Concept Art

[(TLL) Heretic]

i havent had much time lately, though this does give me a chance to ask ppl about using those pens that draw straight into the 3d program.

does anyone use one of these, are they worth having ?

I don't use one, but mostly because a good one is just too pricey for me ATM

Are they worth having?  Depends on what your modeling and how you work, if you were working in organic models, or decorative patterns then sure I can see a big use for a pen.  And if you have one you can do a scetch and keep refining it until your ready to use that as a pattern template for building into a 3D model which I can see is very useful.

People modeling mechanical objects tend to use the mouse rather than the pen, from what I've read.

The Organics course for the free Truespace program has a guy that uses a pen and tablet almost exclusively, in one of the first videos he talks about the tablet setup etc. you might find it interesting for that and for the modeling in general http://www.caligari.com/products/trueSpace/ts5/Courses/WorkspaceOrganicModeling1.asp?Cate=Training&Subcate=Fundamental

It was the first 3D modeling tutorial I did  There's a few free 3D programs out there, Truespace is a great starting point for a beginner as it's got a wealth of video tutorials and a very easy icon driven interface (unlike Blender which is very daunting for a beginner, but also has a wealth of tutorials).

[(TLL)KitLightning]

I use Pen&Tablet as often as I can. Its mostly a habit, and its quite an annoyance switching between the mouse and pen anyway. The Mouse is for when I´m not using 3DS or PS.

[Ghiest]

I've been using Tablet&pen for about 10 years I suppose, I think the work flow is allot quicker if you set it up right.  But I do more traditional art rather than just 3d (which I've just started doing really).  At work I get to play on the newer cintiq at home I use the older wacom.  But I must say that 99% of the modelers and artists here use a tablet&pen or the higher end pen&screen cintiq's, but the higher you go the more expensive it becomes.  Low end wacom bamboo are $99 ish (not the bamboo craft/fun ones as they are a waste of time really), so you can get into it pretty cheaply.

[[SF]JT Kirk]

Many Thanks ppl,
i sincerly appreciate the data.

i am finding the mouse counter-intuitive for drawing.

i have found the video tutorials helpful, but some of the text based stuff turns my poor olde brain to mush.
no doubt they will be more useful as i learn the terminology

i saw some pens in a local cataloge the other day, i will pick one up asap

thanks again for the feedback, much appreciated

[Strapped McGee]

Nice...

Still wondering where they keep the spare rounds for Launchers

bags of holding........

[Chavez_Ninja]

OK here is my model of the Incubus from the Ghost Bear manual.
http://blenderartists.org/forum/showthread.php?t=160081

I will do the Horned Owl next.

[(TLL) Heretic]

OK here is my model of the Incubus from the Ghost Bear manual.
http://blenderartists.org/forum/showthread.php?t=160081

I will do the Horned Owl next.

A good start!

I think your trouble with the thigh is actually because of the angle of the legs.  The legs on the TRO look like they're at 10 degree angles from the hip/torso (this will give you trouble with the ankle so I'd suggest a ball-joint there).

[Chavez_Ninja]

Here is one of the other references I grabbed.

http://www.weirdozone.com/games/battletech/mech_pics/vixen.jpg

This helped with the thigh shape, but no the joint issue.

If I could figure out how to pose it then I could start to work some things out.

[Askis]

I've never used Blender, but when mirroring in 3Dsmax, you can choose to do a copy(is affected by anything you change on the original) or an instance (is a new object, can be moved/textured independently), I'd guess there's something similar in Blender.

[(TLL)KitLightning]

*cough* an instance is a clone of the original copy and will change accordingly to its original as well as manipulating the instance will change the original. A copy is not affected by its original nor affects it when manipulating the copy. The reference is another way and is affected if the original is manipulated but does not change the state of the original if the reference is manipulated.

[Askis]

Whoops
I get them mixed up sometimes, sorry

[TheANIMAL]

Lol, i remember the days before Blender had a mirror modifyer, the bad old days .

[Cloudburst]

Alot of stuff in this thread needs more dakka and more red paint. Otherwise, I'm stunned!

[XBLACKFIREX]

This isn't my work and I links them on a diffrent page before I think. But This guy has been making these for a LONG time in some Lego program. Hes built Just about every mainstream mech you can think of. CBT, MW4 and yes some MW:darkage. Should go through the site, has aerospace and tanks as well. http://www.brickcommander.com/

[TheANIMAL]

I was thinking of doing a more MWLL themed project at some point. I tried sketching something out that would capture the themes of MWLL but i never figured out how it would work, or how to best render such a thing because i am rubbish at external shots, and a MWLL thmed picture would have to be outside. My Daishi is getting a bit boring to look at to be honest and i havent done anything arty in ages...

I need to tackle something ambitious, but in the end it would have to involve a Timberwolf, its just the most iconic mech of the lot. I think Punekettu's timberwolf is the best 3d model i have seen i could use it as inspiration.