Crumpet: 3D Modelling

Non realtime stuff

Thu, 20 May 2004 06:54:15 GMT

I have begun playing around (again) with non-realtime renderers. I am enjoying the quality of the output of these.

To the right is the same space ship shown previously but with a few lights added and rendered with a ray tracer. I spent a fair but of time modelling the lights exclusively for ray-tracing. Paying attention to detail on things like lenses on the lights. So for example the spot lights on the front and the Nav lights on the side have clear glass covers over them so refraction ec. can play a small part. The Nav light is interesting in that it is actually a red light behind a round clear glass lens.

I also went to painstaking trouble to have the cockpit illuminated by a small map light. I modeled the small map light which looks similar to the air vents on a commercial aircraft and sits on the ceiling between the two seats pointing down. I used a cool green instead of the standard red map light because I thought it looked more like flouresent style lighting (?!) and also there was enough red lights in the scene.

As I said, I am enjoying playing with this and u can expect more images to come

Milkshape Tutorial: Creating a hollow hull

Tue, 06 Apr 2004 03:01:55 GMT

Added a tutorial to demonstrate how to get hollow hulls in Milkshape 3D. This tutorial demonstrates creating a simple sphere with a window to its insides.

Check it out here.

Comments, suggestions and links from other sites welcome.

Sat, 27 Mar 2004 01:23:35 GMT

I have made the skin much more light and bland. I guess there could be some highlights such as scuff marks but my skills need to advance a little bit before I can get into some of that stuff.

Sun, 21 Mar 2004 19:08:36 GMT

I have put a preliminary skin on it so the programmers can get it into the 3d engine and have a play.

I went for engines in separate pods rather than the conventional engine in the body since the fins aren't going to be able to steer it in space. The idea is the pods can independently control roll and pitch to steer the missile around.

The fins stayed on even though not used in space for a couple of reasons. If the missile is fired in an environment where there is atmosphere, these could be used making the missile multipurpose I suppose and the make it look mean!

for the skin I would like to make it more detailed. Have a few details on it like health warnings :) and other usual placards that might be found on such a device. Also the general colour scheme and a bit of dirtying up, I guess these would stay on a craft for a while before being fired and hence should collect dust etc. in that time.

The second picture shows how a cargo vessel may have a few of these missiles tucked away for self defense purposes. I wouldn't expect a cargo vessel to be armed with much more than the smallest compliment of defenses, but my fighter ship isnt ready yet.

Sun, 21 Mar 2004 01:28:18 GMT

Early version of a simple space ship lauched guided missile. Requirements were < 1000 polys.

I just have to skin it to call it finished

Sat, 06 Mar 2004 04:30:58 GMT

This is a very early version of the single place fighter space craft to compliment the cargo vessel. It will have hard points on the wings for the detachable lasers and missiles as well as small twin engines tucked in against the fuselage body.

Tue, 02 Mar 2004 03:14:37 GMT

Ok, back to space ship modelling. This is a work in progress first cut version of one of the models of laser guns that will be attaching to the hard points of a space craft

Sat, 28 Feb 2004 19:31:32 GMT

This is my entry into Milkshape's February's Model Competition. Basically an airship style craft with twin balloons.

Two small engines provide forward thrust with pitch and yaw controlled by conventional aerodynamic surfaces. Pitch is controlled by forward and rearward movement of the joystick which moves the elevator by push rods and yaw is controlled by left and right movement on the rudder bar which moves the rudder by push rods.

Engines are controlled with a throttle by the pilots side. two bench seats, one for the pilot and a small one up the front for a passenger.

Thu, 26 Feb 2004 10:29:59 GMT

Ok, a brief interlude from the cargo vessel.

This is a model I put together tonight for the Milkshape3D's modelling competition. The requirements are simply, unlimited poly count, no textures and must be a flying machine. I took the basic principal of the cargo ship and filled the cargo holds with helium so to speak.

I dont know if I will get it finished in time as I really only have about 2 days to finish it off.

I have to connect all the control surfaces up and fill in some detail in the fuselage. Just a seat and control mechanisms is all I wanted to add there.

Wed, 25 Feb 2004 06:30:07 GMT

Changed the window shape a bit and have a small interior consisting of 2 seats, a panel and a wall.

Still have to clean up the texture

Mon, 23 Feb 2004 15:03:16 GMT

I hollowed out the fuselage and put in some transparent windows. They are waaaaay too big, I will need to trim them down and put in a little interior. The skids have been skinned now.

Sat, 21 Feb 2004 17:43:44 GMT

Here are a few other objects I have done previously for some personal projects. A bin modelled on the ones the council uses locally and a picnic table not modelled on anything in particular, but texture is from a local park bench. The texture on the picnic table looks awfully bland when rendered with PovRay. When it is in a realtime 3D engine it looks so much more like wood. I haven't quite got PovRay setting down to an artform just yet.

Sat, 21 Feb 2004 04:41:18 GMT

Work in progress for the cargo ship.

I want to clean up the hull a bit and put more decals on it. Poly count as it stands is a little over 2000, I still need to skin the radar dish and skids.

I also wouldn't mind making the cabin area hollow rather than flled in windows.

The basic idea is that the engine pod on the rear is self contained and separate from the crew survival module. The crew section could break off and form an escape pod if the rest of the ship is compromised. The big areas on the side are for cargo and fuel.

Sat, 21 Feb 2004 04:39:38 GMT

First model requirements

Space ship
cargo vessel
future human technology
target poly count around 2000

Sat, 21 Feb 2004 01:36:02 GMT

This is a blog of my experience starting to do some 3D models. I am currently using Milkshape 3D for the modelling and Ultimate Unwrap 3D for the skinning.

Stay tuned to see how I progress with various projects