|
|
Matrix Phone
About Truespace Archives
These pages are a copy of the official truespace forums prior to their removal somewhere around 2011.
They are retained here for archive purposes only.
Matrix Phone // Work in Progress
Post by Breech Block // Oct 4, 2008, 2:09pm
|
Breech Block
Total Posts: 844
|
Thanks very much for all of your advice Wizard. I'd have never of thought that one really complex operation would be easier than several smaller ones. You have just made work on the opposing side's hand grip a heck of a lot easier. Thanks also for the tips on N-gons. You know it never ceases to amaze me that the more and more you use trueSpace, the more and more you discover just how much you don't know. And I mean that in a good way as it means that I'm constantly improving. Thanks again. |
Post by W!ZARD // Oct 4, 2008, 8:57pm
|
W!ZARD
Total Posts: 2603
|
You know it never ceases to amaze me that the more and more you use trueSpace, the more and more you discover just how much you don't know.
Chuckle! "Zen and the Art of trueSpacing"!. I sometimes think that if people knew just how much there is to learn about 3d graphics before they started learning they'd say no thanks and reach for the nearest pencil!:D
One of the best things about it though is the pleasure of sharing what you've learned. |
Post by Breech Block // Oct 18, 2008, 4:53pm
|
Breech Block
Total Posts: 844
|
It's been quite a while since I updated this thread and that's despite the fact I have been working on the project for at least 2 hours every day since my last post. Unfortunately, the reason for the lack of updates is that there has been nothing worthwhile showing as the hand grips continue to prove almost impossible to complete. With my having to resort to Point Edit mode instead of Boolean Subtraction to finish the extraction of the grooves from the main model of the grip, the time and effort needed to complete the task went through the roof. And then, when the final groove was finally completed, the test renders revealed that a lot of the geometry had somehow become reversed. Thereafter, the mesh proved impossible to correct. Deleting faces, reversing normals, fix geometry, hollowing out blocks and subtracting them and even exporting\importing all failed to correct the errors. So basically I decided to start over again. This time I followed Wizard's advice and attempted the Boolean Subtraction as just one operation, but alas only about half of the grooves took with the rest just completely disappearing. After numerous failed attempts I eventually decided to split the model in to 2 pieces. In addition, instead of trying to subtract the grooves from the main grip, I've decided to add them and then just get rid of the extra bits via Point Edit mode. So far, it appears to be working as I have now managed to complete the top part of the grip (which is the most complex) with no trouble whatsoever. The other part of the grip is a lot simpler and hopefully will be just as easy. Then its just a case of trying to join the to halves together. |
Post by noko // Oct 18, 2008, 7:50pm
|
noko
Total Posts: 684
|
Looking good! Seems like you figured out the obsticles for this model. For me I've found WS booleans superior over modeler booleans and wondered if you tried there? Anyways I now model everything in WS unless I want to do a nurbs model. |
Post by Breech Block // Oct 20, 2008, 4:01pm
|
Breech Block
Total Posts: 844
|
Thanks Noko, for both the praise and the advice. :)
Doh! - It never even occured to me to try some of the operations in WS and it's very intresting to note that you have found booleans more superior on that side. That is certainly something I will bear in mind for the rest of this project. Thanks again. |
Post by Breech Block // Oct 21, 2008, 3:56pm
|
Breech Block
Total Posts: 844
|
Well, after what seems an absolute age, at long last I have finished one of the hand grips. Modelling the second half of the grip was relatively straight forward and joining the 2 pieces together only required about 10 mins in PE mode to tidy up the seam. Hopefully, I will have time tomorrow to will work on the fixing screws, receiver release button and the button's chrome collar and then that should see the right side totally complete. As I have stated before, the grip on the other side is slightly different so unfortunately I will not be able to just mirror it. |
Post by robert // Oct 21, 2008, 4:07pm
|
robert
Total Posts: 609
|
This project was going to be another one of my (non competitive) entries into the Iconic Movie Prop SMC. But after several false starts and a couple of hours in, I realised it wasn't going to be anywhere near ready or even worthy of putting on show...
Clearly this project demands something extra, look how long it has been so far! Your doing an amazing job, I don't think I've ever been so dedicated to a single project before. Keep going you're almost there! |
Post by Breech Block // Oct 22, 2008, 12:23pm
|
Breech Block
Total Posts: 844
|
Thanks very much for the encouragement robert it is really appreciated. I must admit, this project had turned in to a bit of a grind of late especially with all the problems I was suffering. That said, today, with the hand grip problems now behind me, I actually enjoyed my modelling session this evening and its been quite a while since I could say that.
Not a great deal done this evening, just the screw heads that attach the grip to the main body, the button that allows the earpiece to pop out and the chrome collar that goes around said button. The collar did prove a tad difficult and I had a couple of restarts on that but I'm really pleased with the way it turned out in the end.
You know, I can't help but feel that when I eventually marry these hand grips up with the main body they are really going to add some impact. Fingers crossed. |
Post by MikeJoel // Oct 22, 2008, 3:21pm
|
MikeJoel
Total Posts: 266
|
Very nice. Looks like this is really going to be a great model.
Glad to hear it is fun again lol.
Mike |
Post by robert // Oct 22, 2008, 4:11pm
|
robert
Total Posts: 609
|
The grips look almost like half of a lightsaber.;) |
Post by TomG // Oct 23, 2008, 4:46am
|
TomG
Total Posts: 3397
|
A lightsaber phone? A whole new meaning to talking your ear off!
Tom |
Post by robert // Oct 23, 2008, 8:52am
|
robert
Total Posts: 609
|
A lightsaber phone? A whole new meaning to talking your ear off!
Tom
Haha, lol.:p That was good.:D |
Post by Breech Block // Oct 25, 2008, 4:06pm
|
Breech Block
Total Posts: 844
|
Very nice. Looks like this is really going to be a great model.
Glad to hear it is fun again lol.
A lightsaber phone? A whole new meaning to talking your ear off!
Thanks Mike and lol, nice 1 Tom.
Just did a whole load of tidying up today, making sure all the joins were just so and that all the edges were nice and straight. The opposing Handgrip is just a straight mirror at the moment but I reckon I will be able to make the new one (it doesn't have the power connection slot and has a locking slide for the battery compartment) by slicing and dicing the one I have already made. Then its on to the textures. |
Post by robert // Oct 25, 2008, 4:12pm
|
robert
Total Posts: 609
|
Whohohoa, that thing looks pretty sweet!:cool: Too bad it doesn't function well realistically,:( but then again who cares.:p |
Post by Breech Block // Oct 26, 2008, 5:57pm
|
Breech Block
Total Posts: 844
|
Thanks robert, I can always rely on you for some words of encouragement.
Well, after the all the trouble I had modelling the first hand grip, I was really tempted to just leave the left side grip as a straight mirrored copy. I mean, no one is ever going to see the other side, right? But in the end I decided I would give it a quick bash and amazingly, today I managed to completly finsh the second handgrip in a single session. Tomorrow I'm just going to add a few minor details to the main unit such as the battery cover and then that should mark the end of the modeling stage for this project. Whoopee!
Below is a picture of the 2 finished hand grips that show how they differ from each other. |
Post by Breech Block // Oct 28, 2008, 3:46pm
|
Breech Block
Total Posts: 844
|
Phew, that's the all the detailing on the back finally done! What's more, I believe that now concludes the modelling stage of this project; unless of course anyone can spot any omissions/errors. |
Post by robert // Oct 28, 2008, 3:47pm
|
robert
Total Posts: 609
|
None that I can spot, looks good.:) |
Post by Breech Block // Oct 28, 2008, 6:13pm
|
Breech Block
Total Posts: 844
|
Thanks very much Robert. Here is a (roughly aligned) side by side shot of my model against one of my reference photos. I can see quite a few errors now that were not apparent from the plan view I was using inside truespace to help me make the model. Still, bearing in mind this is my first attempt at a seriously detailed model, I think I got fairly close. Plus, I'm hoping that once I apply some shader work it will help bring the likeness a bit closer. |
Post by Nez // Oct 29, 2008, 12:30am
|
Nez
Total Posts: 1102
|
That's looking great Breech, realy cool to see how you've persevered....
As you say, there's a few very minor differences that are visible with the side by side comparison, but they are really very minor and I'm not convinced they contribute signifcantly to the overall appearance, so it's up to you how paranoid you want to get about re-working areas.
I'm looking forward to seeing some texturing/lighting to see if I can get some good ideas from you! :D |
Post by Weevil // Oct 29, 2008, 3:58am
|
Weevil
Total Posts: 534
|
There's only one minor difference I see and that's the keys are slightly closer together and slightly bigger on yours.
And that can easily be fixed once the textures are on, beside that it may just be because it's unpainted |
Post by MikeJoel // Oct 29, 2008, 6:10am
|
MikeJoel
Total Posts: 266
|
That is excellent work breech.
From what I can see the minor differences don't really effect the look.
That is a lot of precise detail.
Time to texture! :banana:
Mike |
Post by blakeo // Oct 29, 2008, 1:25pm
|
blakeo
Total Posts: 214
|
This is very good stuff Breech - superb model.
The minor differences are just that when you put them side by side - I wouldn't worry too much :) Looking forward to a beauty render of this one.
B |
Post by Breech Block // Oct 30, 2008, 2:04pm
|
Breech Block
Total Posts: 844
|
That's looking great Breech, realy cool to see how you've persevered....
Thanks very much Nez. Okay, so I might be able to make a half decent copy of something, but what I wouldn't give to be able to come up with some of your amazing and original designs.
That is excellent work breech. From what I can see the minor differences don't really effect the look. That is a lot of precise detail.
Cheers Mike. Nice to see you back in the forums again. I kinda missed your input and the updates you place in your own threads.
This is very good stuff Breech - superb model. Looking forward to a beauty render of this one.
Thanks a lot blakeo and hopefully you won't have to wait to long – although I can already feel myself being drawn in by this weeks SMC. :D
There's only one minor difference I see and that's the keys are slightly closer together and slightly bigger on yours.
Thanks Weevil. I took a closer look at the whole keypad area and rectified a couple of errors that had somehow crept in. For example, the top 5 keys sit in a lower recessed area than the rest and I had not adjusted the height of the respective keys. I also managed to figure out that all the keys on the real phone sit a lot deeper into the body than mine do. So thanks to your observation, I think I'm a lot closer to the mark now.
Also, a special thanks to TomG for his very kind comments on Eagle's “Did everyone leave” thread. |
Post by splinters // Oct 30, 2008, 2:31pm
|
splinters
Total Posts: 4148
|
That is a lovely model Breech but that phone design really has dated...:p
Looking forward to the final render!! |
Post by Shonner // Oct 30, 2008, 7:26pm
|
Shonner
Total Posts: 3
|
Nicely done! |
Post by Steinie // Oct 31, 2008, 1:52am
|
Steinie
Total Posts: 3667
|
Fantastic Modeling work! I don't have the patience you exhibited or the skills. Nice to see that around here. |
Post by Breech Block // Nov 6, 2008, 4:34pm
|
Breech Block
Total Posts: 844
|
Sorry for the slow response gents, but have been away for a wee while.
That is a lovely model Breech but that phone design really has dated...
Thanks for the compliment Splinters. As for the design being really dated, what can I say, it was in fashion when I started, I'm just a really, really slow modeler. :D
Nicely done!
Thanks Shonner, glad you like it.
Fantastic Modeling work! I don't have the patience you exhibited or the skills. Nice to see that around here.
Cheers Steinie, much appreciated although I can't say I agree with your view on your lack of skills. I thought your Castle MMC entry was pretty terrific. |
Post by Dragneye // Nov 8, 2008, 7:09pm
|
Dragneye
Total Posts: 602
|
Beautiful work Neo :)
Now... you are ready. |
Post by Breech Block // Nov 9, 2008, 6:15am
|
Breech Block
Total Posts: 844
|
Thanks very much Dragneye and nice to see you about the forums again. |
Post by Breech Block // Nov 14, 2008, 3:18pm
|
Breech Block
Total Posts: 844
|
After doing all the keypad textures by hand, I found they didn't look quite right on extreme close-ups and ended up redoing them in all in a higher res and with a new font that I found that is almost an exact match. After a couple of final mods to the keypad area its finaly starting to come together. |
|
