Mat
General
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Post by Mat on Jul 30, 2015 23:38:01 GMT 1
Major i personally have not any Problem if Plate or not, but would accept the updates, sure! But how is it with (as example) Easy Eight Series with Gagarin Textures, will there not be a little difference then? great Textures Grot ! Really! Where can we download em?
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Post by Major Pain on Jul 31, 2015 2:54:33 GMT 1
Mat
The differences between 3rd Generation and 2nd Generation Shermans is the details like open hull after death and turret blows away, some changes in stowage arrangements, addition of a tow cables, newer Command Versions, and Earlier production models showing better options.
The will not be Rebuilds on Easy Eights, Heavies (Uparmored) or Jumbos. These are already complete and detailed.
Think of this. The Early Production Shermans were not modified in Africa. These Shermans were already able to take on PzIII and PzIV Tanks and were better than anything the Italians had in the Theater. The UK were the first to use them in battle, the US was not yet in the war. As the Panther and Tigers began to appear, the UK developed the FireFly and began to add Frontal protection to their Shermans.
The US provided a Field Armor Upgrade for the Early Tanks, and Mid Production Sherman had been changed to this standard. The most common Armor Add-ons were the Side Plates to protect the ammo storage and the front hood armor plates. The UK also added track spare links to the front, thinking this might help reduced the penetration factor of enemy shells. In some cases, it might have made a difference on deflecting shells on the 56 degree slope. But a straight on shot was not likely to matter since the tracks were not a huge factor. Sandbags also did not offer any reasonable protection since usually they bags and contents were simply blown away.
The Mid Production Shermans still had about the same Frontal Armor as the Early Production Models. So basically, the armor plate add-ons were a marginal improvement.
The Late Production Shermans had much thicker armor on every face, and the change in the frontal slope to 47 degrees was superior to the previous 56 degree slope on the early and mid production models.
In an attempt to provide better protection to crews, the Mid Production tanks, did receive many field upgrades, so this is an area that will be heavily modified over Generation 2 Shermans. Most of the Front protection was committed to the driver and co-driver hoods. These were areas were the angles formed a trap zone, where incoming shells could easily penetrate the hoods and kill the driver and co-driver and ignite the on-board ammo, causing internal explosions and fires. Most of the time, the turret would simply blow off the hull, many times injuring or killing the Turret Crew.
New Armor values will be adjusted to the actual data from the material used on these tanks. So I'll exploit all I can in this area. Remember: A Sherman 75mm Early, Mid production was about equal to a PzIV until the model F2/G. The newer long 75mm German Guns were much better on penetration and could slice through the Sherman Armor much easier than the previous short barrel guns. The PzIV Model H & J usually had the side armor, or skirts to protect the lower hull and tracks. This was actually a fair improvement against the US Sherman 75mm, causing more deflections on angled shots. This is one of the first uses of spaced or offset armor, taking advantage of the distance from the side armor. Turret also on the PzIV H/J usually had smaller turret skirts, but these were much weaker and did not offer as much of a benefit to the turret protection. The issue here were the armor side gates, or crew gates on these skirts that usually blew away on a direct hit. The circular shape sometimes might increase the deflection ability on the front or rear of the turret.
My purpose is to add to the number of battle tanks and the flavor of what the mappers can do. Not all of the tanks in a Platoon would look the same. Each mostly had that individual look to it, given by the crew. Since it is near impossible to do every version or appearance, I'll try to use the most common applications. You also must remember that in the US Army after 1944, you could find almost any Sherman Variant of M4, M4A1 and M4A3. They did not use the M4A2 or the M4A4. The US Marines and Russia used the M4A2, and the UK used nearly all of the M4A4s, along with other Allies. The UK also used the M4A1 and M4. I designate the M4 as M4A0 so as to distinguish between the other variants.
This Sherman Project will be divided by the 5 base Variants, M4, M4A1, M4A2, M4A3 and M4A4, and then by Early, Mid and Late Production Series.
M4 (M4A0): You might note only used the Late Production Hull with the 105mm Howitzer. At this time the 75mm Guns were phased out in favor of the 76mm and 105mm.
M4A1: These were the first to use the 76mm on the T23 Turret. While about half of the Late Production A1s had the 75mm gun, these were phased out in August 1944 when Eisenhower made it clear that he did not want any more 75mm guns on Shermans.
M4/M4A1 Note: The US Army favored these models because the engines and transmissions were the same. Both used Regular Fuel and most of the parts were common on both models. These models were eventually reduced in number as of July 1944, with only the M4(105) and M4A1(76) remaining in production.
M4A2: The US Marines did to use any of the Late Production A2s with the 76mm gun. All of the 76mm A2s went to the USSR or other allies. The 75mm was more than enough to handle any Japanese tanks, although the Marines did accept M4A3 with the 105mm Howitzer.
M4A3: Originally the Early Production Models were not accepted by the US Army or the US Marines. Many were sent to the UK or other Allies. Some Mid production models were sent to Italy (US ARMY) as replacements in Jan-November 1943 since M4 and M4A1 alone were not enough. The Late Production models found favor with the US Army and became the Main Series as of June 1944-Normandy. The UK did use many M4A3s but mostly all M4A3(75) in every production.... they did not favor the 76mm gun over the 17pdr Firefly. Canadians used both the M4A3(75) and M4A3(76) late production models.
M4A4: This model was only built with the 75mm gun and M4 Turret. The Mid Production models were favored by the UK for the Firefly. Some of the turrets on these models were cast with the rear box on the turret as an experimental turret for the UK. Most M4A4s were sent to the UK or other Allies. The US army did not use any of this type. Many Mid production models were sent to Commonwealth Nations or Territories as early as July 1941.
Other Variants: Most have been built already, but some may be updated as needs or requests are received.
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Mat
General
Posts: 1,814
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Post by Mat on Jul 31, 2015 8:22:40 GMT 1
i never knewed how many Sherman Variations existed>! Thank you for this Information, ill print it out :-)
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Post by Major Pain on Sept 20, 2015 20:54:51 GMT 1
Open for Business... Gagarin and I have been collaborating on a new T34 Series over the lat 18 months. These are T34 3rd Generation, but will compliment the T34 Series II. I made some drastic changes to the hulls and turrets, which really open them up. The Front Site is now an option that can be opened up showing the driver. The inside of the hull can be seen if the turret blows away. The Turrets likewise can show both open or closed hatches. We did extensive research to really make certain that these T34s are based upon the actual production models by the various factories during the war. There were far more models documented than have ever been shown in any release. Some models had very slight changes, but they may have changed the appearance just enough, we decided to include them. Because this project is still underway, Gagarin urged me to release what we have ready to roll onto your battlefields. So without any more delay, here are the 1940 T34s. These tanks were built at the Kharkiv Locomotive Factory (KhPZ). This Factory was the very first to produce T34s. In 1941, because of German advances, the factory was evacuated to Nizhny Tagil in the Urals and merged with the Uralvagonzavod Factory, to form the Ural Tank Factory No. 183. I congratulate Gagarin on his excellent skins. Link: www.mediafire.com/download/pu7rr9dlf44zdvl/T34_mod_1940.zip
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Post by Major Pain on Sept 21, 2015 0:53:55 GMT 1
World War II saw many new innovations in vehicles from various nations. This particular Vehicle Class was found in every US Theater. Dodge WC Series II (Part A) This compliment the original Series I from 2010. New, improved models, more detail.... and armed with MGs. The last Model is the Forward Observer (FO) and features the Radio, Radioman, Officer with Binoculars, and a Thompson MG Soldier ready for defense. These have been on the Desk for some time. Completed the Final Export today. Part A includes WC52, WC57 and WC58. Part B is still underway and includes WC62 & WC63 Armed versions. I'm sorry... these have not been tested by the usual process. (Time delay trying to rush these out.) Report any issues. Some new types of Weapon Uses are included, and may affect operation. Link: www.mediafire.com/folder/g4qimjc0ci4ze/WC2_Part-AThanks MP
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Deleted
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Post by Deleted on Sept 21, 2015 1:54:04 GMT 1
Certainly very good work, you two.
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Mat
General
Posts: 1,814
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Post by Mat on Sept 21, 2015 8:24:06 GMT 1
Thank you very much for those releases!! (i realize you must be a good Poker Player)
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Post by ricckhard on Sept 21, 2015 10:31:46 GMT 1
What can we say ? Definitely you never cease to amaze us, thank you for your job and the new life you bring to BK Major !!!
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Deleted
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Post by Deleted on Sept 21, 2015 11:20:13 GMT 1
These are amazing models. Very, very cool. The textures of the T-34's are outstanding, so my compliments to gagarin as well. But how can I resign, when these Dodges are asking for a 'paint job'?
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Post by Quintaxel on Sept 21, 2015 12:16:45 GMT 1
T-34's are gems, both in modelling and texturing! If we had a rating system for rating models and textures then these models could be a benchmark. Thanks guys. vonosten: You see,....you can't resign!
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Post by ariete on Sept 21, 2015 12:59:48 GMT 1
dodge series is my favourite US trucks series. also the jeep series MBwilly (sorry i don't remeber now) is very cool. anyway see that here much more sophisticated of the previous series, it leave me very amazed. very cool work.
just a personal opinion about soldiers who stand up in your models, this in general, also in krupp series for example (where are immediatly back to the driver), they don't look so cool when they are forward - next to the driving position, i mean i would make them sit down and the MG more down, like in other models you did (willy jeep series but also here models on the bottom-left), or anyway more down reither the heigh they reach stand up. in this specific series, soldiers who stand up in the models on the right are absolutly astonish (ahah there's one where the machinegunners is out of the vehicle, great!), i was refering in those models like those on the left. then i know, they were as you built .. it's just a personal view opinion, just to make follow some words after the comma where before is wrote cool.
thank you major
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Post by Major Pain on Sept 21, 2015 16:29:18 GMT 1
Thank you... The Dodge WC-52
I just wanted to show off some of the little features that separate these new models from the first Series. I used the new soldier system in order to change the soldier features. Now the faces and uniforms can be different on selected models. The sheet metal on the sides and back is stamped with the recesses around the side and rear lights, as well as the fuel cap. This adds slightly to the relief/depth. Separate parts for the rear wheel well which is metal, and the bed inside which is wood. Much easier to see this effect without having to draw it in. Windscreen now folds, down over the hood. Actual Radiator Cap. New Tires which provides better detail. The center hub much easier to define. New Bumpers which show highlights better along with a separate front grille. Easier to highlight the Winch. Bottom is fully enclosed now. Canvas has inside to prevent seeing background through model. Canvas is also opened up, not enclosed on WC-52, WC-57/58 and WC-63. The WC-63s are not completed yet. These are the 1.5 Ton Troop Carriers... and they have the same type of features seen here. I had worked on the released models before my last surgery. That is why I decided to make a partial release now. Any changes or added models will appear in Part B Release. I did not include the Alternate Detailed Skin. If anyone wants it, I'll send by email.
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Post by Major Pain on Sept 23, 2015 1:45:26 GMT 1
StuGIII Ausf A Ausf A through F8 Almost ready... Look for them about Friday... maybe Thursday is the planets poles do not switch.
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Post by Deleted on Sept 23, 2015 2:43:31 GMT 1
WOW!!
Enthusiastically.
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Post by Deleted on Sept 23, 2015 9:39:40 GMT 1
Wow! This Stug is really a masterpiece! I wonder how it would look with some paint
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