[WIP/V] USS Nathan James DDG-151 Navy Destroyer

[SkylineGTRFreak 3,713]

Arleigh Burke Class Destroyer USS Nathan James

 

Overview:

 

I am happy to present you a current project to bring the USS Nathan James from the TV series The Last Ship into Grand Theft Auto V. The destroyer is an Arleigh Burke Class Destroyer of the US Navy. The hull number and name are fictional, but the ship has the same layout and specifications as the USS Halsey (DDG-97).

 

I have planned on doing an Arleigh Burke class destroyer for GTA V for quite some time, starting with a model from Battlefield 4. Upon closer inspection however the model was way off and I quickly lost interest in converting it. However, nathanjamesddg151/swaginabag69 (same person) approached me on GTA5-mods.com with the idea of doing the ship for GTA. Not only did he have ideas, he also provided me with detailed models bought from turbosquid and selfmade textures to improve the mod.

 

 

Progress and problems:

 

I have since started converting and improving model, including the rear mounted CIWS mount and gun, small interior bits to connect certain parts, new textures and a detailed colission mesh.

 

During the process, this mod has already given me a lot of headaches, but so far I have achieved most of what I wanted to do. One of the most important things is not working so far though... The weapons.

It seems like boats are stripped of several vehicles features, that all other classes have.

What does that mean exactly?

-boats do not have working weapons

-boats do not have working door objects

-boats only feature taillight coronas, but no beam of red light

 

Once you switch the vehicle class in vehicles.meta from boat to car, all the above works, but... well, that ship sinks just like a car would. We have contacted someone who look into the possibility of having the weapons work with the help of a script, so fingers crossed.

 

Weapon setup (planned):

 

- 5-inch gun at the front with the settings of the tank cannon

 

- CIWS anti-air gun at the rear with the settings of either the Lazer's cannon or the Valykrie's side mounted MG

 

- MK-38 25MM autocannon with the settings of the Valkyrie's nose turret (mounted on the side)

 

 

 

Planned additions:

 

So what is left to do? (apart from the weapons and doors)

 

-create full colission for the ship and objects

-improve some textures (mainly interior ones)

-perhaps create a hallway system connecting bridge, deck and hangar (so far only deck and hangar are connected)

-a more detailed bridge/helm

-handling adjustments

-waving flags (if the possibility gets implemented in ZM3 by Oleg)

 

 

Screenshots:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Also, watch one of these videos. (Top newest, bottom oldest)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

We could need your help! How?

 

Although we have approached some scripters about the weapon/door issues, you're more than welcome to help solve this issue. You can also contribute in this thread: http://gtaforums.com/topic/832699-vehicle-type-editing/ to the issue, as I have been working with another team on armed boats like a RHIB and US submarine.

 

Additionally, perhaps some testers and people for good looking screenshots are needed, since I can't run the game on high settings with any graphical enhancement mods.

Edited April 10, 2016 by SkylineGTRFreak

[MasterLord 0]

Hi Skyline, I've been wondering around and downloading mods for a long time, but I never really wanted to get into creating mods (I do a few tweaks and texturing for my own, learning 3D moddeling now) but you Sir made me want to make part of it. Please, let me be one of the "testers" for this Amazing-Badass ship. Although I run the game on Very High, I can't take HD screenshots (ENB mods drops my FPS to 15), but will try to do my best. By the way, keep on with your awesome mods, they are amongst the best mods around in my opinion.

[HaRdSTyLe_83 5,172]

that sh*t looks amazing

[DevinDJR 2]

Hello!

 

Great work I am seeing here. Let me introduce myself.

 

My name is Devin Rodrigues the creator of the model you are using for this MOD. I am very delighted to see her used in a way that captures he real beauty. Many hour have went into creating her into what she is today. The model your friend purchased on Turbo Squid seems to be an old version however. I have since updated the files and made her quite a bit more detailed on Autodesk 3DSMax.

 

Seems as though her textures could use some updating. If you would like I can re texture her into the correct Nathan James features from the show. Also looks like you are missing my newly added 25mm cannons. That has not been added to turbosquid yet but if you would like me to join the team I can sure let you have the updates free of charge.

 

Looks like you are also using the model that I used for Flight Simulator series which is why the textures on the ships SCC (Ships Control Console) on the bridge appear to have panels from FSX.

 

Let me know. Would love to be apart of the team and help further the quality of the model. I don't play GTA to much but i saw this thread when i was looking at photos of my model that a friend had sent me and i registered because of major interest.

 

Other information about myself, I am currently in the United States Navy, I am a Quartermaster which means i work on the ships bridge and deal with ships navigation. I have a extensive knowledge behind the Arleigh-Burke Class Destroyers and more specifically the Flight IIA DDGs which is what i portrayed in this model.

 

Sincerely,

 

Devin Rodrigues

Edited August 8, 2016 by DevinDJR

[nathanjamesddg151 2]

DevinDJR Hi, sorry about the late reply, this thread wasn't being updated and/or monitored anymore because, for several months, no one replied. Anyway I'm glad to know that you are okay with us using this model. Knowing that, we will make sure you are credited. A lot of work has gone into transforming her. We actually have already bought and added the chain guns AND a new, more detailed 5-inch Mark 45 Mod 4 cannon; models bought from Turbosquid.

 

I am the one who bought and paid for all of the models (including your DDG model). SkylineGTRFreak is also working on the interior. We have added a partial corridor system, but it is incomplete. Another feature is a static MH-60 in the left hanger bay. Your help would be much appreciated, especially regarding the bridge (though don't break any federal/military laws in doing so please!!!). Some progress has been made concerning the weapons/doors, etc.

 

Also, don't expect SkylineGTRFreak to update this forum. We are using this one: https://forums.gta5-mods.com/topic/128/vehicle-wip-uss-nathan-james-ddg-151-us-navy-destroyer At that forum, you are more likely to get updates on our progress AND get a response from SkylineGTRFreak.

 

Several features (like the weapons, lights, and doors) are giving us headaches, but progress is moving albeit slowly. Several features, like the RAST system will be omitted. Though updated textures/models would be nice, as some are relatively low poly, HOWEVER, we also cannot make them too big or GTA will crash. (500,000 polys seem to be the limit).

 

As for someone who could help us, please do! I will contact him. ALSO, I don't give out my personal contact info, but if you can somehow send me a private message either through this forum or the other one, I can [hopefully] give you more complete details. Thank you for this wonderful model.

 

This media is more up to date (albeit still outdated, but it shows our progress).

 

 

Edited August 23, 2016 by nathanjamesddg151

[nathanjamesddg151 2]

Hello!

 

Great work I am seeing here. Let me introduce myself.

 

My name is Devin Rodrigues the creator of the model you are using for this MOD. I am very delighted to see her used in a way that captures he real beauty. Many hour have went into creating her into what she is today. The model your friend purchased on Turbo Squid seems to be an old version however. I have since updated the files and made her quite a bit more detailed on Autodesk 3DSMax.

 

Seems as though her textures could use some updating. If you would like I can re texture her into the correct Nathan James features from the show. Also looks like you are missing my newly added 25mm cannons. That has not been added to turbosquid yet but if you would like me to join the team I can sure let you have the updates free of charge.

 

Looks like you are also using the model that I used for Flight Simulator series which is why the textures on the ships SCC (Ships Control Console) on the bridge appear to have panels from FSX.

 

Let me know. Would love to be apart of the team and help further the quality of the model. I don't play GTA to much but i saw this thread when i was looking at photos of my model that a friend had sent me and i registered because of major interest.

 

Other information about myself, I am currently in the United States Navy, I am a Quartermaster which means i work on the ships bridge and deal with ships navigation. I have a extensive knowledge behind the Arleigh-Burke Class Destroyers and more specifically the Flight IIA DDGs which is what i portrayed in this model.

 

Sincerely,

 

Devin Rodrigues

Sorry about the long post above, but should we be crediting you for the model or your company? And are you currently assigned to a ship? My Uncle served aboard the Big E and my aunt was a Puddle Pirate, and I want to join myself. As for the textures, the only Nathan James texture in question is her DESRON logo. I have seen conflicting information about that. One states she is assigned to DESRON 9, and another one says she assigned to another DESRON. That being said, it is likely a producer's oversight as the James is stated to be ported at NS Norfolk, and DESRON 9 is a Pacific-based DERON, not Atlantic Fleet. So they likely forgot to edit the DESRON logo of whatever ship (presumably the USS Halsey, DDG-97) they filmed on/at sea.

[DevinDJR 2]

Hello,

 

Ok I will find a way as for contacting you. We can discuss further details in depth in private. What 3D Software are you using currently?

 

Seems like a lots of mods have gone into the model. I can try to see the model you are using and break down unnecessary polys. Therefore to reduce the model I managed to keep the poly count way down by doing this with a help of a friend of mine from brasil. I will also create another account on the other place so we can communicate better. Maybe i can reduce some of the new stuff that was added to to make a lower poly count vessel but keeping the quality.

 

As for her DESRON it's tricky to say because during season one she was deployed out of Norfolk where they used a ship from the East coast to film and occasionally a ship from the west in season 2 more and more from the west and ships from Hawaii and ships from San Diego. Therefore her desron could be any of those ships. I would put her as part of DESRON 23 for season 3 or even 15 out of Yokosuka Japan.

[nathanjamesddg151 2]

I believe that the entire series is filmed on the West Coast. The USS Halsey (DDG-97) was used. They filmed a lot at NAS Diego. As for 3D modeling software, I don't do that. SkylineGTRFreak does. He uses 3DS Max for the modeling and zmodeler 3 to convert it to GTA V. (Collisions, lights, etc.)