Churchill AVRE Bridgelayer

[daverave]

Had this one going for to long now so put it on here to give me a push to get it done..................dave

[clearairstudios]

Really nice that. Any wires Dave?

[daverave]

Thanks Clearair
Still need to redo some of the parts top fender for one did that quick so I could get a feel for the tank, try where I can to not smooth, as requested wires.................dave

[daverave]

The hardest part for me is getting references for the bridge im working from 72 scale prints witch are not good but on wards and up ward...............dave

[bullet1968]

Looking swell as usual dave

cheers bullet

[cj74]

Looks good. Nice work on the details so far.. Bridge looks great!

[daverave]

Thanks cj74
Little update locking nut for the front wheel and a latch I forgot to do..............dave

Link to ref:http://svsm.org/gallery/Churchill-Mk-VII/IMG_3926

[daverave]

A lot of work just for the thing that holds the wheel, the whole top mud guard needs to be remodelled............dave

[Juanpax]

Like it a lot dave, great job with the details. Keep it up.

[daverave]

Thanks Juanpax
Just a little update.............dave

[daverave]

Having to move bits about as I move along from the front as the reference plane are out from the real tank...............dave

http://svsm.org/gallery/Churchill-Mk-VII/IMG_3896

[daverave]

Still nibbling away at this one................dave

Edit:can you spot the error in shot two
http://svsm.org/gallery/Churchill-Mk-VII/IMG_3908

[daverave]

Thankfully I found some more references of the same tank I was starting to struggle..............dave

http://data3.primeportal.net/tanks/dmitry_kiyatkin/churchill_mkiii/images/churchill_mkiii_63_of_68.jpg

[daverave]

Bit of a night mare as I realized there was no step at the back of the hull so had to move all bits up and rebuild the hull................dave

[ctbram]

Looking good Dave.

Interesting to see the refs are from Aberdeen. I worked at the US Army Tank and Automotive command (TACOM) in Michigan in the late 70's and early 80's and we used to get a lot of test data from Aberdeen. I never had a chance to go there unfortunately.

My dad would have enjoyed following this model. He was Army corp of Engineers and laid a lot of both personnel and heavy vehicle bridges although I don't recall him ever talking about a tank system to lay bridges.

[daverave]

Tanks Rick
I was going to do the Churchill were the brigde folded in half but that was not used in WW2, this one is a bit more challenging than the sherman as there are so meny parts to it and the way it was constucted, 9 months for drawing board to production(churchill tank). One of the safest tanks to be in (allied) and moved forward the fastest witch is strange as it had only a top speed of 12mph but I think that was a result of the infantary being able to keep up with it.................dave

[daverave]

Little update latches for the hatches, might redo the turret shape as the reference I am now using has a lot more subtle angles.................dave

http://data3.primeportal.net/tanks/dmitry_kiyatkin/churchill_mkiii/images/churchill_mkiii_41_of_68.jpg

[daverave]

Still plugging away and still have a lot to do at the back, I normally bevel most parts if Im not smoothing but the turret has some sharp angle that I think will leave unbevelled ..............dave

Edit: If you are wondering what the funny hatch is over front gunner hatch its for loading the petard mortar (original hatch being welded shut). When all the modelling is done and I have cleaned up the scene I will do a animation of loading it.

http://www.timemoneyandblood.com/HTML/normandy/HobartsFunnies/hf_petard.html

[daverave]

Now happy with the exhaust a little bit more to do with at the back.................dave

[daverave]

Shovels and clamps..............dave

[daverave]

Hardest thing to model so far (tread) as lack of references for the same type and not smoothing as there will be a lot (140-144)..............dave

http://freespace.virgin.net/chris.shillito/a22new/articles/misc/tracks.htm

[daverave]

First test with the tread, size looks right so I need to reduce the number as there is a little over lap also the tread part that is touching the ground need to be beef up a bit but you don't know these thing until you do a test................dave

[stwert]

This is looking pretty sweet. You've obviously studied a lot of ref, but I can't help but feel that the treads look a bit thin and flimsy. Or is that what you meant by beefing it up? Sorry I wasn't sure.

[daverave]

Thanks Stwert yes that's what I ment, I was looking at it for a long time thinking how does the track stay on then I realised the little wheels need to be at the sides channelling in through(see link) so need to redo the curve..............dave

http://data3.primeportal.net/tanks/dmitry_kiyatkin/churchill_mkiii/images/churchill_mkiii_15_of_68.jpg

[bullet1968]

Wow this is looking bloody nice dave

[daverave]

Thanks Bullet, still a bit of work to do the front part of the track is good but the back is a little off and the scale is still a little large, need to redo..................dave

Edit: just as I post I notice the front is a little out

[daverave]

Sorry for no update am trying to understand all the rigging parts I need to do to get full suspension, I will build a simple test tank first to see how I get on...............dave

Track:http://www.3dworldmag.com/2012/02/22/create-a-robot-and-rig-tank-tracks-in-maya/

Suspension:http://www.stevenhughes.dsl.pipex.com/tutorials.html

[dustykhan]

Great Modeling and good luck with the rigging!

[ctbram]

Sorry for no update am trying to understand all the rigging parts I need to do to get full suspension, I will build a simple test tank first to see how I get on...............dave

Track:http://www.3dworldmag.com/2012/02/22/create-a-robot-and-rig-tank-tracks-in-maya/

Suspension:http://www.stevenhughes.dsl.pipex.com/tutorials.html

Those are both great tutorials Dave. Especially Antony Wards track tutorial. It finally resolves the flipping issue we have both run into. It even handles some of the suspension scripting.

[daverave]

Thanks dustykhan
Thanks Rick yes it does handle some of the flipping issues but not all, Im going to use a bit of both as Steven Hughes automobile tut has most parts for doing the suspension and hull movements. At the moment I am doing some of the rigging then start again so it starts to sink into my noggin.............dave

[ctbram]

That's odd in my testing the flipping issue was totally resolved using Antony's method.

[daverave]

Sorry Rick I should have explained better yes for a normal circle it works but if you start putting 90 degree angle in the flat side of the circle it will flip again...............dave

[ctbram]

darn! Damn maya glitches

[daverave]

Starting to enjoy doing the rigging as it slowly sinks into my brain how to do it, if I get some time will do a playblast..................dave

[leandrojsj]

Very good.

[daverave]

Thanks leandrojsj
I do hope to get back to this project at some time soon, I do first want to finish my ocean scene first ...............dave