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.
So here I thought this was going to be the last stream and that we had to go all the way to 100% and entirely finish our interior parts. But in the very white excel sheet it says 50%.
I'm glad due to the fact that I could only get my part to around 80% because I took a freelance job which has been taking every little second of my free time. I really should start playing the lottery.
Here's an idea.... ready?...... Make #8 the last stream and the assignment there is everyone has to beautifully UV unwrap all their parts, leave them ready for who ever wants to do shading and texturing for the whole DOG. Yes? No? Maybe? Perhaps? I like it.
Personally, I'd go procedural for 97% of the model apart from some decal-like parts, which can probably be done without great unwrapping (mostly just Project from View or something like that).
Can't honestly see much advantage in unwrapping everything, not because I don't like unwrapping or am too lazy to do it, of course.
Yes to procedural, I'm thinking more on the line of the used up, banged up, dirty look that would use lots of hand placed stuff. Though if the DOG is to be a super Pro ready asset, I think for it all to be a unwrapped is a must. But I think is true that maybe that's for a new phase of the project, we've been dong this for many months now, this phase should stop at modeling. Or maybe we should ask around, who does the UV'ing, the modeling department or the texturing department? I bet it's one of those things that neither wants to do and it gets shuffled around.
I think that a 'used up, banged up, dirty look' can be very effectively achieved with procedural textures (in the rigth hands of course..)
Yeah, I'm waiting to finish up some stuff so I can have time to watch that Thomas Nodevember course on the Blender Cloud. I hope I can level up my procedural game learning from that.
Before this DOG project, I tried to model a car once before, wasn't very good, and often wanted to try again but never got to it.
So thanks to @theluthier for this collaboration, and all you guys and gals for the great information and teamwork.
I have to mention in particular spikeyxxx for the wheel tutorial, 
blanchsb for the tutorials on everything anyone was stuck on, and I have to mention dostovel , for the motivation, the humour and for giving a high standard for us to rise to.
I have learnt so much from this DOG by seeing the progress and insights on how you all work.
Thank you
My award speech......
What do you think......??
Anyway wanted to share my second attempt at a car from what I have learned in the pound.
It's not finished yet but it's getting there.....
At least it has some spikey tyres.
Just realised somethings not right.......
The steering wheel is on the wrong side.
Hey hey hey hey hey hey hey hey............. hey... Why is it our side the wrong side? Maybe your side is the wrong side.
You jeep is looking great. Reminds me of Jurassic Park. You should start putting all your models on the Blender Market. If one of them gets a sale... well if you think you have seen prolific Adrian wait until Adrian feels the rush of a sale.
Jeeps are close to my heart as is @adrian2301. That looks just amazing Mr. Bellworthy. That steering wheel needs a decent Bell symbol where the horn goes in the center there. That needs to be top priority!
I think everyone who touched this project has leveled up their modeling skills. Me included. If you don't believe me take a look at my gallery LOL.
I at least feel like my hard surface and topology skills are getting much better over this year. Having said that I still see lots of hard surface stuff and think to myself "wow how did they do that?" Masterxeon is one of those people. Kent and Omar and Spikey fit that list too.
It's been fun to work with people whose skills are leaps beyond mine and who provide support at such a detailed level. I remember Spikey helping me with topology on my piston assembly like it was only 6 months ago (wait it was!). Man this project has been going a while now that I think of it.
I do wonder if people are getting to the point that they want to be done, especially with the modeling stage (though I feel like a glutten for punishment taking on the seat assembly in a whole new way haha).
I for one wouldn't mind learning the UV unwrapping part on some of the more complex shapes, but procedural does seem to make sense to. And we all know Kent's a shader forgemaster. Just remember to spam fresnel and it'll look good, lol.
@adrian2301 this car would be worth a tutorial 😀! How long did it take you to model this?
Thanks everyone
@theluthier I'm still motivated, I am really enjoying modelling vehicles, so much more satisfaction. I think I have found the meaning of life, or at least something I can do with mine.
duerer this model I have been doing on and off for about 2 months, but if I added up the hours , 8 hours 5 days a week, probably no more than 2 weeks, don't know if that's fast or slow, either way I am enjoying it. Still a little more modelling for the interior, maybe a day at the most Then shading and texturing, but I need some tutorials first on the subject. I have never been good at staying within the lines when colouring in.
blanchsb what do you think of the logo....
Looks great 👍and the bell right there where it has to be 😀! I just imagine pressing this button in the center of the steering wheel and hearing a ringing bell instead of a car horn 😉.
@adrian2301 the steering wheel isn't on the wrong side. You just need to drive on the right side 😉.
PS: An explanation for why the British are driving on the left side is that this dates back to the ages of knights. Imagine two knights opposing eac h other on a trail each with a sword in the right hand (since most people are right-handers). On which side of that trail do they need to be for a fight? And since the British are very aware of tradition, they've kept this with the car traffic 😉😁. I don't know whether this is the truth but I like this image with the two knights opposing each other 😀.
Feel free to make suggestions or revisions on my chair.
In my Google Drive, please ignore files starting with Z.
https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/1NGpRhP2Aqt2nU62XsIx3_jHcWl-vmSAS?usp=sharing
Below, both are same.
File: 00 - Cab 02 .blend
https://drive.google.com/file/d/1LE-mMGPGe-0uSGnEORl9WIy-E82gVzBk/view?usp=sharing
File: 00 - Cab 02 .blend1
https://drive.google.com/file/d/1DsOH7bppaAGnSVQlayo9GuFZlmCZws96/view?usp=sharing
😅 Lol mostly because I'm eager to close this first "chapter" of the DOG project and I feel like UVs could be a whole new can of worms. But I'll pitch your idea during the stream tomorrow and if people want to do it then I won't stop us!