Hello.....Happy New Year!

Tim West · 17 February 2004, 07:01 PM

Hello all,

Its been a while since I last posted here. Nothing personal, I just have not been "in the mood" so to speak.

I guess I had a spell of modelers block

After working on WWI in one form or another for the last year I just needed time away from doing any projects.

The break from it all has been swell.

Anyhow I have started the project again and hope to post a update soon..

I hope you all have had a great start to 2004.

Take care all.

17 February 2004, 07:32 PM

Very nice to have you back, says one of the off topic bottom dwellers.

Mark_Miller · 18 February 2004, 04:33 AM

Hi Tim
I was wondering what happened to you
Glad to see your back in circulation B)

BTW - what is your current project?
The SPAD looks done (?)
Mark

Tim West · 18 February 2004, 07:48 PM

Hi guys

Its nice to ease back into things. Lots of post to catch up on.

Mark,

Yes the SPAD is complete, less an occasional scene render from time to time.

The Oberursel/Le Rhone is also done......what a bugger project that was. But with your thoughts and some re working I have a piece I am happy with. I'll post some screenies in another thread.

This leads to my current project. The Dr-1. Despite the mixed feelings about this plane, it is non the less a WWI icon. This is a plane I have always wanted to model and I am just dying to texture it. B)

See this why I did the Oberursel

Mark_Miller · 19 February 2004, 05:51 AM

Tim
A Dr1 sounds good.
Yeah a little overdone, but it IS the most recognisable WW1 AC.

Coincidentaly, I have also started modeling a Dr1 in Max.
I have wanted to try and learn how to use Max for a while, as it definitly has advantages over CAD.
So I decided to learn on the Dr1 as I already had a complete 2D vector file to start with.

I only spent a weekend on this and then other projects pushed it aside.
But here is what I have so far.
remember I'm a total noob with this app

Mark

Tim West · 19 February 2004, 05:22 PM

Mark,

Heheh, You call that "learning"? Looks pretty educated to me.

Looks good so far. How many polys? You know, now you can do low poly game models too B)

The Dr 1 fuse and wings are pretty easy shapes and all the parts fit together nicely.... this is another reason I have chosen this plane. Not to mention there is a butt load of data on this plane.

Also the Dr1 is a good "parts" plane to recycle from for other planes and future projects. You seem to work with this in mind also. Hmm have you imported your Le Rhone to Max yet? Hows the cross over?

How do like polygon modeling so far. You seem to have a handle on it. How do your renders times compare between MS and Max? Or do you use a 3rd party app. I think new versions of Max come with RayMan.

Ok no more silly questions. I just know it can be a chore to learn a new app.

As for my Dr1 I have yet to actually model any big parts. I am still making the other parts.

This is different from how I have worked in the past, where I start with the fuse, wings, struts, ect.... and finish by doing all the tedious bits and pieces. This seems to really burn me out on a project before its even mapped.

So for this one I am starting with all the little stuff and ending with the easy stuff. Then hopefully as the big parts come together I can maintain interest in the project until its completed.

We will see how it goes anyhow.

Mark_Miller · 20 February 2004, 06:17 AM

Quote:

Heheh, You call that "learning"? Looks pretty educated to me.

Tim
well.. looks can be decieving
Most of the work you see was actualy done in Illustrator and just imported into max - then rotated into the right plane.
Then I just sort of took the path of least resistance
I think the method I used is called "spline modeling" but I'm not sure.
In any case, it was VERY similiar to how my CAD app works.
But, I don't think this is how most people model in max.

Boolean operations were disapointing
and I still haven't figured out the mapping stuff
Best thing was how cleanly the illustrator splines imported into max.
My CAD app will only import dxf - which unfortunately drops the spline down to line strings

how many polys
hmmm ... next thing I'll have to learn is how to determine this

The only way i'll get anywhere with max is if I shut down everything else and focus on it for a couple of months.
But, I'm not in a position to do that right now.
I'll get there

Mark

Tim West · 21 February 2004, 11:20 PM

Mark,

I wouldn't want you stop what your doing till you finish the Se5a

Not sure about others but I spline model at times but I will generally convert them to polys shortly after I have created them.

"Boolean operations were disappointing" ?? I see you got holes in the front cowling. I find that sometimes results aren't always as intended. This is the same for many apps I reckon.

As for mapping, I have mapped in Maya and in GMAX, both are pretty easy once you get the hang of it. Unwrap and BAM!.... ok its not quite that easy but close

I have been lucky in that as I moved to maya, the UW has a distance learning channel that just happens to have a course on using maya, so I have been a regular viewer for the couple of years.

lol, I am so lazy, its a lot easier to watch and learn rather than to read and learn.