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Jimpy

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Posts posted by Jimpy

  1. Posted

    Small update:

    And a couple of our FN FAL to be included by our 70's era troops.

    http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v471/Tombor/IRDF_FALNew2.jpg

    IRDF_FALNew.jpg

    If you want to make an accurate representation of a 1970s

    Irish Army FAL then your model still needs work on several

    areas:

    Flash suppressor

    Gas plug

    Handguards (yours still has the British Maranyl ones)

    Cocking handle

    Change lever

    Takedown lever

    Backsights

    Butt (again you still have the British one fitted)

    You're looking for something more like this:

    PaddyFAL1.jpg

    PaddyFAL2.jpg

  2. Posted

    Yes, it looks nice but it isn't entirely correct. Do you mind

    if I make some suggestions on possible improvements?

    If that's supposed to be the No. 32 Mk. 1 sighting telescope

    then it is badly out of scale (too thin), is wrongly positioned

    on the rifle (way too far back) and the pads and turrets are

    incorrectly shaped. Also bear in mind that the real No. 32

    telescope was made of heavy brass, so when the paint

    scratches off it, it looks a characteristic "golden colour", not

    a "silvery-white" colour like you have there. The heavy

    mounting bracket (on the left hand side) was cast iron.

    Also, all No. 4 rifles that were converted to the (T) variant

    had the battle sight aperture milled off - your model still has

    it (digging into the 'scope tube, it looks like).

    Your rifle is also apparently missing its foresight - I presume

    you have this in the "pilot-view" though. Sometimes users

    found that the standard foresight blade reflected light

    into the telescope and unit armourers made adjustments to

    prevent this, but the foresight was never removed entirely.

    Apart from those small niggles, I must say that it's jolly good

    work overall. Always nice to see British stuff being done so

    well.

  3. Posted

    The troops are very good as they are but do have some slight

    innaccuracies. None of the issues are very major, though, and

    should be simple and quick enough for you to fix. In no

    particular order, the observations I made while watching

    your "OosterbeekTrailer" are:

    1. The helmet chin straps on your men are apparently the

    canvas webbing type. These are not typical for British

    airborne troops on Op. Market. At that time the vast majority

    of British troops were still using the second pattern all-steel

    jump helmet with a black leather chinstrap. Webbing

    chinstraps were used first by Polish, French and Canadian

    airborne troops and only became generally used by British

    troops very late in the war and post-war. I can send you pics

    of the correct chin strap if you need these.

    2. The type of Denison smock used most commonly on Op.

    Market was the (so-called) second type (although a small

    number did still wear the earlier first pattern smocks for that

    operation).The texturing at the cuffs of your troops does not

    have a great amount of detail but it appears that all the

    troops appear to have green woollen cuff closures. This is not

    typical for the type of Denison smock most commonly used on

    Op. Market. Woollen cuffs on Denison smocks imply:

    a) A first pattern Denison smock (circa 1942) worn only by a  

    few individuals on Op. Market, the first pattern smocks were

    designed and manufactured with woollen cuff closures; or

    b) A second pattern smock unofficially modified by adding

    stocking tops to the cuff closures - although this was not a

    very common wartime practise at all and became more

    popular post-war. The wartime second pattern Denison

    smocks had cloth cuffs with an adjusting tab and three brass

    snap-fasteners to close them. This type was used most

    commonly on Op. Market and afterwards; or

    c) A postwar dated Denison smock (Denisons were worn by

    British troops until the end of the 1970s) which was again

    designed and manufactured with woollen cuff closures.

    Postwar Denisons can be easily differentiated from wartime

    Denisons by their cut and camouflage patterns. I can send

    pictures of the cuff closures and details of the second

    pattern Denison smocks if required.

    4. None of the men appear to be wearing their conspicuous

    parachute qualification badge - it should be on the right upper

    arm of their Denison smock. Please advise if you need a

    picture of the parachute qualification badge.

    5. Most wartime airborne troopers wore a green and dark-

    chocolate-brown coloured netting face veil as a scarf tucked

    inside the neck opening of the smock (this was separate from

    the scrim netting worn as a helmet cover). None of your

    troops appear to wear such a thing as far as I could see.

    Some men of the Glider Pilot Regt. alternatively wore a silk

    escape map as a scarf and others (a very few) wore green

    camouflage patterned scarves made from US parachute silk.

    6. The men are wearing 1937 pattern webbing battle order,

    which is correct for the period, however their equipment order

    is incomplete and incorrect in some details. I noticed that

    their utility pouches (the two large rectangular ones at the

    front) appear to be too small, none carries their waterbottle

    (always carried in the field) and they do not have their light

    assault respirator cases either. Pictures of troops on Op.

    Market clearly show them carrying this last item sideways at

    the left rear of the belt (at least initially).  The entrenching

    tool carriers are also carried a little too high up on the belt.

    I have detailed pictures of the light assault respirator (Mk III)

    case if you require these.

    7. The webbing is also not correctly coloured. Your troops

    wear webbing in a mixture of a green and a light golden tan

    colour, however, although in fact British webbing equipment

    at this time in the war in the E.T.O was always coloured a

    mid-khaki green colour by the application of a preservative

    paste (called "Blanco" - a there's always a but  trade name)

    in colour "Khaki-Green no. 3". Only commonwealth troops in

    this theatre wore webbing in a light tan colour (especially

    Canadians) and much '37 pattern webbing used today by

    many modern reenactors is not correctly blancoed (as it

    reduces the value of the pieces). I can send pictures showing

    the correct "Khaki-green" colour for the blancoed webbing, if

    required

    I researched all this some time ago with the intention of

    making some WW2 British Airborne troops, until I discoverd

    that you guys had it all well-covered already (I'll most likely

    be instead making post-war [ie. 1970s] British Paratroopers

    for the Northern Ireland mod).

  5. Posted

    I am working on a No.1 Mk III rifle too for the "Northern

    Ireland mod". This rifle was used by the Irish Republican Army

    in the early 1970s. Here are a couple of quick WIP pics of

    the "Smelly":

    smelly1.jpg

    smelly2.jpg

    The colouring is not really textures, just flat colours. The

    model still needs work in places. The images posted earlier of

    an actual example will be useful. Thanks!

    I am also doing the No.4 Mk. 1, No.4 (T) and the L42A1. Links

    to some WIP pics of unfinished models, again with flat colours:

    Rifle, .303", No.4 Mk.1(T) with no. 32 Telescope

    http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v692/whisky01/No4Ta.jpg

    http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v692/whisky01/No4T.jpg

    The same rifle but wrapped in hessian for camouflage (based

    on a photo of an army sniper training cadre from 1970)

    http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v692/whisky01/No4Twrapped.jpg

    Rifle, 7.62mm, L42A1 with Telescope, Straight, Sighting, L1A1

    http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v692/whisky01/L42b.jpg

    http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v692/whisky01/L42a.jpg

    Many, many other new weapons are also under construction

    for the mod.

    Northern Ireland mod is at:

    http://www.nimod.net/forum   [site temporarily down]

  7. Posted

    IMHO the Llauma "replacement head" is not especially good.

    That default face that is distributed with it is especially

    awful - he looks like a shop-dummy, I always cringe whenever

    I see yet another screenshot of that bland, plastic-looking,

    "boogly" eyed countenance. Of the head models I have

    seen, I am much more impressed by the heads on the Red

    Hammer Studios Russian Federation troops. These are very

    skilfully "sculpted" and use less polys than the Llauma head

    does.

  10. Posted

    The "smart 'scope" reminds me of the gyro-stabilized gun

    sights that were used on Battleships during and after the

    first world war. They compensated for the motion of the

    sea to keep the image of a target (often many thousands

    of yards away) motionless in the viewfinder.

  14. Posted

    I do not know what "standard SAS" is but SASR and NZSAS in

    Vietnam mostly wore the US ERDL camouflage uniform

    together with SAS belt kit and various rucksacks, heavy use

    of camouflage face paint and an assortment of more or less

    modified weapons (SLRs with drastically shortened fore ends,

    SLRs with handguards removed and 40mm grenade launchers

    added, sawn-off M14s, SLRs bodgied to fire full auto only, etc

    etc). In all the photos I've ever seen of them they look

    extremely "business-like" and very hardassed characters.

  18. Posted

    The NI mod IRA are having a large arsenal of "all new" custom model weapons

    built for them. Weapons from the early 1970s as well as more advanced ones

    from the end of that decade are included (the NI mod and its units run in time

    from 1969 up until about 1985 - this time bracket chosen basically to make the

    number of security force unit types manageable for our small development team).

    These run the gamut from Martini-Henry carbines to AR-18 Armalite rifles

    with many of the improvised (home-made) weapons that the IRA created also

    included.

    The weapons we have chosen to represent are just typical examples (although we

    are making sure that there is documented evidence of such weapons being used

    by the IRA). Our researches have revealed that a staggering variety of weapons

    were used, or at least available to, IRA volunteers at various times. We provide a

    good cross section of the types of weapons that were used, but obviously cannot

    include everything that was in the arsenals of the paramilitary groups. We intend to

    publish a list of those weapons that we have evidence for as a hint to players who

    want to use weapons that we don't provide but who still want authenticity. Rest

    assured that the NI mod IRA volunteers (and other paramilitaries) will have a rich

    and authentic set of weapons to choose from.

  19. Posted

    Sounds and looks great.  I especially like the hedgerow effect.  Are these passable on foot or do I need to find the style? (absolutely no idea if this is how to spell style).

    The hedgerows will be passable in places and impermeable in

    others. We are also experimenting with technology to get the

    AI to climb over certain obstacles. In any case, there will be

    plenty of gaps, gates and styles. The idea is that the hedges

    are to provide concealment and hinder (but not prevent) free

    movement.

  20. Posted

    Well, assuming that you read the "missions and campaigns"

    paragraph in my original post, we are planning several

    campaigns for the mod. We are determined that the NI mod

    will not merely consist of a set of new addon units.

    Plans are currently for single player campaigns only,

    multiplayer campaigns will follow if there is sufficient interest

    shown in the NI mod by the OFP player community.

    Plans for SP missions are at the moment as follows:

    A campaign set in the early to mid 1970s where the player

    takes on the persona of a British soldier doing a 4 month tour

    of duty in NI. After several training missions in which we hope

    to "train" the player to act in a historically authentic manner

    once out on the NI mod "streets", the soldier/player's duties

    will take place both in urban areas (in the NI mod's "'Derry"

    and "Belfast") and in rural areas where the operations were

    somewhat different from urban patrolling.

    The player will experience events including urban riots,

    IRA "sniper" shoots, urban patrols by vehicle and on

    foot, "stake-outs", OPs, arrests, rural patrols, manning vehicle

    check points, bomb incidents and much more. We want to

    give a good cross section of the sorts of "activities" a typical

    soldier might find himself involved in.

    Another campaign will let a player be a member of the Special

    Air Service regiment in Northern Ireland. We want to try to

    illustrate the much more "robust" approach that the SAS had,

    or were allowed, in conducting the counter-insurgency war in

    NI. Missions in this campaign will include "covert" as well

    as "overt" operations, many carried out in collaboration with

    RUC special unit officers.

    Another campaign will let the player take on the persona of a

    volunteer to one of the Provisional IRA battalions in the NI

    mod's interpretation of South Armagh. Activities will include

    setting up and executing shooting, hand-grenade, culvert

    bomb and RPG attacks on security forces personnel and

    installations as well as on feuding members of other

    paramilitary organisations.

    The IRA in the mod will use a wide variety of weapons, many

    new to OFP including home-made improvised submachine

    guns, pipe bombs, grenade launchers and mortars. Items like

    IEDs (i.e. home made bombs) and truck based mortars will

    also be featured.

    In all of the missions much programming and scripting is being

    done to try to ensure authenticity. The NI missions will be for

    hard-core military sim and British army buffs as well as those

    with an interest in this particular war. We will not be shying

    away from "controversial" topics and care nothing for political

    correctness. We will post a warning to this effect with our

    download links. We are determined that an authentic Northern

    Ireland troubles atmosphere will be properly represented. The

    missions will therefore not be conventional OFP "run and gun"

    exercises by any means but will challenge the player in other

    and more interesting ways.

  21. Posted

    nibanner.gif

    It has been some while since our last news update but the Northern

    Ireland mod (NI mod) team has been hard at work in the meantime and

    the mod is still firmly on track to deliver a unique Operation Flashpoint

    (OFP) gaming experience. We would like to introduce you to some of the

    recent developments in the progress of the NI mod:

    A new website.

    Designed and produced by our members Smiley and Jimboob.

    This will expand to include information about the progress our work as

    well as background information on the conflict that the NI mod campaigns

    represent.

    New team members.

    UNN and Paddy have recently joined the mod team and are already

    producing some interesting and innovative work in the fields of scripting

    and mission design.

    Missions and campaigns.

    Much effort and thought has been devoted to research and design work

    on a set of interesting and unusual missions and campaigns. The NI mod

    campaign missions are intended to immerse the player in the Northern

    Ireland troubles by allowing them to take on the persona of various

    members of the British crown forces and of Republican paramilitary

    volunteers. Much effort is being devoted to historical research to ensure

    that the incidents, environments and even the attitudes expressed in the

    missions are authentic to the place and period. The accent with all of the

    campaign missions is very much on realism and authenticity, all of which

    will put very different, unusual and interesting new demands on players.

    Improved AI and behaviours

    Design and implementation of several interesting new technologies that

    will increase the realism of the campaign missions. These include

    enhancements in the behaviours of objects as well as interesting

    improvements to the game AI. Our member UNN has been working on a

    system that will enable buildings and other objects to exhibit more

    realistic effects when damaged.

    At the same time Paddy has scripted improved AI routines that make AI

    soldiers behave in a more realistic manner when on "urban" patrols. As

    well as having the men move in a more authentic manner through the

    streets, the new routines have them react more intelligently when in

    contact with an enemy; moving into cover positions appropriately,

    covering and supporting each other and maintaining an all round lookout.

    It is intended that the new "Urban AI" scripts will also be applicable

    outside the NI mod environment.

    New Addons

    In parallel with all this, work continues on researching and building

    a comprehensive set of units and island environments to support the mod

    campaigns. Several islands are under development all carefully crafted to

    portray typical Northern Ireland landscapes and features. These include

    both townscape and rural environments.

    Troops

    The new units represent a wide cross-section of the troops and vehicles

    that took part in the conflict. The emphasis with all of these is always on

    authenticity and attention to detail. Nothing is accepted for inclusion in the

    mod unless backed up by personal experience or verifiable from reliable

    sources.

    The British Security forces are represented by British regular army and

    reservist units and by constables of the Royal Ulster Constabulary. The

    British troops include members of all the essential corps and services that

    were deployed to Northern Ireland during "the troubles". As well as

    infantrymen, the mod units include; drivers, sappers, armoured corps

    troopers, SAS troopers, bomb disposal officers and military policemen.

    The troops are authentically dressed, equipped and armed both for

    deployments in urban situations as well as operations in rural areas.

    The paramilitary forces of both "sides" in the conflict are represented

    by a set of units dressed appropriately based on evidence from authentic

    sources. The paramilitaries are equipped with a wide variety of weaponry,

    reflecting the multifarious nature of their sources of arms supply.

    Vehicles

    The troop units are supported by a set of high quality vehicle addons

    made by SniperUK. These represent all of the most common types of

    military and police vehicles that were seen (and in some cases still are

    seen) on the streets and roads of Northern Ireland.

    Civilian transport (all meticulously correct for the period) is also included

    both for use by the civilians that play an important part in many of the NI

    mod campaign missions and by the security and paramilitary forces

    on "clandestine" operations.

    Model "work in progress" images

    We present here several images that showcase the standard of work that

    is being done by the NI mod team's model makers. Please understand

    that these represent only a fraction of the content of the addon set, and

    that all of the pieces shown are still under construction.

    SniperUK's British army "Alvis Saracen APC". The model is very

    highly detailed and skilfully realised and very accurately represents the

    form and features of this vehicle. SniperUK's military vehicle addon set

    also includes several variants of the Land Rover general purpose

    light truck as well as more heavy transport vehicles and armoured cars.

    news1_5.jpg

    A montage of images of some of Whisky's (aka Jimpy's) British soldier units. The

    British troops in the mod addon set date from the period of the 1970s and

    early 1980s and the several new pieces of equipment that were created

    specifically for use by the army in NI are all included. Many of the troop

    types and equipments are unique to the NI conflict situation and thus also

    unique in the form of OFP models.

    news1_3.jpg

    British army anti-riot equipment by Whisky. The inventory includes

    rubber bullet firing guns and tear gas (CS gas) grenade

    launchers. New behaviours and anims allow the soldiers to use the

    anti-riot gear correctly and to react to riot situations

    news1_4.jpg

    A small selection of Whisky's new weapon models. These include British

    army issue weapons as well as weapons from various origins in the

    arsenals of the paramilitary groups.

    news1_1.jpg

    Some "Northern Ireland [mod] Tourist Board" pictures of Smiley's "rural

    Northern Ireland" islands.

    news1_7.jpg

    news1_6.jpg

    We hope that this has proved of interest and has made it clear that

    the "NI mod for OFP" is still going strong and is making good progress. If

    this conflict interests you and you have some provable talent in any of the

    variety of skills needed in mod production (particularly in model making,

    texturing and mission making) then we would be pleased to hear from

    you and to perhaps welcome you into the mod team. Contact

    our mod team leader Smiley at <nickgregnick@yahoo.co.uk> if you need

    further information.

    Our new website is currently off-line for construction but you are very welcome

    to participate in the NI mod discussion forum at http://www.nimod.net/forum

    Please feel free to look in sometime. Visitors' comments, suggestions and

    questions are always kindly regarded.

    -- The NI mod team

  23. Posted

    Wah-hey! Those highlanders are the 92nd Regiment of Foot

    Gordon Highlanders. My old regiment! Is there a way you

    could  make the kilts look a bit better, though? A kilt has an

    apron at the front - it's an important structural feature of the

    garment. These guys look like they are wearing some kind

    of "culottes".

    Apart from that, these are all very nice looking units. I applaud

    you for giving this a go.

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