Abrams Icon set
 

Ok, I have noticed quite a bit of activity with the Abrams activity the last couple months or so. Lots of you were updating the existing icons from the game. That's cool, but since the ones in game, prior to the V3 "revisions", I created for the now old SPMBTv1.0. Tells me that a new standard Abrams icon needed an upgrade. So here is a complete rebuild with new techniques and better skills than my originals. You, the community, are what doing icons is all about for me. Enjoy!

*** Update of this set is on page three, please go there for the file ***

Re: Abrams Icon set
 

Excellent job!!!

I did some changes for V2.0 but you out did me.

The only thing I would suggest (and it is only a pet peeve of mine) is the gas extractor on the M1A1 and above needs to be bigger. The barrel is too straight like the 105mm. The Leo's look good in the game but, the Abrams looks wimpy without it.

I love the "winter weathered", I have had trouble making winter schemes (I'm a novice painter).

New Bradleys, Abrams and Strykers (ICONS)
http://www.shrapnelcommunity.com/thr...o=&fpart=1

I did a unique color scheme called Autumn Camo. A design I saw at Frado's Armorsite http://www.fprado.com/armorsite/steel_beasts.htm, There are other good camo designs there.

Autumn Camo (Icons)
http://www.shrapnelcommunity.com/thr...o=&fpart=1

Do you think you will consider doing others? Mainly I think the Bradley's need a work over.

Re: Abrams Icon set
 

Those Strykers of yours are based on my old strykers which you moved the gun postion too far forward. The only reason the old ones looked the way they did was becasue I didn't have any detailed views of it at the time. The new ones added to V3 correct that becasue I found better top views

Don

Re: Abrams Icon set
 

Well thank you Gooseman! They are for you guys.

As far as the fume extractor goes. I don't like to add a pixel to each side because that makes too big. That would put them at 24" diameter and that is WAY out of scale. There is where we get into the limitations of pixel by pixel creation. If I could add a 1/4 pixel I would, but I would rather be a bit too small than way to big.

Yeah, winter can be a bit tricky if your not careful. I am not much for the all white "UN" look of the winter schemes. But what can you do, this is a tiny tiny scale and very limited palette. But I was tinkering around with the "weathered" look. I also have a "worn" look but I didn't put that in the set. It looks like the paint is showing through the white.

I looked into your Autumn Camo before and I have only seem it in Steel Beasts. I haven't actually seen any real references to that scheme. That is why I didn't do that scheme.

As far as doing other icons sets. I have a pretty long list of stuff I would like to redo and have redone. You may have seen some of the stuff I have done on the Yahoo forum? I redid the M-113s, M-26s, M-46s, some M-47s, T-54/55s (this set is HUGE), and many others in the "Skunk Works" and many others waiting. LOL.. So you could say I will consider doing others.

That a offical request for a Bradley set? LOL

Re: Abrams Icon set
 

Well hello there Don, long time no talk!

Re: Abrams Icon set
 

Hello Joe. Yes, it's been awhile

Don

Re: Abrams Icon set
 

FYI I now base camo on icons on what the overall affect looks like in the game as opposed to the drawing program. ( we have had this conversation before..) If it benfits from camo, it gets camo, if the camo hide all the detail I just spent a couple hours putting in, they end up a solid green or tan.

Don

Re: Abrams Icon set
 

LOL...I remember. Same ole Don....

Re: Abrams Icon set
 

Same ole ( game ) reality Joe.

Don

Re: Abrams Icon set
 

Too funny. Its just our 2 distinct styles Don, that's all it is. You have yours, I have mine. I go for a more realistic look, you go for a more "cartoony" look, for a lack of a better word. Which is fine. Yours look good with your style. Mine show my style. I am not gonna beat you up on your sytle, and I would hope you would do the same. But all in all, both of our styles have evolved over the years. So congrats on your improved performance with your icons. They are much better than they used to be. Weither it was because you were hurrying, skippin details, whatever don't really matter, because its the final out come that matters. And that is that your work in much better than it used to be. We both pushed each other to better ourselves. So can't complain about that now can we?

Re: Abrams Icon set
 

Yea, I have seen and used your other sets. Great works. You inspired me to try some myself. I think that it brings a special feel to the game.

I did see the Autumn scheme on a Scale Model from a certain unit but, I will have to take the time to locate it again.

Oh yea, that was an unofficial offical request... ;}

I am still working on some new Bradley designs. I am added equipment baskets to the sides. I added ERA blocks to the turret but they were not perfect so I am trying to adjust them.

But, thanks again. This makes the experience better.

Re: Abrams Icon set
 

Thanks again Gooseman. You're right about have a special feel to playing a game and seeing your efforts in it. What I enjoy most is knowing I make a contribution to the SP community. If the equipment is accurate it contributes to the "education" of the people that may not be as familiar with the equipment as myself and others. That is what gets me.....

You find some real references of that camo and I'll hook you up.

LOL....I like that...

You'll have to let me check them out and maybe I can give you some pointers or ideas that may help you see your vision a bit clearer.

More than welcome Gooseman, more than welcome.

Re: Abrams Icon set
 

Yeah Joe we do have differing ideas on what's "realistic" and what's "cartoony".

Don

Re: Abrams Icon set
 

Well Joe lets just say I didn't have the luxury of spending weeks building 29 variation of one tank when there were hundreds of Icons people wanted for their OOB's and Icons were merely one aspect what I was doing developing these games.

This is pretty much the same "conversation" we had years ago isn't it? http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/image...s/rolleyes.gif

Don

Re: Abrams Icon set
 

You didn't <snip> the rest of that quote, the part that followed that was a compliment Don.

No, no at all. At least that is not my intention. But it seems like you do. lol.. I compliment you and you come back me with this. Yep, you're stil the same. lol. Either the stress of working on this game is still at a high or you are just natually this way. Well, any who. I am not gonna sit here and go to blows or take shots at each Don. I am just not gonna do it. We have done that enough over the years. I was striking up conversation and I get the jab of FYI....etc, etc, and you continue to jab at me. This was why I have been hesitant on posting anything on here. Because of the backlash. But this is a public forum and I am posting for the community. I know all too well that you are not much for my style. Fine, cool, doesn't really matter. But what matters is that we have grown as icon artists and that's that. Self improvement is the most important thing for growth. Hence the compliment.

But my last thing on this is. We have 2 completely different visions and neither is wrong or better than the other, just means there is more than one way to do things. You are not the teacher and I am not the student, and I am not the teacher and you are not the student. Just 2 artists with 2 different techniques. There is no competition here. This is for the community, plain and simple.

Re: Abrams Icon set
 

"Those Strykers of yours are based on my old strykers which you moved the gun postion too far forward. The only reason the old ones looked the way they did was becasue I didn't have any detailed views of it at the time. The new ones added to V3 correct that becasue I found better top views"

Yea Don, my icons weren't new or perfect just different... And for the first time ever doing it (modifying an icon), I was pretty proud. As with all my works.

I was floored by all the new icons, they are great, especially the Strykers. I think they are as good as they can get, even the turrets are great. (although, using them for USMC LAV 25 doesn't work... too big). I never expected them to get used I was just doing them for myself and thought others may like a change, simple huh.

BTW... This is the only comment you could make about them??

Anyway, you guys are amazing with all you put up with and deal with, much thanks to you.

Keep them comming Joe ;}

Re: Abrams Icon set
 

Those were your first attempts at icons Gooseman? Well congrats. Really good for your first attempt and icon "modification". You should be proud of your work. They are good for being a rookie at it. http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/smilies/happy.gif. If you can't have pride in your own work, what's the point?

You are correct on this Gooseman, the replacing of the LAV 25 set with Strykers is a good mistake to note for the next release.

I am not gonna speak for Don, I couldn't even if I tried, but don't get discouraged. Don and I both have gotten where we are with our icons because of LOTS of time and practice. Not all attempts were or are successful, just gotta try new things and keep at it. Only time will show you your progress. Heck I look at my old stuff and laugh nowadays, and tell myself, "You've come a long way." Heck even my newer stuff I look at and think of different ways to model different effects. So its a constant growth thing. All I will say is to you Gooseman is, You keep it up, no matter what as long as you enjoy doing it. You want to "show off" your work or "share" your work, that is what this part of the forum is designed for. Takes guts posting your work for the world to see. So again. Congrats.

You're welcome Gooseman. I don't do this for thanks. I do it for you guys. http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/smilies/happy.gif

I plan on it. When I get another set done, I will post it. So check back. lol.....

Re: Abrams Icon set
 

Great Icons. I love the level of detail and how clear they look even at 630x480. The origanal are real good too be these go to the next level.

I would love to see what else you have. http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/smilies/smile.gif

Re: Abrams Icon set
 

Well Thank you Warrior! I have quite the collection of stuff. I had a request for the Bradley series of stuff from Gooseman. Don't know when I will get to that, but I will most likely give that a whirl sometime in the near future I hope. Currently though I am finishing up a set I started a while back. I am trying to finish up a bunch of sets I have started but hadn't finished yet. For those interested the next set I will release is my F-16s. The F-16s in game are already mine like the Abrams was but they needed updated and since I noticed Blazejos did a Polish paint scheme on mine. I said what the heck why not cover them all and give you guys options. http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/image...es/biggrin.gif

Again, this are for you guys. Thanks for the support.

Re: Abrams Icon set
 

The "winter weathered" pattern is very good!

Re: Abrams Icon set
 

Thank you.

Abrams Icon v1.1 set
 

The USMC developed a new combat engineer vehicle based off the existing Abrams' chasis. After discovering the deployment of this new variant of the Abrams. I decided to add it to this set. So here it is. The ABV, Assault Breecher Vehicle.

Enjoy

Re: Abrams Icon set
 

For those of you who will inevitably be thinking this should be added to the game ASAP......

The reason this wasn't added to the game last patch release after it had made it's combat debut was because, game wise, it doesn't do anything the existing mine plow / Engineering Abrams MCBS doesn't already do and the MCBS has a 120mm gun and a full load of ammo. Granted you'd get and armoured mine plow for about half the cost of a MCBS but you won't get the explosive mine clearing capability because we don't model that in the game ( and that's why all the other nations that use that type of system don't have their vehicles in the game either ) but I felt it would get limited use as most players would rather spend a bit more and have a fully functional tank

It is, however, an interesting looking vehicle and Icon

Don

Re: Abrams Icon set
 

Don,

Completely understandable. I thought it could be used like the M728 CEV but without the coax and 165mm demo gun. lol A support element. I know the MICLIC isn't modeled in game and most likely never will be, but would be cool though, and not asking or expecting it either at all. I just think its a mean looking machine and I wanted to make the icons. So I posted it for the community. If you do decide to put the ABV in the game, feel free to use them. ;)

Oragus