Library Tower / US Bank Tower, Los Angeles BATing

[croyboy20052003 0]

I've recently started working on one of LA's major icons and i hope i can work on and finish most of LA's major skyscrapers...

i thought the Library Tower would be the best place to start because it looks the hardest... this building has been done before by Rickk and he has also been working, as far as i know, on the Aon, also in LA.

i would appreciate any comments on this project i am currently attempting and also i will update with pics of my work and the actual monuments they replicate.

i've worked for about 3 hours and here's what i have:

[Glenni 1,444]

im not sure if you just want to make your own version but, the library tower is already batted.

[Furious M 0]

Nothing wrong with having options. Looks pretty good so far.

[croyboy20052003 0]

one thing everyone will notice about the other version is that it has the First Interstate logo. one minor complaint everyone gave it also is it's color was a bit off tint or something.

i want to build this one without a logo (just like everyone in LA. liked it in the first place). also, i want to make a separate version with the current US Bank logo.

this is just the start of not just the Library tower, but all of Downtown LA's most iconic skyscrapers, including new buildings that have yet to be built (anyone keeping up with LA LIVE and Grand Ave.?)

i understand that there is already a Library Tower and i hope i can do as great a job as Rickk did on his project. i have a reputation of being a perfectionist in most of my art hobbies, this BAT might not come out for a while... and i attend school.

again, i would like more comments and suggestions.

[Alkaola 18]

the BATted library tower from Rickk isn't perfect .. the colors are far too dark and he has never updated it

so try to make it better

[Glenni 1,444]

oh ok,anyway good luck on this one as your first,this aint gonna be easy for you ,but best wishesfor you!

[yoder7652 21]

I think it looks good, you are off to a great start for just 3 hours! I agree that options are always best. Personally I like the US Bank logo.

[MayorTim 16]

Looks good, but much much to green/blue (unless you haven't done texturing yet) Also, try to make this one thiner and taller than Rickk's, his ended up looking fat to me compaired to the real thing.

[vester_DK 477]

Looks pretty good. Can't wait to see some textures on this one.

Someone please move this thread to Custom Content  --> BAT - Open Discussion

[croyboy20052003 0]

i haven't textured this yet, and probably won't get around to it for a while... modeling this thing is hard, i can make most things with one object, but i have about 10 objects making up this building.

i also thought rickk's looked a little fat, but other monuments that came with the game look fat to me also like the chrysler and empire state building. probably the aerial view thing or something... anyway the hieght looks pretty good to me. what do you guys think:

[mayormommy 8]

Thread moved to BAT forum - MM

[Skyfire2275 23]

Looks good so far... keep up the good work. I'm curious though... what do you mean you only have 10 objects? Do you mean groups or literally objects?

[croyboy20052003 0]

literally, objects... 2 cylinders, 1 tube, a few boxes, 2 planes, etc...

i will go back and sort of trace around the whole structure. right know i'm thinking how i would make the windows, entrance, steps, roof. i go to school tomorrow and i can figure it out on 3dmax. right now i am using the BAT gmax program and i don't like the limitations that would make this so much easier.

i'm thinking i can get this modeled fairly quickly, but i still need to figure out texturing using gmax... i've looked and i don't think it's done the same way as i would do it in 3dmax. correct me if i'm wrong though.

[Skyfire2275 23]

You can make BATs in 3dsmax too. There is a thread in the BAT workshop forum about it. I don't have it or use it (I wish I did)... but I have heard about it, so Iwill pass it along here.

Also, as far as I know, for the night lighting to work well, all the windows need to be separate objects. But I'm a $%&^! at BATting too!

[cowkilla 12]

if your ever in need of more reference images PM me...

[croyboy20052003 0]

yes... any reference images would be very helpful. preferably roof and ground level on any side of this thing. i don't think i'll be in downtown for at least 2 weeks, otherwise i could get these pictures sooner. and thanks for the nightlighting tips. maybe i'll also try to build in 3dsmax as well.

[GMT 389]

hm... lets see how it turns out in the final release-version!

having an eye on it ;-)

[croyboy20052003 0]

i've worked about another 5 hours and here's what i got so far.

things have been resized and demensions are more accurate toward the top.

looks a little funny but will get better as i go on.

[dwayner 1]

How big is the lot going to be becouse there is one on the STEX and the lot is pretty big, and nice job so far.

 

[croyboy20052003 0]

thanks. i'm aiming for the lot to be smaller than the other version's on STEX. my building is skinnier (i believe), and the actual base of the building is smaller than the one Rickk built. when you look at the building's front entrance, the right wall actually hugs the skyscraper's side. also, the steps, backside, front entrance are pretty much up to the street (besides good sidewalk space). you can check it out at http://local.live.com/

i hope to get this lot in a 5x5 or 4x5. satelite show the building on a perfect square lot (front and back streets by left of steps and right wall)

[yoder7652 21]

This continues to look good...keep it up, can't wait to see it with some textures!

[blahdy 21]

Great progress here!

Yea, I'd love to have the one with current US Bank logo on it

[croyboy20052003 0]

is anyone here very good at BATing?

im doing great on the model and now i need to know if there is a quick way to get rid of extra vertices without having to weld each and every one of them. i just need to get rid of the vertices that are only connected to 2 edges.

is there a way or do i have to take the scenic route?

[cowkilla 12]

if you are using bat for max... and max 7 or greater you can convert your mesh to edit poly. select all the not wanted verts and hit remove verts. i would recomend doing this befor setting up UVs

[croyboy20052003 0]

i hope i have the option in this program

[cowkilla 12]

ah! your using gmax... nevermind

p.s. first thing i said is "IF you are using bat for max..."

[croyboy20052003 0]

hmm... i might be a while...

[dwayner 1]

Select the vertice/s and press [Ctrl] + [backspace]. It removes vertices without messing around with the line. Also this works for edges to. I am not sure if it works in gmax through. Just try it and see.

[cowkilla 12]

posting keyboard shortcuts is generaly not a good idea. they are very user specific and could be changed by anyone to do anything.

also, i dont know were you are getting that from because it is listed nowere in the keyboard shorcuts list for edit mesh or edit poly in max7 max8 or gmax

[dwayner 1]

That's weird, as long it is a editable poly you can use those keys. I use [Ctrl] + [backspace] all the time in max 8 when modling, it is a easy way to get rid of ngons. So I am not sure if gmax has this or not. Also all my keys are on the default settings.