THE HARDCORE MODELING MINI-CHALLENGE #2! Big Ben

#1

I would like to thank all who participated in the second Hardcore modeling challenge.
It has been a great experience, and we will have the next micro challenge up soon.

Ok drumroll please, here are the winners!
Keep an eye on this >>>>LINK<<<<for future challenges!
________________
Ok drumroll, here are the winners!

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Best Detail Model_________________

[b][size=3]Artist: [font=Arial]Erik van Helvoirt (Phade01 )

[/font]WIP Thread:[color=darkorange]Hardcore Modeling Challenge: Big Ben - Clock Detail[/color]
Comments:Final Entry[/b]

I’m really pleased with the end result, i don’t think i ever made anything this detailed.

Render time: about 7 hours
Rendered and modeled in Cinema4D
Time spend on it: estimaded 60 -70 hours

Final Entry:

1600 x 1200 Version

Orthographic views:

- Top
http://img453.imageshack.us/img453/3384/3top8ee.jpg
- Side (Left)
http://img50.imageshack.us/img50/3313/1left9as.jpg

- Front
http://img453.imageshack.us/img453/9568/2front3db.jpg

And the Winner…

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Best Modeling-Name,Most Realistic Model,Best Shading, Best Rendering & Best Overall Entry

[size=3][font=Arial Black]Artist: [size=2][color=darkorange]Petr Dvořák (sirpetr)
[/color][/size]
WIP Thread:[color=darkorange]Hardcore Modeling Challenge: Big Ben - Clock Detail[/color]
Comments:Final Entry


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FINAL ENTRY

Hi all. Its high time to say my last words to 2nd Modeling challenge.

Today it was really exhausting. The last day in the morning I found in the thread that we are finishing today. For some reason I thought that the dateline is 16th. It was my big fault and I wasnt really happy. But now I can say I have completed most of that I wanted.

The tower, as you can see, isnt fully completed. There is no bottom part, the easist I can say.

STATISTICS

RENDERER - MAXWELL 1.2.2a
MESHES - 2.999
TRIS - 1.156.830
VERTICES - 624.305

TIME SPEND (not exactly but estimated)

5 hours - looking for references, preparation, correction of photos - levels, sharpening, estimating measures from photos
110 hours - modeling
6 hours - texturing, painting textures
6 hours - final touches, rendering

I wasnt able to deliver to this midnight more renders. Tommorow (exactly today) I wont be at home, I will spend all the day at the cottage because of some important issues, but later will post wires and more renders. Good night.


[b][size=2]Best Modeling[/size]
[ol]
[li]Petr Dvořák (Sirpetr)[/li][li]Erik van Helvoirt (Phade01 )[/li][li]-[/li][/ol][size=2]Best Detail Model [/size]
[ol]
[li]Erik van Helvoirt (Phade01 )[/li][li]Petr Dvořák (sirpetr)[/li][li]willohmsford (Phil Nolan )[/li][li]Dominik Kirouac[/li][/ol][size=2]Most Realistic Model[/size]

[ol]
[li]Petr Dvořák (Sirpetr)[/li][li]Erik van Helvoirt (Phade01 )[/li][li]-[/li][/ol][size=2]Best Shading[/size]
[ol]
[li]Petr Dvořák (Sirpetr)[/li][li]Erik van Helvoirt (Phade01)[/li][li]-[/li][/ol]Best Overall Entry
[ol]
[li]Petr Dvořák (sirpetr)[/li]
[/ol][size=2]Best Rendering[/size]
[ol]
[li]Best Rendering-Petr Dvořák (Sirpetr)[/li][li]Erik van Helvoirt (Phade01 )[/li][/ol][/b][/size][/font]
Legacy post below

DO YOU WANT TO JOIN A TEAM?
>>click<<[i][/i]

THE HARDCORE MODELING MINI-CHALLENGE!
[color=white]BIG BEN!

Big Ben is the colloquial name of the bell of the Palace of Westminster in London, and an informal name for the Great Bell of Westminster, the largest bell in the tower and part of the Great Clock of Westminster. The clock tower is at the north-eastern end of the building, the home of the Houses of Parliament, and contains the famous striking clock and bell. The tower is also sometimes referred to as St. Stephen’s Tower.

This bell came originally from the old Palace of Westminster, it was given to the Dean of St. Paul’s by William III. Before returning to Westminster to hang in its present home, it was refashioned in Whitechapel in 1658. The BBC first broadcast the chimes on the 31st December 1923 - there is a microphone in the turret connected to Broadcasting House.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Big_Ben

THE CHALLENGE:________________________________________

Sculpt a digital reproduction of BIG BEN or the Palace of Westminster in 3D.
You will only have 3 weeks.

CAN YOU DO IT?

What is the HARDCORE MODELING CHALLENGE?

The idea of these HARDCORE MINI CHALLENGES is to push the modeling skills participants while learning from the past. To get past preconceptions of the limits of digital art. To push digital artists into the world of sculptors & artisans. But we will have variety on these mini challenges. Sometimes we will sculpt a model based on a masterpiece, but on other times we might do Jet fighter or a landmark…

The only thing that will be consistent is the SHORT DATELINES.

In this challenge you may do:[/color]
[ul]
[li][color=white]CLOCK DETAIL ( You may sculpt a part of the Clock Tower, things like the clock face, one side of the tower etc)[/li][li]CLOCK TOWER (You aim to sculpt the whole Clock Tower object)[/li][li]DETAILED CLOCK TOWER (You aim to sculpt the whole Clock Tower & shade it)[/li][li]THE PALACE (You aim to sculpt the Clock Tower & Palace of Westminster)[/color][/li][/ul][color=white]Since this is a MODELING CHALLENGE we will concentrate on creating a realistic copy of this famous world landmark.

At the end of the challenge, the participant should have done a finished entry that looks EXACTLY like a part of Big Ben, the Big Ben itself, or a full representation of the British Parliament Building. Keep in mind, this is a contest of high difficulty. You will only have THREE WEEKS to do the challenge, but the rewards, even if you don’t win, will be your improved skills in ADVANCED modeling.

TYPE OF ENTRIES:____________________________________

Clock Detail (Difficulty Level MODERATE) [/color]
[ul]
[li][color=white]Emphasis sculpting a specific part of the Clock Tower.[/color][/li][/ul][color=white]Clock Tower (Difficulty Level MODERATE) [color=white][/color][/color]
[ul]
[li][color=white][color=white][/li][li][color=white]Emphasis detailing a model of the whole Clock Tower[/color][/color][/color][/li][/ul][color=white][color=white]Detail Clock Tower (Difficulty Level HIGH) [/color][/color]
[ul]
[li][color=white][color=white][/li][li][color=white]Emphasis detailing a shaded model of the whole Clock Tower[/li][li]Attention for small details is key and also shading, texturing, lighting[/li]
and sculpting[/color][/color][/color]
[/ul][color=white]THE PALACE (Difficulty Level VERY HIGH) [/color]
[ul]
[li][color=white][/li][li][color=white][color=white][color=white][color=white]Emphasis detailing a shaded model of the whole Clock Tower & the Palace of Westminster[/color][/color][/color][color=white][color=white][/li][li][color=white]Attention for to details for small parts is key, and also shading, texturing, lighting[/li]
and sculpting[/color][/color][/color][/color][/color]
[/ul][color=white][color=white][color=white]Detailed RESEARCH, and attention to detail are key for ALL entries.[/color][/color]

The best model will be selected by an open vote
for these categories: [/color]
[ul]
[li][color=white]Best Modeling[/li][li]Best Detail Model[/li][li]Best Shading[/li][li]Best Rendering[/li][li]Most Realistic Model[/li][li]Best Overall Entry[/color][/li][/ul][color=white]The winner will get bragging rights and a small banner
designed by me.

DATELINE: Monday June 12th 12:00 PM

YOU HAVE THREE WEEKS do the challenge.

CHALLENGE SPECIFIC RULES: [/color]
[ul]
[li][color=white]No work taken DIRECTLY from an existing tutorial. You may use an existing tutorial only for reference.[/li][li]You may NOT use a pre exiting models. All models must be done from scratch.[/color][/li][/ul][color=white]GENERAL RULES: [/color]
[ul]
[li][color=white]The model must have been done AFTER the topic has been announced.[/li][li]WIP are encouraged if they are posted in ANOTHER thread. Please provide a link to them on this thread.[/li][li]WIP thread should be posted on the Modeling Forum forum and should follow[/li]
the following naming convention: HARDCORE MODELING!: BIG BEN: <<TYPE OF ENTRY >> (Note: Group entries are allowed)
[li]WIP files ARE REQUIRED and should be rendered at 800 x 600.[/li][li]BEAUTY RENDER:[/li]
Final RENDERS should be rendered at 1600 X 1200 [color=darkorange]OR 1200 x 1600 in JPG format.(post only as link) A smaller 800x 600 OR 600 x 800 image should be posted.

  • [/color]This is your beauty render, it may be comprised of a collage of multiple renders of your model.
    [li]ORTHOGRAPHIC RENDERINGS:[/li]
    Ortographic renderings ARE REQUIRED and should be rendered at [color=darkorange]800 x 600 OR 600x800.

  • [/color]This means you need to submit renders of the from the Front, Sides (2), Back, Top and bottom.

[li]The renders might be done as a Quickshade or Beauty Render.[/li][li][color=darkorange]TURNTABLE ANIMATION.[/color][/li]- I recomentd to aid the voters a turntable rendering of the model. It would have to be done in QuickTime or Windows Media at a resolution of 600 x 400 OR 300 x 200. The render might be don[color=darkorange]e [/color]as a Quickshade or Beauty Render.
[li][color=white][color=darkorange]FLYOVER.(VOLUNTARY)[/color][/li]- I also recomentd to aid the voters a helicopter rendering of the model. It would have to be done in QuickTime or Windows Media at a resolution of 600 x 400 OR 300 x 200. The render might be done as a Quickshade or Beauty Render.[/color][/color]
[/ul]
[ul]
[li][color=white]Please add a brief text description about your piece.[/li]
The artist also has to post total length of time it took to do and program used.
[li]Collaborative pieces are accepted and encouraged, but Teams entries must have a identifying name. Shot lists should be included with the entry.[/li][li]Individuals participating in a team CAN have their own individual entries.[/li]
The topics will be picked at random from the list on

this >>thread << (The author will be given credit). So guys keep them coming.
[li]Post on this thread your link to your WIP thread and your FINAL piece.[/li][li]You can add multiple entries, as long as they have different WIP threads.[/li][li]Only participants who follow the rules and submit a final entry will be eligible for the voting process.[/li][li]Any piece caught breaking the rules will be taken[/li]
off the thread.[/color]
[/ul][color=white]REFERENCE:

IMAGES
http://www.safeplace.net/jpmorgen/Big_Ben.jpg
http://www.adamspiers.org/photos/London/friends/Stacey_visit/Big_Ben.jpg
http://wilkens.dyndns.org/~wilkens/galleries/Photo%20albums/London%202003/100_0514.jpg
http://www.k5kj.net/SkyFire/TEMP/Big-Ben-04.jpg
http://wvs.topleftpixel.com/photos/big_ben_watched.jpg
http://wvs.topleftpixel.com/photos/big_ben_watched.jpg

Houses of Parliament Building (Palace of Westminster)
http://www.eg.bucknell.edu/~hyde/England/PicsJan3/02Parliament.JPG
http://centros3.pntic.mec.es/cp.ribera.de.canedo/ENGLISH/Parliament-Building-4.jpg
http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/e/e4/Houses.of.parliament.overall.arp.jpg
http://www.lastrefuge.co.uk/images/html/aerials_UK_london/images/aw_london05.jpg

Good Luck

-R
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#2

Wow oh Wow , i’m IN (hope i can get it done in time)

good luck to everyone :thumbsup: !

#3

This challenge is nowhere near as difficult or huge as it appears at first glance.
You just have to look at how much repetition is involved in a neo-gothic style building like this, there are so many repeated motifs and sections, and it’s all about cloning and placing whole sections of the building built from smaller cloned sections.
THere’s not that much actual modeling to be done really.
If I could show you only the uncloned bullding, i.e, the unique parts, the parts that have to be modeled from scratch, it wouldn’t look such a dauntung task.

#4

sounds like fun! i will give this one a shot, let’s see if i can finish it…

Cheers!

#5

agree 100% with oDDity

in addition to repetition, you would also need a good sense of scale and polygon economy.
if you plan to model the whole palace then better manage your polycount well from the begining or you are gonna start reaching 5+ million polycount before you even model half of it.

however, without an original blueprint of the architecture i believe most of the small details like the small letters and symbols are gonna be guesswork.

besides the technical aspect, i really dont find this artistically motivating enough to model. but it sure is a challenge and a tedious job.

#6

Heh, well at least it’s not the Eiffel Tower. That would have been far worse.
‘Model one girder and clone it 20,000 times’
I agree with the spiralling poly count problem though, I modeled the inside of Bath Abbey once, and the poly count was getting ridiculous before I had one arch and ceiling section completed, if I had done the necessary cloning to complete the whole building, my computer would have melted.

#7

As stated before we will switch between Organic and non organic modeling.

For those who are going to sit this one out, the next one will be based on a famous 2d work of art.

-R

#8

yes, ill wait for the next challenge but in the mean time i will definitely follow the progress of other artists who are participating and hopefully learn new hard-surface modeling techniques.

should be fun watching how the structure builds up

#9

yah, I’m no expert, but I agree as well, I don’t think my poor PC can handle this, so like fx81 I may sit this one out. I am aware that we don’t have to model the whole thing, but I’m still finishing David ( which I feel very strongly I should finish ) If I get done with it in time, then I may still enter b/c it does look fun after all.

#10

Even though I do architectural modeling all day long at work and I swore I wouldn’t do it after hours… I think I’ll try to take a stab at this one.

Good Luck to Everyone!! :thumbsup:

#11

-Good point there oDDity. The results that will be shown here is gonna be amazing - i cant wait to see what comes up, I hope no-one get a hold of the ‘V for Vendetta’ model :slight_smile: That was just awsome. Good challenge, i’ll see if i have some time to try this one out.
-Iest

#12

Argh!! My HEAD!! :banghead::cry:
I wanna do it, then I see the pictures and turn into a sissy, then I close them and become corageous, then see the pictures and turn into a sissy, then I close them and become corageous, then see the pictures and turn into a sissy, then I close them and become corageous, then see the pictures and turn into a sissy, then I close them and become corageous, then I…

#13

Busy with some work right now, but I just might join in afterwards.

Besides, need something to keep me busy before the next big CGTalk challenge. :smiley:

#14

I totally agree. The difficulty imo lies in the lack of good reference photos. Those links just don’t do it for me…except for maybe the clock face one. Might have to run out to the library for this one. :slight_smile:

#15

Count me in.

#16

defenetly will participate

good one

#17

I cant find any dwg’s or anything of big ben’s elevations.
I’d like to be able to build it as close to the real thing as possible

#18

hiii this is my first attempt to do such a big thing and also my first step towerds improvement in my work i will try my level best
i am in

#19

ah right up my Archviz Alley :smiley:

CupOWonton … i’m sure you won’t find any either.
the wiki states that the hourhand is 9ft, I guess that a good place to start from in terms of size and relations …

#20

Agree Agree
that is hard man!
and dont need skills
it just need some time and some work
i will wait for the next challeneg
at the first one i just can work abouat 2 days! but the next one will be in summer and i have lots of time for that! :smiley:
good luck for enteries