[Getter Robo G]

The Cube of Death(TM), it mocks me... (ok, not that badly. But first time around it did!) 

  Good luck with that, you never know. We rarely get a new person on board who says "this is my first model" and it makes me want to kill myself. If you are one of these "genetically one with the polygons" then more power to you!

If not, then you'll live and learn. Snail you were right to provide caution, but don't beat newbies over the head. It's his time and energy to spend. 

[Snail]

Wait a minute, I am already doing the Colossus remastering.

Hades, next time tell everyone you are, so that GE doesn't come and say "HAMMERTIME" again.

[Grizzly]

..if you really want to make the C then I look forward to seeing it.

Snail, what did I tell you on MSN?

This is FreeSpace 2: Colossus, we need an upgraded model.

Ehrm, no. Collussus was just the promotional version of Freespace 2 that shipped with the logitech joysticks and ended with the mission with Rear Admiral Koth.

[Snail]

Ehrm, no. Collussus was just the promotional version of Freespace 2 that shipped with the logitech joysticks and ended with the mission with Rear Admiral Koth.

Confirmed. It is.

[Vasudan Admiral]

To address the original question of the thread; how to get a POF into Blender:

1) Download and unzip PCS2 from here: http://freespace.volitionwatch.com/blackwater/pcs2.zip
2) Open up the model you want to convert and then Save As a truespace COB file.
3) Using 3D Exploration (From here: http://homepage.ntlworld.com/karajorma/FAQ/Downloads/3DExplorer_v181.rar) open up the COB file and then save it as a Wavefront OBJ file with the following settings: "Generate material file (*.mtl)" and "Store links to existing files"
4) In Blender, go to File>Import>Wavefront OBJ and open up your file with the following settings: Don't create FGons and don't separate by material. The rest shouldn't matter too much but feel free to experiment there.

Keep in mind this will also convert all the LODs and debris stuff too - not just detail0, so it probably will look like a bit of a mess.

===

Now having said all that, I'm going to go with Snail and Unknown Target in suggesting you try something a lot simpler than the Colossus to begin with. The big C is a monster ship and will be a nightmare to high-poly up to a good standard. It's a very bland model with no good direction that can be taken to pretty it up - and that's just the model.
The large number of textures it uses combined with the large number of turrets already means it runs a good deal slower in-game than most big HTL models out already. As such it should really be UV mapped and heavily detail-boxed so it can reach both it's visual and performance best. Adding a bit of detail and applying the same textures won't be anywhere near enough.

So rather than do that, I'd highly recommend following Snails advice and start with a fighter.(I'd advise against doing the GreatBigCube actually because it is just so boring that it gives no sense of accomplishment even if it all goes perfectly first time. )

It's a nice and simple starting point from which you can work your way up to bigger and far more impressive things. It also encourages you to learn UV mapping and texture painting techniques early on so you can skip the texture-tiling stage of development alltogether.

Doing this means your models will look far better and run far more efficiently than they would if tiled.

[Grizzly]

Ehrm, no. Collussus was just the promotional version of Freespace 2 that shipped with the logitech joysticks and ended with the mission with Rear Admiral Koth.

Confirmed. It is.

Since when has my information to be confirmed?

[polnarG]

Thanks for your straight to the point answer VA. Do you think I should start from scratch or take the existing model first ?
I understand that even going to a detailed untextured big ship is quite a big job but still I want to try this first : I am a little bit stubborn. If things go wrong, I will have to blame my stubborness and start with a fighter, or a missile ? 

Hades, are you really working on it ? If so where are you on this project so far ?

[Vasudan Admiral]

I admire your stubbornness then - if you really want to jump in the deep end and try it, by all means have a go.
Setting a very difficult goal for yourself is a great way to achieve the best you can I find.

As to how to go about it, I would recommend that you begin by modifying the original.
This probably won't become your final one because working with an existing model is very tricky - especially for a beginner. I'll say right off also: totally ignore textures for now. Don't worry about them at all and concentrate 100% on getting a feel for modeling, because Blender handles textures kinda weirdly and it will more than likely just hinder your modeling at this stage.

So yeah, just try adding all sorts of bits and pieces to the model. Start with something like antennae, move on to things like squarish extrusions, cutting recessed areas, pipes here and there and just keep on adding complexity to what you do until you're able to 'spruce up' just about any existing surface.

That's a good way to get into the feel of greebling, and will give you a lot of what you'd need to build basic hull structure. Later on, you'll probably find the existing model too time consuming and limiting in what you can modify, and at that point I'd recommend starting from scratch.
From there you'd use the original model as a shape guide while you construct a more complex basic hull mesh. This is what I did with the lucifer and it turned out ok-ish, but I learned a huge amount from it.

And actually - that's the key to modeling really - treat every model as a learning experience and you'll find you can soon model any shape you can think of, and even a lot that you can't

If you have questions, need help, tutorials, advice or anything I'd be happy to give it.

[Grizzly]

I understand that even going to a detailed untextured big ship is quite a big job but still I want to try this first : I am a little bit stubborn. If things go wrong, I will have to blame my stubborness and start with a fighter, or a missile ? 

how about the drone? or was it already HTL'ed?

[akenbosch]

no, it wasnt. but im sure it would just be some beveling and greebling to make it look more like a drone and less like a bad nose job...

[Mobius]

Ehrm, no. Collussus was just the promotional version of Freespace 2 that shipped with the logitech joysticks and ended with the mission with Rear Admiral Koth.

I know, I know....

But FS1 was about the Great War...FS2 is about the Colossus. That's why an improved model is, uhm, "needed"

[Snail]

But FS1 was about the Great War...FS2 is about the Colossus. That's why an improved model is, uhm, "needed"

It's not about the Colossus. It's about the Second Great War.

[Mobius]

No, the Second Great War started later during the main FS2 campaign

And you can't exclude the importance of the Colossus, that's basically the ship which put an end to the rebellion and destroyed the Sathanas.

[akenbosch]

didnt the GTVA hate the ntf just because the NTF didnt want a vasudan-terran aliance?

stupid command


besides, im sure 4 deimos corvettes could be used angainst the collosus and win.

[Hades]

.....
4 Diemos' would get killed easy by the Colossus.The Colossus can take about 20 Diemos' and live.

[Mobius]

didnt the GTVA hate the ntf just because the NTF didnt want a vasudan-terran aliance?

Ehm....so? It has nothing to do with the Colossus being the main "character" of FS2.

[Snail]

besides, im sure 4 deimos corvettes could be used angainst the collosus and win.

The Colossus can defeat 6 Orions. I've tried.

[Hades]

Oh yea here is the Colossus i was doing-

[Snail]

Hmm... i think that it would need a lot more detail than just beveling, IMO.

[Hades]

Extruding.