[Unknown Target]

You have to select what you want to group, right click, and make it a group. That'll make it a sub-object in the heirarchy. Components are different - basically they allow you to copy one subobject over and over and when you edit one of them, it edits all of the others. As for the program; it's powerful, but you have to just hide some of the more complex mesh parts when you're working. It's a downside, but worth it IMO.

If anyone here needs help with using Sketchup for making game models, I've got experience with it, I can help you Also, another word of warning - all those little greebles should be made into subobjects before you export (you can make the greebles one object). The reason being is that when you draw on a face and then push/pull it out, you're basically drawing an extrusion, which eats up polies like you wouldn't believe. When you group them and remake the face without the extrusion, it saves lots of polies.

[BrotherBryon]

Thanks UT, any advice you can give is most appreciated. I suppose I should go back and start grouping things. Would you group anything you used the push/pull tool on (Used very heavily in this model) or just where there is a lot of detail? This will be the first model I attempt to put in game, if I can figure everything out. Maybe I should start with something a little simpler, like a flying box just to make sure I get the mechanics right. Anyway here is another updated pic. Every time I take a step back and then come back to it later I end up adding a bunch of detail.

[attachment deleted by ninja]

[colecampbell666]

That is an almost exact replica of the Aggressor for FoC.

Very nice!

[Cobra]

That is an almost exact replica of the Aggressor for FoC.

Very nice!

Yeah right, it looks like the Dreadnought from Homeworld 2.

[BrotherBryon]

This thing is eventually going to need a name, and no I'm not calling it the GTC Bast**d.

On a more serious note. After I finish grouping sub-objects is there anything else I should do before trying to convert? Also it looks like I'm going to have a good number of sub-objects, is that a good or bad thing?

[spartan_0214]

Personally, I'd 86 the wings...

[BrotherBryon]

When you group them and remake the face without the extrusion, it saves lots of polies.

I take it I'm going to have to recreate all these faces

[Unknown Target]

Well if the polycount is low enough as is and you're not obsessive, you don't necessarily have to I might do it with some of the more complex objects though (like any of the rounded bits), just to save some extra polies.

[BrotherBryon]

Hmm Truespace crashes every time I try to import it. Didn't have that problem before I did the grouping, so something is wrong.

[Unknown Target]

Make sure that you remade your faces underneath the grouped objects - hide the grouped object and make sure the face below it is a flat plane (sometimes it stays the same as before you grouped it, so it has the outline of the extruded shape still in it).

[BrotherBryon]

Sorry I've been away for a while, real life has been rather busy lately. I can export the model with all the groups hidden but if I export it with the groups unhidden truespace chokes on it. Once I get it into truespace is there any thing I need to do with it or do I just convert it to cob and use other programs for mapping? Truespace seems like it may be a bit difficult to learn so I may not have the time to mess with it further for a while.

[Unknown Target]

You can actually use Sketchup to map if you'd like, I have a tutorial SKP file that I made on how to do it, if you'd like.

[Hellstryker]

How about the GTC Bast*rd Child?

[BrotherBryon]

You can actually use Sketchup to map if you'd like, I have a tutorial SKP file that I made on how to do it, if you'd like.

That would be great

I got a week from hell this week as far as schooling goes but no classes next week so maybe I can spend some time on this.

[Hellstryker]

Lets start thinking of names though, seriously 

[Cobra]

Halcyon?

[Hellstryker]

Eh, could work. I'd say Etain, but thats already taken for a top secret project... i've already said too much 

[Mefustae]

Halcyon?

Perpetual Noob

Looking for names, eh? Just use one of the Titans. They've got power, history, and they all sound really cool.

[Cobra]

Halcyon sounds good to me.

[Unknown Target]

So did that tutorial help any?