character: the captain

[Kris-S]

Good painting can't wait to see the model post ASAP

[plunq]

Here is the first pass on the head. Just quickly filing in the general shapes.

[Bronwen]

Can we see a smoothed version? I know a lot of people can't visualize the quality of the geo from a smoothed model, but I'm the opposite; faceted models make it hard for me to see what's going on.

Also, what program are you using?

-Bronwen

[plunq]

Here is a smoothed version Bronwen. This is still my first pass on the head, I'm now modelling the body and will come back to adding details to the face later. I'm not too worried about the back of the head looking weird because he will have a pilot cap on. I do like how the crease of the nose is looking. Comments or critiques welcome.
I'll post a picture of his body in a bit.
Oh and I'm using Maya 4.5 for modelling and will create textures with Painter.

[plunq]

I did a first pass on the Captains body today.
Captain is an old military pilot who lost both his legs and his right eye while in service. No longer able to serve in the military, he now smuggles whatever cargo he can fit into his old beat up Twin Huey Helicopter.

[Bronwen]

I like his proportions. The peglegs look really short. I guess this was intentional? I bet it'll make his walk really comical.

The head looks very different in your last post. Please update the smoothed image? I'd like to see how that's coming along.

The bulge of his belly is a little high; he looks pregnant rather than fat. Maybe if the waist of his pants sat below his belly, it would look more natural (or grosser :p ).

Keep up the good work!

-Bronwen

[plunq]

Hi, been working more on the head... changed some proportions here and there. I included a smoothed and a hard edged version this time. I'm happy with the head at this stage so I'll go ahead and build up the rest of the body to have the same amount of detail. After a break from modelling the body I've decided to change some of the proportions... I'm going to get rid of the huge gut, maybe he'll have a small spare tire, but he'll be a bit more trim. I'm also going to lengthen the peg legs, I think having them shorter that his legs would be makes the character look more comical, which I don't want. I'll post again when I've modelled more of the body. Comments and critiques welcome.

[plunq]

Just modelled one of the peg legs. It's going to have straps and braces all the way up the leg. I'm not sure if both Peg Legs will be the same or different... what do you guys think?

[Bronwen]

The head is looking much better than before. The eyelids look a bit puffy, though, and I'd expect to see some bags under his eyes, based on how old he is in the concept. I'm also very pleased that the cheekbones don't stick out so much. He looks a lot more natural now. Are you doing a displacement map for his wrinkles, etc? If you are, I can't wait to see how that will look.

I'm glad you decided to make the peg-legs longer. I think they should both be different, even though that's more work. If he's a small-time smuggler, he should have scavenged-looking equipment.

-Bronwen

[McSpirit]

head needs more Definition around the jaw, backhead, neck area :wip:

great peg leg:thumbsup:

keep em comming :D

[plunq]

Bronwen, I think your right, the Captain should have two different legs. Here is the first one all finished and ready to texture... not terribly happy with the pants around the knee, I think I'll remodel it later. What do you think of the straps along the leg?

McSpirit, I agree, the jaw is still looking kind of weak. I'll try to harden it up, although I don't want his jaw too chiseled since he is older and therefore his skin doesn't have the same elasticity as a younger man. I also agree with the more neck detail... should he have some loose skin? Like I said earlier though, the captain is wearing a pilots cap which will cover the whole back of his head. I just modeled a back to head just so he didn't have a big gapping hole.

I think I'll take a break from the mechanical modelling of the legs and get back to the head and pilot cap.

[plunq]

Ok, added a bunch more detail in the face and modelled the pilot cap and goggles. I'm thinking this is enough detail in the mesh, any smaller wrinkles etc. will be bump mapped. I took some artistic liberties with the pilot cap and goggles... it's a mix of a WW1 pilot cap I saw at a local army surplus and frezzato's Keepers of the Maser gear.
Oh, and he will have a mustach and eyebrows. Eyebrows I'm thinking Maya fur... not quite sure how I'll do the moustache yet. What do you guys think?

[Bronwen]

The bridge of the nose looks too narrow, and the brows seem to come to a point there, too. Try thickening it up a bit before you apply the eyebrows.

He's looking a lot older than the concept. I'm really liking all the detail you put in, but are you straying too much from your original idea? Just a thought -- I like where you're going.

And check out that peg-leg! :beer: WICKED! No crits on that. Well, maybe one :p The knee isn't really defined; you have a concave dimple there, which doesn't really do it for me. But the straps and everything else look just perfect. I'm loving it!

-Bronwen

[McSpirit]

agree with the nose thing..

But the rest of the head :eek: NICE :D

[plunq]

Hey Bronwen and McSpirit. Thanks for the crits, I've broadened the nose a bit, looks better now. I made the brows a bit thicker as well. I'm liking the olded guy look, maybe I'll decide to tone it down a bit when I've finished the body. I'm not too concerned with straying a bit from the painting. I didn't make a model sheet for this character before starting because I wanted to have a bit of creative freedom with where the final will go. About the kneecap, I know... I wanted a bit of cloth to fold on top of the knee and then a bit bellow... didn't turn out so I'm remodelling the pants.
Right now I'm making a long trench coat, nothing to show yet. I want to get the weight right and add some wrinkles before I post a pic.

[LIMBAUL_ABIGGOR]

that is looking very good nice , wanna see more:beer:

[plunq]

LIMBAUL_ABIGGOR I'm glad your liking my work.
Here is a somewhat small update, I've modelled the captains coat but haven't added any details to it yet.
The peg leg on the left is just copied over from the right, I put it there just as a place holder. Still need to design something for the second leg.
Oh and I do know abou that big gapping hole where his pants and shirt meet... don't worry, it's on my list of things to do. Also on that list are his hands! I'm thinking worn leather gloves. That's what I'll be working on next.
Anyway, just wanted to put up a pic of all the little bits together to see if they are working or not. What do you guys think?

[S_3D_A]

Okay now is this guy a pilot? And can we get a background story on how he lost both his legs lol. I really like the concept and model:)

[plunq]

Thanks S_3D_A, glad your liking the model. Yep this guy is a Pilot. I wrote a bit of a history on him in a previous post... Old military Pilot, lost both legs and eye in service now is a smuggler who flies a huey helicopter.
Sorry haven't updated in a few days, couldn't get onto my machine for the past few days.
I'm trying to get this model finished before my course ends (less than a week). unfortunately I won't get to texture him right away (I'll work on it this summer). So, here is the update, modelled some gloves and belt and some minor fixes to the shirt. Still need to add more detail to his coat and make his mustache.
What do you guys think? Any suggestions? I'm thinking he should have some kind of shotgun (it would be a good prop for when I pose him for my final turn around).

[Wizzard]

i think that can be better if one of the legs will be normal ;)
sorrz for mz english ;)

[Cameo]

Great work so far J. Maybe a shotgun would work but pilots tend to have sidearms and this guy looks like he would keep to that tradition so perhaps a nice looking revolver and holster would suit better? (a pouch on the belt rather than a holster like a cowboys) If you wanted something in his other hand you could always give him a crank like those used to start old propeller planes.

Definately going in the right direction though. See you weds.

[plunq]

I'm trying to get the Captains Geometry finished by the end of the weekend. I've been working on his face today... here are the fruits of my labour. Hope you guys like it. I'm working on his eyebrows but they aren't post worthy yet.

[UnlikelyCorny]

Like it a lot, but agree with the peg remark. It looks a bit unbelievable with two legs off. Instead of the tragedy such a handicap would achieve it now becomes a bit comical.
Like the pirate with two glass eyes and two hooks in stead of hands playing poker while drinking a beer.

Still, a great character there...:thumbsup:

[lapin]

really nice !
Love it !

[Kris-S]

one peg leg will do I think, but I guess it was part of the modelling process. I think his peg leg needs to be a bit longer, apart from that he's (to quote mr Burns) excellent.:applause: :cool: :airguitar

[plunq]

UnlikelyCorny, Kris.s32: Thanks for the comments. The original inspiration for the captain is from an old black and white photo of a train engineer who actually had two peg legs (weird). I've got to finish modelling this guy for a course I'm finishing in the next few days, but I will for sure try out what you guys have suggested during the summer when I have some spare time.

I'm glad you guys are liking it.
I'll try to post another update this weekend.

[UnlikelyCorny]

Originally posted by plunq
a train engineer who actually had two peg legs (weird)

Aah, but he had a train to move himself then.....;)

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