Jim Crafton

Started a new model, intended for a modeling and materials tutorial for Houdini. The model is a "Foo-fighter", what was recovered, and now stored at places like Area 51! Initial shape: From 3D 2009-2010 From 3D 2009-2010 From 3D 2009-2010 Detailing: From 3D 2009-2010 From 3D 2... (more)

Got more uv/texture work done on the Enterprise. Stuff like the various registry decals on the nacelles, saucer, saucer rim, hull got applied. Various bits of clean up in the mesh got done. Most of the core textures now applied. From 3D 2009-2010 From 3D 2009-2010 From 3D 2009... (more)

Got some more work done. A first stab at UVs and textures: From Learning 3D From Learning 3D Add some spots, adjusted the light "tempature" to make it a bit warmer: From Learning 3D Further details, textures on the hull rings: From Learning 3D More lighting From Learning 3D Sensor... (more)

Got further cleanup and detail work done this past weekend. From Learning 3D From Learning 3D From Learning 3D From Learning 3D From Learning 3D From Learning 3D From Learning 3D From Learning 3D ... (more)

I stumbled on how to get GI working in Modo last night, as well as fixing bits of geometry and adding the rear shuttle bay panels and shuttle bay doors. From Learning 3D From Learning 3D Some pretty shots showing GI plus various bits of initial attempts at adding materials to t... (more)

Got the forward sensors done last night. I discovered they are officially referred to as "Forward Particle Field Attractor Sensors". Who knew. From Learning 3D From Learning 3D From Learning 3D ... (more)

Finally got the hull worked out. Previous attempts had pretty much blown monkey chunks, but thanks to suggestions by other modelers from the luxology and 3D-Palace forums I managed to work out some usable geometry. From Learning 3D From Learning 3D From Learning 3D From Learnin... (more)

Fixed the shape of the grilling. I had assumed they simply followed the same aurve as the forward grill piece. Nope, they actually curve inwards: From Learning 3D From Learning 3D Last bits of detail: From Learning 3D Adding color: From Learning 3D From Learning 3D From Learnin... (more)

A very large thanks to Kerwin for some realy interesting article on hard surface sculpting in ZBrush: Part 1 Part 2 Part 3 Part 4 Part 5 Part 6 Part 7 Part 8 Part 9 Part 10 Part 11 Again very cool stuff! ... (more)

Finally got over the "hump" with these damn things. Got the side grilling "cover" (or whatever they are called, if someone knows what they are, feel free to leave a note) done and the the outer grilling as well. All that's left now is the inner grilling and the various bits of de... (more)

Modeling these has proved to be very difficult. However I found a great tutorial by Roland Baron (at SciFi Meshes ) that briefly explains how he tackled it, and gives some great advice and ideas in how to break up the basic forms involved with the total nacelle shape. I can't say... (more)

Finally got the engine nacelle to a point were I can move on. Actually I just got annoyed enough to not bother screwing around with anymore. Not a very artistic decision, but sometimes Pragmatism wins out over Artistry. From Learning 3D From Learning 3D From Learning 3D From Le... (more)

Some fooling around with ZBrush during lunch. Both models were built with ZSpheres 2. From Learning 3D From Learning 3D From Learning 3D From Learning 3D From Learning 3D ... (more)

Here's some more shots, the impulse engine, bottom of the saucer, and dorsal "neck". From Learning 3D From Learning 3D From Learning 3D From Learning 3D From Learning 3D From Learning 3D From Learning 3D Details for the photon torpedoes: From Learning 3D From Learning 3D ... (more)

Started a new project, the Enterprise NCC 1701-A from Star Trek: The Motion Picture. I've always thought this was the coolest version of the ship out of all the various incarnations. I'll be using Modo for this. Here's some stabs at the main body, using modo's patch curves. From L... (more)

And it looks like this is now basically complete! More details below. Now I need to texture it. From Learning 3D From Learning 3D From Learning 3D From Learning 3D From Learning 3D From Learning 3D From Learning 3D ... (more)

Some more shots, with more detailing. This is a really fun thing to model. From Learning 3D From Learning 3D From Learning 3D From Learning 3D From Learning 3D ... (more)

I'm about halfway through another 3D palace tutorial - the Badger Dropship. Really awesome stuff they have over there! From Learning 3D From Learning 3D From Learning 3D From Learning 3D From Learning 3D From Learning 3D From Learning 3D From Learning 3D From Learning 3D ... (more)

Last week I got my greedy little hands on Modo - awesome software! While it's very nice, I do now appreciate the price tag on Houdini a little better. Modo has some great tools, but the breadth and depth of Houdini is astonishing. But modeling with Modo has been really nice so fa... (more)

I found 3D Palace last week, and since I had time off from work, found it a lot of fun to follow along with their tutorials. Here's the first result: From Learning 3D From Learning 3D From Learning 3D From Learning 3D From Learning 3D From Learning 3D From Learning 3D From Le... (more)