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.
I only sit on my laurels. This chair is meant for more noble rumps haha.
Trying to dedicate the tribute to @ritag due to her unfortunate circumstances, but I fear I may not complete everything by Monday evening. Just doing what I can and hopefully it is good enough for the pound.
@adrian2301 I just had an image in front of my inner eye: Your pumpkin steering our backhoe 😉😁! He's the only pumpkin from our team who can do this job with his tentacles 😉!
Adrian's pumpkin will be well protected in/by our DOG 🎃🐺😉😁! And he's armed himself as well 😉😁!
I am afraid I am not advanced as Shawn Blanch (blanchsb) with the chair. Mine is not as complete as his. It is not rigged.
My file link here: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1lgs_xiu9lKzq_rkgcKpy6OY2BHEYZhfc/view?usp=sharing
Well done, Shawn.
That looks great @ritag given everything else going on!
And my chair is by no means rigged. I don't even know how the scissor lift accessories interact. That's my biggest hurdle. Everything else should not be terrible though.
This post is designed to bookend 7 amazing months of modeling with this crew, The DOG POUND. If you're reading this in 2033 here's the inside terminology decoded:
I said this all on stream but once more I will reiterate how proud I am of the work everyone has done. Thousands - nay - HUNDREDS of thousands of people will dip their toe into the world of 3D modeling yet only a small fraction will ever build something as complex as this. I wear this as a badge of honor as I hope you do too.
Truly the quality of modeling is professional-grade. We couldn't, or very likely wouldn't, have done it without each other. Cheers to each of you in our collective accomplishment 🤝🍻🎉
Being "officially" finished means that there won't be any more streams scheduled about modeling the project and no more grading. BUT technically there's work left to do. A couple of us still have some bits to add. Also I'm committed to animating + rendering + editing a show reel for the DOG! More on that below...
Though I will be unpinning this thread today, If any DOG POUND members still have a little modeling left to do the thread will remain open for discourse or if you want to share your progress. I will be posting when I finish my bits. Again, if you're reading this in the future and the project inspires you, feel absolutely free to build your own backhoe / heavy equipment and post your work in this thread! That would be a very rewarding after effect.
Yesterday I tallied and added XP totals to every contributor's account. @adriant2301 takes home the most points with a staggering 937 total! That's by far the largest single XP sum delivered by me. Adrian doing the work of 2, 3, and sometimes 4 people really paid off.
I'm convinced that a slick animated and rendered video is the best way to show off our amazing model! *Somehow* I'm going to find the time to animated assembly / exploded view shots of everyone's final parts and render them into a stunning video. I admit that it's a LOT of work and it won't be done soon (the next few months) but surely at some point in 2021.
FULL DISCLOSURE: Understand that my goals with a showreel is as follows:
With the goals clearly stated, CGC is more than willing to heed any objections from the DOG POUND. If you're not comfortable with a reel being used this way please contact me at [email protected]. If you could please do so by the end of October, that'd be great. I will wait to hear by then before commencing reel work 👍
An unforeseen (and potentially awkward?) aspect about the DOG is "who technically owns this model?" Since it's made by a team...you see where I'm going with this. As discussed on stream, I'd like to see the DOG available to download as a FREE CGC resource.
I don't want to get too legalese but, legally speaking, I'm not sure we have this officially covered since this kind of project has never been done before. That said it's safe to assume the model is akin to the resource files and source files which are licensed this way:
According to this license CGC is technically the owner BUT rest assured that CGC will never sell the DOG (or any future collaborative project) as a standalone asset (like on the Blender Market for example). Likewise no one else can sell it either, including DOG POUND members.
Again if anyone is uncomfortable sharing the final model as a FREE CGC resource under the above license, please email me: [email protected]!
To conclude this massive wall of text, even if a reel is protested out of existence and / or the model never loads on anyone's computer but ours, I couldn't be more proud of what we've accomplished! DOG POUND FOREVAH!!
I'm totally cool with CGC using my part of the model.
Furthermore, I'd like to offer my services for this showreel when the time comes.
I can help with camerawork, rendering (via sheepit or whatever) and editing (using Motion Graphics templates, or standard video editing.)
This will look great on a reel, and I'm really glad I signed up!
Whoops I meant to tag all members of the DOG POUND:
az93 blanchsb 
dostovel duerer 
hellosudeepsingh 
jakeblended 
ketre spikeyxxxppfbourassa I certainly haven't forgotten your willingness to assist with the reel! It's going to be a big undertaking and I will definitely need help. Thanks again for offering 🤝
@theluthier as you know, I still have to finish my 2 interior pieces. Will it be enough to update the .blend files on the google drive,so the linked versions will be updated automatically? I will of course give notice when I'm finished.
Second, when we are going for the assembly/exploded view format, I will also need to revisit my front axle with hubs, as I tend to leave out things that cannot be seen...won't be a lot of work though, mainly a few screws, most of the front axle is one piece, which made it hard to model, but 'saves' me now ;)
I should have everything technically finished by the time you get to those parts, no other projects on my plate yet.
@theluthier participating in the collaboration, the experience of working on a large project as part of a team, improving my skills and making new friends, far out ways the 937 xp. It was a honour to be apart of this huge collaborative effort by everyone involved.
Thank you all
Thank you Kent. 🤜🤛
I see they saved Spikey for last on the list! A proper design choice.
I hereby grant all permissions, conditions, rights, and privileges for my contributions forthwith to the the PoundMaster @theluthier to do with our DOG as he wishes for the greater Cookie good!
A proper design choice
Or just alphabetic order ;)
I might (and even that is doubtful) have started out as being the "most experienced" contributor (apart from @theluthier of course!), but at the end I have been surpassed by many...
I have grown more than I would have expected and you (read: everybody else ) have grown even more!
This was/is an amazing collaborative project!
Thank you Kent and junior "luthiers" for this amazing opportunity!
Shawn, I will come to you next when I get stuck on something ;)
Thanks to all contributors and to the DOG god Kent!
