Indeed I remember starting out modding graphics with a freeware 3D program called Moray and trial versions of Paint Shop Pro. I think I went through like 4 trial versions of it before I got hold of an ancient but full version.
While the results where crappy by most standards it is still fun to look back at how much is actually possible with such by comparison simple tools.
Been messing around with applying a MERDC summer pattern to the M41. I might do away with the star though, it does not really fit that well on the pattern and from what I can find the US army did away with it fairly early in the cold war.
I am considering taking it a bit more in the direction of the colouration found on
this illustration. That might be too dark and drab though
I agree it is more fun when vehicles look distinct. With vehicles like the M41 it would probably just be dark green with a star, iron cross, flag or something similar on it depending on nationality which is kinda boring. Still I consider that a sacrifice worth accepting.
I have been messing around with some US and Royal Navy ships. Should not be too hard to identify these even in their fairly early state. For now the priority is still to get the Nippon Kaigun vessels done. After that point I will probably give these more attention.
As mentioned these are very early state. To give you an idea when building something entirely from scratch I probably spend around 5-10% of the time on modelling, 5-10% on UV mapping and the rest on texturing. These are not even properly UV-mapped yet.
I got 4 more vessels in some state of incomplete modelling on top of the Pennsylvania I posted earlier. The one furthest along is a York class cruiser (specifically the HMS Exeter) that I made for another purpose but should be possible to repurpose for this. Given that the above percentages does not really apply.
I might also have some pre-war aircraft to go with them at some point. Planes are for the most part quite fast to make compared to say battleships.
Also by far my favourite US planes are those in the old interwar period with bright yellow, blue etc colour schemes.
Again these ride a bit close to the 900 cap (some over it if the cut-away below waterline parts is included). It is just harder to get say a battleship with 3-6 main turrets an 4-14 secondaries down to 600 when there is also a far, far more complex superstructure. But that is the challenge and one I am having some fun with if I at times curse it a bit when I have to find 25 tris to remove.
I will probably post the Japanese ships once I have some more of them done.
Also anyone know any Royal Navy warships they think are really important? I will probably give those and the US Navy ships higher priority once the Japanese ships are closer to completion.