United3dArtists Archive

The strangest things have happened to me lately. First of all, do you guys ever get bored working with 3D/trueSpace? Lately I've been getting a bit bored with everything, even gaming.

So I was thinking, maybe I should do something that isn't in the computer.
Bionicles came to mind right away, I love building Bionicles whether it's in 3D or real life. The thing is, I've been building quite a few Bionicles lately and I'm kinda out of parts. If I want to build new stuff, I gotta take apart models from my "official" collection and I hate doing that. I'm also to low on funds to go buying a lot of spare Bionicles/Bionicle parts online. So no Bionicles/Lego either then.

Then I thought of something else, something I've been wanting to do since I was a kid but never really got anywhere. Model RC aircrafts. You know, little electric (some are actually fuel-powered but w/e) aircraft you steer with remote controls. Now that's only part of the plan, the original part of the plan came to me a couple of days ago, I wanted to build a real life working version of one of my custom-designed aircraft, in this case I decided to go for my V-700 fighter. Due to me not being a billionaire I can't just build a full scale replica and so I got the idea to build a miniature prototype instead, besides, that's how they develop real life aircraft anyway.
I realize that some changes in design may or may not have to be made and that it will hardly be an easy task since I have no experience whatsoever building real-life models of things (unless your talking Lego). I did make a papercraft model of Tali from the Mass Effect games a couple of months ago, that lead me to a program called Pepacura Designer (or somesuch) that "unfolds" a paper model of a 3D model which you can then print out and put together, I could try that to start with. Then maybe if the design proves itself maybe I can actually get a proper 3D print of the model and strap some small jet-engines to it. But now I'm getting ahead of myself, let's just start at the beginning. I have already ordered a simple (cheap) RC-model of an F18 Hornet that I'm going to use to get familiar with flying model aircraft. It also has a somewhat similar design to my V-type fighter, more so than your average sport aircraft anyway.

Do any of you have any specific non-3d hobbies? Maybe anyone has tried something like this before? I remember Tommy had some experience with aircraft.

Well ok then, that's it for this random post. If you read through all I just wrote, then I'm so sorry.

Well, I'm an old dude so I did and do genealogy as a hobby - since the mid 1970s.

The more I got into it, the more I discovered I had to know about history and espeicially the local history of the area I was studying. This took me on many trips, from anything to cemetaries to the basements of State archives. I had corresponce with hundreds of people and met many on the road. In the process I've gotten a civil war diary of my second great grandfather and many original photographs, letters and even personal items.

It's not for everyone as it can be consuming in time and resources. But, I enjoy it.

An added advantage of knowing graphics is that you can help people out with making maps of their old homestead and in some case help them make a video of their family.

Every person that is involved in an activity will find their interest wax and wane, particularly if it is a solitary endeavour. Being part of a team sharing a common goal can be an effective modulator. Sometimes though, we all need to take a break by doing something completely different .... the old saying "a change is as good as a rest" comes to mind.

Back when I was working, no matter how late I came home, I would sit with my daughter in her room and play with duplo blocks and read her a book after. That was enough for me to recharge my batteries for the next day. Other than that I cook. I am working on perfecting my bbq and cajun/southern cooking techniques.

My suggestion would be that whatever you decide to do to give your mind a rest is that it be something far from the skill set you use for 3D. Collect stamps, take up cooking, become a wine connaisseur... you will find that something practical helps keep you grounded and it becomes a real pleasure when you are doing it for your entertainment.

jamesmc wrote:Well, I'm an old dude so I did and do genealogy as a hobby - since the mid 1970s.

The more I got into it, the more I discovered I had to know about history and espeicially the local history of the area I was studying. This took me on many trips, from anything to cemetaries to the basements of State archives. I had corresponce with hundreds of people and met many on the road. In the process I've gotten a civil war diary of my second great grandfather and many original photographs, letters and even personal items.

It's not for everyone as it can be consuming in time and resources. But, I enjoy it.

An added advantage of knowing graphics is that you can help people out with making maps of their old homestead and in some case help them make a video of their family.

Wow, that sounds very interesting indeed! Any historically-famous people in your families history? For me my father is more the history-interested person in the family. He also wanted to become an archaeologist, but didn't. He sold train-tickets instead in Amsterdam.

v3rd3 wrote:Every person that is involved in an activity will find their interest wax and wane, particularly if it is a solitary endeavour. Being part of a team sharing a common goal can be an effective modulator. Sometimes though, we all need to take a break by doing something completely different .... the old saying "a change is as good as a rest" comes to mind.

Back when I was working, no matter how late I came home, I would sit with my daughter in her room and play with duplo blocks and read her a book after. That was enough for me to recharge my batteries for the next day. Other than that I cook. I am working on perfecting my bbq and cajun/southern cooking techniques.

My suggestion would be that whatever you decide to do to give your mind a rest is that it be something far from the skill set you use for 3D. Collect stamps, take up cooking, become a wine connaisseur... you will find that something practical helps keep you grounded and it becomes a real pleasure when you are doing it for your entertainment.

Well for me the best thing to do would probably be finding a job then, hehe, that's still something on my to-do-list.

I think going for the RC-model aircraft-idea isn't such a bad thing. My father and I were absolutely crazy about those little aircraft back in the days, we had books and made little paper models ourselves. Why we never got as far as actually buying and flying RC-planes I have no idea... maybe it was a money problem, then again, there was a time we did a lot of archery and we poured quite a lot of funds into that as well.
With a little luck I might be able to convince my father to get an aircraft of his own and we can finally pursue that hobby together, I don't do a lot with my parents anymore nowadays.

Let's see...
international films - at the Denver Film Center we meet a lot of interesting people who have similar interests; oftentimes we discuss the films afterwards.
Snowboarding! Yeah... that kicks ass; especially mine.
Exercise: yoga, pilates, weight training, kickboxing, walking
Cooking - experimenting. Usually they turn out well; sometimes it's a meltdown situation.
Guitar
Voiceover
Biking
Participating in independent film forums - very cool: so much creativity; the folks are very energizing.

@froo

That's cool, a film critic. Always wanted to be one of those. Hmm, actually, I should probably become a video-game critic. I'm always really critical about games anyway(some would even say over-critical).

Snowboarding always sounded quite fun but I never got past skiing, I liked it as a kid but when I got a bit older I saw it for the death-trap it really was

Exercise, hmm, I do a lot of stretching on my bed... ..like a cat. Oh and I have quite a nice mountain bike, I don't use it as much as I should though. As hinted to earlier in this thread, I also used to do archery.

Cooking, never been one for foods. As long as it keeps me alive, I'm good. Though I did a lot of experimenting when I was younger, drove my parents crazy (probably, they had to eat it).

Guitar is cool. I've tried a couple of musical instruments myself but though my teachers said I had a lot of potential for all of them, I never liked doing it much. I do listen to music pretty much all the time though. Life in my apartment practically has its own soundtrack.

Voiceover? I take it you mean either narrating or acting, or both.

Biking is fun, as I said, I have a mountain bike myself. I don't use it much though apart from going to the shops. On my way home there is a really steep hill though, probably the only thing that keeps me in shape (lol)

As for participating on forums, the internet sure has plenty of those. I myself am active mainly on this one, the Juno Reactor (a musical group) forum and the No More Room In Hell (a Half Life 2 modification) forums.

This is fun, keep the hobbies coming!

I struggle hard with motivation as I overwork a lot.. The love luster fades quickly with technical problems, specially over a renderfarm. So I struggled for a moment just recently. I too have been having to work alone on preproduction, untill we can make a pilot to sell and then be able to hire other people to help with the production. But till then, it has been hard to soldier on.

But sometimes yes, a break to balance everything works out.

So as a hobbie I mix electronic music here, in a bar every Tuesday off and on. Being a DJ is a lot of fun, completely different and musical. Also it opens the doors to the party scene. So every weekend I always try to go out and be with many friends, guys and girls. And more often than not, hang out with the ladies.

Also I try study and read when I can. Learn a new software, different types (2D, video, webdesign, etc) learn a new tecnique, etc. Or read another Starwars.

But people and parties really does it for me. I just have to be careful I don't wear myself out. A good chat with a friend or someone you like can really balance and motivate you. Also a good crazy attempt at salsa with a hot latina! =)

Draise, you really are a people-person. That much I can tell from the time you've spent on this forum I, on the other hand, am not really a people person. I also live in a different country that I grew up in and the people here aren't really the people I would normally go out with even if I did go to parties.

I can imagine being a DJ must be a fun job, having a sense of control of the music your playing and seeing people react to that.

As for studying, I learn through doing things, reading about it in a book usually takes to long for me. That means that sometimes I'm a really fast learner and sometimes I'm not.

My main motivation for.. well.. everything is creation. Designing and building things. That's how I started doing 3D and that's what will most likely be the source of my future activities as well.

lol, thanks. I really am just a nerd, and i just desperately try to balance that out, and that took me a world trip to loosen up to this point!

And I'm a half and half culture person, Colombia/New Zealand, parents from polar oppossite parts of the world. So not sure where is home, I know how that sucks sometimes.

I learn on the job too. That's how I "study". I understand you completely. I just read starwars.

sadly, compared to when i was young truespacer on a highschool and afterwards, iam bored alot. I still love it, but when i do something, it must be that i have to make it. Like for money or something, but i dont start my own projects anymore. Sadly for years. I cannot convince myself to start something. But its not only 3D, its with other things too. Its sometimes very hard with me. Iam lazy somehow.

Wow, that sounds very interesting indeed! Any historically-famous people in your families history? For me my father is more the history-interested person in the family. He also wanted to become an archaeologist, but didn't. He sold train-tickets instead in Amsterdam.

Nope, just average folk

Although, there was one semi-famous or infamous guy in the family. Sergeant Patrick Gass who was on the Lewis and Clark expedition. He tried to volunteer for the Civil War when he was in his 90s.

Everyone gets bored sometimes with whatever we do often. Then it is time to do something else for a while. Just like sleep you'll wake up refreshed.

Try something different than you usually do or have done. Listen to music, read a book, watch a movie that is completely different than you have liked before or even think you will dislike. Maybe travel if you can. Wander randomly or go some place and stay a little while. Different sights and different people with different ways will refresh you. Maybe something difficult, challenging, even unpleasant. Then you'll return with a new appreciation of fun things like hobbies.

I like to go hiking. It is exercise and I get to see scenic places. I'm a thinker and dreamer so hiking helps me be better at focusing on the "here and now" too. There is always a new discovery to enjoy. Since I usually go alone I get away from people, face a little danger, and have to use skills of preparation that I often neglect. Too cold for me up there but I'll bet there are beautiful and challenging places you could hike. How about snowmobiles? Horse riding?

Occasionally I shoot at cans and targets but ammo cost money (maybe I need a .22) and I don't like cleaning up. There's an organized range around here but I go in the canyons or desert where there are traditional places for that. At cans. Really shooting a can would be an accomplishment for me. Try that. There might be a shooting range where you are. They usually rent equipment.

I've done some hiking. Mainly in the winter. As for movies, I've watched enough movies I don't like during my childhood with parents.

Shooting however isn't really that easy here. This isn't America, I actually think you need a license to fire a gun here even if it's not yours. I bought my father an old air-pressure gun a couple of years ago. We fire that sometimes in my parents backyard. Not entirely sure if even that's legal but hey who cares, we used to fire bows that were at least twice as powerful as that old gun.

Yeah, I figured not so easy there but thought there might be legal ranges with the needed permits etc. A lot of requirements like that would make it too expensive though. Bows ... no clean up! I've got a bow. Hmm.

What good stuff can you find hiking there?

I´m doing photography most of the time today... mainly because thats my profession and I earn money with it...
i earn much much more with photos then with anything 3d.....
I am also into videos now but not full time....
You can see my website.... I just built..... for photography....
http://www.peter-korp.com/"

Peter

Finis wrote:What good stuff can you find hiking there?

Depends where you go, Sweden has a lot of forests. Though if you want a really old forest where man has not yet been then you should probably look elsewhere. Sweden is practically one big wood factory. That aside, you can still see the many lakes, mountains and diverse wildlife. Moose are quite common here. You also have bear, reindeer further up North and wolves. We've got quite a lot of wolves here where I live, I think we've got the largest population here of all of Sweden. I saw one once many years ago.

RAYMAN wrote:I´m doing photography most of the time today... mainly because thats my profession and I earn money with it...
i earn much much more with photos then with anything 3d.....
I am also into videos now but not full time....
You can see my website.... I just built..... for photography....
http://www.peter-korp.com/"

Peter

I always thought photography and 3D were kind of similar. Just that in 3D you have to build something first before you can take a picture.

Nice website by the way. I can image you make a lot of money with fashion photography.

MikomDude wrote:

Finis wrote:
Nice website by the way. I can image you make a lot of money with fashion photography.

Well not a lot of money but it pays my bills..... ! I dont only do it for money.... i do it because I have to .. like eating or
drinking......Its my inner me that makes me do it !
Peter

Whichever way you work (drawing, photography, 3D ...), everything is just tools. There is a time for learning and a time to realize. Everything seems great when we have ideas to express. A tool can seem extraordinary, but it quickly becomes boring if it is not used to do something concrete. A beautiful image is nothing without an idea. spend too much time on technical prowess is the best way to finish jaded because it's a world that changes constantly. Sometimes I do not want to do the 3d, but it's really because I did not want to create, whatever the tool. In those moments, look for other tools is useless. This is normal and necessary to have moments of doubt and boredom. A requirement to seek the solution in itself and not in the tools. Do not do what the tools can do, use the tools for your needs.

marcel wrote:Whichever way you work (drawing, photography, 3D ...), everything is just tools. There is a time for learning and a time to realize. Everything seems great when we have ideas to express. A tool can seem extraordinary, but it quickly becomes boring if it is not used to do something concrete. A beautiful image is nothing without an idea. spend too much time on technical prowess is the best way to finish jaded because it's a world that changes constantly. Sometimes I do not want to do the 3d, but it's really because I did not want to create, whatever the tool. In those moments, look for other tools is useless. This is normal and necessary to have moments of doubt and boredom. A requirement to seek the solution in itself and not in the tools. Do not do what the tools can do, use the tools for your needs.

Precisely Marcel, that's why I'm trying out this new thing where I can start a whole new level of realizing my ideas in real life. I will no doubt learn new things during the way and also get use for my old skills.

A little update, my RC F18 arrived today and I also bought a little indoors helicopter with a small camera on it.


Silverlit 2 Channel F/A-18 Hornet + Silverlit 3 Channel IR Spy Cam Helicopter

Been flying the little heli in my apartment, it's fun! Was raining today so I didn't get a chance to try out the F18 yet.

Step 1, acquire a beginner model aircraft and fly it <In Progress>
Step 2, fly a 4 channel piston engine powered model aircraft
Step 3, build prototype 1 of the V-700 to begin testing its functionality
Step 4, build prototype 2 of the V-700 with actual miniature jet engines and fly it successfully
Step 5, die, my life is complete (just kidding about this last part)

My new model aircraft arrived today! Unfortunately it always seems to be raining outside when I get a new RC model... that's very annoying.

The aircraft itself looks very good indeed. It is very light and yet has all it needs to fly: throttle, rudder, aileron, elevator.
The transmitter even has a little digital display that tells me how much throttle I'm giving, battery status and how much each axis is trimmed. It's practically a HUD.

I built my own from balsa wood when I was a kid.... it was a glider with 2m span and i had a radio control for it... it was in 1975 i remember...
Peter

RAYMAN wrote:I built my own from balsa wood when I was a kid.... it was a glider with 2m span and i had a radio control for it... it was in 1975 i remember...
Peter

Cool! me and my father used to make (non-RC) models out of paper/cardboard when I was younger. Balsa wood is pretty light and I though would make a pretty good frame. I however will print my model in 3D. It will be an interesting way to produce it and I'm sure not many people have done it before.

I would suggest for you to look into the autodesk 123 comunnity and free software.... its made for making models that way.....
You can print the skeleton from balsa and cover it....lets say with fibre and resin.. the same way they build the surfboards..
if you only make a thin coat thats very light and you can make one thart realy flies..
Peter

Here is me flying my Yak 54 electric model aircraft.