Special Aircraft Service

Individual Mods and Packs for IL-2 1946 => Skins, Maps, Missions & Campaigns => ETO Maps => Topic started by: agracier on December 09, 2011, 03:23:16 PM

Title: Lapland Map - Retreat through the Finnmark - WIP
Post by: agracier on December 09, 2011, 03:23:16 PM
It's been a while since getting a map ready and presentable. Nothing much seemed to work with the limited time I've had lately. But finally here is a map that will be ready shortly. It's a co-production with Kapteeni, as befits anything to do with the far north of Scandinavia. He came up with the idea of making a map that would cover the area in the far north through which the German army retreated in the autumn and winter of 1944-45. So far, no winter map is ready but we'll have a summer/autumn map up soon.

And with a very minimal populating with objects, that means the map has to look well landscape wise. It' s all to do with feeling the landscape and hopefully creating an atmospheric map.

Luckily populating the map will be very minimal. Here is a screenshot of the map area. Landscape screenshots available later.

Since there is a large portion of Swedish territory on the map, this might be a good map to use some of those Swedish skins that are otherwise rather ill-placed in other areas of the world. There are any number of possible alternative history scenarios to think up.

(http://i458.photobucket.com/albums/qq302/agracier/LaplandMapSmall.jpg)
Title: Re: Lapland Map - Retreat through the Finnmark - WIP
Post by: agracier on December 10, 2011, 07:53:32 AM
Here are a few screenshots. 2 of the summer map, and the others of the autumn map. This is going to be a landscape map, so there will be little in the way of detailed populating of villages.

(http://i458.photobucket.com/albums/qq302/agracier/Lapland-101220110-43-05.jpg)

(http://i458.photobucket.com/albums/qq302/agracier/Lapland-101220110-41-06.jpg)

(http://i458.photobucket.com/albums/qq302/agracier/LaplandAutumn-1012201115-41-56.jpg)

(http://i458.photobucket.com/albums/qq302/agracier/LaplandAutumn-1012201114-59-02.jpg)

(http://i458.photobucket.com/albums/qq302/agracier/LaplandAutumn-1012201115-33-44.jpg)

(http://i458.photobucket.com/albums/qq302/agracier/LaplandAutumn-1012201115-34-22.jpg)

(http://i458.photobucket.com/albums/qq302/agracier/LaplandAutumn-1012201115-41-17.jpg)

(http://i458.photobucket.com/albums/qq302/agracier/LaplandAutumn-1012201115-34-01.jpg)
Title: Re: Lapland Map - Retreat through the Finnmark - WIP
Post by: hguderian on December 10, 2011, 08:28:17 AM
Arf Arf...  :P :P
Title: Re: Lapland Map - Retreat through the Finnmark - WIP
Post by: agracier on December 11, 2011, 03:42:11 AM
...and some winter screenshots. We used modified forest textures to give the forests a fresh snowfall look - the tops of the trees covered with snow while underneath the lower branches are free of snow so that you can see the evergreen pine color underneath ...

The winter map will also feature a little something extra for those who like to do things with convoys. The distances won't be entirely correct, since Allied convoys to the Soviet Union sailed a far more northern route than can be used here, but the map being so large anyway it should work out anyway ... and it won't be just open water for the convoys either ...

(http://i458.photobucket.com/albums/qq302/agracier/Lap-Winter-1112201111-19-43.jpg)

(http://i458.photobucket.com/albums/qq302/agracier/Lap-Winter-1112201111-19-58.jpg)

(http://i458.photobucket.com/albums/qq302/agracier/Lap-Winter-1112201111-20-10.jpg)

(http://i458.photobucket.com/albums/qq302/agracier/Lap-Winter-1112201111-20-31.jpg)

(http://i458.photobucket.com/albums/qq302/agracier/Lap-Winter-1112201111-21-56.jpg)

(http://i458.photobucket.com/albums/qq302/agracier/Lap-Winter-1112201111-24-51.jpg)

(http://i458.photobucket.com/albums/qq302/agracier/Lap-Winter-1112201111-26-29.jpg)

(http://i458.photobucket.com/albums/qq302/agracier/Lap-Winter-1112201111-26-15.jpg)

(http://i458.photobucket.com/albums/qq302/agracier/111220110-44-13.jpg)
Title: Re: Lapland Map - Retreat through the Finnmark - WIP
Post by: cgagan on December 11, 2011, 04:07:39 AM
Can't wait to d/load and add to my Agrarcier/Kapteeni collection of favourite maps!!!! 8)
Title: Re: Lapland Map - Retreat through the Finnmark - WIP
Post by: Genosse on December 11, 2011, 04:34:58 AM
Looks outstanding!  :o
Title: Re: Lapland Map - Retreat through the Finnmark - WIP
Post by: Knochenlutscher on December 11, 2011, 05:13:28 AM
Cool Map, definitely interesting landscape you chose here.
Wish you all the best for your work
Title: Re: Lapland Map - Retreat through the Finnmark - WIP
Post by: kapteeni on December 11, 2011, 01:59:58 PM
Can't wait to d/load and add to my Agrarcier/Kapteeni collection of favourite maps!!!! 8)
There might be some surprises too...
I have only helped Gracier by giving my knoeledge of North.. Agracier has done all the job. This map looks really like Lapland.
Of course Il2 engine has limitations, but the general feeling is awesome.
You will love this map.
Kapteeni
Title: Re: Lapland Map - Retreat through the Finnmark - WIP
Post by: Mission_bug on December 12, 2011, 01:57:59 PM
Superb, very much looking forward to adding this map to the collection. 8)

Wishing you all the very best, Pete. ;D
Title: Re: Lapland Map - Retreat through the Finnmark - WIP
Post by: flying_spud on December 13, 2011, 09:16:02 AM
Tasty in the extreme, do we get a chance to strafe and bomb Santa's HQ?   :D
Title: Re: Lapland Map - Retreat through the Finnmark - WIP
Post by: agracier on December 13, 2011, 09:39:06 AM
Tasty in the extreme, do we get a chance to strafe and bomb Santa's HQ?   :D

Well, if you ask that you are certain not to be on Santa's list ... ha ha

Apparently though, from what kapteeni told me, the German battleship Tirpitz was berthed in the Altafjord, which is on the map. So there is a possibility for a historic mission of sorts. And along with the Tirpitz sortieing setting sail into northern waters, comes the possibility of bombing Allied convoys on the way to the USSR. PQ-17 comes to mind for me, a convoy that sailed in June of 1942 with my father aboard the SS Bellingham as an oiler. That ship was hit on the run in to Archangel by a dud torpedo dropped by a FW-200.
Title: Re: Lapland Map - Retreat through the Finnmark - WIP
Post by: CzechTexan on December 13, 2011, 11:38:03 AM
Your father was a very lucky man if he was on the PQ-17 convoy.  Many ships were sunk along with lots of lives, not to mention all that brand new equipment heading for Russia.
Title: Re: Lapland Map - Retreat through the Finnmark - WIP
Post by: agracier on December 13, 2011, 12:01:54 PM
Your father was a very lucky man if he was on the PQ-17 convoy.  Many ships were sunk along with lots of lives, not to mention all that brand new equipment heading for Russia.

Well, on the way back his ship was sunk, but without any loss of lives though. And I suppose that he must be lucky since he is still around.

http://home.comcast.net/~cshortridge/MERSHIPHIS/AMERSHIPL/SS_BELLINGHAM.pdf
Title: Re: Lapland Map - Retreat through the Finnmark - WIP
Post by: flying_spud on December 15, 2011, 06:50:08 AM
Tasty in the extreme, do we get a chance to strafe and bomb Santa's HQ?   :D

Well, if you ask that you are certain not to be on Santa's list ... ha ha

Apparently though, from what kapteeni told me, the German battleship Tirpitz was berthed in the Altafjord, which is on the map. So there is a possibility for a historic mission of sorts. And along with the Tirpitz sortieing setting sail into northern waters, comes the possibility of bombing Allied convoys on the way to the USSR. PQ-17 comes to mind for me, a convoy that sailed in June of 1942 with my father aboard the SS Bellingham as an oiler. That ship was hit on the run in to Archangel by a dud torpedo dropped by a FW-200.
Tasty in the extreme, do we get a chance to strafe and bomb Santa's HQ?   :D

Well, if you ask that you are certain not to be on Santa's list ... ha ha

Apparently though, from what kapteeni told me, the German battleship Tirpitz was berthed in the Altafjord, which is on the map. So there is a possibility for a historic mission of sorts. And along with the Tirpitz sortieing setting sail into northern waters, comes the possibility of bombing Allied convoys on the way to the USSR. PQ-17 comes to mind for me, a convoy that sailed in June of 1942 with my father aboard the SS Bellingham as an oiler. That ship was hit on the run in to Archangel by a dud torpedo dropped by a FW-200.

It's not so much Santa, just those pesky elves.........

Seriously though I see a Lancaster mission to Altafjord to bomb Tirpitz whilst she's moored - Tall Boy bombs of course. I'm sure this is going to be a great addition to our game.
Title: Re: Lapland Map - Retreat through the Finnmark - WIP
Post by: agracier on December 15, 2011, 04:39:50 PM
A few screenshots on the autumn version of the map.

(http://i458.photobucket.com/albums/qq302/agracier/1512201121-31-18.jpg)

(http://i458.photobucket.com/albums/qq302/agracier/1512201123-54-42.jpg)

(http://i458.photobucket.com/albums/qq302/agracier/1512201123-53-59.jpg)
Title: Re: Lapland Map - Retreat through the Finnmark - WIP
Post by: flying_spud on December 16, 2011, 06:49:44 AM
Very nice, I like to see autumn represented as well as summer/winter.

Where did you get that mega field mod of the Hurrie from - I want one!!

You need to call autoglass out to fix that windscreen though.  :D
Title: Re: Lapland Map - Retreat through the Finnmark - WIP
Post by: agracier on December 16, 2011, 07:16:00 AM
Very nice, I like to see autumn represented as well as summer/winter.

Where did you get that mega field mod of the Hurrie from - I want one!!

You need to call autoglass out to fix that windscreen though.  :D

The Hurricane mod will be out soon I predict ... it's being tested. It's a lovely modification.

We've also got major updates on a map of the same general area coming up as well. For Archangelsk there will be total retexturing and totally new populating plus addition of an autumn map as well. And with different textures than Lapland or Karelia, but still made so the areas resemble each other. The Far North is going to be well represented ... and all will be finished very soon ...

A screenshot of Archangelsk Autumn

(http://i458.photobucket.com/albums/qq302/agracier/ArchangelskAutumn-1612201123-21-20.jpg)
Title: Re: Lapland Map - Retreat through the Finnmark - WIP
Post by: Flying H on December 16, 2011, 04:55:01 PM
Well you´ve made me homesick! I lived in the northern part of Sweden until I was 23, that´s some years ago, so now I sit here 1100 km south and long for the deserted wilderness of Lapland! Beautiful rendition of the  country of my heart!
Title: Re: Lapland Map - Retreat through the Finnmark - WIP
Post by: agracier on December 16, 2011, 05:42:21 PM
a few more for the road ... autumn in Archangelsk ...

(http://i458.photobucket.com/albums/qq302/agracier/ArchangelskAutumn-1612201123-13-05.jpg)

(http://i458.photobucket.com/albums/qq302/agracier/ArchangelskAutumn-1612201123-20-06.jpg)
Title: Re: Lapland Map - Retreat through the Finnmark - WIP
Post by: hguderian on December 16, 2011, 06:02:22 PM
...Tantalization....:=))))))

What a map!!!!
Title: Re: Lapland Map - Retreat through the Finnmark - WIP
Post by: rollnloop on December 18, 2011, 01:32:42 AM
Beautiful work ! :)
Title: Re: Lapland Map - Retreat through the Finnmark - WIP
Post by: kapteeni on December 18, 2011, 01:44:02 AM
And the mo
Well you´ve made me homesick! I lived in the northern part of Sweden until I was 23, that´s some years ago, so now I sit here 1100 km south and long for the deserted wilderness of Lapland! Beautiful rendition of the  country of my heart!
Right!
And Agracier has developed a method how to make marshes and swamps look like in real. I did have some propblems with my house, so i haven't test the latest version which he send to me... Yet.
Beuatifull and huge map.
Kap
Title: Re: Lapland Map - Retreat through the Finnmark - WIP
Post by: SAS~Poltava on December 18, 2011, 07:46:06 AM
Guys! This looks absolutely fabulous! You will bring me out of my (involuntary) IL-2-retirement!!!
Title: Re: Lapland Map - Retreat through the Finnmark - WIP
Post by: SAS~Tom2 on December 18, 2011, 02:24:21 PM
Awesome, another great and exciting map! I loved the marshes.. :)
Title: Re: Lapland Map - Retreat through the Finnmark - WIP
Post by: agracier on December 18, 2011, 05:06:58 PM
It's fun making screenshots when a map is still in the final stages. Here are a few more. In any case, the map for Lapland, all three seasons will be posted shortly. These shots are of the autumn version. Since this is a very desolate and uninhabited region ( just ask Kapteeni who has been here on treks many times), the map will have to get it's feeling and atmosphere from the landscape alone, there will be no saving grace by virtue of interesting cities or industrial areas. It's all about Nature on this map, which was nice and relaxing in a way. No worries about placing objects in a correct density. We popped a few textures with a few very minimal number of backwoods cabins and farms and such, but nothing very obvious.


(http://i458.photobucket.com/albums/qq302/agracier/LapAut-1012201123-27-23.jpg)

(http://i458.photobucket.com/albums/qq302/agracier/LapAut-1012201114-59-02.jpg)

(http://i458.photobucket.com/albums/qq302/agracier/LapAut-1012201115-33-44.jpg)

(http://i458.photobucket.com/albums/qq302/agracier/LapAut-1012201115-41-17.jpg)

(http://i458.photobucket.com/albums/qq302/agracier/LapAut-1012201115-41-56.jpg)
Title: Re: Lapland Map - Retreat through the Finnmark - WIP
Post by: agracier on December 22, 2011, 12:07:53 PM
The map is ready for dowload:

https://www.sas1946.com/main/index.php/topic,20446.0.html
Title: Re: Lapland Map - Retreat through the Finnmark - WIP
Post by: hguderian on December 22, 2011, 01:55:25 PM
Thank You!!! Wonder_Map!