MikeyPI

In order to Reskin a vehicle from the LA Mod you will have to "unlock" the dds file(s) that are required for the vehicle, for this example we will be asking to reskin one of the many crown victorias. In this example the CHP Vic. First you must Unlock the dds file, in order to do this you must find the dds file that you wish to alter which would be located in the following folder: Game Install\Mods\LA MOD 1.8\Models\Vehicles\03 LA Police\cv_chp.dds (some vehicles have multiple texture files) You have to rename the file to something else and change the extension from dds to v3o, this will allow the editor to unpack the file making it readable by Photoshop or a dds converter. Due to the fact that most vehicles have the same name for the Vehicle model and the dds Texture file, it is advisable to name it something such as follows: cv_chp.dds to cv_chpt.v3o Now, you need to open the editor, load the modification and then select "unpack file" again you will have to navigate to the same folder but the editor shows the folder structure a bit different: Mod:Models\Vehicles\03 LA Police\ Find your renamed dds which for the example is cv_chpt.v3o and press ok, this will unpack the file so you may edit it. Now you need to rename the file back to dds, in order for the vehicle model file to recognize the texture be sure to rename it back to what it originally was, which in this example is cv_chp.dds Once this is done you then have to either convert the dds file using a dds converter (one is available in our downloads section) or import it using Photoshop. Convert/save the image to whatever format you wish to use, .BMP, .PNG, .TGA, etc. whichever you prefer and open it in the painting application of your choosing and alter it as necessary to do whatever you wish to do to the vehicle skin. Now you have to take your texture and turn it back into the dds file for the model file which accompanies the vehicle to recognize it's new texture. Ensure that all of the dds files you have changed are in the folder where they belong and when you load the editor you should see your newly skinned vehicle there now.

This is to hopefully prevent double or triple posting of the same questions by making it relatively easy to find topics which will assist you in modifying the LA Mod with the most popular of techniques/items to be altered. Please keep everything on-topic and relevent to the specific topic that is listed here, they will be altered as necessary to make them easier to scan, so to the original author(s) of the posts I am sorry but I want to make them as easy to scan as possible. To those who wish to help other's feel free to add to this forum category by a Q-A type Deal following the same format as I've used in re-labelling the topics so they may be added... Unfortunately the topics tend to be rather cluttered so perhaps re-creating them will be easier. Addition by Hoppah: Also, don't forget to take a look at our tutorial forums

Why would you need the LA mod it's self? it does not create a new game... The reason why this mod is being converted to EM4 is because people ASKED for it to be converted, it's that simple.... It's the same reason you get any other sub-mod or get an original mod for that matter. People wanted it, and Xplorer was nice enough to convert it for them, he is not the author of the vehicle merely converting it.

3DS Max isnt cheap, it is a professional application which can do many things to an extremely great detail, so expect to pay an extreme number to get your hands on a full version of it. The freebie version most people can't seem to hunt down works about the same but I am not sure if it's export works 100%

You probrably forgot to do the unit image files that go along with him. You do best to copy the ones from a pre-existing folder that already works but they need to be wherever the cop in question is: Mods\MOD v1.0\Units\Personnel\Police\Unitfolder01\ Along with the Unit.xml file that should also be in this folder.. That is probrably why it is not showing up.

Can you try to clarify what your problem is, I don't quite understand what it is that is going on, perhaps try writing in english and dutch, if I still can't figure it out perhaps pyro can=)

EM4Fun is correct, the reason people opt for blueprints is fairly simple, the proportionate scale on the width/height/length are pre-set for you by the blueprint, so your vehicle will require much less alteration once you're done than when you have to wing it and do it yourself.. What generally happens when you have to do it without any assistance is that you'll be off on at least one scaling dimension and you will manually have to alter the vehicle down instead of just rescaling all 3 dimensions in percent. Generally anyone that models knows this first hand when it comes to the larger vehicles like command vehicles or fire engines.

I prefer wet t-shirt contests anyway, no need for the shirts... too constrictive.

I used Zmodeler (1)

Did you modify your installation of the LA mod in any way what so ever? The error you are experiencing has to do with a script that is being told to do something it can't do... Unless you for example attempted to add some equiptment to another person or vehicle or in some other way modified the modification, then chances are this is a script error that Hoppah can take a look at. If it is the case that you have modified the la mod in some way please let me know, and reinstall the mod since whatever change you did is not cooperating with this script.

You should post exactly what the error says to the letter. If it is a script or something we can see this in the full error, right now your description is too vague.

make sure the map is a multiple of 512x512 firstly... Secondly make sure you're trying to save the map to a MOD\Map directory and not the default directory... that's all I can think of that might be causing a crash... Unless the Program Files Protection in vista has gotten you, which if you're running as administrator it should not.

I have a feeling that it actively uses the alpha for the basket so what you'd need to do is to remove the alpha mask from the vehicle's body texture... just paint over it with white in alpha/mask editor in your paint app, save the alpha channel and close it out... re-enable that option and your vehicle should not have a reflection anymore, however the basket will still function (just do not touch the basket's alpha channel location).

It is a totally new map, so ALL paths including patrol routes will need to be reassigned and planned out, it is a question of how they can work efficiently due to how the police cars behave on their pathing as to where their final layouts will be.

This is why one should never post something while they are not paying attention, yes I meant dog and people move the same pace=)

the rear of the impalas is more square in appearance especially around the bumper, but generally the whole rear is not angled like the picture is showing (well was) \ / is how it looks right now and what you want to do is to straighten that part out a bit so it does not look like it's been pinched in so much, that is a model aspect though so your modeler if he wants to improve it, that would be what the wimpala needs, the vic is the vic, the new skin looks pretty good=) the decals are running perfectly on the doors.

This time he's within the rules as time has went by he did not technically double post, though morally bumping his thread is kind of pointless, generally you should reserve posting to things that are actually productive, now I could sit here all day and post "I found a penny!", "I want a cookie" or other useless things, but it certainly does not help my modification's cause... But he's fully right, should you double post again chances are you'll see MR. Warn.

Widen the tail on the wimpala, it looks a wee bit too far narrowed in for it's real life counterpart, otherwise they look perfectly fine (that is a model aspect that should be corrected).

ya can't make people go faster, the dog moves the same pace as a PERSON, thus it is not really useful... the suspect can still get away from the dog at the same rate as a cop

Just because you need something does not mean that you can just go ahead and start another topic to try to get people to join... This is why mod teams are going to have problems, there are only so many of the "in demand" people around, and they sure don't have infinite time to do all the work for you guys, so you have to either learn yourself or wait in line behind 50 other people who want something from them... Such is life, All you have managed to do is add an additional post to the forum that has no purpose, I guarentee you the impact of this Public-television style ad will be limited as can be... But now time for the grand finale, you are lucky nobody on the staff issues a warn over this..

What you wish to do requires extensive work, you would have to modify three scripts: LAToFireStation LAFireStation LAFireStationStart Depending on where you park it you have to add to the fire station script your virtual object and modify other information, your best bet is to copy an existing code string for like a fire engine as the brush truck is the same loadout people wise, and just change the number of people it takes... Start script is to place the vehicle and initially load the vehicle, again you have to add the info for the virtual object and change the information in an existing copied script to match the brush truck... To Fire Station is going to be the most intensive one, as I am pretty sure that's what actually allows the vehicle to return and return the men(units) that were sent out.... You will have to add the check information (again i'd copy from an existing 1-vehicle example already in the script, like the USAR and paste it and change the information).... You have to add the check to ensure the parking space is available, you have to modify some other things about it as well i'm sure but I don't know them all. Then in the editor you have to add the commands for the scripts you have added the vehicle to: vcmdtofirestation I think that's it, goodluck with it, I don't know exactly where everything is in the scripts so you will have to do some hunting, but essentially I've explained as best I can how the scripts are meant to work, and what you must do... I am not a scripter so I am not the best at all this mess, but if you borrow an existing example that is comprably loaded out with people and that there is only one parking space for you should be fine.... Goodluck.

Ya need sketchup pro (pay app) or whatever it's called to export the models as anything useful, and the UV map I believe is destroyed in the conversion... so that's why it's not the best app on the planet.

Don't forget the fires you have to stop before the houses melt away

I appreciate everyone's desire to have mods created, but I for the life of me can't figure out why there are so many mods being started with limited skills, by far and large the two most important skills you'll need to start a brand new mod would be the 3D modeler and the Scripter... If your mod lacks a model designer, how in the world is there ever going to be a finished mod? I honestly do not understand the "team" concept as there are only so many 3D modelers to go around and in the end I have a feeling the few that can do it will likely be otherwise disposed... If people can't do scripts or models themselves I just honestly don't see a point in trying to start a mod on your own, if your skills are in one of the other fields, such as skinning or UV mapping (generally those who can model in most decent programs can also UV map their vehicles, as these skills go hand in hand). Why not join another mod and help them to see their way though? Perhaps if some mods were finished before others were started there might be more variety in the downloads center.... Sorry to Hijack your topic, but I just had to state my peace on the mod team pandora's box that I've seen a good deal of lately. Goodluck=)