3rd Venator Cruiser!

Week 5

Just a quick update with pictures of my 3rd Venator Star Destroyer Cruiser. This is by far the most complex and time consuming model I have created so far, but I feel like it has come out really well for a 3rd attempt. Each time I create a newer version I feel I improve on using the software. This model has more detail than my previous two, but is lacking finer, smaller details. I modelled its turrets and engines seperately and then imported them into the Venators scene.

Engines

Back View

Turrets and Hanger

What may be hard to see in these screenshots is the angles of the ship. The Venator is quit tilted, and the back end is alot thicker than the front. It took some time to get the proportions correct, but I feel this attempt has them pretty accurate. I will use this model as a base template for my final model.

Y-Wing and Vulture Droid - Model Progression

Week 4

This week I started modeling my other two ships, as I felt I had spent alot of time on the Venator and needed to try my other two choices. I quickly made a basic, 1st draft of both ships, seen below. Both are realtively easy to model in a basic format, the shapes being very simple too and I found this to do with ease.

Y-Wing Front

Y-Wing Back

Vulture Droid Draft

I made these two drafts with visual references. There aren't that many good pictures of the Vulture droid, but I found plenty for the Y-Wing. 

In this weeks lecture Steve showed us how to import 'blueprints' and reference images into Max itself, in order to create more scaled and realisticly shaped objects. This was done by using the lign tool and simply dragging a image onto a plane object. I then used this technique on my 2nd Y-Wing, seen below.

As you can see, this one is more detailed, as I included details such as the turret, the R2 unit, more detail on the struts on the engine cylinders and the overall shape of the starship. Since the basic shape of the Y-WIng has been made on this version, I might use it as a template for my final model.

3DS Max Practice

Week 3

This week we were intorduced to more features and techniques of 3DS Max, making use of tools like the Align, Mirror and Splines, and how these cna be used to quickly and accurately recreate a model. Also learnt how to insert segments and polys onto an exsisting shape. Mario also showed us how to import a reference image into Max to work from, something I found highlyuseful in getting the shape of my Venator correct and in proportion.

1st Attempt at a Venator Class Star Destroyer

In this weeks practical we had a been set a simple house building task, something I completed fairly quickly and with no real differculty, before I went on to keep practicing my Ventator building skills. Below is my 2nd attempt at the Venator, and as you can see, it is more detailed and shaped much better than my first attempt at the ship. I think for now I will start practicing a different ship, such as the Y Wing, and then when I make another Venator, start adding in more minimal details (such as turrets and antenna) refine the body shape as well as I can to prehaps use as a basis for my final model.

Getting Started with 3DS Max

Week 2

I have some basic experience with 3DS Max from last year, going as far as being able to create, move resive and create basic shapes and models. The majority of the lecture for me was a nice refresher, and I also picked up on new things, such as the grid snap function.

In this weeks practical I started to play with these new features, reminding myself of what I already knew, and also teaching myself on how to add vertices to an edge, something which proved really helpful. I started to model a really rough Imperial Star Destroyer, using all of the various basic techniques.

As you can see it is a very very basic model, but I think it is still clear on what it is. While I was making it, I learned plenty of new things, so the next time I make a model, I am sure it will be even better.

Above is my research board, and it shows the 3 ships I wish to model for my animation. In the top left I have chosen the Venator Class Star Destroyer (AKA The Republic Cruiser). In the top right, a standard Vulture Droid class Starfighter, and lastly in the bottom left, a classic Y-Wing. I must admit it was hard to narrow down just 3 from the entire Star Wars universe but I chose these for mainly two reasons. One because I personally like the ships, and two, I think the designs should be simple enough to re create at my skill level with 3DS Max. The link above the middle Venator is a link to a album of photos of someone building a model kit of the ship, and should be great for references.

My next task will be to start on my story boards, as I have a basic idea of how I want my animation to play out.