That looks gorgeous Jeff :yep:

Best regards.

Fubar2Niner

Working on the Aft section at the moment.
I believe ref's VIIA has the proper tube compared to the SH5 version.
http://i60.photobucket.com/albums/h2.../typVIIA09.jpg

I still don't think the SH5 nor ref's version has the proper tail.
References to the aft part are far and few. And they all conflict in one way or another.

I just know that in Game it does not look like a real VIIA compared to pictures.
https://akisolomos.files.wordpress.com/2015/02/u-33.jpg

Cut the aft section near the rear torpedo tube to get that angle of the deck and hull.
Looks much more like a VIIA now.
:yep:
Once I build the new Tube housing and rear deck I'll post images.
I'm also collecting any shots of the deck. The VIIA didn't have the same patterns as the later VII's.

I kind of plan 2 versions of the deck.
Version 1 will be mostly stock with adjusted texture. (Low poly model)
Version 2 will have the drain slots cut through. (High poly model)

Edit: Found a bunch of new pictures that pretty much increased the changes I need to make.
Lots of the flooding holes are wrong, the exhaust ports are the wrong shape, size, and mislocated, and the forward tubes ain't right.

U-31 on it's side gives me the best images of a VIIA for location of holes and torpedo tube shape. Notice the forward flood holes are not at all like the SH5 version of the VIIA.
http://i108.photobucket.com/albums/n...1.jpg~original

U-31 also gives the best view of the deck hole pattern.
http://i108.photobucket.com/albums/n...e.jpg~original






U-35 pre-war collision helps on the torpedo tube shape also. Note the extra flood holes near the saddle tanks. Both subs were built at different sites.

http://i108.photobucket.com/albums/n...e.jpg~original

I've closed the upper holes near the tubes so far. I use 3dMax 2008 and Max_Retopo script to create patch panels real quick. It looks fine in Game and cut verts way down. SH5 models are not the best optimized to work with SH3 sadly. A lot of overhead and weird mate ups.

Here's the upper holes removed and a test tube for doing the torpedo thing right for the VIIA.
http://i108.photobucket.com/albums/n...t.jpg~original

Great shot of the aft. This helps greatly to finish the rear torpedo area and exhaust ports.
:D
http://i108.photobucket.com/albums/n...t.jpg~original

Forward flood holes near tubes looking good.
http://i108.photobucket.com/albums/n...s.jpg~original

I carefully remove edges then adjust verts to get the size and shape needed. It takes going back and forth between 3DMax and Meshlab to get smooth, optimized sections. Once all the adjusting is done I'll re-UV everything.

Nice :yep:

Coming along nicely Jeff :up:

Best regards.

Fubar2Niner

Spotted another neat detail.
Orange circle is around the general area of interest. Pink arrow points to what I take as the inner door hinge.
http://i108.photobucket.com/albums/n...a.jpg~original

Same area on a VIIA under repairs.
Orange circles the hinge with the cover removed. Pink arrow points to the cover itself I'm thinking.
http://i108.photobucket.com/albums/n...a.jpg~original

You can also spot it in this image.
http://i108.photobucket.com/albums/n...a.jpg~original

What do you Guys think.
:hmmm:

No clue. :oops:

Yea. I've searched for better details or images but the VIIA seems almost mystical in that way.
:haha:

This one for SH3/maybe 4 will be a kind of a cross of the 2 batches built.
It's a visual thing and I'm looking at the most obvious from each.

I'm learning to use slice planes and snaps much better now to create objects.

Another image concerning that hinge area.
http://i108.photobucket.com/albums/n...e.jpg~original







Quick (bad) render of the lower flood holes.
The 9 holes near the deck have been reduced to 4 as some images show.
The 3 holes above the torpedo tubes will be reduced to 2.

http://i108.photobucket.com/albums/n...s.jpg~original

You can see only one side has been put into the model.
I cut the sections I want to work on from the model, adjust those, then weld them back using snap and weld on the verts.
Every time I do this I import to the .dat and test it in Game.
I can avoid major headaches by catching any CTD issues and odd looking parts rendered in Game.

Once I finish the forward section, I'll post a link to the newest dat file.

Created a Boolean object to cut the main hull out so I can add a different forward, upper torpedo tube shape.
Images suggest they were very much like the type II's 2 upper tubes.

Tested the VIIA Hull with Wise's early VIIB turm today.
:D

I'll need to ask permission to make it compatible but it's the best VIIA turm I've seen and would save a lot of work on my part.
Why re-invent the wheel when Wise has set the bar?
:yep:

As I added holes where there were none before? I had to create new internal parts so you don't see all the way through those areas.
PITA!!
:haha:

@Jeff

If there was a dedication award on subsim you'd better get it this year. Great work and thank you.

I've ask Neal to NOT give me awards and stuff like that.
It's a personal thing.