CameronMcDonald

Check. Thanks for that.

Thanks. Normal maps are an odd breed. My understanding is that lighter parts are "higher," darker are "lower," etc. However, what I really did was to take the BIS normal maps and use them as a normal texture, that is, take parts as needed. For example, for the pockets, since they stick out, all one has to do is grab some bright edges from another BIS normal map, and tack them along the boundaries of where your pocket lives in the normal map. Then save the thing, run ArmA and voila, it all sticks out. Trial and error are most important, as I accidentally made the helmet IR patches look like they were a hole in the helmet the other day. Majoris23 - yes they are specific to a certain model, and I'm trying my best to not include them, since I'm not allowed to roll up my sleeves when I'm in uniform either (although the grenadier model has them as standard, blast them - I'll just say the Strykers fans went FUBAR, heheh). Also, since the 1st is a mechanised unit, they get M16A4s as standard, with M4s given to squad leaders, right?

Double positing in my own thread, tsk tsk. Well, it's all done now but for the packaging, configing and PBO'ing. Give me a day or three and then check back. Small changes done today: - Resized IBA ACU pattern to better match pants + shirt. - Tweaked helmet IR patches a bit. - Added normal maps for combat patches (1CAV, 2MED and 26I were a pain in the ass). Time to get hex editing.

Sounds like a plan.

Nice write up, bloody ace. I wish I could play with you blokes, sometimes 2-man co-op just gets a tad old. Damn my wireless connection!

^ Ah crap, this is gonna take me an hour to redo! Â Ta for the heads-up! Blasted Army pulls the rug out from under my feet once again. Ah well, until the modelling tools come out, I don't think I'll have the capability to make that vest, which sucks.

Awesome, thanks for your help, Rustman + others. I did a little bit of work last night on some cosmetic changes, here's two pics: #1 SAW gunner takes aim, leaning for no apparent reason. Â #2 1ID rifleman, previously of Tropic Lightning. Note helmet IR patches, now with normal maps! - Oh, one last question for you, Rustman. How does the SAPI carrier stay on? Is it clipped to the IBA, or do you put your arms through it and wear it like an extra OTV?

One small suggestion: - You need to inform people about using the [vehicle,true] switch if they want the vehicle to always be totally destroyed. I figured it out myself pretty quickly, but a noob would have no clue, since it's not explained in the readme.

This whoops. Shweet stuff, mate.

Bet you've been saving that one up all year.

Hahahha, I was about to say "I wonder when Neph will show up and asplode poor ole Vilas." As a diehard Aliens fan, I'd have to agree, tigerstripes just don't do them justice.

Get them shadows done, and I'll be spending a very long night downloading, hehe. Good stuff.

Two (some would argue three) words, mate: kickass, Sarge. Thanks a shaftload for going to all that trouble. Will have to update my little list now. Questions incoming: 1. I assume the ballistic glasses are used on nightops too, having no shading, although they're removed when using the NODs, true? If so, I may have to drag out my ole remove-glasses-when-NOD'ing like my ole OFP units. 2. I'm curious about this part on your back; this is part of your SAPI carrier, right? Could I get a closeup, si possible? 3. What's this on your arm? 4. I heard from my other advisor that hydration carriers can be non-standard as well. One example - the CamelBak can be carried in a ThermalBak if wished, etc. True? 5. What's your poison? Better not be any of that carb-reduced piss water! ...Or is it poor-reso Coke of some kind? 6. Can I please get a closeup of the nape pad on the ACH? 7. With regards to the neck yoke and throat guard, are there three clasps to the IBAs collar, or are you just wearing one clasp attached? 8. Once I complete training ('08), I may have a chance to go on exchange in the US. Apart from the unattainable items (such as a genuine ACH), how much of that gear is commercially available? I know one can pick up the IBA, ballistic plates and a fake ACH, but what about the deltoid protectors and SAPI? I'm looking to deck out in ACU to match my Auscam DPUs, and since playing paintball in one's own uniform is not a good idea... Â Not that I would actually play with the plates in, that option is for softies. Would be great for fancy dress parties and hunting, too.

Was waiting for the M2 to show up, damn I love that IFV. It still looks a bit OFP-ish, naturally, but that can be fixed.

Thanks mate! Â The photos would be very much obliged, thanks muchly. I will probably stick a few different patches on the right shoulder when I get some time, it'll make the units a bit less cut-and-paste. One thing I would like to ask both of you: what is Army policy on LBHs (Load Bearing Harnesses)? Is there any standard issue, or are you allowed to wear whatever you like on top of the IBA? I'm planning to stick these ones in once I get access to the tools: FLCV, Ranger Rack, MAV harness coupled with the MAV itself, ...and the SDS I-Rack. Any I should/should not include? Well, if I get all that I can possibly achieve without the tools done soon, there may be a beta in the pipeline. And I'm pretty good at releasing patched versions if my OFP work is any indicator, hehe! Thanks again.

Couldn't agree more.

@Rustman - ta buddy. That will help tons, though I always thought the catseye bands were used for IR ID? I must be wrong, since I'm not in an Australian combat unit (I'm a pharmacist-in-training in a medical support battalion, haha), I dunno. Secondly, are the IR patches on the pocket and helmet usually exposed? Pics (of the pocket, at least) I have usually have them covered up, like this. Thirdly, do you wear velcro on your MICH? If so, where? And is that unit patch you have on regiment or division level? Sorry for the interrogation, but I want these damn things to be spitting images of US troops. No problem about the PIR, too, that can easily be fixed. Thanks for the pics. Anyway, pics! First up, catseye band + fixed patch: #1 PIR (still WIP): #2 For majoris23, these are the troops at 100m in Rahmadi (taken at 12 noon gametime): ...and at 100m on northern Sahrani (taken at 12 noon gametime): Finally, something a bit more enticing: #3 So, the troops don't stick out like a sore thumb at distance, nor do they glow under NOD viewage (which were so boring I didn't even bother posting). The only problem is at close ranges under bright sun, where I get that whiteout issue, damn HDR. I will continue testing the brightness levels, because I still feel annoyed as well.

Little update: - Touched up the headsets, coloured them black. They look pretty similar to the PIR now (thanks to Rustman). In fact, I'm pretty sure the BIS radios are the PIR, just coloured green. - ACU'd holster and pistol mag pouch. - ACU-greyed the catseye band, and made the catseyes themselves a bit brighter. - Re-did MOLLE pouch textures, removed dirt for now, will probably re-add it in the future. - Re-did Camelbak, looks tons better now. - Removed Infantry tab and fixed normal maps accordingly. @majoris - I experimented a little with the brightness of the ACU, but I couldn't find a level of darkening I was happy with. I'll whack some screens up of the troops at distance w/wo NVGs soon. @Dirty Harry - I haven't ventured into the deep dark world of specular mapping yet... how would you recommend I do this? Has it been done yet? @Landdon - I've had quite a bit of experience with the good ole "setobjecttexture" command from my ole OFP work, so I assume that this can be done quite easily. Thank goodness US troops only have their ranks on their chests - makes my job a ton easier. I will, however, need access to the models themselves to implement this. Pics in a sec!

I'm back - no problems insofar.

Will give these a schwing in a couple of minutes. Just making normal maps ATM.

Untrue, well, in some cases. I'm using the plastic IR flag, provided by olemissrebel (an Airborne infantryman), which has no trim. I'm thinking of adding different flags for different infantry though, because I've seen at least 4 types in use currently (plastic IR, plastic IR subdued, stitched (your example) and stitched subdued), and they seem to be interchangeable. As for the ACU texture, well, I dunno. I'm leaning away from greying and greening the stuff out this time, especially since (as pointed out by Rustman) ACU fades with washing, and anyone who has seen the BIS textures would agree that their ACU is pretty on-the-mark. I added a ton of green in my OFP models because when I stuck milspec ACU in the game the engine basically turned it white, which looked crap. We'll see how it goes, though. I'm reluctant to alter the camo itself after seeing Rustman's pictures... I'd have to say that the IBA and other ACU looks good.

I just noticed this... hahahaha! [thread hijack]. There are two types of Auscam, you know? Certainly, desert Auscam would make you stick out in a forest. Observe: However, standard Auscam, or DCPU as we know it... or Stick out in a forest, eh. Yeah. Hmm. Right. A rock forest, maybe. Thus, Auscam variants in their designed environs still shit on Multicam. 'Nuff said. [/thread hijack]

Camp your blokes ahead of the camp in the trees. Set them on prone and tell them to watch different directions (usually different variations of east or north east). I didn't kill a single enemy in that level; my blokes axed them all.

You're telling me, mate. It reckon it's even worse when you can afford it!

Knocked down a few of these in weapons training down south. Wish I got to shoot more often.