now that could be a good idea to experiment with at the texture stage NeoStrider, a kind of ancient future

Well not much progress this week as I'm recovering from my stag do - too much alcohol and paintballing!
Anyways here is a quic grab from a play around with a slightly different bridge support and some lighting to start trying to mimic the photo tones. The train is just a placeholder.

https://www.flash-fx.net/3D/images/su...ty_bridge3.jpg

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here's the start of some very early train concepts and how it will sit on the track. More designs to come.

https://www.flash-fx.net/3D/images/su...n_concept1.jpg

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Cool stuff! Might consider some guide wires or antannas(sp) or stuff like that eventually.

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-Mike
The Maya Toolbelt

good work t1ck! this is looking very nice.

I was just wondering if you had considered having a highway on top with trains running underneath? Not sure if I am making much sense. It would look the same as in the bottom drawing, but the train would be hanging from the track. maybe a dumb idea. Also, probably obvious, but make sure you leave room for trains and other vehicles to go in both directions.

Also, I like the bridge supports. good work t1ck - this is going to look great. two beers for you!

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arran3D

arran3D blog

The track the train is on looks a bit too small in my opinion. I reccomend widen it up a bit. The train will would look better balanced in my opinion.

Here is a pic to show you what I mean.

Attached Images

How about having the train actually hanging from the top of the rail as opposed to the bottom? Just a thought that occured to me. Looking forward to it!

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-Mike
The Maya Toolbelt

thanks for the suggestions guys, they are really helping me to look at the design in different ways

mike - I like the idea of guide wires hanging between the supports, little detail like that will help finish it off. The hanging train idea is cool too, I've kicked up a few ideas below

arran - another nice idea, I'm sure I've seen a bridge where something similar happens - the train runs below and between the main road bridge. Maybe even flip it the other way? It'll be good to experiment with that.

THX1138 - you're right, widening the track would definately improve the 'solid' look and balance it better. I'm toying with a different track method at the minute (at the right below) but if I revert back to the original idea then it will be widened

Here's a few more ideas for the train cross section and bridge supports. I'm quite liking the one on the right as it uses a different track and the train better moulds into the support shape. The train could also maybe tip around the track if it needs to do any high speed corners. Then again in the future I'd expect the carriages to have an internal rotating system to eliminate any such problems:

https://www.flash-fx.net/3D/images/su...n_concept2.jpg

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Examples of bTraffic - a traffic animation tool for Maya
bFlocking - a tool for Maya 8.5+ to generate flocking and swarming behaviours
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wow! nice ideas, I like the bottom one

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Jul/Aug WIP
ICQ: 340126954

T1ckl35, any progress so far?

not too much THX1138. I've been learning more about curves and creating shapes from them. It's generally pretty good but stuff like birails etc just seem to be a case of experiment and hope...

here's another play about with the lighting and composition and the addition of the bridge supports (originally from curves).

I'm gonna have to pull out of this challenge next week though - I'm getting married and am off to Italy for a 2 week honeymoon . The plus side (apart from being married and having a cool break) is that it'll be great to see how people have developed their ideas and finished them without seeing anything for nearly 3 weeks!

https://www.flash-fx.net/3D/images/su...ty_bridge4.jpg

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Examples of bTraffic - a traffic animation tool for Maya
bFlocking - a tool for Maya 8.5+ to generate flocking and swarming behaviours
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Mar/Apr Challenge 2006 Entry and W.I.P
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Congrats t1ck135!! Thats too bad that you cant finish though it really had promise. Have fun in Italy!

Congratulations on the marrige! It's sad to see that you have to drop out of the challenge. I hope next challenge will be intresting enough for the both of us to enter again.

big congrats on getting married! Lucky dog!

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-Mike
The Maya Toolbelt

thanks guys, very much appreciated

Eldwick - there's always the next challenge, lets hope its a scenic view challenge so I can get some sketching done and absorb the atmosphere (or wine) while in Italy. Good luck with the heads and the scene!

THX1138 - its the first one I'll be missing in over a year (apart from the transformers one which wasn't really finished). Lets hope its a crazy challenge next time to get that creativity going and good luck with the Tank in the meantime!

Mike - It takes work to get to this stage - if my wife (to be) didnt like me doing 3D then it would have been far more difficult, I can tell you! You'll get there at some point soon, usually when you least expect it

Here's another play around (trying to get as much done in as little time as possible). Again just playing with composition and lighting more than doing the hard work of modelling and texturing. The shadows of the bridge are just mirrored objects with the light linking removed. I will just use it as a placeholder for when I matte paint that area.

https://www.flash-fx.net/3D/images/su...ty_bridge5.jpg

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Examples of bTraffic - a traffic animation tool for Maya
bFlocking - a tool for Maya 8.5+ to generate flocking and swarming behaviours
Jan/Feb Challenge 2007 Entry and W.I.P
May/Jun Challenge 2006 Entry and W.I.P
Mar/Apr Challenge 2006 Entry and W.I.P
Jan/Feb Challenge 2006 Entry and W.I.P
Nov/Dec Challenge 2005 Entry and W.I.P
Sep/Oct Challenge 2005 Entry and W.I.P
Jul/Aug Challenge 2005 Entry
www.flash-fx.net

Shame you had to drop out.

Have fun on the big day and enjoy your honeymoon t1ck!!