Steampunk Myths and Legends Entry: Ron Leming

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No WIP images yet. I'm basically working on a steampunk version of HG Wells' time machine. Basing it somewhat on the machine from the movie, but mine will, of course be different. Right now I'm modeling the large dial from the machine. And will post an image when I'm happy with it. I don't do sketches or previz, just model as I go along, fitting things together. The environment will be something of a challenge for me as well. Mostly because I'm still new to Max 9 and very very new to Vray.

The steam engine will be my biggest challenge. I have to modify it for the machine, not have it look absurd, have it look like it might actually do something, and still be steampunky complex. I've got a lot of downloaded images of steam engines and I'll build something of a combination of things to fit the machine.

I've never entered a challenge before, and I know I'm up against people much better than I am, but I badly need a decent computer and a Boxx is on the top of my list of dreams lol.

And a paid membership to CGsociety would be sweet too.

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My project is HG Wells' Time Machine. Based loosely on the machine from the classic movie, though done steam powered and steampunk style.

I stopped work on the project I was working on because I felt a need to enter this challenge. And I had been thinking about doing something steampunk.

I took the sharp point off the center arm after I did this image because, well, it would have been pointing right at the back of the time travelers head.

This is the central rotating disc of the machine with the secondary drive wheel attached. I'm still brand new to Vray materials so I'm not entirely satified with the materials.

The next step is to build the steam engine itself, a vertical engine, which isn't that common, and which has to be modified to fit the vehicle and look like it actually does something. You know, it's one thing to fake it, but I want it to look like it could actually work.

After that, the vehicle and drive controls, then the environment, which is based on a scene from the movie somewhat.

I was told on the common q and a that it was okay not to submit a sketch or previz since I basically don't do sketches or previz. Ever.

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Started on the body, but still a lot left to do. It is lookin kinda steampunky though.

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Did a little more work on the body and the texturing. I'm not entirely thrilled with the body texture, but finagling with it won't make it any better. I managed to get a pretty good Vray copper and brass texture.

I'm done with part of the steam engine, but I still have to make the boiler and some pipes. The boiler is based on a real steam vehicle, though I hesitate to call it a vehicle, called the Neverwas Haul. It's kind of a neat looking boiler so I thought I'd use it. I know steampunk also uses wood, and aside from the chair, I haven't used any wood, so I figured wood on the boiler would be good.

I'm pretty happy with it so far. I know I'm up against far more experienced artists than I, but still, I think I'll get a good image once it's all set up.

I'm not real familiar with this whole WIP kinda thing, so if I'm posting too much or too often, someone yell at me okay.

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After watching the movie again, I wasn't happy with the disc. I wanted something different than the original, but still in the spirit of it. So changed texturing and drive wheel and some more modeling. I gotta say, too, Vray displacement just rocks.

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http://assets.cgsociety.org/challenge/entries/22/16217/16217_1227122870_medium.jpg (http://assets.cgsociety.org/challenge/entries/22/16217/16217_1227122870_large.jpg)

I added a few bits here and there to the body, and changed the texture slightly. I thought it needed a step and a grab bar lol. And the new texture details conform more to the disc.

[sasquatch70]

Hello Ron,

Very strong work. I like your updated central disc,but i also like the chemical stain glass pallete on the old version. I think it would be cool to incorporate the two, keep the ornamentation on the top and make the base that transparent glass. Just a thought, irregardless it's awesome.
Happy modeling,

Brad

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Thanks. I know I'm not as a good a modeler, texturer, lighter or renderer as a lot of the people entering, but at the same time, I know I am good, I'm putting a lot of work into it, and I'm gonna at least give it my best shot, win or lose. But I'll tell ya, I desperately need that computer that's the big prize. And I'd been thinking of doing something steampunk for a little while, so it all hit me at the right time.

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This is my steam engine. The boiler is based on the boiler in the Neverwas Haul vehicle. The drive machinery is a Benson machine. The secondary drive wheel in front is half of the belt drive that turns the disc.

I know many people mentioned gears and all, but in fact, most steam engines are belt or chain drives. It's a lot easier for me to model a belt than a chain, so that's what I did.

Sad thing is, most of the actual machinery will be occluded by the disc, but still, while I do subscribe to the 'only model it if you're going to see it' theory, I wanted this to look like it could work. Never can tell, I might want to use the model again.

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Almost together. I thickened the body a bit as it looked a little thin. Added a few bits. Installed the steam engine, the disc and the chair and a back support rail. I still need to build the control console, but it's coming along nicely.

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http://assets.cgsociety.org/challenge/entries/22/16217/16217_1227286270_medium.jpg (http://assets.cgsociety.org/challenge/entries/22/16217/16217_1227286270_large.jpg)

As I mentioned, I don't do sketches, but evidently I have to post something like. So these are plans for the original, done by Chris Perrotta. I, of course, deviated from my reference material.

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Chris Perrotta's sketches for the original chair, which was based, oddly enough on a barber chair. My modeling skills weren't up to this level, but I came close in substance, sort of. I've emailed Chris, who I know did a 3D version before he built a solid model to share, asking if he'd be willing to share the mesh with me. Worth a shot.

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My environment will be based on this scene from the film. The machine won't be tipped and it won't have Rod Taylor in it, but I want the walls and plants and such. And I want to try to model a pair of goggles for the foreground to indicate a human presence.

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I want to model these goggles, for which I have multiple images, to put in the foreground to indicate a human presence.

[Neubius]

dam that looks good!
ace :)
A

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Thank you very much

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Finished the control console. Again, very different from the original, but in the spirit of it. Most of the details won't even be seen in the final scene, but, level of detail counts.

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The machine with the console installed and a couple of details added. Almost finished, though I feel like I have a couple more bits to add to make it complete.

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This is basically a test of my ground texture in my basic environment. The ground is a plane which I mesh displaced with a weird map I found on line. It was some kind of scientific data image dealing with lasers. I looked at it and though hmm, this would make a good height map. I cleaned it up as it was almost dot matrixy in the original. The ground texture itself is a blend of about 10 maps using the same laser height map as a blend mask. I felt that would somehow create some consistency. Also my first time using Vray fur to create grass, and I can see it still needs some tweaking. The same height map was used as a dispersal map for the grass. Again, consistency. I still need to build a portal around the door, and I want to try to make the stone of the portal look a bit damaged and crumbly. And I have to paint the texture maps for the stone walls, which will take me a few days. Then I have to start populating the environment with plants. I know I want to use bamboo, palms and ferns. Past that I don't know yet. It's supposed to look a bit tropical, but in the original it's really a mix or tropical and domestic plants. I'll have to make my own choices.

My only fear at this point is that my pitiful computer won't be able to handle the resources of the scene, and that the final render, at this size, with GI and all, will take like 3 days. Still, I really want to shoot at that Boxx. Gotta give it my best.

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The beginning of my environment. Since rendering this I added a few more plants and the pillars for the door and like that. Adjusted the grass to my satisfaction. Tokk a while to make the right texture for the walls, which had to appear massive. As it is I'll have to composite the time machine in as my pitiful computer just cannot handle it in the scene. It just crashes.

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The beginnings of my goggles. The two hardest parts of these are to get the broken glass on one of the lenses because that's important to tell the story. It took a while to get a good texture for the cracks. The glasses will be lying on a rock in the immediate foreground. The next hard part is modeling all the leather straps and such.

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