Posted by Mad Violinist | Posted in 3ds Max | Posted on 15-06-2010
The outside is pretty much finished now. There are refinements I want to make to the exhaust at the back, like adding some scalloped grooves like what I’ve seen on some fighter planes. I want to concentrate on the interior of the cockpit now. This will be seen by a camera from the front and behind. It won’t be too sophisticated, because things like panels of lights and digital displays would be done in After Effects, not 3ds Max. In Max, I just need to do the geometry, and the lights and other displays would be put in later in post production.
What’s new? Well I added doors. Igor can just fly in and out, but I have to develop a stair system for the biped fellow to use to get in and out. The doors are rigged and can be easily opened and closed in animations.
Some windows were added, I wasn’t sure if they should be there or not, but my wife feels that they help break up the plain silver of the fuselage. I’ll leave them for now.
I added chrome rims to the headlights, though in the images below they are just reflecting a grey environment.
I reshaped the exhaust, but I only spent less than 5 minutes on this, and it will change, but just a little bit. As I said before, I’ll try to add some scalloped grooves.
Here is what I have (click the images to see the larger sizes):

Below: Same as above, but the left door is open.

Below: Front view showing chrome headlight rims.




Posted by Mad Violinist | Posted in 3ds Max | Posted on 12-06-2010
I think this should be called a space car. It is a car, that can go into the air, and even space. It also happens to have the ability to do time travel. I’m not sure what this craft is called.
I had to bulk up the front so there was room for the wheels when they fold up. Even though it is in the future, it doesn’t have the ability to rotate the wheels as they fold up so that they take up less space. I don’t mind the extra bulk, it makes it look a bit more cartoony and gives it a funny character.
I still need to make a hatch so people (things) can get in and out, and make a proper exhaust.
Here are some progress pictures:




The wheels are rigged to go up and down:
Posted by Mad Violinist | Posted in 3ds Max | Posted on 10-06-2010
This is a spaceship/car combo that I am making for Igor and Mr Nameless robot guy. It is a work in progress, I still have to make wheels and other details yet. The wheels will come down from the cylinders under the wing. There could be changes to the scale of the body and some other parts yet too.
Here is what I have so far after just a couple of days (click the images to see a larger size)







Posted by Mad Violinist | Posted in 3ds Max | Posted on 06-06-2010
I have made a new character to be a kind of friend of Igor. It’s a robot, which so far has no name (any suggestions?) and will star with Igor in future animations. It’s a challenge to come up with a unique robot, there are thousands of robots out there in Google Images and beyond.
It’s not completely finished, I may add some things. The display panel on his chest has a retro look to it, and I’m sure the display will change to something modern. I haven’t yet decided to think of a design for the display, I just quickly put what you see in the pictures as a display. The main idea for the display was for it to somehow show visually when the character speaks, since the character has no mouth.
Read the rest of this entry »