[WIP] M4A2 Sherman - Model

[Mraah]

I'm starting another project .... sigh.

I'm using MS3D. ... So far it's taken me 2 hours to get to this point (I'm new, ok!) [:D].

It will be a static model for now ... until I can find a cheap way to get the animation into the X file. I have a hunch, but I haven't experimented yet.

The background image I used to scale the tank was a blueprint that I got from The-BluePrints.com .

Here is the exact link to the M4 page at The Blue Prints ... http://www.the-blueprints.com/index.php?search/sherman/

Hope this helps those who want to model on a cheap budget. I'm trying to experiment with the idea of not spending that much on modeling.

If I can't get the model to animate I'll kindly ask someone to put an engine in it [;)].

Thanks for looking,
Rob

[EagleMountainDK]

Rob, you sure have a lot going. Keep it up!!!! [:)]

[Erik Rutins]

Great to see - good luck with this and feel free to ask questions if you hit any problems.

[Mraah]

This is a very rough drawing ... I quickly slapped the TOW skin on ... very rough, seams need welding and faces need assignment ... blah blah blah, excuses right?

Anyway, just demonstrating, and learning. Fun stuff, really.

[Mraah]

By the way ... I won't be using the TOW textures. Part of building something comes from being original. My textures will probably stink, but whose to say you can't put your own on [:)].

Thanks for looking.

[Redleg]

Mraah!  You are a dynamo!  Good luck.
 
Redleg

[Stridor]

Rob,

You certainly are a dynamo [:D] Keep up the good work, we are all benefiting from it, but also don't over do it and get burn out! The PCK community needs you!

You seem to have 100 projects on the go at once [;)]

[Mraah]

You know ... after messing with the TOW texture I'm going to end up using the details but apply a new paint job ... at least that will be original!

I spent a few moments to clean up what I had already built ... getting the groups right, face assignments, and with some time on proper texture alignment I think I'm done messing with this and moving along to the rest of the body.

The cylinder location is basically where the turret's gonna go ... the textures still need adjusting to reflect that.

I'm thinking this paint job for a Winter Mix ... Kharkov style.

EDIT NOTE : The total triangle count (including the cylinder) adds up to 279, so far.

Thanks for looking !

[Mraah]

I've changed the model type to an M4A2.

As far as I can research (which is limited) I discovered that the M4A2 was the Lend-Lease model most likely to appear on the Eastern Front (any country or front for that matter)... Please, anyone, correct me if I'm wrong ... Mobius?

Also, I'm unsure of any dates it would appear and what type of gun (75mm or 76mm) would be appropriate. Again, any suggestions would help.

The only photo's I have show 2 vehicles (M4A2) in 1945 ... with a 76mm gun.

Thank you all,

Rob

[Mobius]

ORIGINAL: Mraah
I've changed the model type to an M4A2.
As far as I can research (which is limited) I discovered that the M4A2 was the Lend-Lease model most likely to appear on the Eastern Front (any country or front for that matter)... Please, anyone, correct me if I'm wrong ... Mobius?

Also, I'm unsure of any dates it would appear and what type of gun (75mm or 76mm) would be appropriate. Again, any suggestions would help.

The only photo's I have show 2 vehicles (M4A2) in 1945 ... with a 76mm gun.

From what I could get from the Hunnicutt book on Shermans the M4A2 75mm was around 10/42 and the M4A2 (wet) 76mm was around 9/44. Allowing a little time to ship.

[Mraah]

ORIGINAL: Mobius
From what I could get from the Hunnicutt book on Shermans the M4A2 75mm was around 10/42 and the M4A2 (wet) 76mm was around 9/44. Allowing a little time to ship.

Thank you Mobius for the info. I guess I'll have to design two diffent turret versions. This project is on hold while I work on the Singling map and I thought I'd gather more info for later.

[Mobius]

Ah, Singling. Good scenario. We've done it in miniatures a few times.

[Mraah]

ORIGINAL: Mobius
Ah, Singling. Good scenario. We've done it in miniatures a few times.

I would be honored if you converted your scenario into a Kharkov battle. I was going to make one myself but I'm not very talented with scenario design.

Thanks!

Rob

[Mobius]

Here is the battle in miniatures. We don't have Shermans let alone 76mm Shermans with HVAP yet.
I don't think Russians vs. Germans would work as '44 US Armoured Infantry has no match in Russian units.

[Mraah]

Update ... Almost done ...

Using MS3D, I've pretty much got a complete model, from the M4A2 blueprint.
The only parts that aren't going to be original are the treads, bogie, and wheel ... those parts are borrowed from the M3A1 model in Pck.

The reason why I'm borrowing those parts is mostly because of poylgon count ... If I use my wheels it will cost me about 2,240 polys!!
The image you are looking at in the screen shot is 4,235 ... so, deleting my wheels would equal a total of 1,995 ... and then adding in Pck M3A1 wheels would be ~ 240 more ... for a total of 2,235 .

I'm still working on it ... there are other parts that need reducing and tweaking. Nothings perfect and since I'm using PcK parts it's not totaly original.

Thanks for looking !!

Rob

[Stridor]

Rob,

Provided you make _LOD models as well I wouldn't worry too much about the poly count even if it is 5000!

[Mraah]

ORIGINAL: Stridor
Provided you make _LOD models as well I wouldn't worry too much about the poly count even if it is 5000!

Stridor,

Ok, yeah, the LOD ... wasn't thinking about that, thanks. The other poly hogs are the front transmission case and the turret. I already replaced the rear axle area with a lower poly count. If I can't do the texture trick with the wheels then I'll resort to magic using smoke and mirror's.

I do have a question ... Should I texture it before getting it ready for animation, ie before I group them and such ??

Also, can you use this model for your animation tutorial or do you have something else in mind ?? If so, let me know and I'll send you the latest version.

Thank you ... I'm at work now so won't be able to get another crack at it for another 4 hours.

EDIT NOTE : By the way, I had to scrap my original M4 when I built this ... from start to finish it took me about 8 hours non-stop (if anyone was curious), except minor breaks for food etc. Also, I need to review the texture UV stuff and MS3D tut's ... I'm still a novice to get them looking right.

Rob

[Mad Russian]

ORIGINAL: Mraah

I've changed the model type to an M4A2.

As far as I can research (which is limited) I discovered that the M4A2 was the Lend-Lease model most likely to appear on the Eastern Front (any country or front for that matter)... Please, anyone, correct me if I'm wrong ... Mobius?

Also, I'm unsure of any dates it would appear and what type of gun (75mm or 76mm) would be appropriate. Again, any suggestions would help.

The only photo's I have show 2 vehicles (M4A2) in 1945 ... with a 76mm gun.

Thank you all,

Rob

The Shermans sent to the Soviet Union were the M4A2(75mm) of which 2,007 were sent and the M4A2 (76mm) which had 2,095 delivered.

All were the M4A2 version with a diesel engine. The Soviets tried to rearm some of the 75mm gun tanks with a 76mm F-34 gun creating the M4M. The 76mm F-34 gunned conversion seems to have been limited but the Germans did capture some.

The Shermans were widely used during the last year of the war.

"Soviet Tanks and Combat Vehicles of World War Two" by Steven J. Zaloga and James Gadson.

There were entire Soviet armored units equipped with Shermans. One such unit being the 3rd Guard Tank Corps which participated in the destruction of Army Group Center. This unit participated in the fighting around Minsk at the end of June and the first part of July 1944. The 3GTC fought a sharp tank battle with elements of schweres Panzer Abteilung 505 (Heavy Tank Battalion - Tiger I's) near Krupki rail station on the evening of 28 June 1944.

"Bagration 1944: The Destruction of Army Group Centre" by Steven J. Zaloga


Good Hunting.

MR

[Stridor]

Rob good job!

Yeah you should texture now before animation. You will also need some working hatches (esp TC) and other external bling to blow off during death.

8 hours is impressive!

I am still looking for a ready to roll vehicle to animate, so if you get yours done in time sure I will tut it. I might also tut something else I am working on but it may take more time.

Regards

S.

[Mraah]

ORIGINAL: Stridor
Yeah you should texture now before animation. You will also need some working hatches (esp TC) and other external bling to blow off during death.

Ok, yeah ... extra bling is the main reason why I'm dropping the initial poly count to something reasonable. This leads me to another question ...

You mentioned that you were able to get MS3D to work with limited animation ... so I held off on the bling pending your tut. Were you able to get the entire animation to work with MS3D or are there some things we can't do yet ?

8 hours is impressive!
I am still looking for a ready to roll vehicle to animate, so if you get yours done in time sure I will tut it. I might also tut something else I am working on but it may take more time.

When I read you were looking for a vehicle to animate I dropped everything and went full bore on the M4. I fear that your tutorial may need to cover several aspects of animating different variaties of objects , ie wheeled, tracked and soldier (TC) stuff. I'm looking forward to anything your tut's cover at any rate.

Expect me to ask you later on regarding texturing and UV ... If I can't make heads or tails from the MS3D tut's I'll have to bend your ear a little more than usual.

Thanks,
Rob