AV7 skinning

[omarsr]

The mapping is about done on the AV7. Any of you DoA guys want to skin it? I can post a photoshop psd file with the UV map as a layer and you can go from there.

I have a lot of other things going and don't know when I could get to it. The whippet and Mk.1 male are about done too.

Maybe target can make a viewer file for it?

omar

[geff]

Should have answered right away, sorry :o

Yes, we sure are willing - but not yet able :( No (experienced) skinners in our team yet, but we are trying to get up to speed asap.

[iart7]

If you haven't gotten replies for this project, I'd like to give it a try.

Hope I'm not too late.

art

[iart7]

If you haven't gotten replies for this project, I'd like to give it a try.

Hope I'm not too late.;)

art

[omarsr]

Not at all. I have been talking with speijk on this thing. I honestly just have not had the time to put into this one.

I am going over the mesh and UV layout to clean it up and make it as easy as possible to understand.

While it looks simple, the AV7 has a lot of little details (read rivets, lol) that will take a little work to look right in the 2D texture as well as a lot of brackets.

If you don't have a 3d modeling program, there are some good ones out there that are cheap or even free. These help so you can see your work on the model as you skin it.

Maybe we can get target to make a viewer file for it so you won't need a 3D app.

I'll get it cleaned and finished by Thurs a.m. and we can go from there.

PM speijk and let him know you are interested in giving it a shot.

In the mean time, gather as many reference photos as you can from the web.

omar

[speijk]

Hi Art,

You might download blender: http://www.blender3d.org/
It is free and has a Mac OSX version.
On the scripts page you can download scripts for importing file formats like the .obj type that omar can create:
http://www.blender3d.org/cms/Import___Export.5.0.html
There are also scripts to import 3DsMax files

Blender can read .psd files so this should be enough to review your work. I will test this on my Mac.

[iart7]

thanx, i'll try tomorrow.

art

;)

[iart7]

hey Speijk,

i've tried a few times and can't get Blender to run on my iMac. I have 800mhz, OSX 10.3.9

Have you got it to run?

My parents have newer mac and i can try there.

art

[speijk]

Hi Art,

I will give it a try this weekend.
You might also check what is avilable in mac world:
http://www.pure-mac.com/3d.html

The free packages that support some of the most used formats (3DS, DXF) are:
Art of Illusion / Blender / Meshwork / Pixie / POV-Ray / Wings-3D

[omarsr]

I have Maya7, Lightwave, AC3D (trial version), Wings3D, and POV-ray. Unfortunately the only one I've really used is Maya. Wings3D is a really easy one to use but it is in dev and I don't know what version is out now.

I am almost finished with the A7V. I remade the model to change some things and the exterior model is about done. Will map it tonight and then finish modeling the interior.

omar

[speijk]

Hi Art,

I tried blender 2.4 and it indeed refuses to run on my Mac. Then, I downloaded 2.3. This one runs fine.
I haven't tried importing from 3DMax yet, but I think we should try to import an obj file created by Omar.

[omarsr]

I can export to DWG, DXF, 3ds, fxb and obj if that helps any.

omar

[iart7]

I have Maya for Mac, Learning Edition and it works. Don't know how to use it, but I assume, I'll just be using it to view stuff while I use PhotoShop to paint. I have lots of internet pics of the A7V or AV7.

As for a 3d viewer, mostly I use Warbirds to do that. I just run PhotoShop and WB at same time and switch back and forth.

That doesn't mean I can't learn new tricks. Just tell me where to start. Send me what you have.

Art

[omarsr]

You'll have to use maya. WB's won't work because the tank doesn't exist ingame. I'll post them as native maya files (.ma).

I'll send instructions to view the psd on the model as well.

I'll post it in a few. The exterior is finished. I'll also color each part so you can tell what is what on the UV layout.

omar