Details Details

Okay, so while I'm working on the robot mode, I still need to worry about the alt mode and if it's ready to post online on a 3d marketplace.  I've looked at some that are available online and they're insanely more detailed than what I have here, but they aren't filling the low-poly game model market.  I'm hoping to go into that with my models, but still, I know I should still polish the model a bit.  So I'm posting more pictures of it to get some input on changes that need to be made and details that should be added.

Front view

Top view

Side view

Turret

 I'm planning on adding a few details on the turret here.  There are some canisters that go in the front on both sides of the barrel that need to be added, along with a small cage that goes around them.  I didn't show a back view of it because there isn't anything there - I need to add some windows onto it.  I'm not going to worry about the railing that goes above the barrel on the turret though.

Bumper

 I'm planning on rounding out the sides of the bumper here with some beveling.  I'm really trying to get rid of some of the sharper edges on the model.

Side panels

 No planned changes here, there's just not much detail on this part of the vehicle, except maybe a few metal slats on the big bumper here.

So what say you?  Is there anything else I'm missing?  Is it worth posting online?  Should I even bother?

Protofriday - Cold Feet

Since finishing the alt mode (though there are a few pieces I think I might go back and add on sometime), I've been working on cutting it apart and adding in the robot bits.  I started with the feet first since it quickly became apparent that my original idea for them wouldn't work.  And then the second idea wouldn't work.  And now the idea I'm going with kinda works, but still has it's problems.

As you might be able to see from this horrendous screen-grab, the section behind the front wheel folds down along the cockpit, the wheel folds back, the bump rotates and folds up and the foot assembly rotates out of the first section.... man, I'm having trouble keeping up with it and I made it myself.

The biggest problem that shows up is how absurdly small the foot will be.  For it to fit within the section behind the front wheel it needs to be very small and flat.  I've made toes and a heel that fold out but it's still so small I'm afraid it wouldn't be able to hold him up if it were a figure.  I don't like the joint system I'm using either, with the giant cog-thingees creating the ankle joint, and the huge pivot on the foot itself.

I'm thinking I'll revamp most of it, replacing the ankle system here with a normal ball-and-socket and extending the back of the foot out to allow for a bigger toe and heel.  Right now both of them rotate out, but I'll probably change them to sliding out so I can make them wider as well.

In all though, the feet are going to be damn small.  And unfortunately, I'm still learning with Lightwave and every change I make takes way too long.  I'm getting more comfortable with it though and hopefully more revamps will come about quicker.

Protosaturday - This Is It!

I'm done!  Honestly, it's a cross between "I've done as much as I can" with "I don't think I really care anymore".  I've done what I wanted to do though - create a very low-poly model vehicle that will be easy to convert to a robot model.  I'm not aiming for those highly-detailed Unicron Trilogy 3D and definitely not the hyder-detailed movie styles - I'm trying to stick with a Generation 1 asthetic.  I think this model fits pretty well within that criteria. 

Now from here, I've got two different directions I need to go with this model.  Everything else I model will go through both of these steps.

1. Texture this model with realistic colors.  Once it's all brown and green camo, I'll post it online as is for sale to other people wanting a very low poly model. 
2. Cut this guy up for transformation.

I'm not going to be posting step 1 on the blog though, instead focusing solely on step 2 here.  So next time you see this model, expect to see it in pieces!

Prototuesday - Almost Done

.... with the alt mode.  What, did you think this was just a regular vehicle?  Of course it's a Transformer!

So anyway, I'm almost done with vehicle mode here - with just a few changes to the turret and barrel.  Once that's done, I'll start cutting it apart and building the robot mode with the pieces!  

Protomonday - Closing In

Added a few more details to the front and messed with the turret.  Still need to do some more work on the body, then I'll finish up the turret, barrel, and add some tires.  I've actually taking this week off, so I'm hoping I'll make a lot of progress.  Of course, I've got a bunch of homework too, so we'll see how much that takes.

Protomonday - Another step or two

Took me a while, but I got back into Lightwave this week and made a few more things to the Rhino here.  Cut out the wheel wells, added some windows to the cockpit and a panel in front of it, and put the vents on the sides in front of the wheels.  Also corrected the rear of the turret and cut out the pivot for the barrel.  I would have done more, but Lightwave died on me after I did most of it but not before I could save it.  Of course.

Next step will be adding the lights/speakers/whatevers on the front section, then modding the turret on the sides of the barrel, which needs to be lower and have a few rounded covers added.  Hopefully, I can get that done tomorrow or Wednesday.

Protosunday - Getting There

Okay, so last I posted here, I was really pissed off at myself for going absolutely nowhere with the project.  I had hoped that in the new year I'd turn it around and really get stuff going.  It's almost a month later and I thought I'd get an update for you.

Shortly after the first of the year, I ordered a Lightwave training book and I've got through the first chapters and the more basic tutorials.  I'm only dealing with modeling for the time being.  I ditched the moonbase idea (thought the rocket I modeled earlier will still be useful to me) and have started on a different model.

It's coming along.  This is about 10 hours of modeling so far, what with fideling with all the controls and all.  It's a G6 Rhino self-propelled Howitzer.  Missing the wheels, of course.  I mainly picked it out because of all the sharp corners and flat surfaces.  There's a lot of work to be done on it before I'm ready to even surface it, which will take another couple of tutorials.

I'm slowly getting the hang of Lightwave.  I still forget to to deselect the modify tools before I try to select a different poly and I've accidentally moved way too much stuff and had to start over because I couldn't fix it.  But it's getting there.

Protofriday - Training

When I was in my first 3D modeling class in school, the final project I had to do was build a moonbase.  It included about 37 distinct structures and vehicles; a power plant, a med bay, a shuttle, etc.  It tested everything I had learned in the class up to that point; polygons, geometry, splines, bevels, again etc.  I got a B- on it. 


So now that I'm learning Lightwave, I've decided I'm going to do the same final project to learn everything I need to.  I don't remember everything that the first project required, but I'm making up a new list that will again have 37 different objects.  I've got a lot longer to finish it than my class offered, but I have to figure it all out, model and surface it by the end of the year.  So far I've made this rocket.

It's not much, but it was quick and helpful,  And I think it was a great starting point.  From now on, 3D updates like this will be posted on W3Dnesdays, and Protofriday will stick specifically with the Prototytan sketches, designs, and profiles.  Megatron Monday is on hiatus this week because of a vacation, but will be back next week as well.  So come back often and see how this is going.

Protofriday - Timeline

I think I've got a plan!  There's a lot of stuff for me to do and, luckily for me, there's not a little time to do it in.  I posted earlier about my asset list and everything I'll have to make up for the Prototytan Project; fourty-six robots, a half-dozen humans, a few sets, and a lot of props - and that's just for the first season.  But before I do all that, I still have to learn Lightwave.  It's not completely new since I'm transitioning from 3DS Max, but it's still taking some time before I get comfortable with it.  It's an uphill battle, though, because I'm stubborn and hate having to adjust to new things. 

I've looked at all the assets and I've figured out a timeline that I think will give me enough time to get everything modeled.  The timeline has a few steps; the first is the learning phase.  I'm giving myself til the end of the year to learn as much as I have to about Lightwave.  I'll go through a ton of tutorials, I'll model a bunch of junk, I'll mess with the materials, everything I can do to learn without feeling pressured to make a Prototytan just yet.  I don't want to start out trying to model Huffer or Reaper and just get frustrated when nothing's turning out right.  So I'll start out with toasters or rockets or whatever else I can think of.  Also during this time, I'll finalize the alt mode and design for all the robots.  There'll be lots of sketches here so hopefully I'll have a lot to post here.

The second step is the asset production.  As soon as it turns to 2011, I'm going to start modeling with a purpose.  I'm giving myself a long time - two years - to model everything I need.  I'll start with the robots and give myself 11 days to model and surface each one.  By the time that 11th day hits, I'll have a model of the alt mode ready to sell online, and have a fully transformable robot.  I measured this out and all together, it should take me 18 months.  That'll give me 6 months to model out everything else; the people, sets and props.  During this time, the Prototytan Project will have daily updates to keep me going.

The final thing I'll have to do before the deadline is get the first update ready to post online.  It's not a long one, I think just a few pages, but it has to be ready to go by January 1st, 2013.  That Tuesday is officially... Prototuesday!  Watch for it!

Waiting Game

Okay so I've got a few updates to post here.

1) Thanks again to my friend's amazing generosity, I'll be getting another computer soon. It's the computer he built to run Lightwave, so now that he's already given me the program, he figured he'd finish the package. I should be getting it soon and hopefully get back to working on Lightwave.

2) I've been accepted into TMCC so I'll be starting classes at the end of August. I should be okay money-wise until then, but once classes start, I'll be raking in the dough. I'm hoping to take some classes that can really help me on the Prototytan Project, and I'll be looking for a new job after that as well.

3) While I've been waiting on the first two to happen, I've made some good progress on the storyline, getting the first two dozen updates figured out. I haven't gotten into the scripting for them yet, but it's going to be awesome. I wish I could give some spoilers, but... I really don't have any. Come on, I can't start giving stuff away before I even have anything up!

Insignia

Just a quick render of the three insignias I'll be using. They're my first models in Lightwave and they definitely show. I'm still figuring out the cel-shader and you would not believe how long it took me just to figure out how to get the image files into 3D. So far this transition has been a lot harder that I thought it would be.

New Software = New Computer?

Last Friday I finally got my last wedding present from my friend Rich - Lightwave 3D. I wasn't prepared however to get the plethora of other programs, including Vue, Poser, BodyPaint, Acid and a few others. Nor was I expecting books on about every program and even some for programs I didn't even get. It was an awesome find and it's more than a little overwhelming. When it was just Lightwave, I thought I had a chance of putting it to good enough use so Rich thought it was worth it to give it to me, but all these programs? That's a lot to learn and try to use together. But I'll try.

There is however, one obstacle to learning practically everything, and that's this noisy little box next to my desk. My old computer, built from the carcasses or two even older computers, which runs okay when you're surfing the net or working in Word, but even Facebook games get it lagging. I've tried a little model in Lightwave and while it didn't freeze up, it was only a dozen polys. I'm scared to see it try a full-fledged Transformer model. This is not to mention the tiny monitor I have, I think it's only 15".

So obviously I need a new rig. I'm just thinking of going for a Dell Studio XPS and keeping it under $800 (not including the monitor of course). My wife just got a job (today's her first day to be precise), so we may be able to afford it. Here's hoping she had a good first day on the job.

Dongle!

There it is, the bane of my existence. My friend Rich had lost the dongle (teehee) used for Lightwave for quite a while and now he's finally found it. Of course, now he's got to send it out and I'm not sure how long that will take.

In the mean time, though, I've downloaded the trial version of Lightwave on my old desktop. First, I wanted to see if my cobbled-together desktop could handle a modeler program. So far it can, but I haven't made anything with more than a few dozen polys and I haven't tried rendering anything at all yet. Second, I need to try learning this stuff so when Rich does get Lightwave to me, I won't be totally in the dark. Unfortunately, I am having the hardest time learning this stuff, even with tutorial videos. I don't know what's wrong with me, Lightwave is set up so similarly to Max, but I am just not catching on. It's frustrating me to no end, and I can only watch videos for so long before I just give up.

This web-comic is going to take forever to make.