hi Joe, very fine work i admire your huntress from when you posted her on A:M forum.
btw: about the first step, how do you convert your model in polys outside of A:M?
there’s some trick or some software ?
for instance the exporter inside A:M produces very poor models, the grid of polygon is too low, 5point patches result almost flat, hooks are almost totally ignored.
thanks… Vince
That is a great model Joe. I am seriously impressed at the resin quality - but resin only puts out what you put in and that shows how good the original CGI modelling is.
Thumbs up man!
Hi Vince,
Thanks for the compliments 
There is an OBJ exporter that works OK - yes, it will make a mess of hooks and 5-pointers, and you will have to do a good amount of cleanup depending on how many hooks and 5-point patches you used. You will simply be welding vertices and welding polys to clean up these problem areas. Also, no “open” geometry allowed - so for example, I had to add “thickness” to the feathers and backsides to the armor plates and such. A good polygonal modeler makes pretty short work of these tasks - and after working with XSI for the past 6 months, I can tell you that it’s probably the best one out there right now - it was actually fun cleaning up the model in preparation for getting it “printed”.
JoeW
Spent the weekend working on a mold for the wings and one for the sword - but I ran out of catalyst so the sword mold will have to wait. I did finish the mold for the wings though, and given that thin parts are some of the hardest to cast, I’m pretty happy with the results.
Here’s a shot of the mold…
Here’s a couple of shots with the “new” wings in place:
The wings are a slightly different color because they are made from a slower-curing resin (helps in the casting process). Hopefully, I’ll have the sword mold some time this week… then it’s on to the small parts 
JoeW
Never really think of Hunter having small parts but I know what you mean.
Looking at these latest images, especially the reversed view of her, makes me appreciate what a stunning piece of anatomy you have modelled here Joe.
Well… she wouldn’t if she was full size and all
Thanks for the compliment, Stephen - Anatomy is a tough subject, and I’m always trying to get better - and it never hurts to like what you’re studying
Well, as soon as I get more catalyst, I should have the sword mold made - hopefully this weekend, I can get all the (molds for) small parts (dangly bits and armor) finished - then it’s on to painting!!
JoeW
OK - it took a little while, but I FINALLY got a workable mold for the sword - unfortunately, I also learned a lesson - "Don’t even think about using LESS catalyst than is called for with silicone - more, yes - less, no. You end up (even after 72 hours - 24 of which in an oven) with what is basically, a big, sticky, booger-like thing that’s a bitch to clean off your parts. Well, lesson #17361554 learned - lol.
A couple of shots of the sword in place (once again, righ out of the mold - no cleanup at this point):
Well, now I’m waiting on a shipment of catalyst - so the armor and dangly bits will have to wait - but they should be coming soon. I’ve started assembling a kit as a “first test run” to figure out the best way to assemble and paint before I write the instructions - so far it’s looking pretty cool
JoeW
I never even thought that something like this could be done. Awesome detail!
Oh just thought of a question!
did Art2part create all the pieces seperate for you? Typically they make multiple items assembled as a single piece, did you ask for this? Or god forbid, did you have to cut it up?
Thanks - it’s been an involved project, for sure
I “pre-cut” all the pieces in XSI before sending the model out for “printing”. I knew I was going to make molds, and I knew that they (3DartToPart) have a print size limitation of 8x8x10" - so I broke up the model as necessary keeping the size limitation, and how I wanted to mold the parts in mind. I also wanted to make the kit easier to assemble and paint - so you really only put it together at the end - with the exception of the legs and torso which are the only parts that have seams that have to be bonded and cleaned up. I ended up doing a good amount of hand-fitting of the parts as the printing process seems to introduce some inaccuracies.
Overall, it’s gone together pretty well.
JoeW
What he ^ said !
Fantastic !
One of the most impressive models I have seen come out of A:M .
Respect.
Thanks, guys - I will. I just got a new shipment of silicone (for molds) in this past week, so I hope to get the final molds for small parts finished soon. I’ll post again as soon as I have the small parts finished…
JoeW
I finally received more supplies (slow boat, I guess) and finished the molds for the armor plates, knee guard, and shoulder guard. The only parts left are the earrings which are close to being done - darn things are hard to work with (small parts, big fingers - lol)
Anyway, here's a couple of shots of the armor in place (once again, pretty much right out of the molds):
[img]http://img236.echo.cx/img236/6333/smhunterarmorfront9zw.jpg[/img]
and the back....
[img]http://img236.echo.cx/img236/8703/smhunterarmorback6wh.jpg[/img]
Anyway, that’s it for now. I have one kit in progress, but once again, I’m waiting on something (paint)… as well as time (going Beta on a game in June, and finaling another) - schweew!
JoeWGood gravy Joe. I always think that as fantastic as your work is it can’t possibly get any better… and then you give me a quick kick to the chops with work like this. Beeeyoooteeful!
Thanks, Nicco - I’m always trying to learn new stuff… now, to start painting that bad-girl
JoeW
Joe,
Absolutely freaking cool! I haven’t had time to read through the whole thread, but the output is AMAZING!!!
Must start reading now. :applause:
Now, get to work on Tak for PSP AND DS!!! 