On to the next WOFF UE Mod: Belfort / Fontaine

Greetings All,

I can't sit idle for long so early this A.M. I dug into my next modding project for our beloved sim. Who can identify where along the Western Front my attentions are now focused? And no chiming in here Shredward as I know you know Sir.





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Ok Lou, I'm guessing something to do with Zeppelin...do I get three chances?

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Not Zeppelins specifically Robert, but airships to be sure. Though by the time this facility was seeing war service the airships were no longer about.

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It's the Russian Front.... I sees that there Red Star on the wing!!!!

Beard

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hee hee

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They did fly Noops !

But how is that possible.....unless.....You are building an airfield there!!

Is there a way to integrate that into WOFF campaigns? If so, what about the Italian front?......

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No no, it is not the Eastern Front, and there were a few French planes with red stars on them. I will say this to serve as a clue, the area I am now working in is a long way from the English Channel.

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I know, I know....It's the Curtis Flying School in Toronto, Ontario Canada!!!

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You're funny Robert. I believe I mentioned in the first post that I was still working on the Western Front.

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I know. Couldn't help myself!

Is it Luxeuil in Alsace?

Noop

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Close though.

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Lou, if I used your map correctly, using the intersection of road and rail depot, that is Belfort.

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You most certainly did use the map correctly AM88, it is Belfort. I will be placing a number of much-needed forts about in the area as well as continue work on the custom airfield facility, and a few other odds and ends as well to tie the whole affair together.

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Looks like I have some homework to do to catch myself up. Can't wait to use it.

Just missed the chance to nail it. I remembered an airship station at Belfort. This will be really interesting!

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I can say this Raine, it is already getting interesting as I attempt to lay this one out. I created three extra texture tiles in order to use a vintage map which I've scaled to fit the WOFF landscape. These will serve not only as a guide to getting things where they belong but will also allow me to create the bulk of the town of Belfort as well as paint in a portion of the Savoureuse as it winds its way through the valley and along the western edge of the aerodrome. I will also be building a custom rail yard facility for this one. Here is a screenshot to better illustrate how I've pieced things together at this early stage of the project.

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Wow. I think my New Years resolution is going to be to learn how to do all of this modding.

So many ideas, so little knowledge.

I probably don't need to tell you this Lou but with all the huge volume of building and other infrastructure, watch out for FPS impacts. It looks like a rather huge undertaking.

On another note I like you approach of scaling a map to the tiles. I was never able to make things match up well in my attempts

Lou, you're like the Tolkein off WOFF, building your own world for us to inhabit. Wonderful work!

Such enthusiasm Ace. I have just completed a tutorial that will get you started. The tutorial is not yet a complete end to end instruction of building good and finishing mods but it is my intention to work on that next. Stay tuned

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Not to worry Robert, the bulk of the visual work will be done with the texture tiles which have very little impact on FPS as you know. The buildings and trees and such I will keep to a minimum, just enough to give the feel of the place.

AceMedic88, jump in anytime and give modding a go. That's what those of us with no knowledge but a whole lot of crazy did and look where it's gotten us.

And Raine, Tolkien you say? I'm honored, I hear he was a bit of a nutter as well.

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There's your next mod idea, Tolkein was in the Artillery during WW1, perhaps you can add his sector of the front and have him smoking his pipe and writing the first parts of FoTR on the back of old requisition forms.

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Here's a quick update as I had some time the last couple of days to make a good start on this project. I have the basic skeleton assembled and have some of the major items placed about the area using the newly created River Savoureuse to key off of. I have the custom rail junction facility a good way along and have placed a few bridges where they are needed. And what's that perched on the mount to the south of the aerodorme? Could it be the semblance of the northwestern-facing facade of the Citadelle de Belfort? I think it is.

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This is impressive Lou. My hat cannot be more off than it is now!
Let me ask you a question. Are you able to modify the terrain, like that mount for the citadele? Do you think it would be possible to model a crater in the terrain, just like the one left after exploding of the mines under Hill 60? That would be a nice landmark to navigate by.

You are a Master Artist in the Realm of WOFF Lou. Great work!!

Ill soon be able to throw my GPS over the side.
Very nice work !
Cheers,
shredward

Very nice work Lou, and in record time as well.

Slow down, guys. My internet connection is quite slow and so great mods and resulting big downloads every day....

Ah! This gives me a feeling of déja vu (or Dej a vu, if you like )

I remember you posting a screenie of Belfort way way back in the day, Lou. Finding it there was something of a WOFF Easter Egg, as I recall.

Looking forward to this one.

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Thanks for the kudos and feedback gents, always much appreciated.

Dej, good to see you dropping by, puns and all. Yes, way back in the OFF days I had added the zep sheds to the stock Belfort aerodrome, but that was really the extent of it then.

Jara, no worries on this mod coming too soon, it's a monster and is going to take a while to complete.

Fullofit, to your question about adding the crater at Hill 60, yes it could be done - sort of. The issue will be that the depression will end up much too large because of the minimum footprint size of a facility in the CFS3 engine. That being said, I certainly could create a crater in the landscape for you if you so desired one.

I had time the last two mornings to continue work on Belfort and am offering you a few teasers before heading out for the day. I've been raiding buildings from the old CFS3 and MAW folders and after some repainting of textures have pressed them into service for this mod. You'll see the changes in the Citadel facade as well a now roughed in Caserne Bougenel just across the tracks from Fort de Barres.

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Looking east over the town center below the Citadel, (I just started on this area).


Caserne Bougenel.


A view from the western side of the new rail junction facility, still under construction at this point.


Looking north from Fort des Basses Perches.



Later folks!

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Lou, that is looking splendid Sir! Cudos for your quality and speed of production. Have you tried GMAX for building plotting yet?

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Thanks Robert. Yes, I have tried GMAX for the plotting and it has been giving me fits. I'm sure I will sort it out but for now I am plugging away at this one in my usual fashion, archaic as it may be.

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Archaic is wot we are !

Cheers,
shredward

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Greetings All,

I don't know who it was that said there is a lot more free time available once you've retired, but whoever it was they're full of crap-ola.
Despite having been away for the last several days I've still managed to make some progress on this project, though there is just so much left to do. Ah well, c'est la vie, progress is progress. Here are a few more teasers just to keep your collective interests piqued.

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A view from the cockpit, looking east.



A fly-by showing the Rue Metz Juteau, along which young aviateurs would stroll arm-in-arm with comely mademoiselles as they peered into the shop windows.



Looking south.



Looking west.


Later folks!

Lou

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Well, I'm ready to move in Lou! What are the rental fees like?

This is fantastic; if Lou posted these in black and white, you'd think you were looking at a period postcard.
Cheers,
shredward

Lou, amazing. Just amazing.

Well done Lou, Well done!!!

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Thanks Robert, Ted, Raine, and rtoolooze, very glad to know this is looking good to you all. I've spent the last couple of mornings creating a set of textures for the outstanding model of Belfort Cathedral that Fullofit built for this project, a big "THANK YOU" again Sir for putting it together, (I have more such work if you're interested).

After getting the textures sorted out I fitted the new building into the Citadel grounds and continued adding buildings and trees and such. Here are more teasers showing the Cathedral and surrounding area as of this morning. And so far no noticeable hit in FPS with this mod.

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Later folks!

Lou

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Looking very fine Lou!! I Like the texture you created for the new cathedral Fullofit generated. Very nice indeed!

STUNNING!!!!
John

WOFF has always been a time machine, but this is amazing !
Cheers
shredward

looks good

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Thanks for the continued input and support folks, it is much appreciated. I've been chipping away at this project in my spare time and progress continues, though truth be told it's been a slow pace what with painting terrain tiles and model textures. Fullofit continues to generously donate his time and talents to this as well by building more of the needed 3D models, and many thanks again Sir for all of them. I am posting a couple of screenshots here to showcase the stones and crosses Fullofit recently completed for the cemetery section of this mod. Notice too the fine old stone arch bridges he built as well - very nice!

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Been waiting for a time to be able to give this a go, finally have some time this weekend. Can't wait to try it out!
Grateful for your time Lou, Fullofit! Looks amazing!

My giddiest regards,

Looking good Lou! Most credit goes to you and your unwavering dedication to this project.

Wow looks absolutely brilliant guys,cannot wait for this

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Adger, glad you like the looks of the place.

Fullofit, your talent and time have been indispensable to this mod, my hat's off again.

Jenks, hopefully you won't have to wait too much longer.

Folks, I believe I am at about critical mass in terms of object density in my Belfort project. I am going to spend a bit more time swapping some things around and cleaning up the edges so that I can give you all a beta version for testing. I am hoping the majority of you will be able to run this monster without a major hit to your FPS, we shall see.

Here is a screenie showing how it has shaped up at this point.

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Later all, I am off to move some snow.

That is ... BIG. No way you’ll miss it when navigating. Thanks for your effort Lou.

Another great landmark to aid all us Wrong-Way Corrigans. And that looks remarkably like the first Gare de Belfort in the foreground, not the 30's era 'modern' one. This really is quite special.
Cheers,
shredward

My Hans are getting itchy Lou!

Great, GReat, GREAT! Just, pls, make an airbase xml file in accordance with my template so we can enjoy realistically populated Belfort airfield.
Thx, Sir.

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Good Morning All,

I've been away from my WOFF computer for the last several days and during my absence I was nagged by the unconnected look of Belfort's sister aerodrome up the road, Fontaine. I had been flying past it repeatedly while placing the ring of forts into the landscape and it just bugged me every time I saw it plopped on the edge of a wood with no rhyme nor reason. Shredward had sent me some contemporary photos of the place earlier in the week so this AM early, (I couldn't sleep so I was up at 3:00), I decided to rough out a proper Fontaine aerodrome to go along with the new Belfort. Here is a screenie showing the beginnings of this addition to an already large mod:

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This will of course push out the completion time on this project but such is war. And Jara, I am most certainly making this mod compatible with yours as you requested some time back.

Cheers folks!

Lou

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The lonely picket in the vanguard.
Cheers,
shredward

Lou, I wonder if you were able to do anything about the railyard just north west of Belfort airfield. It is painfully evident in the stock version, that the buildings are smack dab in the middle of the road that runs through the facility which obliterates the integrity of the road itself!

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Robert, if you look at the recent photos I've posted of the new Belfort you will see that the stock railyard is long gone and a more accurate and properly placed version is already part of the mod.

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I should have expected as much! (Anal Perfection!)

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Robert, that just sounds so very wrong. You might want to rephrase that thought the next time it crosses you mind.

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Bwoc Bwoc Bwoc

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Ted, that explains it precisely. Barmy indeed!

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