This mod aims to replace or improve textures in game with new high resolution work while retaining the original feeling and color palette of the game. Characters in game will be given much higher variety of uniforms, equipment and decals which will allow for much deeper experience for those who want to revisit the game or play it for the first time after long time. The textures are redone using original ones as base whenever possible (most are still nice and have at least basic realism) to retain original design, but all textures are upscaled to twice (or more) of original resolution, sharpened, and have decals either redrawn, or replaced with as much reverence to realism as possible. In effect the skins are extra realistic, but also don't look out of place - everything is done as to not ruin the original scene background and color palette that has been developed specially for SPR and MoHAA.
Vanilla texture wasn't bad, as it was also based on real-life photos, but it had low contrast and was rather bland. Also, I always though that MoHAA StG44 model was somewhat weird and blocky, lacking features that real StG44 has, but here's a surprise; it's actually pretty good and has realistic proportions, just that the texture lacked definition and made parts to somewhat blend into each other. Well, no longer.
New texture was done from real-life photos and drawing in new details that previous texture lacked, and everything was readjusted for better contrast. I also fixed some problems the vanilla texture had.
I chose to recreate mid-late StG44 production, so it has color of blued finish (as an unintended bonus thanks to color palette I chose there's nice additional reflection effect that is very much like real-life black oxide coating - under light it has slight blueish tint, while in shadows it looks very dark grey. I didn't aim for it since it's hard to get with MoHAA lighting, but, weird enough, it works lol). There's also another nod to real StG44, as in production they were made from parts of various manufacturers which could have differing finish - for that reason the handguard and rear part of receiver has less shiny and more crude metal look. The marking is StG44 on receiver and MP44 on magazine. Receiver marked MP44 could be more appropriate, but for mid-late production both are possible (as you probably know, this gun had "several names" - it was called MP43, MP43/1, MP44, and then, since January 1945, StG44. The mission in which you steal it is indeed in January).
As a side note, this is one of my favourite guns ever, and is number 1 on my list of dream weapons to buy one day. And definitely part of my love for it comes from when I played MoHAA as a kid :) so I hope you like it's new look and that I can help revive some of your memories too.
PS as always remember to press "view original" to see it in full res
Awesome work, and this is one of my favorite weapons as well!
When will the textures be ready ?
I can't give certain date right now as I have a bit of work outside; but it's close, I'd say about 2 weeks. Only Kar98k and P38 are left to be done. K98 is at ~50% done, P38 is at 90% done. Once they're ready I'll upload the weapon pack addon here as update.
In the meantime I also made new BAR rework since I got good walkaround reference so a new texture could be done, I'll show it soon