Starting in March 2020, I began a large stream project to model a comprehensive, highly-detailed Caterpillar 434E backhoe. Please watch the first stream (first 3 minutes of abridged version at least) for an overview.
It's a straight-forward project of building a complex model over an extended period of time. The spin on the project is that I want your help to accomplish it! If I build some parts and you build some parts, we will finish this thing much quicker. Plus the contribution format will include reviews, the potential of having your piece(s) assimilated into the final model. Not to mention large quantities of XP are at stake 🤑
NOTE: This is an involved project reserved for Citizen members.
The general idea is that I kickoff stages of the project via live stream, which is typically once per month. For the time in between streams, you choose a piece of the backhoe and apply what you learned from the stream to that piece. For example, the first stream covered initial block out. So between stream 1 and stream 2, your job is to pick a piece and block it out.
This is the repeating protocol for each Assignment Period (between-streams):
I will reply to this thread after each stream with a [big] assignment post denoted by a 📣 emoji in the title. There I will clarify instructions about each Assignment Period.
We will centralize our collaborative communication between the streams and this thread. Ask any and all questions pertaining to the Backhoe project here.
@adrian2301 I would say that it's not only a question of saving time which is especially important for people who're doing digital modeling commercially but also a question of developping skills and of mastering a challenge. Of course, I could say that for example my rear axle is a rather hidden part and that most areas will never be seen at from a short distance in the final video but I wanted to model it as realistic as I can and learn what I needed to achieve this goal.
When it comes to modeling a screw head with a cross shape, I think, it makes a difference whether the cross ends already before it can reach the head's rim or whether it hits the rim. My problem was that I wanted to model a cross that uses the full diameter of the head so that the holding edges for the subsurf modeling ran into the round rim. I had no margin where I could somehow redirect these holding edges.
Woot! Level Up!
1198 to go for level 7.
@theluthier , XP's for this week submissions?, I hope you was joking, you was right?? 🤨
this got a bit lost in the chat, but I'd like to volunteer for the steering column.
spikeyxxx I nearly missed this in the thread here - That'd be great if you have the bandwidth! I'll put your name in the spreadsheet for the steering column.
Also thanks for the tip about the back window. I hadn't realized they did that. Shocker I'm sure 😅
spikeyxxx got the premium fiber package. I'm pretty sure he has unlimited bandwidth.
I agree duerer , It's about the process of improving our skills. If I was on this DOG on my own and had a dead line, no way would I have an hour for the small details like this screw. But having said that I like the fact that I could learn to model the details like this , every little helps as they say.
I love the look of the topology there Adrian but the center of the screw is probably going to be farther in (the center of the cross) and the outer parts next to the edge of the cross are going to be a little more shallow with a deep dive towards the center. You've gone this far might as well make it go a little more lol.
For me personally. If I was making this on my own I would probably be using decal machine a lot for the screws. Fake it where I can to cut down on poly count. Do a whole lotta effort to make 1 part look good then let normals, bump, and paralax do their magic.
That screw right there is perfect candidate for a decal. Because the entire screw is inset in that circle depression and you can fake the depth really well on a flat plane that "gives off the effect" of depth.
Nice topology @adrian2301 !
Looked at an older car interior I started on and there I did this for a slotted screw with ring:
with Subsurf:
and never to be seen up closer than this, probably:
Thanks for the trust Kent. I have actually ran into an inconvenience. I've had the office iMac in my home for the whole quarantine (five months now) and I haven't had a computer of my own since almost a year now, and now I've had to grudgingly get back into the office, to hell with quarantine they said, so I don't have a computer to work in at home now.
I'm always saying I'm going to get a rig together, but they've been such a headache in the past that I hesitate to build one. And then there was my super expensive Alienware laptop that the motherboard got toast after not even a year and a half, it was such a waste I lost all faith in laptops. So I'm in computer limbo right now.
I'll just start modeling at work. I've done it before, I arrive an hour early in the morning, eat fast in the hour lunch break and leave one our late in the afternoon. That's 3 hours for modeling everyday. It should be enough.
I have done that too Omar. It's not convenient but since I am there I get some time in during my lunch hour.
I have got a Lenovo Legion laptop and I got a care package protection because I too do not trust windows laptops (I previously owned an HP and it was not so great). Even before my first year is up I think one of my fans is beginning to go out. Thank goodness for the protection plan. I'm going to try some progress on the chair tonight while I rewatch the Mandolorian episodes. We'll see how it holds up.
Now, when you search for images of a CAT434E, you might get referred to CGCookie (probably depends on your search engine...):
Heh I yeah I'm giving you full points for the latest submission. But so far I've not credited anyone's account with submission XP yet. I was waiting to do it all at once. Though perhaps I'll calculate it for the exterior and add it today. If you see a major jump in your XP total you'll know why 😎
Heh I noticed that recently spikeyxxx! Pretty cool that this project might forever be linked to the real CAT434E ✊
Been doing my duty as a MoLE.
The DOG is looking epic in all it's glory in the assembly file.
I noticed a couple of points on my inspection.
blanchsb your shoes are not polished.
dostovel your shirt has not been pressed.
and a couple of minor points.
aartifact the side of the engine enclosure doesn't line up with the top. Maybe just missing a holding edge at the top of the side piece. The top looks a bit wobbly also.
Also the shape at the side doesn't match the shape of the chassis. Looks like a matter of moving those forward facing faces forward. Try saying that fast four times.
and duerer you asked about your hoses on the rear axle. Your two little ones could do with a slightly larger diameter. I have circled where Spikey placed his, which is where the hydraulic tank would be positioned if we had one, and as it happens it is more or less below the steering column where the electric cables will go if you decide to add them.
Can't wait to see the finished DOG, it's looking amazing so far. I for one have learned so much from this collaboration, @theluthier has been awesome leading this project and interacting with everyone has been especially fruitful for my CG journey. Thank you all. 👍
I don't understand what that means. I translate that in my head literally and I don't get the meaning of the phrase. Are there wrinkles in my box?
No Omar, It was supposed to be a joke, like, Stand by your beds, inspection time, army style. I'll have to practise my jokes a bit more.
Well actually I have to get even more familiar with English. There are a lot of things that fly over my head. And speaking it is a bit more difficult. I talked with Kent once a couple of years ago over Skype, he said he could understand me, but I'm always worried I have a bad accent. 😰