United3dArtists Archive

As a big Gerry Anderson fan, I thought I'd have a bit of fun and make a small animation that pays tribute to his work. So digging through my hard drive I managed to dig up the Thunderbird 4 model I made for the August SMC last year. I could hardly believe my eyes at how gruesome it looked. Yet I was really pleased with it a mere 10 months ago. Guess that's a tribute to all the SMC's/MMC's and community help I have been given over the last year. Anyhows, I just about rebuilt it from scratch. Here is a wireframe comparison between the 2 models.

For any Gerry Anderson fans out there, I read recently he is currently negotiating to buy the rights to Thunderbirds (he doesnt own the Intelectual Property rights to any of his work) after Jonathan Frakes disasterous effort a few years ago. And, what could be really exciting, is that his hit series UFO is to get a big budget Hollywood treatment with Gerry onboard as an advisor. Can't wait for that to hit the screen.

Cool stuff, Breech. I'm always impressed with your work. The original wasn't bad at all, but the new one is top notch!

Be great to see these textured and rendered (in YafaRay ) too.

Thanks a lot Jack. You too MadMouse. Yeah, I think I'm finally starting to get the hang of SDS at long last. Can't say as I particularly like the way tS implements it as it seems to add an awful lot of geometry; which I subsequently have to hack out once I have converted the model back to polygons. I have reinserted the model back in to an enhanced version of the original SMC scene, with correct volumetrics and a story element added in the canopy's reflection. Although how clear that will be to the casual observer I have no idea. I have put a hi-res render in my on-line gallery, which can be found by following the link in my signature block.

So, 1 down another 4 to go. Talk about creating a rod for my own back.

very nice indeed BB, reminds me of that air taxi Bruce Willis drove in Fifth Element :)

Your matrix phone is on 3D Artist's top rated images page!
http://www.3dartistonline.com/pics_toprated.php"

Great Thunderbirds picture. The lights in the water effect is cool.

theuns wrote:very nice indeed BB, reminds me of that air taxi Bruce Willis drove in Fifth Element

Thanks theuns. Ahh, The Fith Element, now their was a cool movie. The Air Taxi would be a great model to do although the texture work would be a real challenge.

Finis wrote:Your matrix phone is on 3D Artist's top rated images page!
http://www.3dartistonline.com/pics_toprated.php"

Great Thunderbirds picture. The lights in the water effect is cool.

Wahoo! Yeah, that image was largly being ignored but seems to be catching people eye of late.

Must admit I was quite pleased with the TB4 lighting myself. Considering the water is just a backplate, you really do get the feeling the model is submerged.

my texturing skills is very limited, i need to spend more time on it, but i hardly have time to do modeling at the moment so that will have to wait...

saw the matrix phone, was a very well done image :)

Nicely Done, Both the phone and the Vehicle.

Rely nice work Breach Block.. As I loked at the wire frame comparison.. Somehow It reminded me of a fine wine getting better with time... You know when wine is ageing they say it's working.. And it is clear you have been working hard at your skills as well.

Cheers
ranger0101

Thanks Karthogen, glad you liked them both.

Cheers Ranger01011 - ref the hard work, add a lot of community support as well.

Err...thought I'd better post an update here just in case anybody was wondering how this project was faring. Well, having decided that the models in the movie will have a more modern look about them, as opposed to the original TV series spanky new and clean look, I found that I really needed to try and teach myself how to texture a model properly (as opposed to my usual paint face approach). So the last month or so, I have mainly been spending my time reading manuals and getting to grips with layers, brushes and opacity settings and hence progress on the project has slowed to a bit of a crawl.

Here is a very early WIP of the textured model with some parts clearly untouched as yet.

As always, great work. I don't recall if I ever saw the show or not. I am probably thinking of Thundercats.

Reading manuals....I've heard of that. Can't say I've ever done it myself though. Sounds like a good idea!

Looks good, I have been having my own learnigns experiences with texturing, and I am finding the texturing to be more difficult than the model itself. To get things right, with layers, masks etc.... Keep it up it looks really good, I would like to see how it all comes together.

Awesome textures! How come this forum has no "like" button!?