Realistic Textured Models Needed (free)

#1

Hello Everyone.

I hope I didn’t post in the wrong forum to ask this kind of question, but…

I am going to be a part of a WW2 short a few friends of mine are doing. I am going to be helping with the VFX and CG. It’s not going to be some big thing, just a short just to have something interesting to work on, plus it will be good practice. But as for my question…

I need a few textured models for the film. I am not a very experienced modeller, as I mainly do VFX/Dynamics/Animation. I would like them to be fairly realistic - if possible - but as the old saying goes, “When you’re given lemons, make lemonade.” We had a meeting and decided what kind of planes/tanks t use. The models I will be needing are:

Mitsubishi Ki-21 Sally (Japanese Bomber)
B-25 Mitchell (American Bomber)
M4 Sherman (Tank)

And then if someone happens to have a medium-res marine that I could use for background shots, that would be great too.

And like I said (I think I said it), it’s a low budget practice film. More like no budget. So I can’t really pay for any models. I just thought if someone had anything…

Thanks for your time. And sorry for the long post. Looking foward to hearing what you have to say.

#2

Why not just attempt to build your skills to a manageable level before you attempt a short film? To be honest, if you’re keen on doing something in CG then you should stick with what you can realisitically handle. Creating a CG film, even a short one, demands a certain level skill and technical knowledge. At the risk of sounding like a cliche, you have to crawl before you walk and walk before you run.

Like you said, make lemonade from lemons. Can’t build photoreal planes yourself? Why not opt for a less realistic approach? Always work to your strengths. For one thing, it’s a necessary growing experience. If you intend on sticking with CG, you’re eventually going to have to get your hands dirty at one point or another.

CG film making takes time. Production of a short film can take as little as several months or as long as several years. It’s not going to get finished anytime soon. You might as well get those paws dirty now.

More over, not so sound jaded, but I doubt that you’re going to get many takers when it comes to donating realistic textured models. Why should they give you something for free when they spend weeks slaving over it? I’m sure that you can search some of the public repositories such as 3D Cafe, but what you’ll find will likely require HEAVY massaging before it’s ready for film work. Outside of dealing with mediocre free models or actually building some simple one, you can only hope to buy some from reputable sources such as Turbosquid or looking for stock model collections on CD. Beware though. The better models and compilations usually don’t come cheap.

You said that you’ve got a couple of friends helping you out. Why not break the project down into logical stages and tasks. This way, nobody has to be a full on generalist. Each one of you can learn a specific aspect of the project such as modeling or texturing. Each one of you can master your role as you go along. Again, the project won’t be done overnight so why not. In the real world, no one person does everything - usually. It pays to be a team player.

I know that this is not the answer you were looking for, but there’s no shame in some real grunt work.

#3

Are you gonna animate the things and then composite them on top of your film?
You can try searching some of those models online but I doubt you’ll find anything really realistic.

#4

Don’t think you understood. It’s a live action film, and need some things to fill the foreground. I have compositing knowledge, as well as animating knowledge, I just don’t have a lot of modelling knowledge. So, I was just wondering if anyone had anything I could use. Like I said, I need medium-res characters just to make it more full. And I know that many people have these kind of models on they’re hands. Hope this makes it a little clearer.

#5

Like I said, work with your strengths. You’ve got compositing experience so why not opt for practical effects instead? You could always tweak it & spruce it up in post. Naturally, you’ll have to make some compromises if you want some typically CG camera angles or maneuvering, but it should be more doable given your resources.

#6

Well - if you mean shoot everything - I don’t think I will be able to run down to Walmart and pickup a B-29 bomber. You have to go digital on some things. I am planning on shooting as much as possible. But I simply cannot shoot a tank riding around or a Mitsubishi Ki-21 Sally fying over. THAT is NOT practical.

I will be able to handle everything (seeing how it will be approx 5 min long) except for modelling. I am not very good at it, and it’s too time consuming. They actually don’t even need to be ultra-high res, seeing how they will just be filling the foreground. I just don’t want it to look empty. The only thing I really would like to be photorealistic is the tank, which I may have to go to turbosquid to find a realistic model. I was hoping someone would have something I could use.

#7

Not Anybody?!

#8

Its funny that someone posted on a collabaration project forum, in which its understood these things are usually without compensattion and everyone is putting guy on blast, telling him to do things himself.

lol

#9

Well, it’s not really a blast on him, but it is kind of sorry that there is usually little positive response.

Dropping a project into the collabs section is kind of like deciding to take a trip in the desert on your own. Sometimes people are fortunate and find a person to give some help or guidance, Sometimes they have to learn to tough it out themselves and build a team. Or sometimes they dry up and blow away.

There’ve been so many failed ideas, dissapeared project leaders, stalled or stopped projects, that I think most people that have been in here for a while say nothing when they see a new request for free anything… I don’t usually even recognize the people commenting on some of these new project proposals…they usually (as in this case) aren’t from the small group of experienced collabers. :hmm:

#10

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