Looking good! Nice geometry.

Going all the way (texturing, rendering) with this ?

A quick post of the progress:

As you could see, I started with the Mech Hangar. Thought it would be a quick job, but it turned out as a project on it's own

Because I don't have a clear thought on the camera angles I want the shot to render from, I build almost every seeable corner in quite some detail.
Also because I'm a perfectionist and don't know when enough is enough, especialy regarding detailing

But we keep on learning and in this model it is UV-mapping, texture and material usage and , dirtmapping and lighting.
The last one is still a conundrum to me, but I'm starting to see the light

Here some build shots

And here some UV-mapping and texturing results

It's is starting to look something when rendering
Just hoping the filesize won't bite me in the arse when nearing the end...I'm at 30% and filesize is 37 mb already

Great job again Iichi

I just have to finish some ideas I have and then I'll send it your way, inlcuding some reference photo's from wich I'm working off.

Just judge the whole model then and improve what you think that could be better

Don't let a 'faulty' PC beat the best of you and please don't stop modeling on this one!

Is the filesize too big? Is it your videocard?

There are some work-arounds to keep on modeling on larger builds when SU is working against you

I started with one already, oh impatient me

Had some time on my hands the last couple of days and made some progress already.
So before you go modeling like crazy please check my progress

Just let me know what you think!

Real good move on buying Elisei's e-books

And thx for the compliment!

Thx Novena!!

I'm using TheaRender

Awewome work!

Sweet model and shot

Immediate got a christmassy Pixar-feeling

I have the same difficulties with CurviLoft when trying to use it for such models. I too started using vertex tools/Artisan for this. Takes up some more time, but the results are way better, especialy file size/complexity

Vertex tools FTW

Nice renders and usage of a free plugin!

Love the night-shots

My only point of critisism would be the 'hard' edges in your model:
You get more realistic looking renders by rounding/beveling the corners. Not much, but just a bit.
Now al the corners look like sharpened knives, if you understand what I mean
When rounding the corners a bit, you get a more realistic transition of lightfall and reflections in corners, what gives a more even build up in colour-changes

If you want, I can make some examples to show in renders what I mean

Great improvement in ordening and minalizing of the faces/lines!

Was your firtst model build by using 'follow me' technique?

Thx dude!

As for the pivotpoints:
I made them with the intention to make this model a dynamic one.

I played with SketchyPhysics some time ago, but found it realy unstable, cause it crashed on me a lot. I don't know if I'm doing something wrong or it's just real buggy.

But I don't realy know if there is another program that could do the same trick. When the time arrives, I'll have to dig into that.

It could take up to a year before making it dynamic, though. I started this model with the intention to learn stuff I didn't use/know yet, like (static) animation, detailed texturing/material use and, in the end, making it dynamic

WOW!

What a progress you already made!
It's realy coming along nice

Love to see the progressions you're posting.

Made me a follower

@ Oli: Gave it a try the other day and it's fairly easy indeed!

Finaly round up the fine lining and rounding corners
Spent some times applying materials in TR and come to discover that I had to properly set the UV's to use the more detailed textures.

So made some renders with basic/even materials

Still looking for the right textures and learning texture-techniquse to get them applied correctly with the help of SketchUV and Roadkill.

Also started working on the enviroment a bit already, starting of with an interior scene,kinda of a large military storage/resupply room. Have some nice ideas on this one

What you think?

Coming along great

Do you use some reference of straight creative from the brain?

@ Liam: you know your MGS-stuff Have thouht of making a MG Ray one day, so maybe someday a nice MG stand off render will be reality.

As for your setting proposal: I'm game! The hangar has crossed my mind and already looked up some examples of weapons storage/launching facilities.
An exterior part of Shadow Moses also is a great idea, but I think Rex would look better in an enclosed envrioment...

As for your offer to help me: that would be great! And I can wait a month After all, I'm not in a hurry with this project and wan't to make it a masterpiece. What better then to collaborate with a master
Just let me know when you're up for it.

@ Solo: Never thought of that, but the huge contrast between object and enviroment in your proposal could work out epic! I will keep it in mind, maybe it would be a good starting point for me to learn instancing in TheaRender. Thx for your input!

@ iichiversii:
You never know, it could look absurdly awesome