StuG III Ausf. E

[Eraserhead]

This is the latest project I am working on as part of my Portfolio Development class; StuG III Ausf E. set during the 1941-1942 Russian Winter Counteroffensive and subsequent German withdrawal from the gates of Moscow.

This is still a WIP, still working on the textures.

http://www.peperaart.com/render_stug_web_01.jpg

http://www.peperaart.com/render_stug_web_03.jpg

http://www.peperaart.com/render_stug_web_02.jpg

Some crits would be esspecially welcome since I plan to use this model in my demoreel. :)

[kiwi123]

That looks very tasty ! The things that need work imho:
the wooden base (too stretchy & red)
the green things (don't blend with the tank very well)
the wooden pole holding up the sign (doesn't look dirty plus no snow at base)
the other poles plus planks (too new)
I would expect more caked up gunk between the threads and on the bottom of the tank

[Eraserhead]

Thanks kiwi!

I have to admit I did not notice the green gunk until these renders were finished, they looked no where near as green on the map. I shall fix them tonight after I come back from work, along with the wood planks and posts.

[cobra6]

you are really getting better at this! :)

Agree with Kiwi on certain points, but it sure looks moody ^_^

Cobra 6

[Crom]

Good work. Do you paint the texture by hand?

[Eraserhead]

Thanks cobra6. :)

Crom The textures are a combination of hand painting and image manipulation.

I almost lost my texture files because the folder they were stored in seemed to have been corrupted. I was worried I would have to start from scratch but I found a backup I made on my other drive.

The tracks have been made more dirty, as well as other parts of the assault gun. I also got rid of the ugly green.

BTW, I used Ronnie's excellent E-light for this render. :)

http://www.peperaart.com/stug_render_01_web.jpg

[cobra6]

nice!.

I would do a bit more wet mud on the bottom front plate at the base, where it is possible it would hit small heaps of snow or mud.

Cobra 6

[Eraserhead]

Hey guys,

I want you to know that this project is not dead. I'm actually working on this mesh to get it into the game Red Orchestra.

The original mesh had about 8,700 tris, and the game needs a maximum of 6,000, so I had to go back into the mesh and bring down that number. It's now at 5,999 tris. :)

I also began a new texture for it so it can be used in summer maps, still not finished but here is an update. I also put markings on this skin for the 245nd Sturmgeschütz Abteilung, which fought and was destroyed in Stalingrad.

2048x2048 again

[Fly]

Man, I really like those textures. And the model looks sweet as well. Is it a single texture or are there more than one? And what resolution are they?

hehe...5,999...1 poly short of the max. 2,701 pollies cut and really cant see any difference. Nice job man!

[Eraserhead]

Everything except the tracks are on a single 2048x2048 map. Here is small image of the arranged UVs.

http://www.peperaart.com/stug_uvs.jpg

The tracks are on a single 256x128 map, which when scrolled, gives the illusion of the tracks rotating.

[Lukem]

Excellent textures sir.

Why the change from whitewash though?

[Eraserhead]

Excellent textures sir.

Why the change from whitewash though?

Both will be used in the game, depending on which map the StuG appears in. Sorry for not clarifying that earlier.

[Lukem]

Ah right. I think the earlier German machines looked good in winter camo. and it's nice to see one finished that way.

[Skyraider3D]

Superb work. Really nice setting and great texture work :)

[digiartist]

Very cool indeed...I love these mini dioramas. The texturing is excellent, particularly the whitewash one. Reminds me of the onion's low poly sdfkz251 diorama, both yours and his make you completely forget that they're low poly.

[Eraserhead]

Thanks guys. :)

Here are the finalized textures (well, just some minor additions left). I'm working on the interiors now.

http://www.peperaart.com/test6.jpg

http://www.peperaart.com/test7.jpg

And here is a King Tiger I did for Dark Light Game's Darkest Hour RO mod.

http://www.peperaart.com/KTinfosheet.jpg

[Lukem]

Nicely done mate! I like the crate on the back of the stug. Looks like a good job on the KT as well - the image is a bit dark for my monitor though.

[julnyapp]

Nice work on the textures; especially the winter whitewash. I agree with some of what others have said, the tank could use more weathering. Maybe contrast the weathering between the upper and the lower hull. i.e. a extremely muddy lower hull (wheels, sprocket) and a scruffy whitewash or a dusty panzer grey for the upper hull. Also nice work on the King Tiger :)