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.
The most important tank in game is of course the Tiger II, known also as the King Tiger, Königstiger, Panzer VI Ausf.B - all the names of this German heavy tank of unmatched fame. Despite being so central to this game (as in one mission we capture and control the King Tiger, with FPP view), King Tiger's in-game model is at best mediocre, and it's texture - straight up terrible. Proper remake required recreating and redrawing many elements from scratch, adding previously missing pieces of equipment and many details, before adding some better camo paint.
Sadly unlike model of Tiger I which is pretty nice, Tiger II lacks even some of bigger details modelled, like not only tools and towing lines, but also most of visors, hatches and engine elements. I added these to tank's texture from photos and redrawn by hand, and the rear hull top has proper grill and engine elements added there now. The tracks mounted on turret were remade to look more realistic (I was thinking of just "stripping" them off and leaving clean turret since they're not modelled at all and just textured it looked bad up close, but from what I saw IRL all Tiger IIs used in combat had tracks added there, so I left it, just made it give off best illusion of looking real as possible).
And finally the camo was remade, it's pretty generic blurry tri-color spray paint camo, but the colors are readjusted to retain the original game's reddish-brown color scheme. The 332 number on turret is left as it was (it's a reference towards real-life King Tiger that was captured in WWII by American soldiers - but this one was in Ardennes) but was slightly resized. I left the tank without unit insignia, but since it has the number anyway and there are only two in game then maybe it could be added, I'll see later.
Later on I plan to remake completely remaining details, like the armor interlocking plates and some of scratches visible, but those are just close-up details and overally for most part it's finished.
Now that's a Tiger worthy of being called a King
When will the skins be released ?
Hard to say for now, there's few more models to make, I'll try to make these most important first and release as patch faster then work further on those less seen models (allied vehicles other than Jeep, FW190, Stuka, etc)
Beautiful!!, Great To See An Improved For This Big Boy
Can't Wait To See More.