Hard Light Productions Forums
Community Projects => The FreeSpace Upgrade Project => Topic started by: Strygon on July 02, 2020, 11:02:15 am
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So I wanted to get a little more training in higher quality modelling, and decided to perhaps try my hand at upgrading some of the models that didn't get their newest and greatest coat of paint yet.
Since capships are scary, I decided to go with our favorite cannon fodder ship, the GTB Boanerges GTDr Amazon.
It's nothing impressive by all means, but hey, training is still training.
So far it's been surprisingly fun to model this lil' thing.
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Good start! Now follow this short tutorial (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LXbfcFu1oPc) and do this to your model :].
If you want to make some custom sharp edges, mark edges you want to be sharp, press Ctrl + E and select Make Sharp [will work only with autosmooth option enables].
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Understood Nyctaeus, I've applied the setting but left it at 30° for now (not sure which degrees would give it the best look, will fiddle with it later)
The model's coming together nicely I'd say. The shape is starting to resemble the Amazon. I've sewn the wing blocks and main body together (and got rid of a bunch of trash polies). Easily my highest quality model so far.
The P3D is periodically getting updated with whatever progress I've done. If it still shows the previous model in the preview, click the rotating cube thing and it should show the current model.
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Really digging how the shape is turning out. It even looks like it's being made in such a way that making a manned version (similar to Oddgrim's Scarab) would be possible.
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I seem to recall one mini campaign using a manned amazon. Don’t quite remember the name though.
Got it: eagle takes flight, I think.
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Manned Amazon sounds like one pretty neat idea. I'll see about slapping that cockpit model in there once I've finished the base model as a separate ship project.
Of course, I'll also set up downloads for both the new Amazon and derivatives once they're all finished.
I'm personally looking forward to working on the Amazon Prime Edition. :P
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Manned Amazon sounds like one pretty neat idea. I'll see about slapping that cockpit model in there once I've finished the base model as a separate ship project.
If it were me, I'd model it with the cockpit and then just replace the transparent glass texture with a yellow/black striped texture for the retail version.
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Well, we have this thing:
(https://wiki.hard-light.net/images/b/b4/Concept_gtb_zeus.jpg)
FSWiki referenced this thing as concept art for GTB Zeus, but it's obviously not Zeus. I think the Amazon is actually depreciated fighter design, that was even modelled but for some reason, it was reassigned to drone role. TVWP mod actually introduced retextuted Amazon mesh as Unification War-era fighter named TF Falcon, but later it was replaced by original design.
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Manned Amazon = Manazon?
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Manned Amazon = Manazon?
Boooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo
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Engine thrusters, bit of fixing here and there, some extra plates and whatever the weird stuff is near the engines (with the exposed metal) is worked and nearly finished. I also added those three pipes near the engine section.
I'd say she's almost done. Certainly going to look forward to perhaps seeing it in action in-game.
EDIT: Bah, had to hotfix a couple holes that showed up in P3D but not in Blender. Be sure to report those to me if you find any, I may have missed some.
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The shape is looking good so far. Are you aiming for a high-polygon version of the existing model, or a complete reimagining similar to what Nyx is doing with the Ravana?
Also...uh, if you don't mind me stating the bleeding obvious...
You're remodelling the training drone, as training to train your skills at creating high-polygon 3D models, which means that if you pull this off, we will see the fruits of your training in the Training Simulator Modules when we train our guns on the training drones.
I see no problem with that.
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Heh heh, the irony is noted.
I think I'll play it safe for now with just doing a high poly model, though I *might* change a couple things to make it easier to model certain parts.
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All right - sounds like a good idea.
I've had a closer look at the wireframe of the model and have a few observations to make:
- It looks like there's a hole on the underside of the mesh, which is mirrored on the other side (amzn-1).
- You can probably halve the polycount on the side near the cannons if you turn the triangles into quads that go from end to end (amzn-2).
- Likewise, these two triangles can probably be turned into a single quad (amzn-3).
There's quite a number of ngons on the mesh. It may be possible to save polygons in certain places by using ngons instead of tris or quads (such as the area shown in amzn-2), but I'm not sure if it's appropriate. I guess you can get away with ngons on flat surfaces, at least.
[attachment eaten by a Shivan]
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Reimagining should happen only if the vanilla mesh is just a random maze of tiles, like Hecate, Aeolus or Ravana. Amazon has good quality, UV texture so all details of potential HTL model are perfectly readable. We should keep things as consistent as possible, and complete reworks should happen only when... Ehh... When it's just not possible, and vanilla mesh is a crap o__O.
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Thanks, Androgeos. I've tried to implement most of these changes you suggested about as best as my (admittedly limited) ability lets me. Updated P3D should hopefully reflect on them nicely.
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Thanks, Androgeos. I've tried to implement most of these changes you suggested about as best as my (admittedly limited) ability lets me. Updated P3D should hopefully reflect on them nicely.
It does. Keep up the good work. :yes:
Reimagining should happen only if the vanilla mesh is just a random maze of tiles, like Hecate, Aeolus or Ravana. Amazon has good quality, UV texture so all details of potential HTL model are perfectly readable. We should keep things as consistent as possible, and complete reworks should happen only when... Ehh... When it's just not possible, and vanilla mesh is a crap o__O.
True - you can't fix what's broken. In some ways, it's like the various generations of a real-life vehicle model. If it looks good for its era, a minor facelift over the years is fine, but a drastic makeover isn't necessary. :nod:
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Alright! The model is done as far as I can tell. Will attempt to texture it tomorrow. If there's extra time, I might even graft the SHOOT ME sign into the mesh itself.
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I'd reserve that for local texture value. It would've been painted onto a real drone and it makes it easier for people/moddereeno's to change textures down the line of they need to.
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How about doing it like a nameplate?
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Nameplate works pretty well actually. I'll see about getting that to work maybe.
On the general texturing itself, I've made good progress, only to realize that my aging rig may not handle the new shinyness so well... which caused a crash that killed all my progress.
Oh well, I shall attempt to continue pressing on.
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The easiest way would be to release a texture with, and a texture without the shoot me and let users swap as needed 👍
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Hey, I think I may have found holes in the geometry near the back end near the middle where the hull angles down.
[See Attachment]
[attachment eaten by a Shivan]
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Weird. They're not showing up in Blender for me, but they're visible in the P3D. I'll see if I can somehow close them up regardless. Thanks for the heads-up anyway, Cyno.
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Attempt #4 on texturing is going much better, primarily due to lack of crashes.
(https://i.imgur.com/2S5Dqzy.png)
I need to be really careful to avoid murdering my poor GPU but it's going better than originally thought.
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:yes: :yes: :yes:
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(https://cdn.discordapp.com/attachments/565970375662501914/748733399572807760/unknown.png)
Heeey, sorry about the lack of updates, I first had to order a new GPU in order to even think about continuing this project and then had to purchase a full license for Substance Painter to even do the work at all. Now that I'm back in full gear for this, it's starting to really look like the Amazon, texture wise.
(https://cdn.discordapp.com/attachments/223516619052285952/748729349712248872/unknown.png)
Of course, you can't have an Amazon without a proper SHOOT ME
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I know that's the same font used with the original model, but jeez, I don't remember that "H" in "SHOOT ME" looking more like an "F". :wtf:
I know my memory is playing tricks on me. All the same, this drone is making me think it's trying to say "S(hove) FOOT (in) ME." So is this drone trying to pay homage to Kurtwood Smith from That 70s Show?
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(https://cdn.discordapp.com/attachments/223516619052285952/748947398822461540/screen0309.png)
And here she is, flight worthy and still a huge block of cannon fodder.
And to those of you who asked for an Amazon.com skin:
(https://cdn.discordapp.com/attachments/223516619052285952/748955705540739212/screen0314.png)
(https://cdn.discordapp.com/attachments/223516619052285952/748955707188969532/screen0313.png)
All that's left now is cleanup, debris and some other funsies
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So amazon.com is still a thing in the 24th Century??? :wtf:
Somehow, that's even scarier than the Shivans. :shaking: :nervous: :shaking:
EDIT: Oh, and don't forget to make the "r" in "GTDr Amazon" lowercase; I saw that it was capitalized in your screenshots above.
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1. It's just for testing purposes, this screencap.
2. Blame :v: cuz I didn't write that
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1. It's just for testing purposes, this screencap.
2. Blame :v: cuz I didn't write that
Oh, don't worry, this is nothing compared to :v: screwing up the Shivan Rahu-class gas miner by giving it an extra S in "SSG Rahu" when it should have been just "SG Rahu". It's a Shivan gas miner, not a Shivan sentry gun!
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http://www.mediafire.com/file/gsg8g6jn6nqmsg5/nuamazon.rar/file
my drunken butt forgot I had this file ready for almost a week. I'll still readily make adjustments as requested but here she is!
Go get her!