USS Pennsylvania: CG Model

subfixer wrote:

Beautiful job! Now to find a computer game worthy of these fantastic graphics.

Thanks for the Maya vs. Rhino breakdown.  Right now I'm only interested in doing some ship hulls so I can print them out on a friend's rapid prototype machine (essentially a 3D printer that uses wax).  Rhino does have plugins for the animation, etc., but they're something I can add later when I'm ready.

Thanks,

Devin

Thank you, both for the kudos and the pointers!   I recently was sent a pic that showed a front on view of the muzzles, and I see exactly what you mean: I'll need to rework that, as well as the entire 5in/38cal lol (I modeled it using reference from another ship---the Texas I think---but I recently received pics showing how different the details are on the Pennsy.

My project has sort of split into two different parts now: one version is for accuracy, and I'm reworking things as I go, while the other only nominally resembles the Pennsylvania and is just for having something to turn in to the teachers.  So it might be a couple days before I post an update, as the version I'm focusing on right now (because I have a deadline in order to pass my current class) is the inaccurate one, and I don't even want to show you that one lol (it looks really bad to anyone who is at all familiar with that type of battleship, but the teachers don't care as long as they have a 'finished product' on their desk by that date).

Thanks again, I'll try to have an update (if only of different angles/renders) soon!

Rhino vs Maya: I have never personally used Rhino but have heard quite a bit about it.  It's supposed to be much easier to learn than Maya, but is only a NURBS modeler; polygon can be imported but not manipulated much at all, and Sub-Ds don't even enter into it.

Because the software focuses on NURBS I hear it is much easier working with them than in most other programs, but rendering is a little lacking (then again, the majority of people when using any program use external/plug-in renderers like VRay or Mental Ray).  Little/no rigging, vfx, animation, etc. ability, but that makes for an easier learnig curve as well.

I would say if you want to do the prop/mechanical/structural/hard body modeling go for it: this program seems to have those covered.  However, if you want to do characters, detailed organics, environments, or effects you may want to get a different software package.

Nice work ... that takes skill, talent and a lot of research.  But you should take a hard look at the 14"/45 cal. guns ... they are the heart and soul of a battlewagon and have an awesome presence in real life.  The barrels are thicker at the trunion, then taper down with a couple small stepped sections less than halfway out.  The muzzles, especially, need to have a good, thick jacket of steel around the bores to carry through that massive, powerful look.  I'd say if you redo the gun tubes, it will really carry that image farther.  Take a few minutes and look at photos of the barrels ... you'll see what we mean.

And by all means .. show us some more ... great stuff!

Nice job!

Any idea how similar your Maya program is to Rhino?  I'm ordering Rhino this week and will commence to curse loudly as I teach myself how to use it.  I don't really have any plans of doing full digital models at first, but your work is a great example of what can be done.

-Devin