Kerch peninsula into Tunisia, Sicily..

[esk_pedja]

I played in Photoshop with some files of downloaded Winter mod for Kuban (Kerch peninsula) trying to make a landscape for Mediterranean dogfight... like Tunisia, Sicily, Algeria...

For a further "desertification" I need advice or assistance of some more experienced moder... 

 

        

 

I really enjoy dogfighting tropical Bf109 F4 vs Spit MkVb in QM single plyer, feels immersive...

( Maybe I need original  carpetb_001.dds > carpetb_016.dds ? )

 

       

 

I keep it as Kuban Autumn map, which I don't use anyway... 

 

Edited August 22, 2020 by esk_pedja

[BB5000]

Nice, I dropped a suggestion to add a fictive Sicily-South Italy campaign to PWCG a while ago..

[esk_pedja]

This betta mess is getting more serious, I'll need a sun cream over ex-Kerch peninsula...

 

 

 

 

On Eastern side of Peninsula there are parts of Libyan desert style...

 

Well, I am absolute rookie in maps editing so please be considerate...

Mediterranean combat is real refreshment, after years of freezing maps.

 

 

 

Edited August 22, 2020 by esk_pedja

[esk_pedja]

I don't have original Kuban Autumn map... so if somebody wants to testy it as JGSME pack - he is more than welcome ( I apply it as clean copy/paste... )

[PicksKing]

I recommend to use google maps to find a more proper color scheme and the right amount of vegetaion. So I attached a satellite photo of tunisia. And indeed its desertious (is that a word? ?)  but it has very different shades of brown and beige AND its even marbled with small portions of green. I think thats important for a realistic look.

Of course at some places its more green and has less fields and at some others vice versa. You will have to find a compromise.

 

[esk_pedja]

None of the game maps is even close to satellite details,  let alone the mod...

It would take 3 professional map designers to work with a +50 texture files to make a real world map, for a few months...

 

This landscape was much less detailed in 1940-43...

 

We have a brand new ww2 simulation with a simple yellow terrain...

[Stonehouse]

Not in colour but it does still look quite similar as a generalisation to the current satellite pic. US B17s attacking El Aouina airdrome near Tunis Tunisia Feb 1943

Edited August 23, 2020 by No457_Stonehouse

[PicksKing]

11 hours ago, esk_pedja said:

None of the game maps is even close to satellite details,  let alone the mod...

It would take 3 professional map designers to work with a +50 texture files to make a real world map, for a few months...

 

I am not talking about details. The ingame textures resolution is way to small anyway to get photorealism. I am talking about the color scheme and distribution of colors and elements like fields, untilled area of sand, gras, bushes. These elements should be present and well balanced for a proper look.

Looking at your screenshots above make me think its too monotonous.

 

Since the mod is nonprofit, I would even assume you could easily use some satellite photos for further editing. 

And no, this would not take months of work done by 3 professional designers. It would cost me alone (very non-professional) about 1 or 2 weeks. 

 

12 hours ago, esk_pedja said:

This landscape was much less detailed in 1940-43...

 

We have a brand new ww2 simulation with a simple yellow terrain...

Watch the aerial photo posted above by No457_Stonehous. Its not a "simple yellow terrain." Tunisia and Algeria are indeed only desert inland but for not at coast regions. For beautys and diversitys sake I would concentrate on these coast regions.

[esk_pedja]

I had enough of modding, here it is, open beta is perfect for my QM and SP fun generally:

 

http://www.mediafire.com/file/7a42f9g4yq6cd5q/Mediterranean.rar/file

 

( I included two slightly modified plane skins, from ages ago, don't know the original "painters" )

 

 

 

Feel free to use it, modify, make SP missions...

 

Take care: 

- I only installed it copy/paste in folder, without any original file (without any Kuban Autumn) ... don"t have original Kuban Autumn (deleted )

- Make a backup of original, before testing !  If you have some other moded files (winter) - be careful !

- Never tested with JGSME

- Africa is only at Kerch peninsula! Other parts of landscape are out of missions perimeter...

                  

> If you manage to improve it, make SP missions... or achieve something else (whatever) - be kind to share with us ? !

 

Good luck with this beginner's attempt... you'll need it !

 

( ...do not forget your sun cream )

 

 

-  -  -  -  -  -  -  -  -  -  -  -  -  -  -  -  -  -  -  -  -  -  -  -  -  -  -

 

Modified African landscape textures... dark areas lighter and added "desert grass" :

 

 

 

 

Hope to share it soon. for pilots who prefer that patch...

 

 

 

Edited August 25, 2020 by esk_pedja

[Beebop]

I think this is an excellent idea.

Thank you esk_pdeja for all your work.  ?

 

Can anyone make this into a JSGME friendly file? 

I have absolutely no idea how to do it or I would.  I understand it may be complex and am more than happy to wait for a result.

I am leery of just placing this into the game and maybe messing something up.  Besides, I'm not sure how to do that anyway.

 

Even if it is a "beginners" work and at this time only covers the Kerch Peninsula, I would love to see the prospect of a "desert map" for Great Battles while waiting (hopefully) for a true map in the (far, far?) future.

 

Edited August 25, 2020 by Beebop

[AWC]

On 8/24/2020 at 1:32 AM, esk_pedja said:

 

 

 

 

That vegetation looks really good! Is it just a texture?

Edited August 25, 2020 by Lemsip

[Blitzen]

This makes for an interesting comparison to the new Tobruk map over at CloD Desert Wings Tobruk, don't it just?

Thanks for your work !

 

[Beebop]

I'd really like to try this.  Since there isn't a JSGME version (?), how do you install it?  I've looked through the game files and can't seem to find some of the files in the D/L'ed folder.  Plus there are two of some folders like "ROADS" in different places.  What goes where?

Or is it already JSGME friendly?  Should I put the folder in JSGME and enable?

[esk_pedja]

Just make a copy (backup) of your original LANDSCAPE_Kuban_a from "graphics" folder - to some safe place !

Then, paste (overwrite) it with a moded (downloaded) LANDSCAPE_Kuban_a... quite simple. 

 

 

14 hours ago, Lemsip said:

That vegetation looks really good! Is it just a texture?

Yes... of course

 

 

Edited August 25, 2020 by esk_pedja

[Beebop]

30 minutes ago, esk_pedja said:

a moded (downloaded) LANDSCAPE_Kuban_a

Sorry for being thick as a brick, but where do I find a "(downloaded) LANDSCAPE_Kuban_a"? 

Or how do I make one?

I'm no mod maker, just a mod user and, being somewhat new to this iteration of IL-2, fairly ignorant, it seems. ?

[esk_pedja]

You have a download link in a post above your first post... it goes where you point in browser (your current downloads)

[Missionbug]

1 hour ago, Beebop said:

Sorry for being thick as a brick, but where do I find a "(downloaded) LANDSCAPE_Kuban_a"? 

Or how do I make one?

I'm no mod maker, just a mod user and, being somewhat new to this iteration of IL-2, fairly ignorant, it seems. ?

 

Hello Beebop, if you take a look in your mods folder you will most likely have one or all of the Kuban texture mods like this 'Kuban Field Textures and Tweaks'.

 

Take a look in that or any other of that type of folder and you will find if you follow the path: data/Graphics you will find three folders one of which is 'LANDSCAPE_Kuban_a', the idea is paste the Medditeranean textures inside that or else make a similar folder using the same paths but with just the 'LANDSCAPE_Kuban_a' folder on its own so you can try the new colours without changing anything in the existing folder.

 

Hope that makes sense.

 

Thank you very much esk_pedja for the textures, really appreciated.

 

Take care and be safe.

 

Wishing you all the very best, Pete.

[Beebop]

OK Missionbug.  That what I needed to get started. 

I know where my 'LANDSCAPE_Kuban_a' is.  I made a copy of that and placed it on my desktop.

So I take the contents of the folder esk_pedja provided and put all of it in the 'LANDSCAPE_Kuban_a' folder in game?

I'll give it a try.  If it doesn't work I'll use my backup to replace the modified one.

[Beebop]

Thanks Missionbug.  That worked.  All I needed was a little more clarity.

I now have two folders, a "desert" 'LANDSCAPE_Kuban_a' and the stock 'LANDSCAPE_Kuban_a' and I can swap them out.

And it's more than just the Kerch Peninsula.  It's the entire coast.  Only the inlands North of the mountains currently retain the standard cultivated fields.

Now to figure out how to "JSGME" it.

Attached is a screenshot of the mod.  I hope development continues on this.

[Stonehouse]

In your mods folder create a structure something like the pic and the folders LANDSCAPE_Kuban_a and Bf109F4 and SpitfireMkVb and their contents are from esk_pedja's download. Start JSGME and you should see an entry for Mediterranean in the left window which you can then enable. Note Mediterranean can be any name that suits you but the folders below must be as shown. See here for JSGME manual 

[Beebop]

I have created a working JSGME Friendly version of this repaint.

 

Before you start ...

 

This step is not absolutely necessary but just in case and for safety do the following first;

1.  Open your Main Game Folder
(STEAM USERS:  C:\Program Files (x86)\Steam\steamapps\common\IL-2 Sturmovik Battle of Stalingrad\

OTHERS:  'X': (Drive you placed the game on)\IL-2 Sturmovik Battle of Stalingrad\)

 

2. Navigate to data > graphics  and locate the folder named "LANDSCAPE_Kuban_a" and make a copy of it.  Place it in a safe place. 

Should anything go wrong you can replace your current folder with this one to return to the stock version.  This should not be a problem but this way we invoke Murphy's Law (if you do this you won't need to but if you don't you'll wish you did) and you won't have to re-download the game should something go wacky on you.

 

Now you are ready to safely install the mod.

 

INSTALLATION INSTRUCTIONS:

Download the file from the link provided below;  (Updated with newest Textures)

 

http://www.mediafire.com/file/uh5pa33sb3gfd03/KUBAN_Desert.zip/file

Open the zip file and place the folder "Kuban_Desert" in your 'MODS' folder.
Enable/Disable via the JSGME.

 

Now Bob is your Uncle.

 

I have tested this several times and it works perfectly.  When I enable the mod the textures show up, when I disable the mod I return to the stock autumn textures.

I am looking forward to continued improvements to this mod.

 

Edited August 27, 2020 by Beebop
UPDATED FILE WITH NEWEST TEXTURES

[Missionbug]

Great to know you got it sorted out Beebop, glad I was able to help, enjoy.

 

I already have a JSGME folder in use and just assumed you had as well because you have tried a few things prior to this, sorry if you also needed help with that as well but you have got there from what I can see.

 

For my own experiment I used a folder named Mediterranean as in the original download from esk_pedja and added it in with my existing Kuban repaint after deactivating that folder and then just activated as you would any other new folder you would add into the MOD folder. If the existing repaint folder had been left active what normally happens then is the newly activated folder will essentially advise it will overwrite the one you already have active and use the newer folder, I assume though that my summer and winter would have remained active had I not already deactivated that folder, just the autumn one used instead of the original.  Once tested I then just deactivated things again and reintroduced my original repaints, better that way so you know when you next play a campaign or mission you have the original Autumn map in place.

 

There is a campaign available I have played for the Spitfire VB representing events in Greece if memory serves, that would be ideal for this med repaint if still available.

 

Take care and be safe.

 

Wishing you all the very best, Pete.

[esk_pedja]

"Desert grass" was too saturated, when it was evenly distributed all over landscape...

It looks more natural when it is randomly distributed... so I made new version as "random" dense distribution :

 

 

 

Version2 of North Africa landscape... link : 

http://www.mediafire.com/file/31mz9edxek60ena/Mediterranean2.rar/file

 

Have fun... or improve it...

 

 

Edited August 27, 2020 by esk_pedja

[Beebop]

Here is a generic Torch P-38;

 

Available here:
http://www.mediafire.com/file/hr7w7stdn9wqwdn/Torch+P-38.zip/file

[Sakivano]

1 hour ago, esk_pedja said:

"Desert grass" was too saturated, when it was evenly distributed all over landscape...

It looks more natural when it is randomly distributed... so I made new version as "random" dense distribution :

 

 

 

Version2 of North Africa landscape... link : 

http://www.mediafire.com/file/31mz9edxek60ena/Mediterranean2.rar/file

 

Have fun... or improve it...

 

 

I love this mod!!!

[Blitzen]

I've missed something(s) Does this install with JSGME and does it effect the whole Kerch map? Thanks for your work!

[Beebop]

@Blitzen.

In my post above (6 posts up)  I have compiled a JSGME version using the newest textures provided by esk_pedja.

Edited August 27, 2020 by Beebop

[Blitzen]

7 minutes ago, Beebop said:

@Blitzen.

In my post above (6 posts up)  I have compiled a JSGME version using the newest textures provided by esk_pedja.

got it & the P-38 -Thanks!

[Beebop]

You're welcome.

Enjoy!

[Blitzen]

6 minutes ago, Beebop said:

You're welcome.

Enjoy!

Can you answer my other question ; does this mod change/ cover the entire Kerch map?

BTW it makes quite a comparison with the Tobruk map over at DWTobruk...

[Beebop]

12 minutes ago, Blitzen said:

does this mod change/ cover the entire Kerch map?

Only the Kerch Peninsula, on the Crimea side of the strait, the Northwestern corner of Kuban by the strait and the coastline.  It also has has "deserty" ground textures but autumn trees.  On the interior the standard autumn ground textures remain.

There's enough of the map IMO to have Quick Mission Fun and to build small missions on that have a desert "flavor".

 

To get something akin to the CLoD Tobruk look will take some time.

On thing, the grass remains when on the ground or if you land or crash in a field.  Not noticeable from altitude though.  For best immersion when taking off and landing from airbases go into the Game GUI to Settings > Grass and turn grass 'Off' while using this repaint.

Edited August 27, 2020 by Beebop

[esk_pedja]

5 hours ago, Beebop said:

Here is a generic Torch P-38;

 

Available here:
http://www.mediafire.com/file/hr7w7stdn9wqwdn/Torch+P-38.zip/file

I think that this P-38 is late war model BoBp, superior to Torch P-38...

Maybe this very old work... Me-109 G2 with 70% fuel could try to counter it :

 

 

link : 

http://www.mediafire.com/file/vnaw6seje3rph34/TunisiaFalcon_G2.dds/file

 

[Beebop]

8 minutes ago, esk_pedja said:

I think that this P-38 is late war model BoBp, superior to Torch P-38.

True.  It was released with Bodenplatte, a 1944 scenario but it's the only P-38 we have.

Just like your re-texturing of Kuban is the only "desert map" we have.

 

You work with what you've been given.

 

Thanks for the G-2 skin.  ?

[Raptorattacker]

13 hours ago, Beebop said:

You work with what you've been given.

A fair comment and point and VERY tactfully put Beebop!

Rap

[Missionbug]

Thank you very much for the map updates and skins guys, really appreciated.

 

Take care and be safe.

 

Wishing you all the very best, Pete.

[Zooropa_Fly]

Well done esk, looks like you've done a great job.

 

S!

[screamingdemon]

Nice mod. I think the "desert grass" and trees might be too green in color. I would propose to use a color which leans towards "tan" might be more convincing?

[Beebop]

I was looking for a desert Ju-52 but the ones I found here had dead links.
So, I decided to make my own.

 

A generic Afrika Korps Ju-52:

NOTE:  Download contains  accurate historical markings.  If you would like one without those markings message me

 

Download HERE:
http://www.mediafire.com/file/4gcocd7dy2viq90/BBop_Afrika+Korps_Ju52.dds/file

[Off_Winters]

Hi All,

I have been playing around with the original files uploaded above and adding to them. 

In the Surfacetex folder there was 17 textures originally altered, this is now up to 48 textures being altered. I have worked on the tiles to get the whole of the map to show a arid undertone to the scenery. The edges of the road, rail lines and the area under the tree lines now blend into the new desert tile, rather than a greenish border to the roads etc. I also found the trench and rail textures had some hangover from the winter set they were originally altered from, I have changed that. I have altered the ground textures for housing and industrial areas to try and get more of a dusty/dirt look compared to the small vegetation cover of the original. I've changed quite a few of the normal map images for the various feild tiles to remove the crop outlines and place in the arid land profile. What I really need is information on how to edit tree placement in the terrain to remove feild boundary tree lines.

I have also done up a desert uniform for the RAF pilot, who is wearing an army battle dress jacket with RAF badges applied which was a common practice in the Desert Airforce. (also done up a separate set for 2nd Tactical AF in Europe).

I'm now working on name changes for the map in game to give it amore Nth African/Middle East feel.  the screen shot is of the zoomed out map, text will be crisper on zoomed in areas. theres 3 folder sets with identical images but at various sizes that control the map images in game, so will take a bit of time to alter them all.

the package is now sitting around the 500mb size. I dont think it will get to much bigger.

regards Rob.

[Beebop]

THANK YOU!  Off_Winters

I'm looking forward to this upgrade!?

Edited September 18, 2020 by Beebop