Hey all,

So although I'm not quite new to 3d modeling, I am attempting to get better at it. What I'm going to post is going to be used as an asset in my side project. This I think so far is the best that I've managed to do. What do you guys think? Where does it need improvement? Where is it good?

Here are the pics:

[attachment=31231:havocmk1back.jpg]

[attachment=31232:havocmk1back2.jpg]

[attachment=31233:havocmk1below.jpg]

[attachment=31234:havocmk1front.jpg]

[attachment=31235:havocmk1front2.jpg]

[attachment=31236:havocmk1frontal.jpg]

[attachment=31237:havocmk1left.jpg]

[attachment=31238:havocmk1leftside.jpg]

[attachment=31239:havocmk1right.jpg]

[attachment=31240:havocmk1top.jpg]

Clear form, easy to see what it is.

Attractive shapes, easy on the eyes.

It's a clear 3D model, not great, however a good foundation to work with.

Now the criticism:

First is your detail distribution, both the textures and the mesh.

You have large flat wings and tiny over detailed guns. The same problem with textures your wings have large camo spots, and the smaller wings have smaller camo spots.

When making textures you need to match the texel density.

Your bump map looks like a error, instead of a useful texture. I think the model would look better if you just removed it.

Overall not bad for a beginner, you are on the right track.

Why are the small wings attached to the main wings a polygon thick?

Quick Tip:

Learn to up step circles, it helps to keep the detail constant and is a large part of controlling topology.

Most 3D modelers prefer base 4, it helps to keep quads.

Precision modelers and engineers base 3. Some thing to do with dividing a circle in equal parts?

First is your detail distribution, both the textures and the mesh.

You have large flat wings and tiny over detailed guns. The same problem with textures your wings have large camo spots, and the smaller wings have smaller camo spots.

When making textures you need to match the texel density.

Do you mean the guns are really detailed or the nose of the Havoc? I realize the wings are a bit lacking in detail. I tried to use a bump map to make that a bit better. I'm using Maya and I'm not too sure how to add more details to the wings.

Your bump map looks like a error, instead of a useful texture. I think the model would look better if you just removed it.

Which bump map, out of curiosity? There's one on the fuselage, one for the main wings, the engines, and one for the horizontal stabilizers/elevator. There's also one for the nose.

Why are the small wings attached to the main wings a polygon thick?

That's for fixing an error in Unity 3d: they won't render if they are just faces, so I thickened them up a bit.

Any others who want to give me feedback, I'd appreciate it! Thanks again all!

Why do the normal maps have so many bumps? we are talking a plane here... This means it should be smooth and only have bumps where rust or dents might have occurred. The current theme makes it look very unrealistic. I will throw together something here in a bit to show you what I am talking about. Also, I am not sure the theme you are wanting to go with but depending it could very much change how much critique can go on. Right now, I would have a few complaints about the style and model choices, but again the attempt you wanted to aim for matters.

Clear form, easy to see what it is.

Attractive shapes, easy on the eyes.

It's a clear 3D model, not great, however a good foundation to work with.

Now the criticism:

First is your detail distribution, both the textures and the mesh.

You have large flat wings and tiny over detailed guns. The same problem with textures your wings have large camo spots, and the smaller wings have smaller camo spots.

When making textures you need to match the texel density.

Your bump map looks like a error, instead of a useful texture. I think the model would look better if you just removed it.

Overall not bad for a beginner, you are on the right track.

Why are the small wings attached to the main wings a polygon thick?

Quick Tip:

Learn to up step circles, it helps to keep the detail constant and is a large part of controlling topology.

Most 3D modelers prefer base 4, it helps to keep quads.

Precision modelers and engineers base 3. Some thing to do with dividing a circle in equal parts?

Certain engines only work in tri aswell :P Although I prefer quads.

Why do the normal maps have so many bumps? we are talking a plane here... This means it should be smooth and only have bumps where rust or dents might have occurred. The current theme makes it look very unrealistic. I will throw together something here in a bit to show you what I am talking about. Also, I am not sure the theme you are wanting to go with but depending it could very much change how much critique can go on. Right now, I would have a few complaints about the style and model choices, but again the attempt you wanted to aim for matters.

I was just trying to put in the panel lines for the plane. Also I just wanted to add more detail to the overall design. The theme I going for is like a SciFi aircraft that in its age is actually quite outdated. I'm probably going to either remove the wing bump maps or try to improve them. Do you think the fuselage bump map should go as well?

I also say reduce the bumps... really, unless this is a wreck, rather do NO bumps in the flat areas of the texture... the material "microbumps" of painted metal would be really small even on something as a tank, and a plane actually has a way smoother surface (has to, as the bumps in the surface would increase drag), so just drop it.

I would also look at the specular... too shiny. While a painted civilian plane might have a shiny finish, a military model never has. It would kinda defeat the purpose of the camo. And in this case, it increases the effect of the bumps....

Then for something more subjective... I would use MORE reference images. When I look at your plane, I see you looked at some sci-fi, and maybe at some real planes and vehicles. That is good.

But I see that in the end you ended up with some parts that look rather "unrealistic".... the engines... the weapons in the front. the landing skids.

They are all "okay". I see what they should be , in this sense the fill a purpose. MAYBE they enhance the LOOK of the plane even if being unrealistic (I am not so sure here)...

Still, when your plane should be use more "up close", details like that could stick out too much (also because of the different detail size as explained before). I advise you too look into some theory first, before designing your plane. What I mean:

1. The engines do no look like normal jet-engines. Now, you could say its not a jet engine, its sci-fi tech. Well, it doesn't look very partctical unless its some very weird tech (not streamlined at all). Just for the sake of giving the player something "familiar", if in doubt, go with something realistic, and practical looking.

2. The weapons are not streamlined at all. Both of them. For an example how a gatling cannon has to be integrated into a plane look at an F-14 if you want to go with a fast plane... or the A-10 if you can live with a less streamlined plane.

The rocket launcher (I just guess it is that) has a realistic counterpart, the german Bachem Ba 349 Natter from the last days of WW2... that looked quite similar. After the cap of the launcher was blown off. Because LIKE THAT, no plane could fly at more than maybe 500 km/h..... The Natter had a streamlined cap to get above the plane to be intercepted with speed, and the cap was only blown off shortly before the enemy was engaged.

I am pretty sure you will find more streamlined multiple rocket launchers, and of course, the slower the plane should be, the less such stuff looks out of place. Still, at the moment I do not feel that the weapons look right on your plane... they look like an aftertought tacked unto the plane.

Apart from that, I would maybe distribute the weapons over the plane... having all in the nose looks not very balanced to me from a design perspective.

3. I would rather go with NO landing gear than with the one you sculpted. Really, while it might be good enough for being shown as a small RTS Unit, do you really NEED to sculpt landing gear in this use case? When the unit shown is so small, you could save even more ploygons by just leaving it away.

In general though, a rather good first try. Really, keep it up, and practice. You are on the right tracks

Why do the normal maps have so many bumps? we are talking a plane here... This means it should be smooth and only have bumps where rust or dents might have occurred. The current theme makes it look very unrealistic. I will throw together something here in a bit to show you what I am talking about. Also, I am not sure the theme you are wanting to go with but depending it could very much change how much critique can go on. Right now, I would have a few complaints about the style and model choices, but again the attempt you wanted to aim for matters.

I was just trying to put in the panel lines for the plane. Also I just wanted to add more detail to the overall design. The theme I going for is like a SciFi aircraft that in its age is actually quite outdated. I'm probably going to either remove the wing bump maps or try to improve them. Do you think the fuselage bump map should go as well?

The generalized bump map does not work for such things. Metal isnt "generally" bumpy in this manor and certainly in not big clunks like that. If you had rust regions that might make sense for some odd bump maps in that area and then maybe really bumpy areas where the metal starts to peel away. Normals maps have to make sense for your art to look realistic and more believable. However, if the style you wanted was cartoony than its a different matter all together. In any matter, the goal should be to use realistic values and modify them based off of the style you wish to go for. We do the same thing with human anatomy and character models. You dont want to just place some randomized anatomy without any form or function because you think it will "look good", to the human eye it will look off and people will judge the model/character based off of this impression. However, when you work on something that has a purpose or a reason and follows the form of an object the brain will fill in the puzzle pieces automatically and the viewer will not skip a beat or question the choices. To get an idea of what metal looks like when rusted check these out:

http://www.mayang.com/textures/Metal/html/Metal%20Objects/index.html

Notice the smoothness of the non rusted areas. Painted metal has a VERY small bump map to it, but you shouldnt see this from a far away profile. However, when you get close you could.

http://developer.download.nvidia.com/whitepapers/2008/normalmapdxt_id_files/09_metal.png

Is another example of a normal map that might be found on the metal. notice most of the texture is flat and without variance. In the "dented" areas you have some slight bends and curves but they are rather large and not spread across the entire surface. Even the dents where something hit the metal are deep, precise, and with purpose. Try to aim for this in your bump map and you will really have something. If you are just doing this to learn, you could provide the .fbx here and I wouldnt mind throwing together something for you to look at. Assuming the UV's are not horrible :P I dont like to waste time fixing uv's, but thats just me.

Nice.