Spearhead

[Col. Faulkner 0]

SPEARHEAD is a project dedicated to creating addon sets for Armed Assault

which represent British infantrymen in fighting order from the 1950s up to

the mid 1980s.

The first phase is planned to consist of infantrymen(including paratroopers)

in temperate combat dress and NBC protective clothing as well as their

weapons from the period between 1975 and 1985.

Three representative British infantry regiments will be modelled in this phase;

The Gordon Highlanders, The Parachute Regiment and the Scots Guards (the

author makes no apology for any "Scottish" bias in this choice).

All infantry weapons on issue during the periods under study are being created

with meticulous attention to detail and it is intended that the characteristics

of each weapon will be modelled as closely as the Armed Assault engine will

reasonably allow.

On succesful completion of phase 1, phase 2 of SPEARHEAD will be dedicated to

infantrymen in temperate dress from the 1960s and early 70s, and Phase 3 of

SPEARHEAD will introduce British infantry and weapons of the period from about

1950 to 1960.

Subsequent phases will concentrate on tropical and arctic orders of dress for

all these periods.

Regardless of period or theatre, all clothing details will be authentic and

typical personal (and unofficial) kit modifications will be represented.

In a later phase of the SPEARHEAD project, it is hoped that a small selection

of appropriate military vehicles can be created, or incorporated from other

sources.

SPEARHEAD is a one-man operation so progress will likely be gradual.

In the meantime, for your entertainment, here are links to pictures of some of

the weapon models from the different phases of SPEARHEAD currently under

construction. There are many more than these actually planned for inclusion

in the addon sets.

Pending the release of the newer addon making tools from BIS, the models are

shown rendered by the OFP renderer in Oxygen lite, and all still need varying

amounts of work done to complete them. I am not trained or very experienced in

3D modelling and it has taken considerable trial and error and some frustration

to get them even this far. Mapping and texturing is a whole new area which I

am now discovering the "pleasures" of. I am sure the models will also probably

further evolve as the texturing proceeds.

Rifle, 7.62mm, L1A1 ("SLR") 1.

Rifle, 7.62mm, L1A1 ("SLR") 2.

The SPEARHEAD models have a variety of accessories, including different types

of furniture (wood and Maranyl plastic), L2A2 SUIT optical sights, L1A2 IWS

image intensifying sights, L6A1 blank firing attachments, 30 rd magazines,

L1A2 bayonets and more.

Gun, Sub Machine, 9mm, L2A3 ("Sterling").

These have folding stocks and a version with L1A2 bayonet fitted (rarely fitted

in practise in the real world but still an option).

Gun, Sub Machine, 9mm, L34A1.

A suppressed version of the L2A3 SMG. Used for "sneaky beaky" work by a variety

of British forces units.

Gun, Machine, 7.62mm, L4A4.

An upgraded 7.62mm version of the British .303" Bren light machine gun.

Rifle, 7.62mm, L42A1.

An accurized 7.62mm conversion of the .303 Lee-Enfield No.4 Mk.1 (T), fitted

with the Telescope, Straight, Sighting, L1A1.

Gun, 84mm, Infantry, Anti Tank, L14A1.

The SPEARHEAD model offers a selection of munitions and comes in both iron

sighted and optical sighted versions.

Rifle, 5.56mm, M16 ("Armalite").

The SPEARHEAD model includes modifications made to this rifle in British

service. It is not identical to the M16A1 rifle used by the United States Army

in the 1960s and 70s.

<a href="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v692/whisky01/spearhead/no4s.jpg" target="_blank">Rifle, .303 inch, No4.Mk.1 (T) with Telescope, Sighting,

No.32 Mk.3</a>

and

Rifle, .303 inch, No.4 Mk.2 (Mk.1/2 & Mk. 1/3).

The SPEARHEAD model has the correct postwar Mk.2 sights on the Mk.3 leaf.

Machine Carbine, 9mm, Patchett Mk.2.

The first production model of the "Sterling" sub machine gun that gradually replaced

the Sten gun in the 1950s.

In the real world, the next two weapons and their ammunition were approved for

service in the early 1950s after extensive trials but were never issued and

eventually cancelled for political reasons. SPEARHEAD will offer the chance to

use these excellent weapons in "combat" with British infantrymen in Armed Assault.

Rifle, .280 inch, No.9 Mk.1 ("EM-2").

.280 inch, TADEN General Purpose Machine Gun.

This gun used the action and gas system of the Bren but used a belt-feed mechanism.

It was intended to replace both the Bren and the Vickers guns in British service.

[sniperuk02 0]

Nice, glad to see the models arent going to waste. I always did love those SLRs.

Quote[/b] ]In a later phase of the SPEARHEAD project, it is hoped that a small selection

of appropriate military vehicles can be created, or incorporated from other

sources.

When the time comes, give me a shout and I'll finish up/make new vehicles for you if you want.

[MehMan 0]

Maybe you could work something out with UKF for the vehicles? I don't know much about the british military, but I think at least some of it could be used.

[R0adki11 3949]

nice looking stuff , the L1A1 is one of my favourite weapons, especially with a 30rd magazine

[Blackbuck 9]

Hmm, being a brit myself this appeals to me more than other addons / mods. Looking foward to seeing that sterling in ArmA too

[Jack-UK 0]

Ah some good ol' British troops.

Good luck with it

Cup o' tea on me mate

[Col. Faulkner 0]

Nice, glad to see the models arent going to waste. I always did love those SLRs.  

Quote[/b] ]In a later phase of the SPEARHEAD project, it is hoped that a small selection

of appropriate military vehicles can be created, or incorporated from other

sources.

When the time comes, give me a shout and I'll finish up/make new vehicles for you if you want.

Yes, shame to let that vast fleet of Landies you made go

to waste too! The weapon models do need quite a bit of work

still but I'll happily take you up on the offer. I'm working on

(read: struggling with) a website for this and the SPECIAL

SERVICE Commando project, so I'll post a linky here when it's

all ready.

    Like I said I'm taking it in "easy" stages so the very first

release will be an infantry section in fighting order circa 1985

wearing no.8 combat dress ("woodland" to you Yanks) and

Mk.3 "noddy suits". A similar one from 1975 (ie. in '68 patt

DPM, puttees, "boots, cardboard" and tin tobys) will follow

shortly after and the rest will proceed smoothly from there

(or at least that's the plan).

@helping_hand: I had a prototype of the SMG and its config

working in Op Flashpoint already. Just like the real thing:

useless for anything at any decent sort of range, but great

for CQB. And a nice change from Uzis or Hocklers in the game!

@r0adkill: Yes, my favourite rifle too, by a long way, and 30rd

mags will be included (there is a rough start at one in the

screenshots)

@MehMan: UKF are dedicated to doing ultra-modern stuff, so

I doubt that they'd have the resources or the desire to do

the older stuff that I'd need. sniperuk02 already has these

well covered in any case.

[bootie 0]

Great idea i wish i could help but alas i dont have ArmA

[Rambo-16AAB 0]

Very interested in any UK kit to be honest ( being a UK squad ).

You are missing one SLR varient though, the Marksman version.

Ive tried hard to find a pic of one, but as they were like hens teeth the pics are just as raer.

Standard SLR, fitted with Sniper scope & Harris type forward folding Bipod attached to the foregrip, not the barrel as most standard FAL/L1A1 Bipoids were. Personal interst in this one, as I was issued with one ( in left hand version too ! ).

There was a model based on this type for Flashpoint Ive got it somewhere on my HD, although it was based on the earlier wooden Funature versions not the later plasic ones.

[Col. Faulkner 0]

Very interested in any UK kit to be honest ( being a UK  squad ).

You are missing one SLR varient though, the Marksman version.

I only have an indistinct photo of that variant too (and the

rifles in it are cammed up to boot) which is why I haven't

attempted it. If you do find any useful stuff on it then I'd be

delighted to add it to the set.

I've "tidied up" and corrected the SLR models a bit since those

screenshots in the original post were taken. They'll be

the "standard" armament so they have to be right.

[Rambo-16AAB 0]

Well Im currently building a Replica using an Airsoft FN FAL, im just gathering all the bits. Ony thing is it will have a Civvy scope on it, or I can shove a large NV scope on it for photo purposes. Finding it hard to get an SLR type foregrip in metric size at the moment.

If i can find the Flashpoint model, would that help you ?

[Col. Faulkner 0]

If the Flashpoint model is accurate then yes it'd be a start at least. What sort of 'scope did these things use?

[Rambo-16AAB 0]

Cant remember the manufacturer. Some had up to 8x mag and 60mm Objective lense.

The flashpoint one was a decent effort, only it was skinned with wood furnishing, not plastic and the bipod was decoration only and couldnt actually be used. I'll try and find it in my Gigabyte sized addobs folder.

[Rambo-16AAB 0]

been searching the net and I found this image:-

Its close, but not entirely correct. i suspect thats actualy a FAL with an SLR style Foregrip. The Flashhiders also wrong.

The Scope is approx the right size, although that one is mounted on the add-on RIS top mount. The Marksman one used an inbuilt mount on the top cover. Posted it as its a fairly clear pic though

[Rambo-16AAB 0]

Starting to get closer :-

Correct bipod fitted.

Plenty of Pics at:-

http://www.falfiles.com/

[Col. Faulkner 0]

Thanks for the pics. Now that I see it, the Lee-Enfield

Enforcer my old dad was issued had the same bipod (and a

similar-looking 'scope - the Enforcer used a Pecar VS2 which

is not very likely to be what your rifle had I suppose). If I

give the rifle in your second pic the correct flash hider would

that be more or less it? What reticule did the 'scope use? A

post reticule similar to  THIS?

edit: Yes, plenty of photos on the FAL files site but most

of the 'scoped ones tend to be built up from all sorts of kit

parts.

[Rambo-16AAB 0]

No, reticule wasnt like that on the one I had. Best description ( cos ive spent bloody hours looking for images of the rifles and too tired spending more house searching scope optics ) the sight had conventional crosshair layout with range marking on the Hairs, something like this, but a bit more pronounced :-

I have found the PBO file that contains the Flashpoint version of the rifle and Ive uploaded it to a server. if you want it, PM me and I'll send you the link.

[Col. Faulkner 0]

OK, cool; so now I get a chance to make a mil-dot reticule.

I'll knock up a model and post a screenie here soon for your

appraisal.

I've been turning up some weird stuff looking for info on

'scoped SLRs with bipods. How does this monstrosity grab you?  

I also have a report (from the late 1960s) about GPMG bipods

mounted on SLR bayonet handles with the blades sawn off

(attach the bipod by fixing the bayonet)!

[Rambo-16AAB 0]

I ploughed through 75 pages of google search results to get the Pics I found.

[Col. Faulkner 0]

SLR "Marksman variant"

[Col. Faulkner 0]

I also have information and pics of a bayonet for the Lee-

Enfield No.4 sawn off and modified to hold a bipod. If the

Arma engine actually modelled the effect of a bipod I might

have done one of those for the 1950s troops I plan to do

later on.

I also corresponded for a short time with an ex-Royal who

mentioned "Marksman" SLRs in NI in the 1970s. Was the

"Marksman variant" an NI only issue? Can you say when

and where were you issued with yours, Rambo-16AAB?

[Rambo-16AAB 0]

The model looks good. Need to do a render when you get the textgure on it.

I was issued with it in the late 80's. I presume the pics we have been diggin up actually show the development of that varient through out its service life.

I dont think it was soely destined for NI, but it wasnt widely issued.

[Col. Faulkner 0]

I presume the pics we have been diggin up actually show the development of that varient through out its service life.

There really doesn't seem to be much written about it

at all. Even the FAL encyclopedia by R. Blake Stevens

("UK & Commonwealth FALs") doesn't mention any such

variant.

Anyway, there's still quite a lot to do before I can start

doing textures for any of the stuff. It's incredible the

amount of time this modding stuff takes (especially when

the modder is a farkin' n00b)

[Blackbuck 9]

Nice work on the SLR.

[Rambo-16AAB 0]

If i hadnt actually been issued one, I probably wouldnt have known about it ether.