Author Topic: Four Modellers of Four Mods [Warning: Image Heavy]  (Read 28762 times)

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Offline Stormkeeper

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Four Modellers of Four Mods [Warning: Image Heavy]
Stormkeeper   Lady and gentleman, tonight we have with us four modellers of four mods of no small renown. First is the infamous Galactic Emperor,

Galemp      Hi.

Stormkeeper   Second is Brand-X ...

Brand-X      ‘Allo.

Stormkeeper   Next is Raven2001 ...

Raven2001   Howdy!

Stormkeeper   And last but certainly not least is the Vasudan Admiral.

VA              Wheee!

Stormkeeper   Okay, guys. Thanks a lot for taking the time off to join us here. You all deserve medals. So, when and what got you guys started with modelling? Galemp, why not you start.

Galemp      Okay. It seems like a very direct path for me. I enrolled in the New Jersey School of Architecture in 2002. This gave me access to, and training in, a variety of 3D modelling software. I had access to 3DS Max over the summer breaks as well, and thought I'd turn my attention to FreeSpace modelling.  At that time I was already involved in the community, having released the first version of FSPort. I ended up signing on with Sesquipedalian to do the mods for Scroll of Atankharzim, and that mod consists of about 60% of my FreeSpace work.

Stormkeeper   But you did no modelling for R1?

Galemp      No, FSPort R1 only had the old FS1 models that had been left out of FS2.
Galemp      I was helped a lot by a book on low-poly character modelling written by Paul Steed of iD software.  So eventually through practice, both in and out of school, I got to where I am today.

Raven2001   If I may interfere, read that one, a very good book

Stormkeeper   The book helped a lot in your modelling?

Galemp      It gave me the essentials in real-time modelling. It focused a LOT on optimization, turning edges, welding vertices. Rules of thumb on polygon distribution. Generally I already knew how to get something out of my head and into the computer but Paul Steed helped me get things out of the modelling software and into the game.

Stormkeeper   What about before the book?

Galemp      I hadn't done anything for real-time applications before I got the book. That's why I got it. Everything I had done was with primitives. Still did some cool stuff, but that got me into poly mesh editing.

Stormkeeper   And -- VA? How'd you get started?

VA                   I joined HLP just after the VBB went under, but I’d been on the FreeSpace 2 sector (sectorgame) longer than that. I was basically just downloading EVERYTHING, and I remember being continually disappointed when a 'new ship' was just a re-skin. Eventually I stumbled across the fighter creation guide on the volition watch site, and that pointed me at blender. I didn't go very far through the tutorial before I just got so excited by the fact that I was looking at a 3d tube with wings that I abandoned the fighter thing the tut was trying to build and ended up with some horrible vaguely fighter shaped thing

Stormkeeper   I've been there. Lots.

Raven2001   Hey, we all gotta start in the dungeons

VA                   The tutorial also used Truespace 2, so I learned that in tandem with blender, and at first actually greatly preferred TS

Stormkeeper   ... But?

VA                   Then the trial period on TS2 ran out, so my horrific little... model things I’d been trying to turn into ships couldn't go through cob2fs2 to become .pofs. I had no idea about pirated software at that point

Stormkeeper   Ah hah.

VA                  Eventually I ..err.. 'got a hold of' TS5 and went crazy with it too. Practically abandoned blender for a short while and was using TS to build all kinds of ridiculous looking ships

Stormkeeper   ... Pics ?

VA                   Oh those little horrors are never seeing the light of day again

Stormkeeper   Aww c'mon ...

Raven2001   Why not make a The Uglies 2 pack?

Stormkeeper   You four can pull together all your first, horrible works and call it a pack. But we deviate.  Go on, VA.

VA                Soon after I pretty much hit the limit of modelling ability in TS, and began to see its flaws as a program. I just couldn't find any way to get the geometry in my head into the model. At that point I began poking around with blender, and soon discovered that unlike TS, it didn't delete random isolated vertices and faces, so it was pretty much became a connect-the-dots in 3d. The technique I now use is a much more advanced version of that that's just been evolving ever since then - I do a concept scribble of a design and trace it out with vertices from side on and top down, and manually fill out EVERYTHING in between.

Galemp      That's how I did my first model, in Rhinoceros. I came from an AutoCAD background, so did only connect-the-dots modelling till I found Max.

Raven2001   You used Rhino uh? You liked it?

VA                  Galemp, do you 'grow' your ships out of primitives?

Galemp      Pretty much. I grab a sphere or a box, apply some basic deformations, then stretch, squeeze and extrude to my liking. With booleans where necessary. It's more like clay sculpting. I used Rhino for all of six months.

VA                    There are only a couple of basic development processes for constructing models - growing out of primitives and face by face being the main two... Raven! Go!

Raven2001   Aye. I think I'm the only one here who hasn’t shown a model to the community in the last few years, but no matter, I have gifts today ^^.

VA              How much of your stuff would you reckon has been made public?

Raven2001   About 30%. And very old things. Mainly, my model dump, which I'm surprised that is still sought after today. My story will feel a bit like a déjà vu. I was a lurker in Volition Watch, because like we all, I loved FreeSpace and vasudan babes. Since I was young (14)= lots of free time, I decided to try my luck in modelling. I followed the same tutorial as VA actually, and got started in blender.  I was still lurking mind you, so thankfully no one will see the Frankensteins I created . Later I moved to HLP coz it seemed that it was there the action was going, on May 31, 2001, hence the 2001 in my nick.

      I actually have a lot to thank to FreeSpace, and the HLP community, because they were the ones who helped me decide my career. Anyways, starting to model for FreeSpace was what made me re-think my life. I really enjoy art in general, and I could imagine myself doing this for the next 40 years, unlike my other options. So I modelled like mad, and started showing my work. By then, we had just started giving our baby steps in the SCP, and I was doing ships with about 1.5k polys, 2k. So everyone was shouting that it would stress the engine... ironically, 6 months later the SCP gods gifted us with HTL.


Stormkeeper   Heh.

VA              One of the best days of my life that was

Raven2001   Aye. I had faith, and it payed off. I joined Multimedia Design in university, the closest thing to what I wanted, although they are more dedicated to graphic design. But the big jump gave itself when I took a summer course of 3dsMax, 1 month, 8 hours a day, every day. I learnt a lot about high end modelling ethics, ways of thinking, process, ethics, bones, animation. It was really worth the money, and faster than learning on my own. Oh by then I had already impressed IceFire and Ace, and got my seat on the BWO pantheon. Working with those guys, and later in MT were 2 dreams come true.

Galemp      Ahh, so THAT'S why we haven't seen your work.

Raven2001   Yeah.

Stormkeeper   A rather exclusive worker Raven is.

Raven2001   Yes I figured I wanted to be like Dark (for those that remember him), although he was more famous, so everyone was nagging him via PMs and the like. Almost no one nags me via PM... Fortunately. I’m still pumping models in BWO, took the lead in MT after Styxx was gone.

Galemp      Well, Dark posted renders of his models that he never actually released, much to the detriment of the community, so maybe its best if you keep to yourself, Raven. We won't know what we're missing .

Raven2001   I already relegated lead to Spicious on MT, due to lack of time from my part, but am still doing stuff for them and trying to art direct the project.

Stormkeeper   Alright Brand. How'd you get started?

Brand-X      I got my start young, very young. My dad was a draftsman, so he began to teach me AutoCAD when I was 4 or 5 years old on a 2 colour (Black and Yellow) monitor. So I started screwing around with that with the idea that I could design transformer toys or something, building schematics for toys I wanted, and then me and my grandpa would build them in his wood shop. When I hit high school, I figured being as I already had a fair bit of experience by this time in AutoCAD that I could take Drafting and learn something new. Instead, I went through the entire 5 year high school drafting curriculum in about 6 months or so.

Raven2001   Christ, guess the rumours that you don't sleep are true

Stormkeeper   ... Thinking the same thing.

Brand-X      Coffee and Cigarettes, my friend. Much better than sleep

Raven2001   Yeah, I use those too, but perhaps I'm not taking a high enough dosage

Brand-X      But anyways, after that I started screwing around with the computers and found 3D Studio R4. I basically worked out a deal with my teacher that, being as I'd already completed 5 years of drafting courses, I'd instead start teaching myself to use 3D studio and hand in just my own custom projects. He agreed and I spent the rest of High school, plus an extra year at the school upgrading my grades by learning 3DS, and then later Max when it came out.

Galemp      Jealous!

VA                   Closest to that we had was woodwork with crappy old tools

Raven2001   Indeed. I believe the rest of us have a hard time conciliating our work\ui projects to our personal stuff

Stormkeeper   ... I believe we are all also extremely jealous of Brand.

Raven2001   Yes I'll throw him down the stairs when I get the chance!

Brand-X      After High school I never really modelled much until I stumbled upon HLP. I saw that the Star Wars Conversion had just had just been restarted and was looking for people, but I never really thought much of my abilities, especially considering it'd been years since I'd even touched anything in a 3D modelling program, but I started fresh and spent the rest of my time just trying to regain my old skills, which IMO I surpassed maybe a year

Stormkeeper   So what was the most difficult thing for you to model? I mean, among all the things you guys have ever modelled, which one took you the longest, gave the most headaches

Galemp      Karnak

Brand-X      Hmmm, the Star Destroyer for me. It was the first thing I tried when I got back to modelling. I'm still working on it to this day. Actually its open right now in max

Raven2001   I believe it was my first high-poly robot That was a project about taking the whole process used in the industry nowadays: sketches, final concept art, High poly model for normal projection, and then low poly model

VA                   The wing of the Athena used in the HTL uglies. I was trying to make it into nice neat flat surfaces and it took me about an hour.

Stormkeeper    Galemp, why was the Karnak so difficult?

Galemp       If I knew that, it wouldn't have been so difficult.

Stormkeeper   ... Well, where were you stuck the longest?

Galemp      Well, starting at the beginning, the Karnak's been through a lot of iterations. The original model, as we should all know, was by Dark and consisted of several models all arranged in formation in the mission. One of the first things I did with FSPort was merging them all together into one model. But I'm referring to the high-poly Karnak I did last year. I really don't know what the problem was, but the stupid thing would not convert in PCS. I actually managed to load the thing up in PCS, and it would save in the internal PMF format, but not export. I ended up shipping it around to Kazan and VA for help and between the three of us we got it working.

VA              Oh, I remember that one. Too many polys in the one object wasn't it?

Galemp      I still don't know how. I do remember it uncovered a PCS bug though, a misplaced decimal point. So it would go through 1,000,000 cycles before giving up instead of through 100 or something. That's when I swore never to model anything more complex than a missile in Max for FreeSpace and started really pushing for the Collada plug-in.

Brand-X      And then you modelled missiles for FotG

Galemp      And the FSPort MVPs

Stormkeeper   Brand-X why haven't you finished the ISD yet?

Brand-X      Lots of reasons really. Lost hard drive, insufficient quality, inefficient polies, and difficulty in finding correct references.

Stormkeeper   Tons of problems in creating a well known and well loved ship?

Brand-X      I've found in my various attempts that so much of the "feel" of the ISD comes from a lot of small details adding together, and I don't just mean the greebles. Little things like the smallest angles here and there or making sure certain surfaces are parallel really adds together for the overall effect.

VA                   I blame fanboys  'Nyeerh, pipe 4638 on the middeck section C5 is too narrow for the amount of coolant that turbolaser would require for sustained fire!'

Raven2001   Yeah fanboyism is the bane of the artist.

Brand-X      Yes, the ISD is a strange ship, from some angles it has to look sleek, others it's a towering monstrosity. Yeah, the ISD is where most of the jokes about my model proportions come from. I've literally heard that it's too skinny and too fat simply based on what angle the viewer is looking at it from.

Galemp      I just wanted to make cool ships, I didn't want to be meticulous

Raven2001   Same here

VA                    Yes, I have a lot of respect for anyone who can put up with those kind of petty complaints

Raven2001   You have your share in it, modelling HTL stuff

qazwsx      Brand-X,  how many reference images have you used for it?

Brand-X      Hundreds. I spend hours looking over images like this:

Making sure everything's in its place. I've started posting a lot less WIPs myself actually

Stormkeeper     Did you post a lot of WIPs, GE?  Back when you were ship modelling.

Galemp       Well, if my work is for something specific like FSPort or Scroll, I post WIPs in the internal forums. But for doodles like the GVC Mekhet I post for public feedback, generally because it's lacking something and I don't know what. And sometimes the model just pops out fully formed, like the GVSC Nibada

VA                    Just for any HTL modellers listening, word of advice: release models as soon as they're ready - don't sneak it into the next MVP official release as a surprise, because nobody really notices it when that MVP release actually comes out.

Stormkeeper    Alright then, let’s have a short Q&A.

VA                    Get raven to reveal some stuff!

Stormkeeper   Yes, that.  RAVEN SHOW US YOUR STUFF

Raven2001   I said I brought prezzies.

Galemp      I have my bead necklaces ready!

Raven2001   My BWO masters allowed me to show 2 Sol models




That’s a torpedo cruiser.




That’s a carrier, still WIP.



And that’s a personal fighter.


Galemp      Love the subtle asymmetry on the Aegir

Raven2001   Thank you. I'm still trying to find the balance in the Aegir’s design

Stormkeeper   .... Wait, the last one folds up?

Raven2001   Yeah. The wings open and retract. They ain’t in game yet, but it’s planned to like that in-game. I'm not allowed to show my textured babies yet though.

Stormkeeper   So... Anyone else have any gifts to show?

Brand-X      I may have one. A WIP of a redesign of the Z-95

And a shot I particularly like of the new X-Wing

The Y-Wing:

And the TIE Fighter


VA                   The first of mine is about a 3 years old now - one of the Aesir fighters from Twisted Infinities:





Galemp      Well since we're showing older stuff...


Shivan carrier, along the same lines as the Shiamak


VA              Ok, now I have some new Hades shots I’ve just taken to upload

Brand-X      All right, I’ve got an ISD Render on the way, it'll be a few minutes







VA               Oh and if people didn't follow the ST:R trailer thread, the untextured Hades looks like this:

Raven2001   *gasp at Hades*

Galemp      That's really amazing, VA. I just love the way you've worked in the old textures, like the brown pipes on the sides.

Brand-X      Oh, here's that ISD Render btw, apologies for the low quality


Stormkeeper   Oooookay. So.   Questions?

qazwsx      Yarp. Is transferring from making pre-rendered models to making real-time ones (or vice versa) a difficult process?

Raven2001   Takes a bit to get used to

VA                    Real-time->pre-rendered is very tricky. I keep correcting all my lazy geometry and take forever.

Galemp           I tend to keep the two in separate lots

Raven2001   Nowadays I do it as if it was gonna be a pre-rendered, and then optimize it for real time

Galemp      With real-time rendering I'm overly meticulous, checking that all the geometry is optimized and manifold. With pre-rendered I can be as sloppy as I want.

Brand-X      Yeah, I went from high poly render quality to low poly game quality and its two completely different worlds

Galemp      Of course with the bar set where it is now by Brand and VA, worlds collide. I haven't done anything quite like that yet

qazwsx           What programs do you all use to model?

Brand-X      I use 3DS max

Raven2001   3dsMax as well, also ZBrush, although still trying to find a pipeline to implement ZBrush work into FS ships

Galemp      I was a Max devotee, now I've moved to Blender

qazwsx      May I ask why you moved to blender?

Galemp      I've been moving steadily to free software, Trillian to Pidgin, Photoshop to Gimp, Max to Blender. Will eventually go from Windows to Linux, once I get familiar with the file system.

qazwsx      Why? Lack of money? Do you feel it is more moral? Less restrictions? Faster bug fixes/release cycles?

Galemp           Faster release cycles. After all I sunk $500 into my license for Max 6, and there's been no updates since then.

qazwsx           Do any of you attempt modelling organic objects?

Raven2001   Gimme 2 minutes...




Organic enough.


VA                  That's one really disturbing head...

Raven2001   Yeah well... design decisions

Stormkeeper   So Raven HAS modelled organic stuff ... What 'bout you two ?

VA                   Err... kinda





Galemp      Nope, I've done nothing like that
 

qazwsx      Are your workflows different with organic models?

Raven2001   Totally. For organic models I basically do a base mesh in max, and then sculpt away in Zbrush.  if needed I do a retopology pass on the sculpted model. And then depending on what it is for, I project the detail to displace or normal maps.
 
VA                   If only FS normal maps were that powerful

Raven2001   They are.

Galemp      FS normal maps ARE that powerful, they're not just bump maps.
 
Raven2001   The difference is that for FS ships we do the normal maps in B&W in 2d. In the industry they do a high poly model and project the detail to the low poly UV. The problem lies on how you do them. Of course doing the high poly model takes ages.

Galemp      That's how we generate them generally, because spaceships are not organic.

Stormkeeper   What’s a retopology pass?

Raven2001   A retopology pass is when you re-build the mesh, in order for it to follow the model's natural topology.

Stormkeeper   So GE, you're saying the FS engine can support organids?

Galemp      Well there's no per-vertex mesh deformation, so no.

qazwsx      I know my way around blender well, but I haven't actually done anything "big" any suggestions for a first proper project?

Galemp      Hmm. Why not try to high-polify a FreeSpace model?

Raven2001   You doing a recreation of an existing concept? or coming out of a design of your own?

VA              It depends on how comfortable with complex geometry you are I’d say.

qazwsx      Not very.

VA              With each project build a bit past your limit.

Raven2001   Then get comfy with it. Everyone’s gonna kill me for saying this, but I believe that good drawing knowledge (when it comes to object synthesis) is key for good modelling skills.

qazwsx      Agreed.

VA              Almost agreed.

Galemp      I agree... however. I have no drawing skills whatsoever.

Stormkeeper   Ditto.

Galemp      I visualize entirely spatially. I don't think in plan, or in section. I think volumetrically.

Raven2001   I didn’t mean the skills, I meant knowledge, way of thinking , which is exactly what you are describing.
 
VA              It depends on your modelling abilities a bit too I think. I can draw very well if I want to, but I don't because I’m lazy. So usually I just randomly scribble down vague outlines of ship designs, and fill these outlines in with on the spot made up geometry. If I were unable to draw well, I think I’d still be able to do that.

Raven2001   Yeah me too, I prefer a "painterly" approach to my 2d work actually. I actually usually don't draw before modelling. I do lots of concept art to come up with ideas however. But the two do help each other... I use 3D proxies to help in drawing, to save time.

VA              Yeah. I imagine you'll have pages and pages of the stuff in fact?

Raven2001   Yeah.

VA              What a guess.  *glances at a certain drawer that won't close*

Raven2001   My calling is in the concept design field, coz that's where you have the chance to be creative in the industry.

Stormkeeper   Okay guys. Sorry to interrupt ... but lemme wrap up the interview ...

VA                   Newbie advice section!

Stormkeeper   What kind of tips would you guys give new and hopeful modellers?

Galemp      Learn the software. Learn the interface.   Learn how to move around in 3D space. Figure out the basics of setting up and arranging some basic shapes then follow tutorials. Mastering the interface is essential to not becoming frustrated. Only if you know how to use your tools, will they bend to your will. If you're in a submenu or something and you find a function that you don't know what it does, try it. Look it up in the help section.

VA               Anyone who's seen more than a few posts of mine on HLP would probably be able to predict that I’m about to hugely strongly recommend blender here. Blender is free, developing rapidly, has all the tools you could want for FreeSpace ship creation, an inbuilt DAE exporter which makes it a one-stop platform for creating models from scratch and exporting them almost directly as POFs out the other end. In terms of learning the software, I’d say follow some tutorials for sure, but you need to sit down and just experiment to really learn stuff. With every mesh you build, learn something new.

Raven2001   From a technical standpoint: know your tools, and what they do: you would be surprised how much time you save, and how even the crapiest tool of the world will have a good use for a certain situation. Be smart when you model. Design wise: the big shapes dictate if the ship is interesting or not, if your model doesn’t look interesting as a 800poly mock-up, it will never be interesting no matter how much greeble it will have. Also, pick tutorials about modelling theory and ethics, it will help a lot. And FS related: remember it’s a game, ships will be moving, so refrain from doing stuff with bazillion polys. *glances at VA*

Galemp      *cough*Loki*cough*

Raven2001   Yes *cough*Loki*cough*

VA              Bah, Loki is fine.  computers will catch up

Galemp      Oh REALLY.


VA              Best glass evar.
 
Raven2001   Christ.

Galemp      We have per-pixel lighting now, not just per-vertex.

Raven2001   I'd make a model that consisted just of that glass.
 
VA              For those who are not sure - the Loki cockpit was designed for per-vertex lighting, (where it really worked well!) But that's no longer an issue with per-pixel lighting, so the Loki's glass polys are no longer necessary.

Raven2001   I still remember the discussion you and me had back then!
 
Stormkeeper   So anymore tips?

VA              Hmmm. Ignore useless comments in your WIP threads. Don't be discouraged by them. Because GAH do they annoy me still!

Raven2001   Better yet... don’t post WIPs... just release the campaign and blow everyone out of the blue.

VA              If you're learning to mod though, WIPs are important. Taught me a lot.

Galemp      Or if you're not entirely happy with your model, post it to get feedback and ideas. Be sure to make clear whether you are 'showing off' your model or looking for feedback.

VA              Things to avoid:
                 1)Truespace
                 2)Breaking up your workflow into multiple 3d applications


Raven2001   Booleans (at first)

Raven2001   Oh another tip I remembered: Always model with the texture in mind... most of the detail comes from textures. A good model with crap textures will look crap, a crap model with good textures might look good.

Galemp      I cannot agree enough with VA's workflow suggestion. It's gotten to the point where I refuse to help anyone who isn't working in the same program they started the model in.

Stormkeeper   Why's that?

Galemp      There is so much crap that can go wrong when you try to go from SketchUp to 3DS Max to Blender. Ugh.

Raven2001   However, I found out that .obj format is extremely stable when it comes to that, although not all software have good .obj exporters.

qazwsx      What would you recommend about the use of SketchUp?

Raven2001   I'd recommend about learning higher end software honestly.

qazwsx      Blender is a tool. It doesn't replace the skills that you'll need as an artist. Your knowledge of the principles and elements of design and colour theory apply directly to 3D art in the same way it applies to everything else.

Raven2001   Yes, but for instance, as far as I know, SketchUp has very poor, if any, mesh tools, which is bad. A good tool won't make you better, but will make you faster.

VA                  Yeah - don't use SU for serious ship attempts unless you already know what you're doing.  SketchUp is a weird combination of being VERY easy to learn and almost impossible to master.  Also, try to learn the whole process from concept to final release. HLP has quite a lot of modellers, a few texturers, a couple of UV-mappers but very few ship converters.

Galemp      In fact I think they're all in this room.

VA              Errm, so how many known ship converters does HLP have? There are like, 6, with a few of them being inactive.

Galemp      Me and you ...

VA              Bobboau,  but he's pretty much inactive.

qazwsx      Blowfish (a bit).

Galemp      Whoever it was that did the Action VI.

Raven2001    Yeah blowfish converts. Nuke too I believe.

VA               The Action VI wasn't really a proper conversion. More like an experiment. Enioch I think. Firecrack when he's around.

Raven2001    Nico\Venom too.

 VA                 No one in the SWC team that I know of. Who in the Diaspora team? Oh – DaBrain; kinda. I *think* he avoids it if possible. Could be wrong. Whoever did most of TBP's conversions didn't really seem to know that much about what they were doing, but they did it a lot so I’ll give it to them (IPA I presume?) But anyone trying to turn the main hull into a turret should be shot.

Stormkeeper     Okay guys, sorry to interrupt, but I think I’ll wrap the interview up here. Thanks for taking some time off to show your secrets, and feel free to take chat as long as you want.

----------------------------------------

If anyone wants, I'll e-mail them the full log of the chat. Uncensored, and unedited!

Also, if you're wondering why Brand-X stops talking halfway, its because firstly, my mum pulled the plug on my extension cord, shutting down my laptop, and so Brand thought the interview was over.  And he was quite tired anyway so went off to sleep, if I'm not wrong....

Oh yes. Do congratulate Raven, because before the interview began, he got a job doing concept art for an animation movie, working out of home. Congratulations again, Raven.
« Last Edit: March 10, 2009, 12:08:33 pm by Stormkeeper »
Ancient-Shivan War|Interview Board

Member of the Scooby Doo Fanclub. And we're not talking a cartoon dog here people!!

 

Offline General Battuta

  • Poe's Law In Action
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Re: Four Modellers of Four Mods [Warning: Image Heavy]
Now I really, really want BWO to come out.

Holy crap, those are gorgeous.

 

Offline Narvi

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Re: Four Modellers of Four Mods [Warning: Image Heavy]
My god, that Headhunter is gorgeous.

It's no longer just 'X-wing without S-foils'. The rounding is a clever way to go about it.

 

Offline JGZinv

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Re: Four Modellers of Four Mods [Warning: Image Heavy]
I'd like a copy of the chat via email Storm...

I very much want to get into full 3D modeling and have a similar background
as was described in the interviews, so it's all relevant to my interests.
True power comes not from strength, but from the soul and imagination.
Max to PCS2 to FS2 SCP Guide
The FringeSpace Conversion Mod

 

Offline Snail

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Re: Four Modellers of Four Mods [Warning: Image Heavy]
GODS
« Last Edit: March 10, 2009, 03:37:32 pm by Snail »

 

Offline tinfoil

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Re: Four Modellers of Four Mods [Warning: Image Heavy]
Man I wish that I didn't find Blender so intimidating.
Alcibades' Gamble - We Love Our Ice Cream

Everything you need to know, and more can be found at The Freespace Wiki

 

 
Re: Four Modellers of Four Mods [Warning: Image Heavy]
I'd like a copy of the chat via email Storm...

I very much want to get into full 3D modeling and have a similar background
as was described in the interviews, so it's all relevant to my interests.

I'm also interested in learning how to do 3D modeling.  I have no experience or knowledge in the area whatsoever though.  However now that I'm done with swimming I do have more time on my hands.

EDIT:  Awesome interview by the way.

 

Offline brandx0

  • 210
  • The Angriest Angel.
    • Fate of the Galaxy: The Star Wars Conversion for Freespace
Re: Four Modellers of Four Mods [Warning: Image Heavy]
Thanks for the interview Stormkeeper, it was fun.  Also my apologies for leaving early.

As for anyone who's interested in getting more involved in 3D Modeling, I hide nothing, and all my tricks and tips are freely available, so if you have any questions on how I do my thing, don't hesitate to PM me.  Also I'm always available on IRC in #hard-light or #scp-swc on EsperNet
Former Senior Modeler, Texturer and Content Moderator (retired), Fate of the Galaxy
"I love your wrong proportions--too long, no, wait, too short
I love you with a highly symbolic torpedo up the exhaust port"
-swashmebuckle's ode to the transport

 

Offline JGZinv

  • 211
  • The Last Dual! Guardian
    • The FringeSpace Conversion Mod
Re: Four Modellers of Four Mods [Warning: Image Heavy]
(also forgot to say that was a really good interview... just too short! ^_^ )


I don't want to get off topic here..  so might start a new thread.

But would sort of an arranged 3D modeling practice group work?
I know PixelCorps seems to have a great following, but something on a smaller scale
since we've got several people that want to learn... but are... lost.
True power comes not from strength, but from the soul and imagination.
Max to PCS2 to FS2 SCP Guide
The FringeSpace Conversion Mod

 

Offline Galemp

  • Actual father of Samus
  • 212
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    • Steam
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Re: Four Modellers of Four Mods [Warning: Image Heavy]
As for anyone who's interested in getting more involved in 3D Modeling, I hide nothing, and all my tricks and tips are freely available, so if you have any questions on how I do my thing, don't hesitate to PM me. 

Beware the advice of successful people; they do not seek company.
-Scott Adams
"Anyone can do any amount of work, provided it isn't the work he's supposed to be doing at that moment." -- Robert Benchley

Members I've personally met: RedStreblo, Goober5000, Sandwich, Splinter, Su-tehp, Hippo, CP5670, Terran Emperor, Karajorma, Dekker, McCall, Admiral Wolf, mxlm, RedSniper, Stealth, Black Wolf...

 

Offline Raven2001

  • Machina Terra Reborn
  • 211
  • Im not the droid your looking for, move along
Re: Four Modellers of Four Mods [Warning: Image Heavy]
First of all, thanks Stormkeeper for giving us this "spotlight" :D

And thank you all who've read this for the warm comments!

For those willing to learn, I suggest taking a peek at the following: www.3dtotal.com
Has lots of great tutorials about a variety of things.

And whenever you have a specific question in mind, drop me a PM :)
Yeah, I know you were waiting for a very nice sig, in which I was quoting some very famous scientist or philosopher... guess what?!? I wont indulge you...

Why, you ask? What, do I look like a Shivan to you?!?


Raven is a god.

 

Offline Vasudan Admiral

  • Member
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    • Twisted Infinities
Re: Four Modellers of Four Mods [Warning: Image Heavy]
Oh dear - I just realised how serious I sound at the end of that. Don't worry TBP converter person! I don't really hate you! I just find bugs like that funny. :D

And I'll echo the sentiments of the others here - I'm happy to help anyone learn stuff with blender and ship conversions, and can often be found on the hard light IRC channel, so drop by and ask away. Failing that, just PM me.

Thanks for the interview Stormkeeper - 'twas fun. :)
Get the 2014 Media VPs and report any bugs you find in them to the FSU Mantis so that we may squish them. || Blender to POF model conversion guide
Twisted Infinities

 

Offline IceFire

  • GTVI Section 3
  • 212
    • http://www.3dap.com/hlp/hosted/ce
Re: Four Modellers of Four Mods [Warning: Image Heavy]
Great interview...lots of very good discussion and a little banter too.  A great mix!

I hope everyone enjoys Raven's renders there...we hope to get you those models in a BWO release before too long. Still a long hard road to go down yet.
- IceFire
BlackWater Ops, Cold Element
"Burn the land, boil the sea, you can't take the sky from me..."

 

Offline Stormkeeper

  • Interviewer Extraordinaire
  • 211
  • Boomz!
Re: Four Modellers of Four Mods [Warning: Image Heavy]
There was a lot more banter. Believe me. *cough* I just cut most of it out mainly because it would make the interview an incredibly long post.
Ancient-Shivan War|Interview Board

Member of the Scooby Doo Fanclub. And we're not talking a cartoon dog here people!!

 

Offline blowfish

  • 211
  • Join the cult of KILL MY ROUTER!!!!!!!!!!1
Re: Four Modellers of Four Mods [Warning: Image Heavy]
Maybe you could just post a link to the full interview... :nervous:

 

Offline Galemp

  • Actual father of Samus
  • 212
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    • Steam
    • User page on the FreeSpace Wiki
Re: Four Modellers of Four Mods [Warning: Image Heavy]
Or you could have BEEN THERE and PARTICIPATED.

Why don't you do that next time.
"Anyone can do any amount of work, provided it isn't the work he's supposed to be doing at that moment." -- Robert Benchley

Members I've personally met: RedStreblo, Goober5000, Sandwich, Splinter, Su-tehp, Hippo, CP5670, Terran Emperor, Karajorma, Dekker, McCall, Admiral Wolf, mxlm, RedSniper, Stealth, Black Wolf...

 

Offline Stormkeeper

  • Interviewer Extraordinaire
  • 211
  • Boomz!
Re: Four Modellers of Four Mods [Warning: Image Heavy]
Heh.

Or you could ask me. :p
Ancient-Shivan War|Interview Board

Member of the Scooby Doo Fanclub. And we're not talking a cartoon dog here people!!

 

Offline asyikarea51

  • 210
  • -__-||
Re: Four Modellers of Four Mods [Warning: Image Heavy]
Great stuff. :)

Not mind-blowing or revelation-causing (whatever XD) to me but it's a nice insight into the things that don't appear "out front on the forums"...

GTF LOKI!!!! xD
Inferno plz
The Power of Nightmares
TheHound: "Nice idea, but I have a thing against announcing campaigns before having them already finished."
G5K: "The flipside of that is that if you don't announce your campaign, yet take too long to finish it, other people may independently come up with some of the same ideas."

 

Offline Snail

  • SC 5
  • 214
  • Posts: ☂
Re: Four Modellers of Four Mods [Warning: Image Heavy]
Or you could have BEEN THERE and PARTICIPATED.

Why don't you do that next time.
:(

 

Offline General Battuta

  • Poe's Law In Action
  • 214
  • i wonder when my postcount will exceed my iq
Re: Four Modellers of Four Mods [Warning: Image Heavy]
Great stuff. :)

Not mind-blowing or revelation-causing (whatever XD) to me but it's a nice insight into the things that don't appear "out front on the forums"...

GTF LOKI!!!! xD

I dunno, some of those ships blew my mind (or at least expectations of BWO).