nybt-forum-threads NYBT BAT Thread

[simcity4fan12 13]

Thanks Kryptowhite! I think I'll definately consider that with some of my future projects! I already have one in gmax already though, so it will have the regular lighting. 

It's ok that your not BATing any New York BATs at the moment. It's really great, however, that you're still here and are willing to help with Trunite and reflections! 

[sten1700 102]

I've been working all day on the model xD!

For my skills, this is pretty good. (For my skills xD)

Tell me what you think!

[simcity4fan12 13]

It's looking good I can't wait to see textures on it and a render preview in gmax. To help with the roof and the tip of the spire, here's this picture.

You are getting most details correct, it's looking good. Keep it up.

[Jumpthefence 74]

Originally posted by: sten1700

I've been working all day

quote>

Same here!

Here's a quickie picture of my progress:

Obviously, colors on the bottom haven't been modified, and neither have the mullions. I'm also going to add more window textures, plus a new roof texture, and I have to change the 1st and 12th floors. I'll also add some more details, especially on the roof, but that's all that needs to be done. In fact, it's pretty close to being done...

So tell me what you think. It's only in preliminary stages, but that's the best time to change things around.

[simcity4fan12 13]

77 Water Street is excellent. I like the roof. Thanks for doing a building in Lower Manhattan! That's actually my main focus of BATs in New York. Are you going to put the airplane on the roof? Or is that it on the roof already? Sorry I can't really tell, if it's there its untextured yet I'm assuming.

Here's some progress on 130 Liberty StreetV2. So far, I only changed the glass texture and added a new detail on the roof. I'm thinking about doing the elevated plaza and the foot bridge to the World Trade Center. Or maybe someone could do that part for me because of my other projects. Any way this is a low quality render of it.

That's actually zoom 5, but because of it's size, it looks like zoom 3 from in-game. Is there anyway to make it closer? Maybe like temporarily scaling it down or something...I'm not too sure.

[sten1700 102]

The model isn't finished but I already looked how the building is going to look in the game. Ofcourse textures and all need to be added. I took a screenshot of the roof too.

[Francis90b 748]

I really like what is going there !

sten1700:

Don't forget to model the window frames too.In sketchup they're not important, but in SC4 they can make the difference .

Wonderful model, i can't wait to see more !

[Jumpthefence 74]

Alright, I was prettymuch done as of last night, so here's a picture:

I'm going to add in some more details this morning, but what you see is basically what you'll get. Simcity4fan12, you seem to be pretty good at avoiding criticism, would you suggest anything? I'm really bad at avoiding criticism.

So I:

-Scaled up the biplane 150%

- Created floors 1 and 12

-Moved the ventilation unit on the roof 3 meters (and added a concrete slab where it was)

-Finished textures

-Reduced the amount of blue and lightened the color of the windows

So, any suggestions, anyone?

[Francis90b 748]

Jumpthefence:

It's looking good so far .

I believe it would be a good idea to light a bit the wall texture and to increase it's gradient.

I can see from the real building how much the window frames are thin.In the BAT you should usually exagerate a bit those little details to make them show up correctly.

There are some pics of it at Emporis.

[Kryptowhite 9]

Lot of stuff here:

Simcity4fan12: Love the new glass, as well as the rooftop. My one suggestion would be to make the verticle mullions more visible, the windows look like really wide because its difficult to see them. Can we get a zoom 5 in game? i'm having a bit of trouble judging far out. Also, i can't really say if the black is good or not until we get it in game, but from here it looks fine right now.

Sten: It looks pretty awesome from afar, but just a few things I noticed in the up close shots: The sizes of the windows seem to be slightly different, as does the spacing between windows from side to side. Make sure all your windows that are the same in RL have the same measurements in your bat, and that the gaps that are equal in RL are equal in your BAT. A good way to assure this is to simply measure everything or use the array tool instead of simply eye-balling everything. If you don't fix that, the up close zooms may make the building look somewhat sloppy which would be a shame for such a building. More importantly, make sure the floor heights that should be the same size, are the same size. Are you using RL measurements from google earth, emporis, etc.? Thats really important in recreations.

Jumpthefence: Your version looks very squat. Can you tell me two things? Is the height of your version 133% of the RL version? Is the width and length of your building equal to the width and length of the RL building? [you can measure this in google earth, its a square building so it should be fairly easy!] Other than that, for someone who hasn't even uploaded yet this shows a lot of good tendencies, the distance between windows is consistant, the number of floors is consistant, etc. etc.

My suggestions though, in order of importance are:

1) You absolutely must make the gray area between floors larger. This is probably why your version is so short. The gray area above the windows is almost 2/3 the height of the windows in RL, where as in your version, it is about 1/4. This is probably the biggest reason why your version doesn't quiet look like the real thing yet.

2) That funny gray thing in the middle should be taller. Yours appears to have about 6 "windows" [i don't know what else we would call those thin slots in the facade ] where as in RL, there are 10. So if you add another 4, it should probably make the height look more normal. I think the scaling of the individual slots is accurate though.

3) I agree with what has been said about the windows, the mullions should be more visible, but also, you should vary the shades of blue between windows. An easier way to do this would be to use a texture like the one simcity 4 fan is using, I also have a few glass textures i could send you.

4) Texture EVERYTHING. WIndows, the wall. Using standard gmax colors for anything more than mullions or small pipes is going to end up not so good For the wall, I would suggest basically a very light grey with a slight tint of blue, you can put that together in photoshop or maybe even paint if it lets you. windows i've adressed, For roof textures, I can send you some, but just make sure you have a variation of dark and white between the outside and the inside part, which will look really nice. Also, your current roof texture needs to be darkened a bit.

5) The runway is a nice detail, but the runway doesn't span the whole roof. It cuts off a meter or two from the edges. You can see this pretty easily in bing maps. Other than that, there are a few more details on the roof you could get, and the fans should be scaled up to equal the height of that roof access, but you said you were adding more details so i'll let you catch those.

Not a bad first at all, but like all early bats, it will take a bit of tenacity to get it just right.

[Jumpthefence 74]

Originally posted by: Kryptowhite

Lot of stuff here:

quote>

You weren't lying about that.

Well, thanks for helping out a newbie!

1. I was already about to do that, and the building has not been scaled up 133% yet.

2. Okay. I will do that at some point.

3. I tried varying the shades of the windows; it looks much more realistic. But if you could send me window textures, I would gladly use them. Also, yes, the mullions are far too thin.

4. I thought I would have to do that. So I did that this morning. I use Paint program mainly, but I use the GIMP program if I need to add a filter. That's fine?

5. The runway's now 95% as long as it was, so it leaves about 1.5 meters on each end. And I scaled up and moved the ventilation fans.

Again, thank you very much! I obviously don't know what-the-hell I'm doing, so I'm glad there's someone who does!

PS. This wouldn't be my first model ever. Though it is my first model for NYBT. You knew that... right?

[simcity4fan12 13]

I'm back for today! Whoo...Lots of stuff been going on here!

@Sten1700: It's looking good, but don't forget the window frames on it! I can't wait to see it finished. I'll help in anyway I can. Don't forget accuracy!

@Jumpthefence: It's looks great! Honestly that's the best I've seen from you! Excellent for someone who calls themself a "newbie". Can't wait to see it released. The NYBT will be proud to see our name in the title of it when its released. But I must say the plane is too much of a lime-green compared to real life. It's more of a darker green in real life. But honestly it looks good like that wheather you change it or not, but I think it should just be made darker. And mainly, It should be its size to real life. Just mainly height, the widith looks accurate in my opinion. I don't really avoid criticism. I get it too. It helps get the job done, and done right.

@Francis90b: Welcome to the NYBT BAT Team Thread! Your comments and advice are appreciated.

@Kryptowhite: Yes lots of stuff been happening here. I'll have to draft render it in the game or maybe low quality. The zoom preview, even at 5, it makes it too far. I'll get a quick render of it. I think I'll make the muillions wider too, just depends on the way it looks in the game, which means they'll probably most likely done.

Everyone stay tuned for more updates! BTW I started on my next Pre-9/11 New York Project: Fiterman Hall. I'll show some previews of it in the sketchup process, along with in-game pic of 130 Liberty StreetV2 in the making. Thanks for those who view and comment!

[simcity4fan12 13]

Hate to double post again, but no one was replying and I have some updates so....here we go....

Here's a draft render of 130 Liberty StreetV2 in the game.

It's the same size as the original, becuase it is the original, just different glass texture and some added details to the roof.

Here's some closer pic.

This is the size of the mullions, obviously they need to be wider. It's hard to see them. Mainly at a distance.

Here's another pic of it. Showing the roof upclose.

Remember this is a draft render. I'm still editing things. This was just for some upclose previews becuase the previews wouldn't be closer in gmax. What do you all think?

[sten1700 102]

Window frames? =O

I don't know if I can do that... =O

If I do that now I think the model is done in 2012.

Can't I just make it look like there are window frames with textures? =\

Sorryy!!!

[simcity4fan12 13]

Sten: I think it would be easier to do that in gmax, just make small rectangles and texture them. Or do you want me to help finish the model 100%? I can do it, I got time, the only thing I'm worried about is that it's going to be the largest and most detailed BAT I have to finish, and everyone wants it...so lots of pressure. I think I can finish it soon though, if you want me too. Just send me the sketchup files or 3ds. files, I'd prefer to have the sketchup files. That is, only if you want me too.

[Francis90b 748]

sten1700, SimCity4fan12:

I think i have a way to make things easier.

For this you'll need Gmax.I'd suggest you to make a backup copy first, then...

 -open your model in gmax

-look at the window openings you already have

-look at each type of window you have

This because you need to exactly know what are you going to model.

Then, pick a single tipe:

Make a box to represent it, like this:

having the exact measures is important.Make sure it it exactly the size of your window opening, so that it will fit in it.

Correct placement is important too.

Then:

make some boxes to represent the part of the window thatwon't be the window frame, like the green boxes i've drawn below:

Make sure those two boxes estick out in comparison with your "window frame" box, as shown below:

Then do everything is shown in the picture.

Now attach all the boxes that won't be the window frame (in this case, attach the two green boxes together).

Select your "window frame box, and do what is shown below:

In short, you model a box as your "window frame" and other boxes for each part you won't need.Then attach all those unwanted parts in a mesh and cut them down with the "boolean" tool.

Believe me, it's not as difficult as it seem.

Remember only that the boolean don't work sometimes, so you'll be forced to re-start the process.

After you've done, you can copy your new "window frame" and move it as much as you want with the "array" tool.

If there is anything unclear send me a private message.

[bixel 1,223]

wow! 130 Liberty StreetV2 is looking MUCH MUCH better!

[simcity4fan12 13]

Bixel: Thanks! I'm glad you like it better than the old one. I'm so happy I found the orignal 3ds. file of the old one that I made in the sketchup process because I deleted the original one's gmax scene. Now, is there anything you would suggest? The nitelighting is still going to be the default maxis nite maps, but I'm thinking I should make more floors lit up compared to V1 mainly becuase of many night pics I've seen of it. It looks like every single floor was lit up at night in RL.

Francis90b: Very useful! Thanks! I'll keep that in mind. I usually do window frames in sketchup, but it's sometimes easier to do them in gmax, that's a useful way to BAT them in gmax. Thanks for sharing!

I have no updates yet, I will maybe tommorow or later. Or even late tonight, not too sure we'll just have to see.

Sten1700: How's 40 Wall Street? Did you do anything else to it since you posted that pic?

Jumpthefence: How's 77 Water Street?

Hanson784: Did you ever find the textures for the roof of One Liberty Street and started on the lighting?

b_lschurlf(I hope i spelled it right...): Anything new on your BATs?

Kryptowhite: Got any ideas for a New York BAT?

[Gwail 52]

A nice progress, as I can see here! Pity I don't have too much time these days to show something fresh.

Originally posted by: simcity4fan12

(...) and everyone wants it...so lots of pressure.quote>

There is no need to rush, I think. It's always better to make it a bit slower, but well made in every detail. Everyone will wait as much as needed .

Nice tip with the boolean window frames, but it's good to convert it into a mesh if you're sure it's all right. Boolean objects tend to eat up resources.

Maybe I'll post something from me, too. There isn't anything new, so far, these shots are from my threat at SC4 Dev:

And a final bus shelter version, I think:

It's prepared to be an RTMT prop pack. There will be a prop family with 8-12 different advertises.

Beside this there is another automata project being finished right now, but I won't tell any word about it - it's gonna to be a surprise!

[simcity4fan12 13]

Gwail: Welcome to the NYBT BAT Thread! I think you asked to join our team and we said you could but I can't remember. I hope we did. That stuff looks good! I like the ambulances and the bus stops! You have a surprise too? Haha I have a surprise BAT project I'm working on, now I'm in anticipation and wonder... Can't wait to find out what your's is!

[Kryptowhite 9]

Oooo simcity4fan12 that looks really good up close. Anyways, if I have one complaint, its that your facade has too much depth. Try bringing the windows out about a 1/3 to a 1/2 out, or bring back the facade, and see how that looks. IMO it will look much crisper.

[Jasoncw 11,840]

Yeah, I totally have to second what Gwail said.  Take your time and keep on working on it until it's as good as possible. 

BATs can take a few months from start to finish.  On average I think I finish a BAT every month, but that includes smaller projects.  Bigger projects like the ones you guys are working on should take a little longer.

It's nice to see that a lot of people are taking interest. 

[simcity4fan12 13]

I'll see about the facade of 130 Liberty Street. The real one's facade is sort of deep, but maybe I exaggerated it too much. Imay just keep it as is, but I'll try.

I'm not sure which BAT I'll finish first, 130 Liberty StreetV2, Original WTC7, or my newly started Fiterman Hall. I say Fiterman Hall, because it's not that big compared to those first two I listed. Once those are finished my New York Pre-9/11 BATs will be just about complete. Then I'll try to finish my surprise project. But I might finish the other BATs that aren't part of my Pre-9/11 BATs but they are New York like every one I made so far.

@Jasoncw: I'm glad everyone is taking interest, I'm seeing really expirienced people stop by and comment here every once in a while. Which is good.

[sten1700 102]

That's okay simcity4fan12. Would you like to finish the model? Some parts of the tower isn't finished. And I haven't started on the brown building and that little yellow building. If you can finish the model, to what email should I send the sketchup file? By the way, how is 60 wall street doing? =D

[simcity4fan12 13]

Sure I'll finish it. I just sent you a PM.

I don't have any progress now, but I will later, so stay tuned.

[sten1700 102]

I send you the file! =D

[SimHoTToDDy 2,938]

Looking good guys. Its nice to see a group like this with so much enthusiasm pop up so quickly, I'm surprised no one thought of this before.

The community is in store for some top notch stuff from the looks of it.

-Todd

[simcity4fan12 13]

Thanks for stoping by SimHoTToDDy!

I got Sten1700's Trump Building(40 Wall Street) and I have some good news and bad news.

Good news is: I got it and started working on it. I can finish the base, and the small yellow building attached to it. I'm gonna seperate that brown building next to it and BAT it later. It's a seperate building any way(42 or 41 Wall Street to be exact I think), and I'll BAT it in the near future. So the building will be part W2W(in case someone doesn't know, that stands for "wall to wall") on the side!  

Bad news is: The upper top part and the spire on top of the square tower part is too detailed for me to finish. I did some work with it, but I don't think I can do it without it looking odd.  I'm only excellent mainly with more modern New York buildings, mainly just international, brutalism, post-modern, modernism, ect, ect.. I'm good at Art-Deco buildings, but not excellent. The Trump Building is Art-Deco, but the builders and designers gave it like a Neo-Gothic like spire to make it look older. It's too much for me I'm afraid.  Is there anyone out there that uses sketchup that can be able to finish the spire? I can render it and add certain small details(mainly window frames) in gmax.

b_schlurf(hopefully I still spelled it right..): If you're still here, do you think you can finish the spire for me?

Or anyone else?

[Francis90b 748]

simcity4fan12:

If you can't handle a model in a single scene cause it's too elaborate, you can broke it in sections (decide how you'd like to divide it, delete all the unwanted parts, save the scene with a different name, this for each section in which you plan to divide your model).Then you can work on smaller and easier-to-manage section, rather than working with the whole model.When it's time to group everything up you can use the "merge" tool in the "file" dropdown panel of the BAT, to merge the various scenes together.

Maybe it would be a good idea to work on the spire in a different scene, and merge it back with the rest once everything it's done

[simcity4fan12 13]

Maybe your right. I'm mainly having trouble editing Sten1700's work at the top, not saying it's bad! It's just hard to get it accurate... Everything else I can finish, but I'm not too sure of myself with the spire.

EDIT: It's not that it's too detailed that it would make my computer lag, that happens all the time even with un-detailed buildings but I still finish them and they look good, the part above the long square tower peice has too much detail that it's hard for me to do... or atleast it would help make it easier if I just made the entire model myself, but I don't really want to do that right now becuase I already have this. It needs to be finished. Here's a pic showing the part that I need someone else to do.

I highlighted the part. Everything below I can handle... I need more experience with Art-Deco or older skyscrapers that are smaller and practice with them. So far I only made two that aren't modern..Federal Hall and St. Nicholas Orthodox Greek Church.

Also, how Sten1700 made that part, I'm having trouble editing it. It's not that you did a bad job Sten! It's just it's someone else's work if you get what I mean.

It will look so amazing when finished! But I need help with it too...