Information sources about vehicle interiors and buildings.

[Maphisto86]

Hey mates!

Just a quick question for all of you in the know. I have seen some great work done not only by Tripwire but by individuals and mod teams with creating virtual interiors for historically accurate (allegedly ) vehicles, as well as accurate looking buildings and fortifications. I must ask where do you like to get your information and pictures from?

I have seen scans of actual weapons manuals used as well as secondary sources on this forum. I admire the research many of you do before creating a map, model or mod. I know of some great books like the ones from Osprey Publishing but what else do you use or know of?

 

[worluk]

for us it was mainly emailing, calling, talking etc with museums and private collectors (for weapons ).
If you ask nicely and the tanks are accessible museum people might get you inside pics.
The other choice is to get someone to visit the museum and take pics themselves.

There are also a lot pics on the net when looking hard enough.

 

[[TW]Wilsonam]

While the Osprey books are fun - they are not always terribly reliable

 

[Aeneas2020]

We use a variety of sources...usually with weaponry or uniforms either one of the mod team own them or we can find accurate period photos. We often also email museums and ask them for pictures of the things we need which sometimes works and sometimes doesnt.

for tanks we have a dedicated team of researches who either pester mueseums find old tank manuals or drive to the nearest vehicle we need to model and climb inside to take a look for us (and pictures).

For maps we rely on aerial photosgraphs, period maps and even good old fashioned site visits and legwork.

 

[UncleDrax]

for us it was mainly emailing, calling, talking etc with museums and private collectors (for weapons ).
If you ask nicely and the tanks are accessible museum people might get you inside pics.
The other choice is to get someone to visit the museum and take pics themselves.

There are also a lot pics on the net when looking hard enough.

Just to add in, for MN, it's pretty much the same routine...
Probably a smidge easier for us because British kit is easier to get ahold of.

 

[Maphisto86]

We use a variety of sources...usually with weaponry or uniforms either one of the mod team own them or we can find accurate period photos. We often also email museums and ask them for pictures of the things we need which sometimes works and sometimes doesnt.

for tanks we have a dedicated team of researches who either pester mueseums find old tank manuals or drive to the nearest vehicle we need to model and climb inside to take a look for us (and pictures).

For maps we rely on aerial photosgraphs, period maps and even good old fashioned site visits and legwork.

Huh, Im surprised you guys got pictures from museums and sometimes permission to crawl inside one of them beauties (though Im sure it was not comfortable ). So some modders are collectors too, I could gather from some pictures of equipment here on the forums. Im also sure at least some of you collect and fire period weapons as well. Very neat hobby.

While the Osprey books are fun - they are not always terribly reliable

Wha!? Really? Well I have seen some inaccuracies in some books I own (as well as some annoying typos ). Still I assumed Osprey's published works had a good reputation.

Thanks for all for the info and advice guys!

 

[Aeneas2020]

one of our guys drove about 150 miles to go take some pics of an AT gun for us :S lol.

 

[SchutzeSepp]

lucky for me that i live not far from a famous battle site, so i went taking pictures of every house of the village i am making a map of right now. makes the job alot more easy!

 

[Oldih]

Wha!? Really? Well I have seen some inaccuracies in some books I own (as well as some annoying typos ). Still I assumed Osprey's published works had a good reputation.

I believe he meant that beter to keep your eyes open and critsise the content abit than buy everything that's written there.

E.G. Waffen-SS Handbook has quite nice information about WSS and its organisations, and it has alot of photographs about insignias, some photos around the war in general and so on and so on (and I love those few photos where WSS is clearly violating authencity standards ), but it does have few mistakes aswell, E.G. wikipediaish info about some tank's combat abilities (mainly penetration related).

No matter what history related book you read, always be ready to critisise the content and so on.