United3dArtists Archive

MikomDude · Post by **MikomDude** » 05 Mar 2021, 10:29

A client has hired me to re-design their quadcopter:

It had to be more futuristic, feature a heads up display and be an enclosed cabin. Fitting within a 3x3x2 build area.

My first redesign was more experimental, trying to stay true to their original design:

After realizing their original design already wasn't going to work, height-wise (the proportions were all off), I ended up making a more elongated design:

MikomDude · Post by **MikomDude** » 05 Mar 2021, 10:57

Frame:

HUD:

I would like to point out the throttle and joystick configuration like this wasn't my choice, I would have preferred a central joystick/throttle set up but the client specifically needed it like this.

Finis · Post by **Finis** » 05 Mar 2021, 15:16

You are living the dream! Making money doing CG. Good to see your design ability appreciated too. Design in the sense of art and style.

The design looks good while also being practical. Your closed sided copter protects the pilot from the elements outside and dust etc. churned up by the rotors during take off and landing. That turns this copter into a semi-practical vehicle. The original open sided one would just be a toy. I wonder about the extra weight of the enclosure though.

Of course, great CG skills.

MikomDude · Post by **MikomDude** » 05 Mar 2021, 17:13

Thanks Finis! and while I'm not making enough to call it making a living, I'm hoping that will be the reality in the near future!

As for practicality, yeah I think the fuselage will add a bit extra weight but if made from lightweight materials that won't be much of a problem. Batteries on the other hand... very heavy and I wonder if they'll be able to fit enough of them on for it to fly longer than 5 minutes.

The client wasn't very specific about what batteries they'd use or how many, so that's up to them to figure out I guess. I would say, put a small fuel cell behind the pilot and move the batteries under the seat that way maybe they'll get some more mileage out of the craft. There's enough space.

MikomDude · Post by **MikomDude** » 05 Mar 2021, 17:15

Also re-designed the HUD (the old image was actually from my old Athena model from 2011)

Cockpit:

(I know the foot rests look a bit shit and if I'd had more time I would have re-designed them as well)

HUD:

bitkar · Post by **bitkar** » 05 Mar 2021, 22:46

quadrocopters are not very efficient, but i like your designs, they look awesome

MikomDude · Post by **MikomDude** » 05 Mar 2021, 23:39

Thanks bitkar! and yeah, although I think the reason people like quadcopters is because they're quite easy to control, as you can more easily get a computer to handle the stabilization purely by throttling the some of the electromotors.

Also mechanically they're a lot simpler, just take a look at my old NH90 rotor assembly:

: This rotor assembly has more individual components than the whole quadcopter.

bitkar · Post by **bitkar** » 08 Mar 2021, 21:13

you are right... its simplier and maybe more cool looking.

MikomDude · Post by **MikomDude** » 09 Mar 2021, 00:13

@bitkar Actually I must admit I probably prefer good old helicopters as well, or those sawblade hovercraft from the Incredibles:

Still the client wanted a quadcopter and I like anything that flies so...

They also wanted a front mounted camera:

Finis · Post by **Finis** » 09 Mar 2021, 14:52

Looks cooler in each new picture.

A camera drone! Just bigger and more expensive. Movie makers used to get aerial footage from helicopters with movie cameras mounted on them. If this copter can fly for 15 minutes then in some cases it could be better for filmmakers than a drone and cheaper than a regular helicopter + pilot.

Pilot's knees together looks uncomfortable. Better promo or advertisement with a comfortable pilot.

The client no doubt plans total battery but: diesel-electric system, like trains, could be good for this. A small engine to drive a generator that powers the electric motors. That removes some of the mechanical complexity and increases range and maybe the weight it can carry. Noise. All electric might have a pleasant near-silent flying experience.

MikomDude · Post by **MikomDude** » 09 Mar 2021, 15:19

Finis wrote: 09 Mar 2021, 14:52 Looks cooler in each new picture.

A camera drone! Just bigger and more expensive. Movie makers used to get aerial footage from helicopters with movie cameras mounted on them. If this copter can fly for 15 minutes then in some cases it could be better for filmmakers than a drone and cheaper than a regular helicopter + pilot.

Could be they're looking for a new type of "news helicopter" or camera "drone" for film, yes. Or maybe to film drone racing

Finis wrote: 09 Mar 2021, 14:52
Pilot's knees together looks uncomfortable. Better promo or advertisement with a comfortable pilot.

Yeah I should change that, problem is there's not a lot of room in there for the pilot to move their legs since the client was adamant (for some unknown reason, god knows why) that they needed the stick and throttle to either side of the pilot instead of a more centered control layout with the stick between the pilots legs for example, which would have made more sense I think.
The way it is now I actually had to widen the fuselage to make room for the stick and throttle, which added a small amount of additional mass to the whole thing.

Finis wrote: 09 Mar 2021, 14:52 The client no doubt plans total battery but: diesel-electric system, like trains, could be good for this. A small engine to drive a generator that powers the electric motors. That removes some of the mechanical complexity and increases range and maybe the weight it can carry. Noise. All electric might have a pleasant near-silent flying experience.

If they had asked for that type of hybrid engine, that would have made sense, yes. There is plenty of room to attach stuff at the back and in fact it probably would have helped offset the weight of the pilot. I would have added that or a hydrogen fuel cell at the back myself but the client only wanted a battery pack.

MikomDude · Post by **MikomDude** » 09 Mar 2021, 19:43

Speaking of racing (I'm sure google has been listning in), maybe this is what they're aiming for: https://airspeeder.com/race-series

RAYMAN · Post by **RAYMAN** » 09 Mar 2021, 22:54

nope I think I know what direction this is aiming at.....

hahahahaha....
joke......
https://youtu.be/lXUrC7XQDKs

MikomDude · Post by **MikomDude** » 09 Mar 2021, 23:33

RAYMAN wrote: 09 Mar 2021, 22:54 nope I think I know what direction this is aiming at..... hahahahaha....
joke......
https://youtu.be/lXUrC7XQDKs

Haha, yep. Let's hope this goes better

bitkar · Post by **bitkar** » 10 Mar 2021, 12:59

RAYMAN wrote: 09 Mar 2021, 22:54 :mrgreen: :bananadevil: nope I think I know what direction this is aiming at..... :lol: :lol: hahahahaha....
joke......
https://youtu.be/lXUrC7XQDKs

reminds me of an old game called Ugh.

MikomDude · Post by **MikomDude** » 18 Mar 2021, 01:42

The client also ordered an animation of the quadcopter.

First up, remaking the character model with a helmet:

Suit is a model I bought online due to time concerns but the helmet is an original design.

bitkar · Post by **bitkar** » 18 Mar 2021, 22:08

Some say, that he can fly helicopters upside down.... the Stig :D

MikomDude · Post by **MikomDude** » 19 Mar 2021, 04:01

@bitkar Indeed

He is now in the quadcopter and fully rigged and animated. Currently rendering what may be a test or the final version depending on how it turns out.

Screenshot from the video:

bitkar · Post by **bitkar** » 19 Mar 2021, 15:59

i wonder... either your client must be really rich or you are really cheap :D I would let him pay alot if he wanted things like animations, pilot, ... that man is pretty demanding

MikomDude · Post by **MikomDude** » 19 Mar 2021, 16:12

@bitkar Haha, annoyingly I think it may be both. 72 bucks for the design and 96 for the animation. But that's my fault for under-charging on Fiverr (and also this was for my "I will design your spaceship"-gig, not "I will design your futuristic personal flying craft", which I should really make now haha).

Finis · Post by **Finis** » 19 Mar 2021, 16:35

Keeps getting better.

I undercharged too when my business was new. I would only do simple quick things on fiver. These simple things for this little price and contact me to negotiate higher level work like this (link to a portfolio or demo reel).

What you charge is part of your reputation. Can't charge too much of course but psychologically clients think you are worth more if you demand more. I went to bid on doing a yard, said $32 each time, customer said previous guy did it for twenty something, I said $32 each time. Got the job.

MikomDude · Post by **MikomDude** » 19 Mar 2021, 17:27

Finis wrote: 19 Mar 2021, 16:35 Keeps getting better.

I undercharged too when my business was new. I would only do simple quick things on fiver. These simple things for this little price and contact me to negotiate higher level work like this (link to a portfolio or demo reel).

What you charge is part of your reputation. Can't charge too much of course but psychologically clients think you are worth more if you demand more. I went to bid on doing a yard, said $32 each time, customer said previous guy did it for twenty something, I said $32 each time. Got the job.

Fiverr drives the prices down though by having lots of people competing on being the cheapest. You can charge more on Fiverr of course but you need to have established a decent reputation with a larger portfolio on there.

I'm raising my prices as I'm getting more jobs. I also refused to charge less than 40 bucks for my work, from what I can tell most sellers on Fiverr start extremely low (5-10 bucks for artwork), this is probably why I never got a lot of jobs on there in the first place because my "rep" didn't match my prices.

Still, this job is a fun one and everything I do is a portfolio piece as well so things can only go up from here, prices included.

MikomDude · Post by **MikomDude** » 20 Mar 2021, 06:20

Two animations done so far:

sideways0001-0400-1.mp4: (3.94 MiB) Downloaded 292 times

Render Studio Shot-1.mp4: (3.79 MiB) Downloaded 295 times

bitkar · Post by **bitkar** » 20 Mar 2021, 14:50

duuuude... even with a fluid sim??? very nice... I would NOT do this for few bucks.

Years ago, I did a 3D model from technical hand drawings of a chopper. I charged about 1000 USD (!) for making the model, making renders in a studio environment and in real photo environment. Later I gave the model to his engineer so he can catch the shape better. Sadly it never came to a real thing, but he was close, i believe. It was a secret that time, but i think i can show it now. Was nothing super special of a design. But the dude knew helicopter stuff and wanted to make a cheap helo with a smaller diesel engine from a car. He needed somthing to show investors (even different nations). Coz he had only a design and everything in his head and he wanted to start the project.
The model also has some basic interior, so its not just outer shell, window are transparent. I show you this dark version, coz i dont want to show it oo much. I have all sorts of angles in bright lighting too.

MikomDude · Post by **MikomDude** » 20 Mar 2021, 15:21

Dude, that's super cool! Love that design! Who knows maybe they will still try making it in the future!

Reminds me of the Spectrum Saloon car from Captain Scarlet for some reason, love this car:

bitkar · Post by **bitkar** » 20 Mar 2021, 18:13

lol, ya just add rotors and its the same ;))

Finis · Post by **Finis** » 20 Mar 2021, 19:21

Pilot animated too. Good job.

Steinie · Post by **Steinie** » 23 Mar 2021, 12:06

Both animations blew me away! Very professional!

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