tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-75102755676035293742024-03-13T11:02:00.420-04:00SKETCHUP/SCREW-UPA DUMPING GROUND FOR THE KOOKY IDEAS AND CONCEPTS I MANAGE TO PRY OUT OF MY BRAIN USING SKETCHUPTim Butlerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17853406284947539528noreply@blogger.comBlogger47125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7510275567603529374.post-41569284487072737702012-08-24T19:54:00.000-04:002012-08-24T19:54:36.139-04:0030 STORIES HIGH....We're back with a King of the Monsters update! Maybe a little tweaking of the teeth and hands and some general cleanup, but for the most part he's ready to go. And actually he's only about 9 stories high (100' 6" or so.) Sounds kind of under achieving by monster standards, but sizing him up even to 200' just seemed overkill next to the scale of the figures and vehicles. Plus, in the films, Eiji Tsuburaya often preferred to scale down his monsters because it enabled him and his crew to build larger, more detailed miniatures. Here, big G is threatening the old Orlando Utilities Commission office which I nabbed from the Google warehouse (click on images for pic viewer.)<br />
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I mean, look at his foot next to the default scale figure. This was important because I'm planning on staging a scene with some half demolished and damaged buildings and it will add to the realism if there can be some clearly defined fleeing civilians among the debris.<br />
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Here's the rear view. Still working on a better texture for the back plates. Also, I might make another set of the large ones (just copy and paste) and figure out a "glow" for when he's using his radioactive breath. Well, let me know what you think and check back soon as Godzilla gives a prehistoric pounding to some unlucky skyline!Tim Butlerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17853406284947539528noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7510275567603529374.post-74515607396501662242012-08-06T23:14:00.000-04:002012-08-08T13:18:48.371-04:00UP FROM THE DEPTHS....<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Dang it! Got sidetracked again. But I</span><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"> think you'll appreciate it once you see what the result is. But first, an explanation. For no real reason, I was fooling around with the preset textures included in Sketchup. Just seeing how some of the patterns repeat on an object and how I could manipulate them. So I made this simple barrel shape and applied one of the stone textures and found that, if you rotate it vertically, it lays out over a curved surface in an interesting way (click on images to go to pic viewer.)</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">But wait! That looks like...something. Hold on, let me just drag the color wheel over to the grey and darken it just a bit. Holy crap! That's Godzilla skin! Well, there was only one thing for it, really.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">And below is where we're at so far. Off to the right are my reference pics. If he looks more than a little muppety, well... think back to "Monster Zero" or "Destroy All Monsters." When the tone of the films had already shifted to kid oriented and they started making him look less reptilian and menacing. That's the Godzilla I grew up with. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"> </span><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-11cDaFUroE0/UCCD2_CmQgI/AAAAAAAAAEg/wzTcyKoNbcs/s1600/godzilla+shade+copy.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-11cDaFUroE0/UCCD2_CmQgI/AAAAAAAAAEg/wzTcyKoNbcs/s640/godzilla+shade+copy.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Anyway, the teeth will help give him some "grrrr" back. And, even though this started out as a simple color test, that segmented tail may be the single most challenging thing I've modeled to date! But I can't wait to get started on the back plates and other details. Let me know what you think and see ya soon!</span></div>Tim Butlerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17853406284947539528noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7510275567603529374.post-88790876557284662992012-06-10T19:41:00.000-04:002012-06-10T19:41:14.655-04:00Some THINGS change...Well, I couldn't justify my labors on one comic book character while neglecting another. So before I really got involved with Ultron (which I don't advise, socially or professionally), I knew that Ben Grimm would need to be brought to some state of completion. Let's see how he's doing. (click on images to go to picture viewer thing.)<br />
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And here he is, poised and ready for action in some kind of training facility specifically designed by Reed Richards to test the Thing's legendary strength and combat experience. As expected, the hands and feet cost me small fragments of sanity. In fact, I'm still not done with the feet but I'll know better how to fix them when I put the figure in more extreme poses. <br />
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The hands, however, turned out nice and the fingers are pretty easy to pose. That's good because I'll need to build up a library of interchangeable hand components (pointing, grabbing, etc.) that will just pop on to the end of the wrist. This model has been a real labor of love for me and, I gotta say, I'm proud of the way it turned out. But now he needs a bad guy to clobber and Ultron just drew the short straw!Tim Butlerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17853406284947539528noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7510275567603529374.post-24621610534718576752012-05-21T21:47:00.000-04:002012-05-21T21:47:25.603-04:00UltronInspired by the Avengers movie (well done, Mr. Whedon), I'm taking a swing at their greatest villain, that monstrous, mechanized megalomaniac, Ultron the robot!<br />
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That hideous jack-o-lantern face, the fusion energy boiling in his fixed mouth, his gleaming indestructible adamantium body...Man! I hope they find a way to make him the villain in a Marvel movie soon. Anyway, we'll start with just the head and see how it goes (click on images to go to the picture viewer window.)<br />
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Zjr8q2go5CM/T7rlup7Pg2I/AAAAAAAAACw/neFvtEMov6E/s1600/ultron+bad+head+1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="250" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Zjr8q2go5CM/T7rlup7Pg2I/AAAAAAAAACw/neFvtEMov6E/s400/ultron+bad+head+1.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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Wrong! Meet Ultron's country cousin, Clemtron! You see, I started by pulling a basic head shape from a simple sphere. My mistake was scalloping out the cheeks (using the intersect tool) which made the mouth narrow too much at the chin. And just for kicks, I'm adding some classic Avengers covers to the background. No extra charge!<br />
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Well, this is better but still not there. Closer to the way George Perez used to draw him. But the mouth seems to yawn too much and, as a whole, it seems too alien. By the way, to do that plasma effect in the mouth, just pick one of the Sketchup water textures and drag the color wheel all the way into the red. Bingo!<br />
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Now this is what I'm talking about! I started with a whole new head and really opened up the mouth. Also, the eye holes are arched to give them more menace and not just simple triangles. This, to me, is more like John Buscema's version from earlier issues. Best of all, I found a Photoshop plug-in that generates pretty good Kirby Krackle! Now the fires of fusion really seem to be churning inside his gaping maw!
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Finally, here's a quick top view. I don't remember the head antenna being that elaborate but I think they look cool, as does the band of circular depressions. I think I'll continue on this for a bit and see how the whole figure turns out. See ya soon!Tim Butlerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17853406284947539528noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7510275567603529374.post-11727415159171772582012-05-16T13:40:00.001-04:002012-05-16T13:40:30.757-04:00Haunted House Paint Job<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Well, alrighty. Finally got around to slapping some proper color and textures on everything. Here's the the first scene I composed for comparison. You might notice I added some railing to the tower balcony and dismissed the 3D scale figures that were loitering around (click on images to go to picture viewer.)<br />
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Above is a closer view of the front entrance showing the revamped second story window. Hopefully you can see the tattered curtains (which turned out pretty nifty, if I do say so myself) and cracked window panes. Overall, I'm still pleased with the cobwebs but you can see that some of them catch the light a little too prominently (SketchUp's light settings are a little more blunt than true rendering software would be.)<br />
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Here's a look back toward the dead tree clinging to the cliff face. That rock texture really fails close up. I haven't looked too hard but there's supposed to be some good texture packs for free download. Finally, I've creaked open the front door a little to beckon any unwary travelers. Don't worry, I am nowhere near done with this model. But I will take a brief side trip back to superhero town. Check back to see who shows up. Tim Butlerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17853406284947539528noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7510275567603529374.post-37425269361348427502012-04-26T23:35:00.000-04:002012-04-26T23:35:46.928-04:00Creepy Cobwebs?Hey, all. Just a quick progress report on the haunted house. I threw a basic rust texture on the entrance lantern to make it standout but the main reason we're here is to evaluate these cobwebs. And I know what you're thinking, why don't I just wait till the paint over in Photoshop to add them? Well, I don't know! Part of me is just compelled to work these issues out in 3D. Plus, what if this becomes a game level or something? (As a side note, I would kill to play a Tomb Raider style Scooby Doo game!) Anyway, here's the first view (as usual, click on the images to view full size.)<br />
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These actually weren't that hard. They're just 2D planes, basically rectangles that I attached at different angles to the columns and ceiling, then just scalloped the sides and punched holes with the arc tool. Then I painted them with a stone texture but dropped the transparency to about 45%. The trick seems to be in the overlapping.<br />
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-wS-CsC9chko/T5oQTImcOeI/AAAAAAAAABs/b5LfU5WLo68/s1600/scooby+hh+cobwebs+2+copy.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="201" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-wS-CsC9chko/T5oQTImcOeI/AAAAAAAAABs/b5LfU5WLo68/s320/scooby+hh+cobwebs+2+copy.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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Here's from the opposite side. The big question is do they read like cobwebs? I mean, when it comes time to put tattered curtains in the windows this'll be the way to go. But my first impulse is that I like 'em. Plus, I'm really not going for photo-realism here so, if they're a little cartoon-y, that's better. As always, let me know what you think. see ya soon!Tim Butlerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17853406284947539528noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7510275567603529374.post-91766616372193846702012-03-22T14:17:00.005-04:002012-03-22T15:12:43.679-04:00Brief Haunted House UpdateWell, I've been away a long time but maybe this, all too brief, post will get me back on track to finishing some of these projects. Below is a view of my method of adding clapboard siding to the exterior of the house. since the structure is basically symmetrical<span><span>, I can make these sections as components. Then I just flip and "mirror" to apply them to the </span>opposite<span> side of the house. But take care, any weathering or detailing you do will duplicate on the other components and could show up as a repeat pattern when the whole model is in view.<br /><br /><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-xoXZR9stb0c/T2ttdngYH2I/AAAAAAAAAA8/7hB3_1ImsG4/s1600/haunted%2Bhouse%2Bsiding%2B1%2Bcopy.jpg" style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 100%; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal; "><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-xoXZR9stb0c/T2ttdngYH2I/AAAAAAAAAA8/7hB3_1ImsG4/s800/haunted%2Bhouse%2Bsiding%2B1%2Bcopy.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5722788107092762466" /></a>Below is the precarious front porch entrance. I've broken out a portion of the stone wall and will twist the iron fence in a similar manner to the stairs below.<br /><br /><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-58gPlIrrDcw/T2t3Y6e51eI/AAAAAAAAABU/cJvcXX4qYkY/s1600/haunted%2Bhouse%2Bsiding%2B2%2Bcopy.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-58gPlIrrDcw/T2t3Y6e51eI/AAAAAAAAABU/cJvcXX4qYkY/s800/haunted%2Bhouse%2Bsiding%2B2%2Bcopy.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5722799021403788770" /></a>I know this doesn't seem like a lot of progress but it'll have to do for now. Suffice it to say if there's an elderly person in your life, do your best to make sure they keep their mind active. Next up, I'm tinkering with a way to make (hopefully) appropriately spooky cobwebs, in 3D!<br /><br /><br /></span></span>Tim Butlerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17853406284947539528noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7510275567603529374.post-52623543675065097162011-05-19T19:15:00.001-04:002011-05-19T21:10:11.804-04:00A Little someTHING......to tide you over. Here's a quick Thing update. The hamsters that turn the wheels in this 'ol computer of mine were complaining about the file size of this model, so I ported the head over to its own folder. The body is a bit of a challenge. My only concession (so far) to modern Thing design is giving him a defined chest section. This is to help give the torso some flexibility when it comes time to pose the model. Also, I've taken another stab at adding a texture in Photoshop. A little too much impact if you ask me, but that's why we're experimenting here (click on image to view full size.)<br />
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A quick update on my Thing model. Making progress on the face but it's not quite there yet. The eyes look good ( had trouble getting them the right size so he didn't look too beady eyed.) The mouth is a separate component (see my Galactus post from 2009) and I'll make a couple different ones to help give him a range of expressions. Also, need to make a couple of brow ridges for a mad look, surprise, etc.<br />
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<div></div>These are also a test of adding some subtle Photoshop filters to enhance the rocky texture. Again, needs some work. And that mammoth cigar is just a quick attempt but don't worry, Ben Grimm is not complete without his trademark stogie.<br />
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Well, it's getting there. Keep checking back!Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7510275567603529374.post-42141900638654563822011-04-27T00:48:00.003-04:002011-04-27T21:28:13.828-04:00The Real Thing, Baby!Keeping with the whole Jack Kirby/superhero vibe, I've decided to tackle ol' bashful blue-eyes himself, Ben Grimm - the Thing. I won't even go into why he's simply one of the greatest, most memorable characters in the history of American literature (seriously.) Instead, let's just stick with the visuals and remind ourselves why Kirby was "The King of Comics."<br />
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Here's a panel from Fantastic Four #85 that I'm using for reference. I've quickly colored in Reed Richards and Ben to emphasize the scale and bodily proportions of the Thing beside those of a normal, albeit athletic person. This panel also displays where Kirby got it right and a lot of today's artists don't. Look how even though Ben's arms and legs are massive compared to Reed's, the overall impression of the character is one of compactness. Also, his waist is not that much wider than normal, which seems to give him a low center of gravity. Too many current pencilers make the mistake of expanding the torso to ridiculous extremes, or make him top heavy by inflating the arms to the same size as the chest (click on images to view full size.)<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Jfsdafep9J4/TbeYC1DYN7I/AAAAAAAAAWM/maVLatDJWW8/s800/thing+color+test+copy.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" i8="true" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Jfsdafep9J4/TbeYC1DYN7I/AAAAAAAAAWM/maVLatDJWW8/s320/thing+color+test+copy.jpg" /></a></div><br />
Below is a sort of test arm I did a while back just to see if I could recreate in 3D the Thing's distinctive rocky exterior. It came out good enough to encourage me to give the whole figure a try (although you can see how adding a sketchup line 'style' is a little hit-and-miss with complex surfaces like this.).<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-yy0IsajphhQ/TbeZrsd4XzI/AAAAAAAAAWQ/WK3SF2k8xtc/s800/thing+arm+1+copy.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" i8="true" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-yy0IsajphhQ/TbeZrsd4XzI/AAAAAAAAAWQ/WK3SF2k8xtc/s800/thing+arm+1+copy.jpg" /></a></div><br />
And this is where we're at, so far. I'm trying not to exaggerate his proportions too much and I deepened the cracks between the rock plates to help with the shadows. Not too shabby.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-qO0WmIm-g98/TbebvkzkTYI/AAAAAAAAAWU/NJ0lvAonQDk/s800/thing+mid+1+copy.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" i8="true" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-qO0WmIm-g98/TbebvkzkTYI/AAAAAAAAAWU/NJ0lvAonQDk/s800/thing+mid+1+copy.jpg" /></a></div>If he looks deep in thought, it's 'cause he's thinking about where his eyes are and how hard it is to make them look natural when placed in a 3D head. I'm sure the hands and feet will provide me equal frustration. Let me know what you think and keep checking back.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7510275567603529374.post-77379862260220924392011-04-01T16:49:00.006-04:002011-04-01T17:20:05.429-04:00The CelestialsSomewhere on a hidden plateau, high in the Andes Mountains, stands mighty Arishem, leader of the fourth Celestial host. 2000 feet tall and clad in strange extra-terrestrial armor, he looms as silent and immovable as the mountains around him. Yet he is aware of all that occurs in the realm of insignificant humans below him. After 50 years he will render his judgement. And on that day Earth will live...or die!<br />
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At least that's the way artist/writer Jack Kirby envisioned it back in 1976 when he hitched a ride on that ol' cosmic gravy train <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Chariots-Gods-Erich-Von-Daniken/dp/B000NPXMTS?ie=UTF8&tag=sketchupscrew-20&link_code=btl&camp=213689&creative=392969" target="_blank">Chariots of the Gods?</a><img alt="" border="0" height="1" src="http://www.assoc-amazon.com/e/ir?t=sketchupscrew-20&l=btl&camp=213689&creative=392969&o=1&a=B000NPXMTS" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; margin: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px !important; padding-left: 0px !important; padding-right: 0px !important; padding-top: 0px !important;" width="1" /> and produced <u>The Eternals</u> for Marvel comics. Originally supposed to take place outside Marvel continuity (but shoehorned in by writer Roy Thomas in later Thor books), the story was a bit uneven and slow but let's face it, you don't go to a Sinatra concert for the witty banter. And in this book, the King of comics did not disappoint. Every issue had at least two splash pages of Kirby's dynamic art. And the Celestials themselves are some of my all time favorite creations of his. Each one distinct and enigmatic, and pulled out of Kirby's cosmic well of imagination that never seemed to dry up.<br />
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Below is a page from issue #12 that I used as a starting point for my design (click on images to view full size.)<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-JI7VwOJGvfM/TZYkpnMA1mI/AAAAAAAAAV0/_EoaWQCWSNY/s1600/eternal+12.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" r6="true" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-JI7VwOJGvfM/TZYkpnMA1mI/AAAAAAAAAV0/_EoaWQCWSNY/s640/eternal+12.jpg" width="425" /></a></div>And here's the result of my labours. As a backdrop, I pulled a two page spread out of issue #2 depicting the landing of the Celestials ship. It's got a nice dose of "Kirby-Crackle" (those distinctive dots he used to depict huge amounts of energy being unleashed) and some really quality inks by John Verpoorten. I also grabbed an ancient temple out of the Google warehouse just to show the scale of these titanic beings.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-hJHGWTBznZE/TZYnlR3AGcI/AAAAAAAAAV4/mWvqUk5WXE4/s1600/celestial+1+copy.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="432" r6="true" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-hJHGWTBznZE/TZYnlR3AGcI/AAAAAAAAAV4/mWvqUk5WXE4/s640/celestial+1+copy.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div>Up close on his helmet, and you can see the array of weird cylindrical lights and the side antenna thing. The fact that there's barely anything that even hints at a face was what grabbed me as a kid. Kind of like Gort in <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Day-Earth-Stood-Still/dp/B00005JKFR?ie=UTF8&tag=sketchupscrew-20&link_code=btl&camp=213689&creative=392969" target="_blank">The Day the Earth Stood Still</a><img alt="" border="0" height="1" src="http://www.assoc-amazon.com/e/ir?t=sketchupscrew-20&l=btl&camp=213689&creative=392969&o=1&a=B00005JKFR" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; margin: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px !important; padding-left: 0px !important; padding-right: 0px !important; padding-top: 0px !important;" width="1" />.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-J9Lf-wqY8jU/TZYtJjNV7wI/AAAAAAAAAV8/8B4fht-tSfU/s1600/celestial+2+copy.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="432" r6="true" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-J9Lf-wqY8jU/TZYtJjNV7wI/AAAAAAAAAV8/8B4fht-tSfU/s640/celestial+2+copy.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div>Here's a dramatic low angle shot to show the chest emblem (or whatever.) I tried to keep all this close to Kirby's style and embellish it as little as possible. The only place I veered off was the neck because -well- the comic never showed that this guy even had one.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/--DxoBHzU6WA/TZYvJ9cKHRI/AAAAAAAAAWA/ussdQmckaDI/s1600/celestial+3+copy.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="432" r6="true" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/--DxoBHzU6WA/TZYvJ9cKHRI/AAAAAAAAAWA/ussdQmckaDI/s640/celestial+3+copy.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div>Down at the waist is his inter-galactic belt buckle. The cosmic significance of the symbol is too far beyond the understanding of our feeble human minds to even risk contemplating.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-EpdZHcjFAt0/TZYzACsO_CI/AAAAAAAAAWE/My4IIsXtvmM/s1600/celestial+5+copy.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="432" r6="true" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-EpdZHcjFAt0/TZYzACsO_CI/AAAAAAAAAWE/My4IIsXtvmM/s640/celestial+5+copy.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div>And finally the hands. Believe it or not, these gave me the most headaches. To try and emulate those distinctive, square Kirby chiclet fingers was more of a pain than I ever thought possible. But now that I've made 'em (and posable as well), I can use them over again in other designs. Which is good because I'm dying to try another Celestial or different comic book character down the road.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-d-q82CaAIgo/TZY3W6Y-f5I/AAAAAAAAAWI/yqbHkRLsNdc/s1600/celestial+4+copy.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="432" r6="true" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-d-q82CaAIgo/TZY3W6Y-f5I/AAAAAAAAAWI/yqbHkRLsNdc/s640/celestial+4+copy.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div>If this has even come close to making you interested in the amazing visual style of Jack Kirby, Marvel put out <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Eternals-Omnibus-Jack-Kirby/dp/0785122052?ie=UTF8&tag=sketchupscrew-20&link_code=btl&camp=213689&creative=392969" target="_blank">The Eternals Omnibus</a> collecting issues 1-19 back in 2006. And don't forget Neil Gaimen and John Romita Jr's revisit <span><a href="http://www.amazon.com/Eternals-Neil-Gaiman/dp/0785121773?ie=UTF8&tag=sketchupscrew-20&link_code=btl&camp=213689&creative=392969" target="_blank">Eternals</a><img alt="" border="0" height="1" src="http://www.assoc-amazon.com/e/ir?t=sketchupscrew-20&l=btl&camp=213689&creative=392969&o=1&a=0785121773" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; margin: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px !important; padding-left: 0px !important; padding-right: 0px !important; padding-top: 0px !important;" width="1" />.</span> <img alt="" border="0" height="1" src="http://www.assoc-amazon.com/e/ir?t=sketchupscrew-20&l=btl&camp=213689&creative=392969&o=1&a=0785121773" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; margin: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px !important; padding-left: 0px !important; padding-right: 0px !important; padding-top: 0px !important;" width="1" />See ya soon, true believer! <img alt="" border="0" height="1" src="http://www.assoc-amazon.com/e/ir?t=sketchupscrew-20&l=btl&camp=213689&creative=392969&o=1&a=0785122052" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; margin: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px !important; padding-left: 0px !important; padding-right: 0px !important; padding-top: 0px !important;" width="1" />Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7510275567603529374.post-77972950106563530682011-02-17T23:23:00.011-05:002011-02-18T00:27:59.288-05:00Haunted House UpdateBecause you demanded it (actually only one person was kind of wondering about it), here's some fresh haunted house action. Finally getting around to the house itself with the addition of windows and front entrance. And yes, that's the twisted, gnarled tree from the 2009 graveyard scene. I'll distort it a little more to fit in here but it's nice to have some ready made props that I can just drop in (click on images to view full size.)<br /><br /><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-oUpwfvOMFGc/TV32joQtsII/AAAAAAAAAU8/ZmgtSZP_b2Y/s1600/scooby%2Bhaunted%2Bhouse%2B5%2Bcopy.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; DISPLAY: block; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5574883005717917826" border="0" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-oUpwfvOMFGc/TV32joQtsII/AAAAAAAAAU8/ZmgtSZP_b2Y/s800/scooby%2Bhaunted%2Bhouse%2B5%2Bcopy.jpg" /></a> Halfway up the staircase is a small landing with some rusted out wrought iron railing. The missing section is bent out to look like something (or someone) took the plunge right through it.<br /><br /><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-BugEVaDDh9w/TV35Wy-kwdI/AAAAAAAAAVE/9N5plr4qmzM/s1600/scooby%2Bhaunted%2Bhouse%2B6%2Bcopy.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; DISPLAY: block; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5574886083791208914" border="0" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-BugEVaDDh9w/TV35Wy-kwdI/AAAAAAAAAVE/9N5plr4qmzM/s800/scooby%2Bhaunted%2Bhouse%2B6%2Bcopy.jpg" /></a>At the top is the main entrance overhang. The stone wall in front will also get some railings in a similar state of decay.<br /><br /><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-SKKYR7awb1U/TV36rCGqLqI/AAAAAAAAAVM/PsFSrWrNchM/s1600/scooby%2Bhaunted%2Bhouse%2B7%2Bcopy.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; DISPLAY: block; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5574887530960662178" border="0" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-SKKYR7awb1U/TV36rCGqLqI/AAAAAAAAAVM/PsFSrWrNchM/s800/scooby%2Bhaunted%2Bhouse%2B7%2Bcopy.jpg" /></a>Quick close-up of the hanging lantern. Not sure how I'm going to properly weather and age this to get that 'decrepit' look.<br /><br /><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-SdgDVk-TbYY/TV38eKYBCnI/AAAAAAAAAVU/r3LEIvwB_gY/s1600/scooby%2Bhaunted%2Bhouse%2B8%2Bcopy.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; DISPLAY: block; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5574889508865903218" border="0" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-SdgDVk-TbYY/TV38eKYBCnI/AAAAAAAAAVU/r3LEIvwB_gY/s800/scooby%2Bhaunted%2Bhouse%2B8%2Bcopy.jpg" /></a>Finally, here's a look at the tower with added dormers and railings on the top lookout. I'll twist and age all that too.<br /><br /><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-xtpb3Jq-5zw/TV39xvlCfjI/AAAAAAAAAVc/6S8HahOKkk0/s1600/scooby%2Bhaunted%2Bhouse%2B9%2Bcopy.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; DISPLAY: block; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5574890944781778482" border="0" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-xtpb3Jq-5zw/TV39xvlCfjI/AAAAAAAAAVc/6S8HahOKkk0/s800/scooby%2Bhaunted%2Bhouse%2B9%2Bcopy.jpg" /></a>Well, still got a ways to go here. The roof needs worn and missing shingles. The sides need some crooked and weathered clapboards. Basically the whole thing needs to get more haunted. But I'll keep at it and keep you updated.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7510275567603529374.post-22472770311776453872010-10-21T23:12:00.011-04:002010-10-22T10:38:01.439-04:00More Halloween ReadingAnother shot of fear-a-fying fiction, courtesy of my old <a href="http://www.wackypackages.org/index.php">Wacky Pack</a> covered bookcase that I will someday bequeath to my son or daughter (and then immediately take back because I couldn't stand to part with it.) First up is <em>Ghosts and Things (</em>1969) a solid collection of scary tales with E. F. Benson's <em>Caterpillars </em>and <em>The Night-Doings At "Deadmans" </em>by Ambrose Beirce being the standouts. But the real draw for me was the the absolutely awesome Richard Powers cover, check it out (click on images to view full size.)<br /><p><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_wG2oNrLD8bY/TMEKhDm5Q_I/AAAAAAAAAUQ/NLMtiA1rHpo/s1600/ghosts+%26+things+copy.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; DISPLAY: block; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5530713380408083442" border="0" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_wG2oNrLD8bY/TMEKhDm5Q_I/AAAAAAAAAUQ/NLMtiA1rHpo/s800/ghosts+%26+things+copy.jpg" /></a> Next is one of my prize possessions, A first printing (1962) of Fritz Leiber's <em>Shadows with Eyes. </em>This collection was my introduction to Leiber, and he's been my favorite science fiction writer ever since. The first story<em>, A Bit of the Dark World</em>, is the best modern horror short story of the 20th century - period. I won't even try to describe it, but just picture guy's in 'Madmen' style suits and girls in Capri pants and scarves facing nameless cosmic horror.<br /><br /><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_wG2oNrLD8bY/TMESv9BljgI/AAAAAAAAAUY/wcGcTh7xjbE/s1600/shadows+with+eyes+copy.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; DISPLAY: block; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5530722432432049666" border="0" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_wG2oNrLD8bY/TMESv9BljgI/AAAAAAAAAUY/wcGcTh7xjbE/s800/shadows+with+eyes+copy.jpg" /></a> And even though the cover looks like Richard Powers (and it's listed on some online booksellers as such), when I compare it to some of my other covers by him, it just doesn't have that loose energy and skewed composition that he pulls off with seemingly no effort. Plus it's not included in <a href="http://members.cox.net/sjrohde/index_scifi_a_c.html">The Powers Compendium</a>, the best online resource for Powers art I've found. Still, whoever did it, it's a great creepy piece of art that fits the tone of these stories. Hey, this is fun! Think I'll dig up a few more of these before Halloween.<br /></p>Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7510275567603529374.post-79504601114099512512010-10-07T22:49:00.009-04:002010-10-08T00:35:24.591-04:00The Monster MenLet's get Halloween started with a little light reading. "The Monster Men" is an early work by that greatest of American storytellers, Edgar Rice Burroughs (first published as a pulp story in 1913, hardcover in 1929.) It takes my absolute favorite setting for a horror story, the mad scientist's laboratory, and ships it off to a deserted island (off the coast of Borneo) to give it some exotic appeal. I like to read this in conjunction with watching one of the Hemisphere 'Blood Island' pictures. There's just something about monsters in a tropical, Polynesian type setting that does it for me. Here's some cover scans from my two well read paperback editions. The first is by the legendary Frank Frazetta (click on images to view full size.)<br /><p><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_wG2oNrLD8bY/TK6dl76nU3I/AAAAAAAAAT4/tDD3WN_0DXw/s1600/monster+men+2.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; DISPLAY: block; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5525527067894436722" border="0" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_wG2oNrLD8bY/TK6dl76nU3I/AAAAAAAAAT4/tDD3WN_0DXw/s800/monster+men+2.jpg" /></a> The second is from a later Ace edition. I like 'em both. The monster face in this one is particularly gross. </p><p><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_wG2oNrLD8bY/TK6eFRRyO4I/AAAAAAAAAUA/AXiNqTN9w1c/s1600/monster+men+1.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; DISPLAY: block; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5525527606204709762" border="0" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_wG2oNrLD8bY/TK6eFRRyO4I/AAAAAAAAAUA/AXiNqTN9w1c/s800/monster+men+1.jpg" /></a> Oh, before I forget, see that circle at the top right of this post with Uncle Creepy in the middle? That's this year's button that connects you to all the other blogs that are participating in the 'Countdown to Halloween.' Give 'em a look and keep checking back here for more gruesome goodness.</p>Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7510275567603529374.post-29460614123428692952010-09-27T10:46:00.007-04:002010-09-27T11:38:13.515-04:00Haunted House ContinuedWell, my house is starting to take shape, or at least the rock island it's sitting on. I've darkened the shadows to highlight all the cracks and crevices in the rock faces and turned the line settings off (leaving them on reveals all the triangles and geometric shapes that the rocks are composed of.) Also, I added a cloudy backdrop. It'll do for now but I'll look for a more dramatic one later on. (click images to view full size.)<br /><br /><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_wG2oNrLD8bY/TKCxk24YXwI/AAAAAAAAATQ/nEeEUAPDo_M/s1600/scooby+haunted+house+3+copy.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; DISPLAY: block; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5521608389921627906" border="0" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_wG2oNrLD8bY/TKCxk24YXwI/AAAAAAAAATQ/nEeEUAPDo_M/s800/scooby+haunted+house+3+copy.jpg" /></a> I'll admit that the rocks have a simplistic, road runner cartoon quality to them. But since the source material is a cartoon, that's the direction I'm sorta taking with this. Besides, if I end up doing a paint over in Photoshop (like the graveyard scene last year) then I can add more detail there.<br /><p><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_wG2oNrLD8bY/TKCzw5_1iJI/AAAAAAAAATY/BENViG8fjPg/s1600/scooby+haunted+house+4+copy.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; DISPLAY: block; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5521610795939891346" border="0" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_wG2oNrLD8bY/TKCzw5_1iJI/AAAAAAAAATY/BENViG8fjPg/s800/scooby+haunted+house+4+copy.jpg" /></a></p><p>Here's a slight aerial view. I turned the water grey here because it was distracting (still stumped on how I'm going to pull off a decent ocean.) The rocks in and around the stairs took the most time. Other than the dead, twisted trees, I'm kinda wondering what other vegetation, if any, I should plant on this island.</p><p><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_wG2oNrLD8bY/TKC2n-X5E_I/AAAAAAAAATg/MjB8ulwm0pU/s1600/haunted+house+dock+1+copy.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; DISPLAY: block; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5521613941030589426" border="0" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_wG2oNrLD8bY/TKC2n-X5E_I/AAAAAAAAATg/MjB8ulwm0pU/s800/haunted+house+dock+1+copy.jpg" /></a>Back at the boat dock, I found a weathered fence texture in sketchup that seems to work well. Also, the sketchy line style I've turned on brings out the cracks and grooves in the the boards. Unfortunately it also reveals the triangular edges of all the rocks which I'd rather not see. Grrr! Anyway, now comes the real fun, detailing the house itself! See ya next time.</p>Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7510275567603529374.post-51186375611484182222010-09-18T23:17:00.009-04:002010-09-19T07:21:09.609-04:00Haunted HouseGettin' close to Halloween time again, so I thought I'd get a head start on a new scary scene. Second only to Jonny Quest, Scooby Doo was blessed with some of the best background paintings Hanna Barbara produced. I grabbed this off the<a href="http://secretfunspot.blogspot.com/"> secret funspot </a>blog, and am using it as inspiration for a haunted house on an isolated rocky island (click on images to view full size.)<br /><br /><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_wG2oNrLD8bY/TJWGhho0wLI/AAAAAAAAASw/f462se9CB5c/s1600/3PDVD_001%5B2%5D.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; DISPLAY: block; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5518464828935815346" border="0" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_wG2oNrLD8bY/TJWGhho0wLI/AAAAAAAAASw/f462se9CB5c/s800/3PDVD_001%5B2%5D.jpg" /></a> This was from the episode where Scooby was to inherit a share of some guy's fortune. But first, he and the gang had to spend a night in the old family mansion (complete with two green laughing phantoms.) I love how this pic combines the house on an island motif with the house built precariously close to the edge of a cliff. Below is the start of my design.<br /><br /><p><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_wG2oNrLD8bY/TJWKd5tJ-_I/AAAAAAAAAS4/zw4F9v08jrI/s1600/scooby+haunted+house+1+copy.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; DISPLAY: block; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5518469164723469298" border="0" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_wG2oNrLD8bY/TJWKd5tJ-_I/AAAAAAAAAS4/zw4F9v08jrI/s800/scooby+haunted+house+1+copy.jpg" /></a> I traded the winding path for a stone staircase and tossed the gazebo. The island rocks are still just basic geometry, and will require a bit of carving to look all craggy and weathered. Also, still need to spooky up the house and add some twisted gnarled trees.<br /><br /><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_wG2oNrLD8bY/TJWOOmPweUI/AAAAAAAAATA/cQQUWRq__jE/s1600/scooby+haunted+house+dock+copy.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; DISPLAY: block; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5518473299848362306" border="0" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_wG2oNrLD8bY/TJWOOmPweUI/AAAAAAAAATA/cQQUWRq__jE/s800/scooby+haunted+house+dock+copy.jpg" /></a> Here's the dilapidated boat dock (still needs a little detailing.) All those decaying boards and posts are actually stretched and distorted copies of just three components, which saves a lot of time. As always, the figure is just temporary to help with scale. </p><br /><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_wG2oNrLD8bY/TJWS--DX3MI/AAAAAAAAATI/Vd3TUJajrig/s1600/scooby+haunted+house+dock+2+copy.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; DISPLAY: block; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5518478528919100610" border="0" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_wG2oNrLD8bY/TJWS--DX3MI/AAAAAAAAATI/Vd3TUJajrig/s800/scooby+haunted+house+dock+2+copy.jpg" /></a> Here's another camera angle with different shadows (oops, forgot the sky.) Not sure if I'm going to use all the sketchup colors and textures or do a paint over in Photoshop. Either way, keep checking back as the haunted house slowly evolves into the terrifying abode of PURE LIVING EEEEVIL!Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7510275567603529374.post-59815434026248300882010-06-24T22:08:00.004-04:002010-06-24T22:25:22.195-04:00Future CitySorry about the lack of posts lately, what with the outside world and all. Here's yet another piece that needs further attention. It's a concept for a book jacket for a science fiction anthology. I know it looks kind of cluttered, especially up at the top where the title info usually goes. Actually, I was going to end up using a small minimalist block font which would have freed it up to go somewhere else than plain old top and center. Anyway, it never happened but I still want to finish this. Among other things, I need to add some trees and park space in the town below and detail the background ship some more (click on image to view full size.)<br /><br /><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_wG2oNrLD8bY/TCQS-4JHF1I/AAAAAAAAASg/EW14txYtcBE/s1600/rocks+1.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; DISPLAY: block; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5486531117475895122" border="0" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_wG2oNrLD8bY/TCQS-4JHF1I/AAAAAAAAASg/EW14txYtcBE/s800/rocks+1.jpg" /></a>Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7510275567603529374.post-357240984522478812010-05-04T14:04:00.009-04:002010-05-04T22:51:54.312-04:00Giant Robot FightPoor ol' Shogun Warrior was getting pretty lonesome without any sparring partners so I cobbled together a sort of standard issue giant robot villain (click on images to view full size.)<br /><br /><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_wG2oNrLD8bY/S-BiRjbdMoI/AAAAAAAAASA/Xbtlj8y5oVs/s1600/robot+fight+2.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; DISPLAY: block; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5467478001335480962" border="0" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_wG2oNrLD8bY/S-BiRjbdMoI/AAAAAAAAASA/Xbtlj8y5oVs/s800/robot+fight+2.jpg" /></a> Nothing to in depth about this guy, I just knew I wanted something angular, boxy and functional to contrast the smooth curves and cylinders of our hero.<br /><p><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_wG2oNrLD8bY/S-BkLqdGzpI/AAAAAAAAASI/tUezWtOaMA4/s1600/robot+fight+3.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; DISPLAY: block; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5467480099165490834" border="0" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_wG2oNrLD8bY/S-BkLqdGzpI/AAAAAAAAASI/tUezWtOaMA4/s800/robot+fight+3.jpg" /></a> The narrow red cyclops eye is always in fashion among bad guys. As for the rest of him, I decided on a kind of weathered industrial look with welded plate steel and rusty iron accents, this was the best I could manage with the preset textures in SketchUp. Not too bad, but I think I can do a little better by importing my own.<br /><br /><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_wG2oNrLD8bY/S-BmMBZfTWI/AAAAAAAAASQ/hqOwHqm4isc/s1600/robot+fight+1.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; DISPLAY: block; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5467482304347589986" border="0" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_wG2oNrLD8bY/S-BmMBZfTWI/AAAAAAAAASQ/hqOwHqm4isc/s800/robot+fight+1.jpg" /></a> Being an engine of destruction, we can assume he won't be doing a lot of flower picking. So instead of hands, he has these edged weapons. They're sort of like a Swiss Halberd or a poleaxe tip. I imagine they can rotate at high speed at the wrist, giving him the ability to drill through buildings and opponents.</p><p><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_wG2oNrLD8bY/S-BoNQmYliI/AAAAAAAAASY/X-lxJoZ7Fjs/s1600/robot+fight+4.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; DISPLAY: block; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5467484524631332386" border="0" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_wG2oNrLD8bY/S-BoNQmYliI/AAAAAAAAASY/X-lxJoZ7Fjs/s800/robot+fight+4.jpg" /></a>Finally, even though I liked the buildings I got from the Google warehouse, I wasn't getting the deep shadows on them. This is because almost all of them are constructed from simple cubes at low res, in order to function well in a Google Earth fly-by. So here is a nice mid-century modern office building with all the ledges and window louvers for good shadows. That second story extension will be some kind of diner or steakhouse and will need a neon sign on its roof (I don't know why I obsess on trivial details like this.) </p>Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7510275567603529374.post-65565730060115767082010-04-15T15:37:00.021-04:002010-04-15T22:10:07.615-04:00Shogun WarriorOkay, I've really gone off on a tangent here. The flying car is lying around somewhere, but I just had to get this out of my system. Growing up in the late 70's there were only two kinds of kids, those who had Shogun Warriors and those who didn't. If you had a Shogun Warrior, then you were truly blessed and lived a life of perfect fulfillment. If you didn't, you wandered around lost in despair, cursing the hour of your birth (click on images to view full size.)<br /><br /><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_wG2oNrLD8bY/S8d0zYHp4PI/AAAAAAAAAQs/NSZPnAjZ9sY/s1600/shogun+duo.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; DISPLAY: block; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5460461499206721778" border="0" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_wG2oNrLD8bY/S8d0zYHp4PI/AAAAAAAAAQs/NSZPnAjZ9sY/s800/shogun+duo.jpg" /></a> You see, Shogun Warriors were just the coolest, two-foot tall, brightly colored plastic robots any self respecting kid could ask for. Their fists were spring loaded and would launch right into your sister's face. Or some had little launching missiles for fingers, which today would certainly be banned as chocking hazards. And they had cool names like Raydeen, Combatra, Great Mazinger, and Doofy Red Robot with teeny axe. Raydeen (left and far right) was a favorite who had a cool King Tut style helmet design and a battle axe built into his arm. I also had the Godzilla that Mattel put out as part of this toy line and the epic battles between these towering titans would reduce a carefully constructed Lego metropolis to worthless rubble.<br /><br /><p>What got me started on this? A few weeks ago I was on Youtube and caught a trailer for a purposed Gaiking live-action film. I only remembered Gaiking as one of the lesser Shogun Warriors (see below), </p><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_wG2oNrLD8bY/S8d7FB4anqI/AAAAAAAAAQ0/HSk__V7os0E/s1600/gaiking.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 390px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5460468399544639138" border="0" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_wG2oNrLD8bY/S8d7FB4anqI/AAAAAAAAAQ0/HSk__V7os0E/s400/gaiking.jpg" /></a> but apparently every one of these robots has it's own story and cartoon in Japan (epi-center of all giant robot goodness.) Well, this trailer blew my mind right onto the floor. I grabbed a screen cap (below) which shows the scale the film makers envision. Man, I hope this film gets made!<br /><br /><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_wG2oNrLD8bY/S8d9iBD_EnI/AAAAAAAAAQ8/tfqIeR_BzW0/s1600/gaiking+1+copy.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; DISPLAY: block; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5460471096564191858" border="0" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_wG2oNrLD8bY/S8d9iBD_EnI/AAAAAAAAAQ8/tfqIeR_BzW0/s800/gaiking+1+copy.jpg" /></a> After I saw this trailer, I knew I had to at least attempt to design my own Shogun Warrior. Below is the result.<br /><br /><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_wG2oNrLD8bY/S8d-lWcxFMI/AAAAAAAAARE/oPuvuPWOzXc/s1600/giant+robot+3.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; DISPLAY: block; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5460472253356512450" border="0" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_wG2oNrLD8bY/S8d-lWcxFMI/AAAAAAAAARE/oPuvuPWOzXc/s800/giant+robot+3.jpg" /></a>I set myself some ground rules for this. First, keep the design fairly simple and don't load it up with tech (if you want tech, head over to Gundam.) Next, choose some appropriately garish colors. No one wants a beige 200 foot tall robot. Finally, remember that this could get turned into a toy franchise, so give it lots of sharp edges and protruding horns that are the hallmark of a safe 70's toy.<br /><p><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_wG2oNrLD8bY/S8eBuRqU25I/AAAAAAAAARM/TGtTkxPs0kQ/s1600/giant+robot+4.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; DISPLAY: block; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5460475705224911762" border="0" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_wG2oNrLD8bY/S8eBuRqU25I/AAAAAAAAARM/TGtTkxPs0kQ/s800/giant+robot+4.jpg" /></a> Here's a close up of his head. I should have put a little guy standing somewhere up there for scale. But take my word for it, this dude is big. I went through several horn designs before hitting on the ones he's sporting here. I figure the bigger and more outlandish the better.<br /></p><p><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_wG2oNrLD8bY/S8eEOlEfTrI/AAAAAAAAARU/AbFU7c1COHQ/s1600/giant+robot+1.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; DISPLAY: block; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5460478459213991602" border="0" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_wG2oNrLD8bY/S8eEOlEfTrI/AAAAAAAAARU/AbFU7c1COHQ/s800/giant+robot+1.jpg" /></a> Finally, here's a shot if him in action, ready to defend the city and cause huge amounts of collateral damage (enlarge this one to really get the detail.) I especially dig the axe blades on his forearms and legs which would be used to give karate chops and knee strikes, sending a robot monster straight to the junk yard. I raided the Google warehouse for all the buildings and cars (even the streetlights), and then just arranged a simple street scene. Then I got a city skyline from a photo sharing site and applied it as a texture to a curved backdrop and adjusted the shadow settings to look natural. I've even thought up a name for him, Razektor 7! I might drop the number, though. Or maybe Red Razektra! But then I'd have to paint him all red. Blech! Anyway, I'll tinker with this idea some more. See ya! </p>Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7510275567603529374.post-54752904334794329172010-03-23T10:49:00.009-04:002010-03-23T22:53:53.241-04:00Mad Doctor LabGGRRRTT! Gear shift! The flying vehicle was giving me fits (layout of the kitchen, etc.), so I'm letting it sit for a little while. In the meantime, here's something I've had waiting in the bullpen, a sort of retro mad scientist lab (click on images to view full size.)<br /><br /><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_wG2oNrLD8bY/S6jXm_2UiJI/AAAAAAAAAPM/5nLIzks6Rz8/s1600-h/mad+doctor+lab+1.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; DISPLAY: block; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5451844413906258066" border="0" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_wG2oNrLD8bY/S6jXm_2UiJI/AAAAAAAAAPM/5nLIzks6Rz8/s800/mad+doctor+lab+1.jpg" /></a> First, we have a lab assistant turning the crank on the table that will tilt our freshly created monster to an upright position. I still need to add arm and leg restraints to minimize the mauling of hapless minions.<br /><br /><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_wG2oNrLD8bY/S6jaRMkAKyI/AAAAAAAAAPU/VwUKVFK56Ug/s1600-h/mad+doctor+lab+2.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; DISPLAY: block; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5451847337896848162" border="0" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_wG2oNrLD8bY/S6jaRMkAKyI/AAAAAAAAAPU/VwUKVFK56Ug/s800/mad+doctor+lab+2.jpg" /></a>I wanted the table apparatus to be the heaviest most antiquated looking piece in the room. As if it was the only thing left over after the lab had been retro-fitted with more modern equipment.<br /><br /><p><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_wG2oNrLD8bY/S6jcKSSfd-I/AAAAAAAAAPc/843cUv-91DY/s1600-h/mad+doctor+lab+flask+1.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; DISPLAY: block; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5451849418198185954" border="0" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_wG2oNrLD8bY/S6jcKSSfd-I/AAAAAAAAAPc/843cUv-91DY/s800/mad+doctor+lab+flask+1.jpg" /></a> I've turned the shadow settings back on to highlight this lab table and collection of beakers and flasks. You can't tell but the curved glass tube is connected to the one Erlenmeyer flask with a rubber stopper. The flask itself is suspended on a support ring above the Bunsen burner. Still to add, a hose to connect the burner to the gas supply, a small bookshelf, and perhaps a chart of the periodic table on the wall.<br /></p><p><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_wG2oNrLD8bY/S6jffxIEykI/AAAAAAAAAPk/LwzxTrgcnmI/s1600-h/mad+doctor+lab+comp+1.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; DISPLAY: block; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5451853085788129858" border="0" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_wG2oNrLD8bY/S6jffxIEykI/AAAAAAAAAPk/LwzxTrgcnmI/s800/mad+doctor+lab+comp+1.jpg" /></a> Next is a bank of somewhat dated, but still functional looking computer stations. In the foreground is a combination microscope/spectrum analyzer. The drum above the little sine wave viewer thing is where a tissue sample (or something) is placed. There it is bombarded with lasers and super cooled gases (hence the canister to the rear.) While the operator can see the effects through the eyepiece or watch the raw data on the monitor. </p><p>beside it are two power calibration consoles. Notice the push lever next to the graduated color bar. The screens above monitor vital functions and let you know when to lay off the voltage, so as to not over cook your monster (I still need to add that suspended from the ceiling, laser beam doohickey that points right at the monster's head.)</p><p><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_wG2oNrLD8bY/S6jkOCxUCaI/AAAAAAAAAPs/bn7U-bibtNM/s1600-h/mad+doctor+lab+comp+2.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; DISPLAY: block; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5451858278844991906" border="0" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_wG2oNrLD8bY/S6jkOCxUCaI/AAAAAAAAAPs/bn7U-bibtNM/s800/mad+doctor+lab+comp+2.jpg" /></a> See, here's what I mean by retro. I love these old tape reel memory storage cabinets. Since they're components, I might pop in a few more of 'em. Also, a similar cabinet with just random blinking lights would be essential.<br /><br /><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_wG2oNrLD8bY/S6jm-XgDJTI/AAAAAAAAAP0/W1RgtioSwjU/s1600-h/mad+doctor+lab+ink+copy.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5451861308066702642" border="0" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_wG2oNrLD8bY/S6jm-XgDJTI/AAAAAAAAAP0/W1RgtioSwjU/s800/mad+doctor+lab+ink+copy.jpg" /></a> Finally, here's the first scene again with shadow settings turned on for dramatic effect. Also, I've added a basic line "style" to give it a sort of inked comic panel look. The whole thing would still need some work in Photoshop. See you next time. </p>Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7510275567603529374.post-67588019612012336082010-03-03T12:43:00.010-05:002010-03-03T16:18:56.612-05:00Still More Flying Car InteriorI've been reluctant to partition off any part of the space here. Mostly, because the transparent canopy doesn't really lend itself to it, also I would have preferred to let the furniture define the divisions of space. Anyway, I broke down and added a half-height wall towards the cockpit platform, that will be the logical place for a small entertainment center (click on images to view full size.)<br /><br /><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_wG2oNrLD8bY/S46iPlTF3LI/AAAAAAAAAOc/lpDIM9H8VcI/s1600-h/flying+car+part.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; DISPLAY: block; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5444467388131433650" border="0" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_wG2oNrLD8bY/S46iPlTF3LI/AAAAAAAAAOc/lpDIM9H8VcI/s800/flying+car+part.jpg" /></a> But it's on the other side where the real action is, so to speak. The pilot's chair betrays the wood paneled section of the partition to be more than what it appears.<br /><br /><p><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_wG2oNrLD8bY/S46k4Q6R8zI/AAAAAAAAAOs/JqIff_lzS3U/s1600-h/flying+car+nav+stat+1.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; DISPLAY: block; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5444470286056551218" border="0" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_wG2oNrLD8bY/S46k4Q6R8zI/AAAAAAAAAOs/JqIff_lzS3U/s800/flying+car+nav+stat+1.jpg" /></a> By pressing slightly anywhere near the top, the occupant engages silent precision motors that 1) slowly lower the desktop/keyboard 2) swing out a diagonal desk support and 3) raise the view screen up to eye level. Hopefully the arrows help it make sense.<br /><br /><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_wG2oNrLD8bY/S46mc7BxjHI/AAAAAAAAAO0/NqMDPtWc3yQ/s1600-h/flying+car+nav+stat+2.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; DISPLAY: block; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5444472015349189746" border="0" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_wG2oNrLD8bY/S46mc7BxjHI/AAAAAAAAAO0/NqMDPtWc3yQ/s800/flying+car+nav+stat+2.jpg" /></a> And, Shazam! A foldaway computer/navigation terminal. Now junior can participate in his classes (by way of video conference) without distraction. But more importantly, someone can monitor the appropriate weather patterns, perform diagnostics of the various on board systems, etc. Presumably freeing the pilot to concentrate on the sky in front of him.</p><p><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_wG2oNrLD8bY/S47Qc5NcpsI/AAAAAAAAAPE/aWuXpNWMPqo/s1600-h/flying+car+nav+stat+3.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5444518194349647554" border="0" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_wG2oNrLD8bY/S47Qc5NcpsI/AAAAAAAAAPE/aWuXpNWMPqo/s800/flying+car+nav+stat+3.jpg" /></a> The keyboard is flush with the desktop and will be some kind of touch screen thing (like the small panels on the entrance hatch.) I'll need to find some cool tech interface thing to fill the screen.</p>Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7510275567603529374.post-91585000581152952342010-02-24T12:46:00.008-05:002010-02-24T13:53:00.612-05:00More Flying Car InteriorThings are starting to shape up around here. Using elements of the sofa, I've cobbled together two matching chairs set on circular swivel bases. Between them is a side table/storage cabinet. Speaking of storage, I worked some small cabinets into the frame of the entrance way, complete with sliding glass doors. I've sort of followed the guidelines of designing nautical cabins, where every effort is made to prevent injury by securing and containing loose items in case of a hard turn or capsizing. (click on images to view full size.)<br /><br /><p><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_wG2oNrLD8bY/S4VquJ-bF7I/AAAAAAAAAN8/t_PsLULmHIg/s1600-h/flying+car+table+3.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; DISPLAY: block; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5441873065931380658" border="0" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_wG2oNrLD8bY/S4VquJ-bF7I/AAAAAAAAAN8/t_PsLULmHIg/s800/flying+car+table+3.jpg" /></a> The doofus on the sofa is my lame attempt at "futuristic" fashion, because in the future we will all be wearing cheesy "Logan's Run" style jumpsuits. However, in front of him is my floating coffee table which turned out way cooler than I had anticipated.<br /><br /><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_wG2oNrLD8bY/S4VtC-IBptI/AAAAAAAAAOE/4RexkYN1XGo/s1600-h/flying+car+table+2.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; DISPLAY: block; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5441875622550939346" border="0" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_wG2oNrLD8bY/S4VtC-IBptI/AAAAAAAAAOE/4RexkYN1XGo/s800/flying+car+table+2.jpg" /></a> A comment by a fellow blogger got me thinking. If anti-gravity is ever developed, it won't just be limited to transportation. It'll be applied across the board, conceivably replacing the wheel in even the most mundane circumstances. Here, it replaces table legs. The two glass inserts bookend a wooden frame section. The four dots in the top are the hardware that connects the tabletop to the "gravity cancelator" (patent pending) suspended below. </p><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_wG2oNrLD8bY/S4Vxwa6pwHI/AAAAAAAAAOM/592uqZMHb3U/s1600-h/flying+car+table+1.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; DISPLAY: block; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5441880801420099698" border="0" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_wG2oNrLD8bY/S4Vxwa6pwHI/AAAAAAAAAOM/592uqZMHb3U/s800/flying+car+table+1.jpg" /></a> Another view from underneath. The cancelator device contains an internal gyroscope which maintains a level surface and compensates for the weight of an object placed on the tabletop. This does NOT mean you can stand on it or try to use it to get away from Biff's great grandson. Hellooooo, McFly!!Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7510275567603529374.post-66287715277802237332010-02-14T23:37:00.006-05:002010-02-15T00:19:19.321-05:00Flying Car InteriorHere's my first wild stab at furnishing this flying vehicle. Again, I'm assuming a future where manufacturing methods have improved and new light weight, yet durable materials have been developed to allow a piece like this to function properly. It's an L shaped sofa with a <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_0" class="blsp-spelling-corrected">definite</span> 60's "Mod" influence (click on images to view full size.)<br /><br /><p><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_wG2oNrLD8bY/S3jRhbquIJI/AAAAAAAAANk/pG0hIJynZgg/s1600-h/flying+car+sofa+1.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; DISPLAY: block; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5438326922342703250" border="0" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_wG2oNrLD8bY/S3jRhbquIJI/AAAAAAAAANk/pG0hIJynZgg/s800/flying+car+sofa+1.jpg" /></a> I knew I wanted something with open spaces and nice organic curves and this seems to fit the bill pretty well. By the way, don't get attached to any of these colors. That's supposed to be wood grain on the walls and entry hatch. The carpet is just thrown down to set off the sofa. Below is the sofa by itself with shadows turned off to give a sense <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_1" class="blsp-spelling-corrected">of</span> how the curves work.<br /><br /><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_wG2oNrLD8bY/S3jUwxjKVDI/AAAAAAAAANs/ytHo3acguB0/s1600-h/flying+car+sofa+2.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; DISPLAY: block; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5438330484449498162" border="0" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_wG2oNrLD8bY/S3jUwxjKVDI/AAAAAAAAANs/ytHo3acguB0/s800/flying+car+sofa+2.jpg" /></a> And finally, another view <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_2" class="blsp-spelling-corrected">from a</span> different angle. Notice the C shaped curve of the base. That's what I mean about developing new materials. Whatever that's made of will need to have enormous <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_3" class="blsp-spelling-corrected">tensile</span> strength to be so thin and still support both the seat components and occupants. </p><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_wG2oNrLD8bY/S3jXGtleHXI/AAAAAAAAAN0/-EJpx_35JKk/s1600-h/flying+car+sofa+3.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; DISPLAY: block; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5438333060365819250" border="0" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_wG2oNrLD8bY/S3jXGtleHXI/AAAAAAAAAN0/-EJpx_35JKk/s800/flying+car+sofa+3.jpg" /></a> The nice part is, now that I've made this, I'll be able to chop up the armrests to make a pair of matching chairs and, hopefully this will turn into a swinging little lounge area. See ya soon.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7510275567603529374.post-42072465507664683732010-02-08T01:40:00.011-05:002010-02-08T02:40:45.605-05:00Another Flying Car UpdateAlthough it sure doesn't feel like it, I guess work has progressed enough to warrant a visit to the flying vehicle (click on images to view full size.) Here's an outside shot showing the addition of a transparent domed canopy and towards the rear, two access hatches (turns out you need some way to get in and out of this thing.)<br /><br /><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_wG2oNrLD8bY/S2-zgJBj9II/AAAAAAAAAM8/kskk0tmUpcM/s1600-h/flying+car+feb+1.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; DISPLAY: block; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5435760640019133570" border="0" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_wG2oNrLD8bY/S2-zgJBj9II/AAAAAAAAAM8/kskk0tmUpcM/s800/flying+car+feb+1.jpg" /></a> Next, an inside view of the entry hatch. In true sci-fi fashion, the hatch slides open horizontally into the bulky looking cabinet also containing a small control pad and recessed view screen. The two rectangular panel doors could provide storage and access to the electronics and mechanics of the hatch.<br /><br /><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_wG2oNrLD8bY/S2-3U1CUB0I/AAAAAAAAANM/LOqf6B5xRIU/s1600-h/flying+car+feb+3.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; DISPLAY: block; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5435764843721525058" border="0" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_wG2oNrLD8bY/S2-3U1CUB0I/AAAAAAAAANM/LOqf6B5xRIU/s800/flying+car+feb+3.jpg" /></a> Here's an exterior close-up of the hatch in a half open position. The extreme angled look of the hatch was just by trying to fit it to the contours of the vehicle and maintain some kind of aerodynamic shape. It wasn't intentional, but I think it has a nifty, early 80's "Buck Rogers" vibe. <p><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_wG2oNrLD8bY/S2-5_flb5BI/AAAAAAAAANU/sYatyIZavA8/s1600-h/flying+car+feb+4.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; DISPLAY: block; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5435767775720891410" border="0" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_wG2oNrLD8bY/S2-5_flb5BI/AAAAAAAAANU/sYatyIZavA8/s800/flying+car+feb+4.jpg" /></a><br />Finally, a close-up of the touch screen control panel. Not trying to get too in-depth here, I just want to give a sense of functionality with a simple user interface. I'll probably do something similar with the view screen above it.<br /></p><p><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_wG2oNrLD8bY/S2-9GbYdniI/AAAAAAAAANc/MKNQK-gMC2g/s1600-h/flying+car+feb+5.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; DISPLAY: block; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5435771193386704418" border="0" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_wG2oNrLD8bY/S2-9GbYdniI/AAAAAAAAANc/MKNQK-gMC2g/s800/flying+car+feb+5.jpg" /></a><br /></p>Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7510275567603529374.post-24464191782589378082010-01-18T13:18:00.007-05:002010-01-18T18:59:51.642-05:00Flying car updateQuick update showing the (not so rapid) progress of my flying vehicle. The angled support struts are there to give some sense of an underlying framework and also to segment that needless expanse of glass. You can't tell, but I've also tapered the cockpit section a bit. (Click on images to view full size.)<br /><br /><p><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_wG2oNrLD8bY/S1SnMDDpHUI/AAAAAAAAAMk/KNOvfkI7wtY/s1600-h/flying+car+4.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; DISPLAY: block; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5428147276309142850" border="0" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_wG2oNrLD8bY/S1SnMDDpHUI/AAAAAAAAAMk/KNOvfkI7wtY/s800/flying+car+4.jpg" /></a> Interior shot (with the shadow settings off) to show the steps and railing of the elevated cockpit section. Nothing too fancy. </p><p><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_wG2oNrLD8bY/S1SoYve0ZFI/AAAAAAAAAMs/c19hulQypso/s1600-h/flying+car+5.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; DISPLAY: block; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5428148593904346194" border="0" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_wG2oNrLD8bY/S1SoYve0ZFI/AAAAAAAAAMs/c19hulQypso/s800/flying+car+5.jpg" /></a>Finally, a rear shot showing the downward sweeping window section. Again, all that uninterrupted window seems impractical. The trick is to decide where to make the divisions without sacrificing the natural flow of the design. Still a long way to go on this.<br /><br /><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_wG2oNrLD8bY/S1Sp_DjY_uI/AAAAAAAAAM0/pBrFc7suv2s/s1600-h/flying+car+6.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; DISPLAY: block; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5428150351638888162" border="0" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_wG2oNrLD8bY/S1Sp_DjY_uI/AAAAAAAAAM0/pBrFc7suv2s/s800/flying+car+6.jpg" /></a><br /></p>Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com0