

When it comes to making models, I NEVER rely on one source... I always check multiple sources, paintings, blueprints, sketches and actual photos... if you remember any of my pic-grabs from previous models, you know I can put-up about 40 or 50 pics in no-time flat for reference material. The Graf Spee has been no different. If you want to see all the development of how the Graf Spee was made, and just how many times I sent Matt "back to the dock" to get it right, Check this thread out. I'm pretty confident this is where we need to be with the Graf Spee... it's been in shop long enough... it's time to release (should get it out today).

so what is the difference between the final version and the one in your mod ?

The one in my Mod is indeed a "beta" Graf Spee... the one released on the forum will be newer/more-up-to-date. I really needed to get my mod out and couldn't wait any longer as I had some major crash bugs I needed to get fixed... but the beta is good-enough to use in-game.

The difference? The model itself is the same in both the beta and the final release. I also (at the time of releasing the Wolfshanze Mod) didn't know how long it would be to fix the issue from beta to final release. The biggest/most-noticeable difference will be the centering... the beta version isn't centered in the square properly... it's too far back (to the stern) in the square/circle... Matt couldn't get the centering right for the life of him, so I outsourced it to Coyote, and he just now fixed the centering. One other issue may or may-not be the blast effect of the guns... I think they're off a bit, trying to get that lined-up correctly too... so in a nutshell, the centering is fixed in the final release, and there may or may not be an improved alignment of the blast effect from the guns... either way, v1.0 of the Graf Spee should be released to the public later today. The thing bugging me the most about the beta was the centering, and that has just been fixed (it will of course get updated next time I update the Wolfshanze mod).

Moving on...

Any idea what Matt will be working on next?

Yep... take a guess...

 

[mamba]

Looks like the Tegetthoff to me

 

[Wolfshanze]

Looks like the Tegetthoff to me

That would be the one... oh... and come to think about it... I think the late beta in the Wolfshanze Mod does have some minor differences in the model as well... mostly with the placement of the lifeboats and scout plane... if I recall correctly, I think the late Beta in the Wolfshanze Mod has the lifeboats and plane as they are in the pictures on the previous page... the final release has the Ar-196 scout plane further back on the catapult and the rear lifeboats were moved up a deck... doesn't look a whole lot different in-game, but I'm a stickler for details!

 

[IagoAlberto]

I understand wanting to get the model out, Graf Spee looks very good as is. I'm excited about Teggetthoff, its really one of the best looking dreadnoughts of the era. Even if its torpedo protection left something to be be desired . . . The outline looks great as far as I can tell from looking at my old copies of Jane's. Very good work Matt and Wolf!

 

[Wolfshanze]

The Teggethoff is coming along nicely... here is Matt's latest work, at only 6,432 polys too!

Okay... no... sorry... that's not Matt's model, and it won't be 6,000+ polys... but we'll get it looking as close to the above model as possible and still be playable in Civ4 without needing a 12.0GHz computer.

 

[Wolfshanze]

I would have thought people care about a new naval unit... no... nobody? Shame... it's coming along nicely...

 

[RPG]

It is coming along nicely!!

So is Matt still working on his "to do" list?

 

[Wolfshanze]

It is coming along nicely!!

So is Matt still working on his "to do" list?

If by Matt's "to do" list you mean Wolf's "to do" list, then for the moment... yes... but as soon as he's done with the Teggethoff, he'll be back on Matt's "to do" list!

 

[RPG]

Doesn't matter to me who's list it is...all long as we get to see lots of new naval units!!

 

[Wolfshanze]

Doesn't matter to me who's list it is...all long as we get to see lots of new naval units!!

That's definitely on both our lists!

 

[Wolfshanze]

Comments? Anybody like/dislike/total apathy?


Austrian Dreadnoughts SMS Tegetthoff and SMS Szent Istvan in formation (in-game).

 

[mamba]

Comments? Anybody like/dislike/total apathy

They look good, does it mean the model is finished ? Waiting for your upload then

 

[Wolfshanze]

They look good, does it mean the model is finished ? Waiting for your upload then

The Models are playable at this point... but we're perfectionists! Some minor tweaking of the model is still in-order and pending (tying up some loose-ends).

If I can be so bold as to predict Matt's wrap-up time, I would guesstimate and say that you can expect an official forum upload within 24-48 hours.

I think this is the first ship Matt has done for a non-standard/default Civ... so how many people will want an Austrian ship (could also be used for Hungary) is anybody's guess, but it will be a very good model (and I'll certainly use it in the Wolfshanze Mod).

 

[RPG]

Are all the turrets animated?

And do you know what else he'll be working on?

 

[Berenthor]

This already looks very good!! Looking forward to the finished model

 

[Wolfshanze]

Are all the turrets animated?

And do you know what else he'll be working on?

Yes... the turrets are all working...

SMS Tegetthoff fires on the HMS Dreadnought... the SMS Szent Istvan maneuvers in the background

Rumor has it, the HMS Hood and HMS Queen Elizabeth classes for some strange reason are not enough British Battleships, so when Matt gets back to his own list of ships we desperately need for Civ4 (after the Tegetthoff), he'll be working on his THIRD British Battleship (fourth if you count the HMS Dreadnought), the King George V class of English Battleships... because we all need more British battleships!

I know folks... I try and get something different/unique with each new model, don't look at me, I tried!

 

[Berenthor]

Nice screenshot is it me or does the texture of the HMS Dreadnought look much sharper/clearer than the one from the Austrian BB? Maybe it is just the screenie or the fact that it isn't the final version yet.