How was this done? I created a new unit in a open slot (693) named M60. I cut and pasted an existing M60A1 into this slot and renamed it to M60. This gives me the hull I want but not the turret. I will need to build a M60 turret using the M48A3 turret. I do this in PSP by matting a 105mm canon and commanders cupola from a M60A1, to the M48A3 turret through a cut and paste process and color matching. I save this turret as us_m60_ts.png file (I also made winter and desert turrets).
In the units editor under the new M60 unit, under the size and armor tab, I edit the turret data to reflect that of a M48A3 turret, both in size and KE/CE and tandem armor ratings. Next under the weapons and ammunition tab I edit the ammunition to a total of 57 rounds for a M60. The M48A5 turret ammo numbers were used for ready ammo (19) as the turret layout and ready ammo for a M60 is much different than in the later spacious turret of the A1 model. I edit the ammunition to APDS-29, HEAT-18 and HEP-10, as carried by the M60A1 in game.
I then edited the resources_custom.xml file to add the M60 to the game. Be careful when doing this as you SHOULD ALWAYS back up your original data files. To add I just copied and pasted the string for the M60A1 units and changed the file names to the M60. The partial string for summer looks like this:
</sprite>
<sprite name="us_m60_hs" base_angle="0">
<image file="vehicle\us\us_m60a1_hs.png" />
<translation origin="center"/>
<rotation origin="center"/>
</sprite>
<sprite name="us_m60_ts" base_angle="0">
<image file="vehicle\us\us_m60_ts.png" />
<translation origin="center"/>
<rotation origin="center"/>
</sprite>
In game I needed to adjust the turret and commander positions. This is done by opening the units.xml file in WordPad and editing the X and Y positions in the string for the correct positions of the commander and turret. In the string my adjustments look like this.
<string name="turretSpriteX" value="0.0" />
<string name="turretSpriteY" value="-3.0" />
<string name="commSpriteX" value="14.0" />
<string name="commSpriteY" value="0.0" />
Next I created a formation for the 1271 slot in the formations editor called M60 Tank Platoon. It contains the 5x M60 for the TO&E of that time. However this has to be added into the factions.xml manually. I do this by opening the factions.xml in Wordpad. I find:
<string name="formation51" value="506,1965,1,1974,12,100" />
This is for formation 506 which is a M60A1 platoon from 1-1965 until 12-1974. You can learn to pick up the patterns in the string. I don’t know what the “100” in this string is for.
I copy this string and paste it right below in a string named:
<string name="formation51" value="1271,1965,1,1974,12,100"/>
Now I have inserted a platoon of M60’s available to the US player from 1-1965 until 12-1974. Later I will create a M60 HQ and Company(-).
I didn’t go into too many details on the actual artwork as that’s another topic. I do plenty of graphics work so the artwork is easy for me. It did take me a few days to figure the editor and editing of the XML files and a little time to figure out how to move the commander and turret sprites. Lots of trial and error.
I will next add a M577 Command track to the US command units.
I hope this thread will serve to get the modding off the ground. Please share you efforts to add to your database.
[/img]