Gearz
07-28-2007, 08:58 AM
Might as well dive right in and test the water..
This project was an opportunity to test my shiny new printer ~ Cannon ip4300 ~ my first foray into CMYK printing. (btb.. is it just mine/me, or do all four colour printers have difficulty printing 'Reds' ~ they seem to come out shades of brown? its really disappointing *there goes my Radiant VII)
The model below was a multi purpose test build for a series of models I'd like to develop from Freelancer. This particular vessel is a Rheinland 'Valkyrie' heavy Fighter. For those interested here's the wiki link to Freelancer (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Freelancer_%28computer_game%29)
Apart for the obvious ( I really like the design + OK printer.. lets see what you can do!!!) one of the aspects that I wanted to experiment with, was the windows.. Some of the amazing builds I've seen that incorporating clear windows/canopies, has inspired me to try to offer that option for some future models.
From a design point of view, I wanted to keep any build 'clear part option' in the simple basket. So a little modification was necessary on the cockpit. (Unnoticeable unless you were a die hard Freelancer gamer.) The first step was to modify the 3d mesh so that all of the 'Glass Panes' ~ resulting parts, would develop into single patterns, requiring only linear bends ?? clear as mud.??. i.e. no compound curves... Not really a method suitable for realism, but were only talking about spaceships here.. Anyway.. a fairly straight forward step in 3D
The next experiment was a complete disaster.. I thought if a builder didn't want a detailed cockpit but still wanted a cool 'glass effect' what was a method that anyone could use ( kitchen draw philosophy).. Due to my dusty dry environment, I usually give my models a light coat of clear automotive acrylic ~ You can guess where this is going! ~ Applying several coats of acrylic to the 'window' parts just made a goopy mess.. and Yep.. I'm slow on the uptake but it did finally dawn on me ~ Glossy paper...
Fortunaly my printer came with a small sample supply of glossy photo paper..errr.. 6'' x 4'' unfortunaley it was a little to thick ..perhaps 240 gsm ? around 110 ~150 would have been ideal..
So... Win and loss.. The simple pattern idea worked, options to build a full cockpit interior + with clear windows OR using the same patterns printed on gloss paper, you could have a neat glass effect.. To complete the experiment (for this particular model) I applied a texture to the patterns using screen caps from the Game. Sadly the quality of the shot doesn't do it justice, the reflection in the glass is of a Rheinland capitol ship + battle scene and lens flares, wrapped around the front and other side..
The idea still has a few bugs.. Although for a test build, I was pretty happy with the results..
Scale is indeterminate ~ Room for one pilot in the cockpit. Model length 30cm span 28cm
Oh yeah before anyone else points it out.. the funny looking 'spare tyre' thingy on the back is the reactor /power unit
http://i202.photobucket.com/albums/aa227/Gearz7/Freelancer/RheinlandValkyrie1.jpg
http://i202.photobucket.com/albums/aa227/Gearz7/Freelancer/RheinlandValkyrie2.jpg
:)
This project was an opportunity to test my shiny new printer ~ Cannon ip4300 ~ my first foray into CMYK printing. (btb.. is it just mine/me, or do all four colour printers have difficulty printing 'Reds' ~ they seem to come out shades of brown? its really disappointing *there goes my Radiant VII)
The model below was a multi purpose test build for a series of models I'd like to develop from Freelancer. This particular vessel is a Rheinland 'Valkyrie' heavy Fighter. For those interested here's the wiki link to Freelancer (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Freelancer_%28computer_game%29)
Apart for the obvious ( I really like the design + OK printer.. lets see what you can do!!!) one of the aspects that I wanted to experiment with, was the windows.. Some of the amazing builds I've seen that incorporating clear windows/canopies, has inspired me to try to offer that option for some future models.
From a design point of view, I wanted to keep any build 'clear part option' in the simple basket. So a little modification was necessary on the cockpit. (Unnoticeable unless you were a die hard Freelancer gamer.) The first step was to modify the 3d mesh so that all of the 'Glass Panes' ~ resulting parts, would develop into single patterns, requiring only linear bends ?? clear as mud.??. i.e. no compound curves... Not really a method suitable for realism, but were only talking about spaceships here.. Anyway.. a fairly straight forward step in 3D
The next experiment was a complete disaster.. I thought if a builder didn't want a detailed cockpit but still wanted a cool 'glass effect' what was a method that anyone could use ( kitchen draw philosophy).. Due to my dusty dry environment, I usually give my models a light coat of clear automotive acrylic ~ You can guess where this is going! ~ Applying several coats of acrylic to the 'window' parts just made a goopy mess.. and Yep.. I'm slow on the uptake but it did finally dawn on me ~ Glossy paper...
Fortunaly my printer came with a small sample supply of glossy photo paper..errr.. 6'' x 4'' unfortunaley it was a little to thick ..perhaps 240 gsm ? around 110 ~150 would have been ideal..
So... Win and loss.. The simple pattern idea worked, options to build a full cockpit interior + with clear windows OR using the same patterns printed on gloss paper, you could have a neat glass effect.. To complete the experiment (for this particular model) I applied a texture to the patterns using screen caps from the Game. Sadly the quality of the shot doesn't do it justice, the reflection in the glass is of a Rheinland capitol ship + battle scene and lens flares, wrapped around the front and other side..
The idea still has a few bugs.. Although for a test build, I was pretty happy with the results..
Scale is indeterminate ~ Room for one pilot in the cockpit. Model length 30cm span 28cm
Oh yeah before anyone else points it out.. the funny looking 'spare tyre' thingy on the back is the reactor /power unit
http://i202.photobucket.com/albums/aa227/Gearz7/Freelancer/RheinlandValkyrie1.jpg
http://i202.photobucket.com/albums/aa227/Gearz7/Freelancer/RheinlandValkyrie2.jpg
:)