Under attack 2

[daverave]

Hi all
Started out setting up the UVs for the hull, I still struggle with uvs......dave

Tiny bit of it animated as it was.
http://s979.photobucket.com/albums/ae276/daverave-2010/MayaProjests/?action=view&current=spaceship41.mp4

[bullet1968]

That looks good mate...UV's arent hard are they??? LOL

cheers bullet

[murambi]

UV's arent hard are they??? LOL

hard isnt the exact word more like tedious and very un-fun

[bullet1968]

Dont worry murambi...I was trying to be caustic yet compassionate. dave helped me heaps on this...I bloody hate them too...LOL

[daverave]

Just some simple textures, still some stretching...........dave

[bullet1968]

A bit dark mate?? is that a platelet kind of skin on it (like the tiles on a shuttle)?? nice concept

cheers bullet

[daverave]

Hi Bullet
Its just a lot of panels (made a pattern in photoshop), the more I look at it the less I like it, I think I will draw the panels in it will give me more control but time consuming..........dave

[bullet1968]

I like it mate....you could line them up a bit more I suppose...that will take time for sure.

cheers bullet

[Chirone]

turtle power!
sorry, it does kind of look like a turtle though

it's good to see that you're continuing this after the fight

[daverave]

Turtle yes does a bit, I think I will call it a "Green Back", Just a little update please let me know if this is better I think it is...........dave

[bullet1968]

Looks ok mate...a bit bloody dark though. You have straightened the lines out?

cheers bullet

[daverave]

Is that better

[bullet1968]

much betterer sanchu barramundi

[daverave]

I just changed the base colour so you guys can see it better...............dave

[bullet1968]

Now that looks better dave!

[Camrat]

Looks Good :) ill be keeping an eye on this lol need to learn UV and texturing haha

[daverave]

Started adding more detail, all texture so far I have made in photoshop.............dave

[bullet1968]

That does look nice dave...and painful at the same time??? you must be proficient at PS????

keep it up

cheers bullet

[daverave]

not realy bullet, just a thew tricks here and there, i made all the textures in black and white then save as brushes............dave

[bullet1968]

ahhhhhhhhhhhhhh very clevr my man!!!!!!! I would know of this witchcraft one day!!

cheers bullet

[daverave]

When I get a chance I will post some stuff on photoshop, It realy is simple stuff but like you have said before "if you dont know it you dont know it".............dave

[bullet1968]

Thats it mate...just a few tricks etc...Im lucky..I only need to see a trick or 2 then I find my own. Part of my success (as a Surveyor)is gaining just a little knowledge and then I automatically start thinking outside the square;) Then I try to find shortcuts or different ways to do things...now I have seen what you can do I will learn a little then Im off!!

[daverave]

Had a little mental block, texturing the engine..............dave

[daverave]

Looding at stensils

[daverave]

Nearly finished the texturing

[bullet1968]

Looking good mate...looks like a lot of work!!!!

cheers bullet

[daverave]

I must admit Bullet the only thing I have not created was the sabra tooth tiger, I did try but it looked like bag puss. ......dave

[bullet1968]

I would ahve drawn you one mate!!!

cheers bullet

[daverave]

Nearly done with the texturing need to sort out the shaders better, having a rethink on the animation will post when sorted..............dave

[daverave]

Not as nice from the back

[daverave]

Little update
Making some guns for another spaceship on the same lines as the first, this will be the main gun a set of two, looking farward to rigging it and making it shoot at some point..............dave

[daverave]

Started blocking out the gun platform............dave

[daverave]

Not to sure about the shield or the base?

[bullet1968]

Dont know if it needs a shield dave??? if it does it should probably come up higher and slightly wider in the front panel...if you get my drift. Looks quite good mate

cheers bullet

[daverave]

Thanks Bullet
I think the platform has to go replaced with some thing with more shape. The shield not sure yet..............dave

[bullet1968]

I think the base could be more cylindrical...not sure. Here are a coule of refs...you prob have heaps but the sheild is close.

cheers bullet

[Ozgalis]

I like the gun and the platform, the only thing that I would like to see is the shield could hug the barrel a little more, also I do it almost seems that the peice on the platform could come off, almost feels like it would be in the way....will post a pick of what i mean.

[Ozgalis]

I have had a little to much to drink so pretend all of those lines are straight lol.

[CGWolfgang]

Hey Daverave,

I like the design so far! I have one suggestion for the platform if you want to make it work.

I would stick the platform on a cylidrical base (so you could show rotational movement of the entire system) and then raise the entire gun mount higher on its platform. Right now it looks like the butt of your gun would hit the platform and limit the area the weapon system can cover.

As far as the shield goes it all really depends on if its a man or unmanned weapons system. If its unmanned I would say either a full shield or no shield at all. (I like your design so I would say no shield)

Hope this helps with your developement.

[bullet1968]

You are right Wolfgang...I could be wrong but in Battlestar (TOS) I dont remember the AA's having shileds?? I could be wrong. I would assume that an automated one probably wouldnt have protection....only manned ones. Then again...in space I gues weight and mass dont matter. It would be a shame to cover them up but dave...

cheers bullet

[Chirone]

i think the base looks overly round

[daverave]

Thanks Guys
Thanks for the pics Bullet.Ozgalis I now about the bit hanging of need to model the some supports for it when I have got the base right and what were you drinking I have some LOL. I should have explained this gun mount will be able to move from the back of the craft to the front so the base will be a bit bigger than normal, I think your are right Wolfgang this will be unmaned so does not need a shield and also the gun does bottom out will fix. Still need to model all the hydrolics and radar. This is just a test base.....dave

[bullet1968]

No worries dave...uuummmmm this is probably a stupid question...what kind of gun is it???

cheers bullet

[daverave]

Its going to be a chain gun, cannot do all the bullet belts till ive done the base.............dave

[bullet1968]

hmmmmmmmm I would have gone for a gauss gun for a space weapon....though any projectile would work. I guess a gauss weapon wouldnt look as cool as bullets (bah me!)

I have seen a tut on belts...pretty easy really...well it LOOKED easy LOL with the expert.

cheers bullet

[daverave]

The space craft will have 5 gattling gun each side loads of bombs and rockets not sure if you will be able to see the space craft..........LOL.....dave

[bullet1968]

bahahah very good....nothing like doing it overly well

[CGWolfgang]

I have to agree that ship is going to look overly cool once you get it loaded out!

One other inspiration for your mount/feeder system/radar would be the CIWS/phalanx weapon system. If you go on your preferred search engine a ton of pictures will pop up. It can give you an idea of how a real life mounted system works like the one you're designing versus machine gun mounts like the AA guns.

[daverave]

Thanks CGWolfgang
I did look at that before I started this, I based the model on German flak 30mm(rear) and the front on a chain gun, I been struggling with hydrolic think I have sorted them out. How meny times have I fallen into the old trap of seeing a tutorial (that looks easy) then finding out how meny thing can go wrong then you do it. I think Im learning more or loosing more hair...........LOL..........dave

[daverave]

Just a little update, as you can see the first in line did not do the job only two pieces the other three are three pieces. will fix..........dave

Edit:just noticed the top is rolling on me, Time for a beer

[Chirone]

the guns look awesome!
but they look like they're sitting on putty still

[daverave]

I do know what you are saying Chirone but I need a platform to model the gun, once I have the guns sorted I will move on to the platform. I think if I could spend more time sketching down on paper I would save a lot of time modelling. I must admit the way I do these thing are not logical my any means but I need to model the guns first to finish how the main ship looks...........does that make sence...................dave

[Ozgalis]

and your giving me crap about the way I model my faces ;) I had to do it lol

I am liking it so far, cant wait to see the platform finished and the ship start to form.

[G-Man]

Looks Nice mate.
A little Fyi, your Photobucket Album has a Typo in it. " Maya Projests"...i'm going to make the assumption that should read "Maya Projects" ?

G-man

[daverave]

Ozgalis I was not having a go at how you model I use a simular way but fill up all the caps as I go, if it works for you do it, I cannot do a box model face to save my life.
legendofzombi you have found my greates weekness I should put my glasses on then I use the computer, thats been like that for about four months and I did not notice it, will see if I can fix it.........thanks dave

[daverave]

Not much of a update but a fix, the pair were twisting as they went up now all are working correctly, I think I have to sort out the platform before I do any more need it to pivet to get more elivation and depression if thats the wright word..........dave

[daverave]

Little update, set the gun on a platform that can pivet..........dave

[bullet1968]

Looks good dave...I think the guns shouldnt be able to point down like that? It would have an arrester so you didnt shoot yourself in the foot so to speak. Other than that it is looking good.

cheers bullet

[silverspawn]

looks good dave ....but if i was to do it, think i would go with a round base, but apart from my pennies worth looks top notch mate .

[daverave]

Thanks silverspawn, bullet1968
I will see how it matches up on the spaceship I might need to remodel the base, Bullet the gun will not shoot the ship it has the latest state of the art gun control system and sticker on the wing with "do not shoot"...........LOL.........dave

Edit:forgot the model is distorting when I use the rotate tool on the platform? I think it has some thing to do with the parenting

[bullet1968]

Bahahahaha LOL fair call dave....hmmm that doesnt sound good then....Im sure you will work it out.

cheers bullet

[honestdom]

the distortion comes from the group node.

i also agree a round base that rotated would be better. the guns pivot and the base rotates. thats all you need.

[daverave]

Try to get some things finished, still got a bit to do...........dave

[daverave]

As you can see it took me a few tries to get the engine right.............dave

Edit:second one down looks like buck rogers, the third one down looks like star trek............LOL

[daverave]

Started on the side guns

[daverave]

Some update on the main gun

[daverave]

Now I have made the side guns I can see what work is needed on the hull as the guns will fold up into it also will add more shape to the hull...........dave

[bullet1968]

I think the guns would be better placed in a similar config to this dave??? I think having them all where they are at present doesnt look quite right. Other than that the guns themselves look good mate.

cheers bullet

[bullet1968]

helps with a bloody picture doesnt it!!!

P.S mate is this a dropship??? sub orbit thing or atmosphere bound aircraft??

[daverave]

Hi Bullet
The main gun will go on top it will be able to go to the front and the back on a rail thats why its so flat up there, You are right about the why they are thats why I will model a bulge in the hull so they are not on the same axes. I had to model the guns first to see where I need to go with the hull I think that makes sence.............there will be rocket pods and bigger rockets..............dave

Edit: to answer your question I think its like a drenought just a fighting ship

[bullet1968]

ahhhhhhh it becomes clearer...no...now it isnt..lager...bahahahah

[daverave]

Little update

[bullet1968]

That looks a little less cluttered now...like my brain.

cheers bullet

[daverave]

like update

[daverave]

Did not like last update so remodelled

[daverave]

Still a lot of tweeking to do and one or two more guns, might make the form of the hull around the turret tighter?

[bullet1968]

Tighter??? in what way dave

[daverave]

Hi Bullet
At the moment the area around the turrets are round I could make it that the edges are a little or a lot sharper so you will see more clearer the shape...............dave

[bullet1968]

up to you mate....I think they look ok...maybe the turret could be set back into the hull a little more??

cheers bullet

[daverave]

I think I will show you, the to of the turret area has been tightend

[bullet1968]

oh ok...I thought that was what you meant but I wasnt sure.

[daverave]

Just a test to see it all together

[daverave]

Some rockets loosly base on smart bombs

[ben hobden]

Any of those hard surface modelling techniques coming in handy? (off the apache tut)?

[bullet1968]

can 1 of you define hard surface modelling for me?? I have seen a vid where the guys says TRUE hard surface modelling omits ANY smoothing?? is this the case or is it bullshit??

I thought hard surface models were anything that basically wasnt organic...ie cars, trucks, planes etc?? or am I in the wrong room on that one.

Cheers bullet

[daverave]

Yes Ben that did come in handy am using hot keys a lot more still have to work on cleaning my mesh but I am getting there, Bullet I think I have asked this question myself. I did try to start this model without using the 3 button but in the end I gave in. Not all my is smoothed, turrets, gattling gun ballels and some other small parts, I did ask ctbram when to use the 3 button and when not to I think his reply was experiance. I have tried to find tutorials on hard edge modelling (not using the 3 button) no real luck yet...........dave

[ben hobden]

Bullet: Im in the same room as you on that one. To my mind, as you say, hard surface modelling is just 'non-organic', basically man-made stuff, as opposed to natural stuff. I would say, whether smoothed or not, i.e, with beveled edges perhaps, or sub-divided at some point, a table is going to be a hard-surface model. Organic modelling to me is, you know, people, plants, , that kind of thing. As with everything I say though I would add the disclaimer of: dont take my word for it!!

[bullet1968]

bahaha I hear ya Ben!!!!!

[daverave]

Think I have enough gun or do I? Just the bomb bay to sort out..........dave

[bullet1968]

yep dave,

that looks about right mate...wouldnt want any more on it...would be too cluttered. Looking good man

cheers bullet