Normal maps

sometimes i hate them, but thats mainly becasue the photoshop normal filter screws up and doesnt revert to "default" settings.

here are 2 of the latest renders.

been mainly working on the normal maps to give it some minro details. the cockpit has a nice new shiny gradiant blue wihch is setup with a reflection map. this will reflect any envirment image or any object thats placed in front of it.

Bulk texture comlete

well i finaly completed the bulk texture, just have to add some small details and get some normal and specular maps for them, soon as the small details have been compelted i'll be creating a small terrain and sky dome for it to sit on and i will be rendering them at a higer resolution. (1920x1080).

quick update finished the arms a while ago. and rendered off some images. also started blocking out the leg which will be completed towmorrow.






























































also decided to make a HD Render to show off the details. (clikc image to enlarge)

Missle Racks

ok so i have been working on the Missle Racks today or Missle pods as some Battletech/Mechwarrior fans like to call them. these deadly weapon took most of my day to texture, and i'm pleased with how it turned out.

There is still lots to do in the textureing part of this project, but for now iam just "blocking" it out, i will be adding minor details onece this process is complete.

both LRM racks are shareing the same texture sheet for the moment, i plan on creating a seprate texture sheet for the second missle rack to give the mech a unique feel.

again Rendering process was Mental ray with a Sky light and Omni Light.












Higher resolution images will be posted once the Textureing is completed. enjoy :)

Mad Dog WIP

ok so i had an idea about the Mad Dog and i felt like i should run with it.

Modeling

the Mad Dog i created was original done in Lightwave, so i decided to clean it up in 3DS Max. there wasn't much to clean up just a few polys here annd there. the arms and Legs where re-modeled to resemble the latest version from the Technnical Readout books.

Unwrapping

once the cleaning and remodeling was complete it was time to Unwrap the model, i decided to look at example of unwraps from the old Mechwarrior 3 and 4 games i decided that the Mechwarrior 4 UV Template was the most efficent way to unwrap, each limb of the mech got a corner of the UV.

Texturing

i had sevral times started a texture for this mech but i was never pleased with the unwrap or texture, so i felt that i should streamline the process down, going back to the UV unwrap stage i seprated the mech into 8 channles. Each limb had its own channle and UV space this meant that i could work on the mech in "chunks". i was happy with the new unwrap that i had decided to use and sent the model into Mudbox for texturing, i decided to use Mudbox over Photoshop for the texturing duration of this project. my main reason being that it allows me to paint directly onto the mesh this allows me to define the endges of the mech so i can add small detail such as scratches, the direct painting also helps avoid seams appearing in the textures.
i am still currently using Photshop during this project however. i used Photoshop to create the stencils that i used in Mudbox to give the mech it the weathered look. i also used it to add the Smoke Jagaurs Insignia and Unit Insignia.

Clan Smoke Jaguar Isignia.


7th Jaguar Dragoons.












Mad Dog WIP Centre torso Textured and almsot complete, i just have to finish off the Cockpit.

Good to be a Clanner

since MWO (Mechwarrior Online) has put me into the classic battletech/Mechwarrior mood i decided to drag out the old unfindihed folder of models.since the clan have some of the nicest Omni Mechs i present the notorious 100-Ton Death machine, The Dire Wolf AKA Daishi (Great Death). heres a little bit of info on the Dire Wolf http://www.sarna.net/wiki/Dire_Wolf



i felt the Dire Wolf would be something fun to model becasue its a big beast of a machine, 100 tons of death rolled up into fusion engine. how could i say no? :) it also completes the set since i have the Nova, Mad Dog, Timberwolf, and Warhawk modeled. maybe the next model will be diffrent and i will model a Flashman.

http://www.sarna.net/wiki/Flashman

Mechwarrior Online

wish i was working on it, been on the forums a bit lately, found a thread "post your custom mech" so i spent all day re-building my custom mech. found and rendered the old Warhawk model i made for a Project in Multimedia.




so anyway i went all out on presenting my best custom mech. decided that i would create it in the from of a classic Battletech(CBT) technical readout(TRO) i also decided that since the mech loadout is rare and only found with Kodiak Jorgensson (My Mechwarrior character) that the TRO would be specific to the faction of Clan Ghost Bear (CGB). so i decided that i would take a rendering of the model i made a while back and place it as the mechs image, then use the CGB Insignia on the background of the page. since CGB usualy associate them selves with barron ice planets or icey wastelands, i decided to decorate the boarder with a ice or frost like effect.