General / Off-Topic Who wants to watch me build a space colony?

[Arvel Yael]

Not biuld in the sense of say, simcity.

I was given a project to do at college. That project was "find something you want to do that will impress us, and do it".

So I thought I'd do some 3D Modelling .

Using this image as inspiration:

I figured I'd build assets for a space colony type game .

Started today with the storage tanks.
Believe it or not, this is four hours' work :O, but I'm quite pleased with it . I'm a modeller not a texture artist, so my emphasis and interest has always been there, though I'll put some textures on at some point .

Person for scale. I know people don't walk around on the surface of hostile planets in business suits .

Bonus points and a tube of smarties for anyone who recognises the "inspiration" picture .

I think I'll reduce the number of legs to 4 and rework the concrete bases. The bloody thing looks like a flying saucer.

 

[BACKER #-4112]

... I know people don't walk around on the surface of hostile planets in business suits ...

People don't walk around on storage tanks in business suits at all.

... Bonus points and a tube of smarties for anyone who recognises the "inspiration" picture ...

A 1994 Sierra game called Outpost.

... I think I'll reduce the number of legs to 4 and rework the concrete bases.

Looks more sci-fi as it is.

 

[Arvel Yael]

More detail .

 

[Aereon Theed]

Are you doing the entire colony?

 

[Arvel Yael]

Are you doing the entire colony?

I'll be doing a large part of a colony, I hope. The recommended amount of work for the project is 60 hours. I'm pretty sure I'll have doubled that by the time I'm "done".

Here's some more. What a difference a light and some textures make .

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[Aereon Theed]

I'll be doing a large part of a colony, I hope. The recommended amount of work for the project is 60 hours. I'm pretty sure I'll have doubled that by the time I'm "done".

Here's some more. What a difference a light and some textures make .

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http://i.imgur.com/5uaq4CM.jpg

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http://i.imgur.com/4MONetP.jpg

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http://i.imgur.com/IAuCEz3.jpg

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http://i.imgur.com/AONoayL.jpg

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http://i.imgur.com/jXXN5we.jpg

Nice, looks neat - def. interested to watch the process. Keep posting.

 

[Patrick_68000]

http://i.imgur.com/3wYlBRn.jpg

http://i.imgur.com/bDdofhz.jpg

More detail .

Big size like the things in ED

 

[Minonian]

Okay, that's looks nice.

Never understood how someone making 3d models. Just not brothered myself to learn it. I stick with PS. So keep us updated I'm interested in how this turns out?

 

[Arvel Yael]

Big size like the things in ED

They certainly are big. I did some quick maths at college.
The diameter of each tank is 20 meters. Assuming a wall thickness of 2.5 centimeters, the capacity of each tank filled almost to the top is 1,092,875 Gallons (4,968,308 liters), which would weigh 4,968 tons. Between them the tanks hold almost 4,400,000 gallons, for a total liquid weight of nearly 20 thousand tons.

That's a lot of rocket fuel/coca cola/quafe!

So keep us updated I'm interested in how this turns out?

Will do

 

[Patrick_68000]

They certainly are big. I did some quick maths at college.
The diameter of each tank is 20 meters. Assuming a wall thickness of 2.5 centimeters, the capacity of each tank filled almost to the top is 1,092,875 Gallons (4,968,308 liters), which would weigh 4,968 tons. Between them the tanks hold almost 4,400,000 gallons, for a total liquid weight of nearly 20 thousand tons.

That's a lot of rocket fuel/coca cola/quafe!

Impressive. Perhaps one day you will succeed to place these four enormous reservoirs in a space station of ED ... to scale

 

[Minonian]

Will do

I don't ask about the color. I figure it's better than colorless gray to work with, more visible, without begin harsh. just trying to unsee it
Hehh! Ok... Just not something i can use on me.

 

[Arvel Yael]

Right, another 2 hours and I've done the following:

*Redesigned some of the textures
*Assigned new materials to existing assets
*Redesigned the legs with a round poured concrete base
*Added cooling vanes for temperature control (To insulate the tank from temperature fluctiations caused by the ground heating up).
*Added a configuration and monitoring terminal at the top
So here we are:

A nice overview of the new tank

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A closeup of the cooling vanes, with a closer look at the new "spring" and pipe materials, as well as the new poured concrete base.

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More detail of the new materials, along with a retextured work platform, the configuration and systems monitoring terminal, and a second control valve (to open the emergency pressure relief mechanism on the top of the stack)

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Then a nice artistic shot:

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And a picturesque closeup.

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After 8 hours or so, I'm about ready to call the tanks themselves done. Now I need to add the support structure and possibly some piping, as well as other support infrastructure.

I don't ask about the color. I figure it's better than colorless gray to work with, more visible, without begin harsh. just trying to unsee it
Hehh! Ok... Just not something i can use on me.

You mean the pink? I was trying what's called a "Clay Render" and kinda managed it . It's supposed to be a sorta soft clay colour.

EDIT: The "Jaggies" in the shadows in pictures 4 and 5 are because I didn't meshsmooth the spheres before rendering the scene. It's an easy problem to fix and shouldn't appear again .

EDIT EDIT: I added a second safety rail to make the work platform more, um, safe!

Spoiler

 

[Minonian]

Catwalk between the tanks, and some uniqueness like painted numbers, or just slightly different details in painting and build? At least they are not going to look like as clones.
And don't you think the bump mapping is too strong considering the fact it's a huge metal tank? smaller less visible bumps might be better.

Also might be a good idea to change the material of the tank holder whatsthatinenglish? basket? It's a lil strange, and also hardly noticeable like this.

(Sorry if i disturb you with my ideas!)
Also there is something called color theory, it's not a good idea to use too much color on the same object. Makes it too colorful. Try it between 3-5, it's more pleasant to the eye.

 

[Arvel Yael]

Catwalk between the tanks, and some uniqueness like painted numbers, or just slightly different details in painting and build? At least they are not going to look like as clones.

Yep, it might be an idea to make the tanks look more unique, on the other hand, they're not built one at a time, they're built to a standard design, five at a time, on the same plot. Still, it's something to think about.

And don't you think the bump mapping is too strong considering the fact it's a huge metal tank? smaller less visible bumps might be better.

The bumpmapping was done deliberately harshly. These tanks are built on a planet that is arid and prone to sandstorms, so I want a weathered look, but I also want them to look like they're made to be resistant to the weathering. I was thinking something similar to Zimmerit.

Also might be a good idea to change the material of the tank holder whatsthatinenglish? basket? It's a lil strange, and also hardly noticeable like this.

If you mean the superstructure of the tank, it's supposed to be the same material and blend in. The tank legs fit straight onto the tank, there is no holder, really.

Also there is something called color theory, it's not a good idea to use too much color on the same object. Makes it too colorful. Try it between 3-5, it's more pleasant to the eye.

True, but there's making something look pleasing to the eye, and there's making it look realistic . Good ideas though, I like the catwalks idea, it'd fill the empty space and make the tanks look like the single structure that they are intended to (eventually) be .

Anyway, I've been at work playing with lights and environment mappings for a change. I figured I'd give something a different a go.

Ooo, moody.

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Nice view, bit windy.

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Industrial!

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Pretty pleased with it .

 

[Arvel Yael]

Okay, as I said I would (and as Minonian recommended) I've spent some time adding catwalks to the tanks. I've also extended the transfer stack so that I can put in the necessary inter-tank piping, and have also created a space for a third pipe (per tank) to go to a pumping and monitoring station in the center of the lot.

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Every time I say I'm finished with the tanks, I go and add something else .

 

[Aereon Theed]

Okay, as I said I would (and as Minonian recommended) I've spent some time adding catwalks to the tanks. I've also extended the transfer stack so that I can put in the necessary inter-tank piping, and have also created a space for a third pipe (per tank) to go to a pumping and monitoring station in the center of the lot.

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http://i.imgur.com/iSIxV9s.jpg

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http://i.imgur.com/adktRlE.jpg

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http://i.imgur.com/yIKUmqZ.jpg

Every time I say I'm finished with the tanks, I go and add something else .

Are you only doing these spheres or is this the beginning of a much larger city/installation?

 

[Arvel Yael]

Are you only doing these spheres or is this the beginning of a much larger city/installation?

I want to make it a much larger thing. Though I have to hand it in, in May, so let's see how it goes .

 

[Minonian]

I see the catwalk and you added some pipes.

I did not tough of it. It's comes together nicely. About the rest of it? Work modularly. So you can get some results, even if you can't finish the whole. (Of course if you can make the max and overdo the expectations, is better.)
When you work in grander scale modular working and pre planning speeds up the process, and you can customize, beautify / put together the parts, and their lookout later.

Assembly line with pre made parts, but customized, refined design.
Some processes can be automatized but others can't. If you really want to make a masterpiece, and want to make it fast. and not just something out from the factory.

 

[Aereon Theed]

I want to make it a much larger thing. Though I have to hand it in, in May, so let's see how it goes .

Keep it up I look forward to seeing more and more. Are you going to add any terrain differences and then work from there? Ie mountains or creators etc.

I see the catwalk and you added some pipes.

I did not tough of it. It's comes together nicely. About the rest of it? Work modularly. So you can get some results, even if you can't finish the whole. (Of course if you can make the max and overdo the expectations, is better.)
When you work in grander scale modular working and pre planning speeds up the process, and you can customize, beautify / put together the parts, and their lookout later.

Assembly line with pre made parts, but customized, refined design.
Some processes can be automatized but others can't. If you really want to make a masterpiece, and want to make it fast. and not just something out from the factory.

You are right my friend. Side question what nationality are you, if I may ask?

I hope he allows us all some input to increase the wow factor.

 

[Minonian]

If he listens?
That's up to him!
And I'm Hungarian.

About this project? I'm really interested in how it's turns out. Especially because?

When i was in High school our computer science teacher, given us as task to the end of year make 3 paints... In Windows paint. Instead of it i used W paint, and Photoshop. Yeah, i did what he said, but also over done it. The result? 4 A+ grade instead of 3

How detailed my work was? Pixel art refined and completed with photo shop. And he is right now, in a somewhat similar situation.