Hard Light Productions Forums

Modding, Mission Design, and Coding => The Modding Workshop => Topic started by: Jake2447 on August 25, 2007, 12:22:46 pm

Title: First attempt at modeling
Post by: Jake2447 on August 25, 2007, 12:22:46 pm
This is my first ship I have modeled.  It was modeled completely in Truespace.  Please give some feedback ( I don't want to texture it if it sucks!).

 (http://www.imagehosting.com/out.php/i1063264_interceptor.jpg) (http://www.imagehosting.com)
Title: Re: First attempt at modeling
Post by: Mobius on August 25, 2007, 12:25:48 pm
Baby Vesuvius! :)
Title: Re: First attempt at modeling
Post by: Getter Robo G on August 25, 2007, 12:28:02 pm
First, few people have a "perfect" first model but no, it doesn't suck...

You got a good basic asymmetrical shape (not a big fan of that style but no big), but I would lower the guns you got on that wing a little (IMHO they look to near the top of that section, aim for the middle would look more balanced.

After that you get a basic UV-map done for it and then convert and do table data and you're done!

later on as your skill improves you can go back and refine different parts of it and make them more detailed (higher poly or just more definition like rounded or non-thick edges). Or later better res textures.

 :yes:

Title: Re: First attempt at modeling
Post by: Jake2447 on August 25, 2007, 12:32:05 pm
First, few people have a "perfect" first model but no, it doesn't suck...

You got a good basic asymmetrical shape (not a big fan of that style but no big), but I would lower the guns you got on that wing a little (IMHO they look to near the top of that section, aim for the middle would look more balanced.

After that you get a basic UV-map done for it and then convert and do table data and you're done!

later on as your skill improves you can go back and refine different parts of it and make them more detailed (higher poly or just more definition like rounded or non-thick edges). Or later better res textures.

 :yes:



The lower part of that wing is going to be a missile bank, so hopefully that balances it out.  The thing on the other side is also a missile bank.
About the asymmetrical aspect, I tried to keep it asymmetrical but still balanced.

By the way, I haven't learned about texturing yet.  Does anyone know any good tutorials?
Title: Re: First attempt at modeling
Post by: --Steve-O-- on August 25, 2007, 06:31:11 pm
not a bad start, better than the cube of death! i like the asymmetrical shape. keep tinkering with it, smooth out the sharp edges, and tweak the flat faces a bit and bobs your uncle. as far as texturing goes, considering your using TS here's a link to lithium unwrapper. i use it for all my mapping. it may look a little i dont know, confusing at first but its free so thats makes it worth it.
here's a link.

http://www.sharecg.com/v/5169/software-and-tools/LithUnwrap---Free-UV-Mapper-for-Windows

and here's a tutorial to get you started at least.

http://underworld.fortunecity.com/pacman/106/fs2mods/shipcreationguide/uvmappingyourmodelusinglu.html

other things you'll need if you havn't nabbed them already is PCS or PCS 2 (which is still beta, but usable and better than PCS 1), and an art program, like gimp. its kinda like photoshop but like lithium its free! also pick up like VPveiw, so you can export texture maps to TS for tiling and or butchering and reworking in gimp. i cant find a link to VPveiw right now...
it all really boils down to tinkering, trial and error, and practice. and ask questions! all these folks know their stuff and are willing to give pointers.


PCS link: http://freespace.volitionwatch.com/blackwater/pcs2.zip

Gimp Shop: http://www.gimpshop.com/




Title: Re: First attempt at modeling
Post by: Jake2447 on August 25, 2007, 07:11:20 pm
not a bad start, better than the cube of death! i like the asymmetrical shape. keep tinkering with it, smooth out the sharp edges, and tweak the flat faces a bit and bobs your uncle. as far as texturing goes, considering your using TS here's a link to lithium unwrapper. i use it for all my mapping. it may look a little i dont know, confusing at first but its free so thats makes it worth it.
here's a link.

http://www.sharecg.com/v/5169/software-and-tools/LithUnwrap---Free-UV-Mapper-for-Windows

and here's a tutorial to get you started at least.

http://underworld.fortunecity.com/pacman/106/fs2mods/shipcreationguide/uvmappingyourmodelusinglu.html

other things you'll need if you havn't nabbed them already is PCS or PCS 2 (which is still beta, but usable and better than PCS 1), and an art program, like gimp. its kinda like photoshop but like lithium its free! also pick up like VPveiw, so you can export texture maps to TS for tiling and or butchering and reworking in gimp. i cant find a link to VPveiw right now...
it all really boils down to tinkering, trial and error, and practice. and ask questions! all these folks know their stuff and are willing to give pointers.


PCS link: http://freespace.volitionwatch.com/blackwater/pcs2.zip

Gimp Shop: http://www.gimpshop.com/






Thanks.  I already have PCS and I have Gimp on my linux laptop (it crashed and i didn't have a win 95 reboot).  Texturing seems a little daunting.  By the way, I really like your models.  i had your fighter pac, but I uninstalled it due to some problems.
Title: Re: First attempt at modeling
Post by: --Steve-O-- on August 26, 2007, 01:00:30 pm
thanks...where the problems model related and if so what where they? i'm still bug hunting.
Title: Re: First attempt at modeling
Post by: Black Wolf on August 26, 2007, 01:42:24 pm
Looks Homeworldy. Not a bad thing, mind. Very simple, but also very good for a first model. Keep at it.
Title: Re: First attempt at modeling
Post by: Jake2447 on August 27, 2007, 03:40:53 pm
Looks Homeworldy. Not a bad thing, mind. Very simple, but also very good for a first model. Keep at it.

Thanks.  I didn't try to make it look Homeworldish (never played it).