I have taken those shots during an instant action - where the day-time setting is random, so I cant really tell what time it was. In terms of self shadowing, is this something that can be turned on for the rest of the sim as well? Currently this can only be seen in the instant action section.

Instant action and multi-player are the only game modes that have random time of day and cloud cover. For the individual battles, you can open the SCN file in any text editor and change the settings. The cloud settings are none, light, medium, large and overcast. The first 4 letters are all that is read. On a clear day (none) you will see dawn between 06:30 to 07:15 and sunset between 19:20 to 19:50.

Cool - I didn't know that. If I change the cloud setting will that mean some sort of self-shadowing is going to be visible?

The lights are always on. There are a maximum of 16 lights. The settings for the lights are contained in the Mtype.dat file. They can be adjusted with the object editor. The OE reads the mtype.dat file that is in the same folder as the OE's exe file. PE uses the mtype.dat file in the data/misc folder. PEx uses a seperate Mtype.dat for each cloud setting. The Mtype.dat file is used with a cloud setting of none, progressing through to mtype4.dat being used with overcast.

If you open the object editor you will find shading edit in the file pull down menu. Ignore the shading names. The game engine uses the light number. Light #0 is use by the landscape. Each texture library can be assigned a different light. PEx will use light #1 if no light has been asigned to the tlb.

To assign a light to a tlb, open the texture library in the object editor and select setup palette from the file pull down menu of the image lib window. For 8 bit textures, you can assign a different light to each color. For 24 bit textures, the light assigned to the first (upper, left)color is used.

I have played around with the time setting and having early morning / late afternoon times seem to "trigger" self-shading which adds quite a lot in terms of the look of the sim.

My question is why is self-shading not in effect during normal daytime? I mean the sun does not shine from all angles, even if there is full day light self shadowing should be on.

It's not the sun or a spot light. Your dealing with a DirectX 6 ambient light.

The OE uses light #1 (I need to fix that). Open a model, select shading setup and the second camera in the list. Adjust the sliders to your taste. You must close the shading edit window for the changes to take affect. When satisified, copy those settings to the light assigned to the tlbs used by the model. Copy the Mtype.dat file used by the OE to PE/data/misc and name it for the cloud settings you want it to be used with.

Pretty much finished with this skin - next one - "Peiper" camo

That'll do nicely, just the thing for beating up Slomo's great new Shermans in Normandy.

But for when I'm playing the Allies in the new Shermans...I wonder how well ramming tactics work in PE...

Damage from collision and the ability to move lighter objects is on the 'todo' list. Hopefully next year does not result in the PE burnout it suffered through most of this year.

guys, apart from latest PP2-X do you use any other mods that improve US tanks graphics by chance? If so where are these? If on http://home.comcast.net/~ab707/ which ones?

Been ages since I played PESE so my memory might be off

sincerely
TFE

Hi TFE

The PE3 mod provides improved 3d models and/or textures for many AFVs, including Shermans:

http://panzerelite.yuku.com/topic/482/-Panzer-Elite-three-mod-LINK-contains-Ostpak-MvR--BritPak-mo

This uses a previous version of PE-x and has some issues, like your tank sometimes getting stuck on a minor obstacle and needing the AI to get unstuck.

The improved models are not quite up to the very high standard of PP2-x's improved vehicles but they are pretty good, like the Sherman Firelfy seen here (sorry, I've no screenies of US variants from PE3).

http://combatace.com/topic/82916-panzer-elite-tiger-hunt/

New Shermans are coming for PP2-x, as seen here:

http://SimHQ.com/forum/ubbthreads.php/topics/4040573/Re:_WW2_Sim?_Panzer_Elite_with#Post4040573

I think there are also improved Shermans in the stock PE Special Edition Britpak '44 mod, possibly including the base Firefly model used also in PE3 but without the tank commander, but you asked about US Shermans. The Torch mod may also have better US Sheramns.

Much oblidged 33Lima!

To my understanding one can't mix PE3 with PP2-X?

Right now playing bare PP2-X and having a blast

Correct, two different mods which can't be mixed.

TY

Couple of ore screens:

Daskl,

Could you post a link of your sound mod, please?

here you go:

https://www.dropbox.com/s/lusxwcmwxbmsxau/PP2-x%20Full-Scale%20Sound%20mod%20-%20final.zip?dl=0

I'll be putting up an updated version son (I have changed the King Tiger sounds since the original mod)

Can we see some pics of those american Shermans in action? Wondering If you will add crates, jerry cans, and other studf those thanks always seem to carry around.

Slomo is a lobster fisherman and winter is his working season. I am even more behind with my code work and my motorcycle repair season is only 5 weeks away.

The rest is a rant. I decided to post it.
The PEx version of the tools does support adding objects to existing models. The choke point is texture space. The choke point with progress is man hours.

I guess it is not obvious that PEx is as modable as PE. I guess after all this time, I am not suprised.

PE is an old queen. We should all agree to let her die. Purchase your latest and greatest from steam.