Sniper296's BAT Thread

[Sniper296 83]

Projects:

Large Fire Station

A large fire station modeled on a local fire station. The station consists of three connected buildings and a training tower, the station will be a 4x4 lot(yellow square in render).

Gallery

  Edited June 4, 2011 by Sniper296  

[nathanthemayor 1,261]

For some reason as a scroll down, the image stretches. For the ground, I suggest using textures in the LE so that the LODs won't take up as much space.

[Sniper296 83]

I will be using textures in LE, I am using a plane just as reference, sorry about the image I will fix it asap.

edit: 300th post

edit: I could not fix the stretching image so images are now thumbnails that link to the full image.

[Sniper296 83]

Update: I have finished the main building and now starting work on the tower.

[Cockatoo 2,256]

The model looks fine so far.

For the ground, I suggest using textures in the LE so that the LODs won't take up as much space.quote>

Unless you want to decorate your lot with props in the LE instead of modelling them in as part of the BAT - which most people do - it's fine to BAT the base textures as well. BATing 'everything' generally gives a more consistent look and a better overall appearance, although resulting in a much larger model size. If you take this option though, LOD size becomes virtually irrelevant and can be as big or as simple as you want.

Btw, what's going on with your sig? How did you do that - the grey shading?

[Sniper296 83]

Originally posted by: Cockatoo-210893

The model looks fine so far.

For the ground, I suggest using textures in the LE so that the LODs won't take up as much space.quote>

Unless you want to decorate your lot with props in the LE instead of modelling them in as part of the BAT - which most people do - it's fine to BAT the base textures as well. BATing 'everything' generally gives a more consistent look and a better overall appearance, although resulting in a much larger model size. If you take this option though, LOD size becomes virtually irrelevant and can be as big or as simple as you want.

Btw, what's going on with your sig? How did you do that - the grey shading?quote>

It's snow, its made from 3 images LeftEdge 25x17px 731bytes, Middle 48x11px 904bytes, RightEdge 25x17px 731bytes, it just looks longer than the limit due to the repeat.

[Cockatoo 2,256]

Oh, right, that's all good - at first I thought it was all one big image but obviously it's not. I'm still a bit puzzled though, how'd you get the images to show up outside dotted line like that?

[Sniper296 83]

Originally posted by: Cockatoo-210893

Oh, right, that's all good - at first I thought it was all one big image but obviously it's not. I'm still a bit puzzled though, how'd you get the images to show up outside dotted line like that?quote>

Using some CSS.

A note about the plane in the model, I am using it for reference to the size of the lot and as a reflection only when I have made the base textures as the main building has a reasonably large amount of glass at the front.

[Aaron Graham 4,417]

I have a lot of respect for you, you are making things we really need, a firestation great idea. One thing on the image, can you make it a jpeg image, for me when I pass by it it makes my computer lag.

I hope you make more civil buildings for Sim City 4.

[Sniper296 83]

Originally posted by: Aaron Graham

I have a lot of respect for you, you are making things we really need, a firestation great idea. One thing on the image, can you make it a jpeg image, for me when I pass by it it makes my computer lag.

I hope you make more civil buildings for Sim City 4.quote>

Thanks, here is a jpeg of my current progress, if scrolling past the png is lagging you could use the Bottom button  to bypass it until i convert them.

[Aaron Graham 4,417]

Thanks, It does not lag really bad but i do notice change in the scrolling speed.

[SimHoTToDDy 2,938]

Lookin' Good!

I'll just have to keep an eye on this. You are progressing well! I like what you are doing and you haven't even got to textures

Much talent you posses. Bright future you have.

[Sniper296 83]

I will not be posting any updates for a while due to my laptop's screen being shattered.

[Aaron Graham 4,417]

That sucks, so unfair. I wanted to see the work get finish on this.

[Sniper296 83]

Just got my old CRT working, hopefully an update Monday.

Now I am having issues with the software, hopefully I will have this fixed before February.

New screen, new graphics driver, all working!

Update soon.

[Please look under your first post, there is a edit button there. Use that instead of making a new post. Thank you Xyloxadoria- Simtropolis Moderater]

[Sniper296 83]

Here is an update, the tower has been added and I have started on the textures.

I assume that an update dosen't have to be edited in and can be a new post.

[zahrul3 471]

Don't forget to put those roof junk or such, aside from that, give details, and just search for 'daddyo' on the STEX. You'll be good there as he has a ton of brick textures in two sets, you need to edit them to get the most out of them.

[harishna 847]

I like this project, maybe would be nice if you can leave one or two of the garage doors open showing some of the fire engine...

[Sniper296 83]

Originally posted by: zahrul3

Don't forget to put those roof junk or such, aside from that, give details, and just search for 'daddyo' on the STEX. You'll be good there as he has a ton of brick textures in two sets, you need to edit them to get the most out of them.quote>

Roof junk is quite minimal on this building but I will add a few, and thanks for the texture downloads.

Originally posted by: harishna

I like this project, maybe would be nice if you can leave one or two of the garage doors open showing some of the fire engine...quote>

I have designed the doors so they can be easily opened, I might do it so that at certain times some doors are open and at times closed, if anyone knows of a tutorial for that it would help.

[SimHoTToDDy 2,938]

In instances where you do not have a lot of detail to add, using textures becomes very important. Instead of something physical to make one part of the building unique from the next, you can make a one-to-one bitmap for the walls and roof. This means that the markings, dirt, or stains on any given part of the texture correspond to a unique place on the model. It may take a little bit longer to prepare something of this nature, but the impact is much more significant than that of your standard un-tiled bitmap.

Cheers!

-Todd

[Sniper296 83]

Originally posted by: SimHoTToDDy

In instances where you do not have a lot of detail to add, using textures becomes very important. Instead of something physical to make one part of the building unique from the next, you can make a one-to-one bitmap for the walls and roof. This means that the markings, dirt, or stains on any given part of the texture correspond to a unique place on the model. It may take a little bit longer to prepare something of this nature, but the impact is much more significant than that of your standard un-tiled bitmap.

Cheers!

-Toddquote>

Thanks, I have started doing this for the walls and roofs.

Here is the latest update

SORRY I ACCIDENTLY DELETED THE IMAGE

I have added the rest of the training building (building & tower will remain straight until adjustments are done)

New textures have been added to the light walls

Skylights have been added to the second building

One problem though, when i rotate the preview the shadow remains going towards the top right, could this be a problem with the light rig?

3DS 2010 SP1 + BAT4Max 5

[SimHoTToDDy 2,938]

Do a search of your scene's objects, make sure the "hidden objects" and "helpers" are selected, then find and delete "TB2 camera handle". Hit "reset lights & cameras" or one of the LTBL buttons and things should go back to normal.

What size are your doors? They look a little out of proportion to me. Usually, I make normal single doors 1m wide and 3m tall (after vertical scale), but yours appear to be a bit bigger. I don't know if this was done on purpose or not, but I should I should point it out. I don't have much more to add, just keep up the good work!

[Sniper296 83]

Thanks, the shadows now work. The doors on the tower and right building are placeholders and are being replaced, do the doors look to scale on the main building?

[Sniper296 83]

Sorry for the double post but no replies.

I forgot to post this update yesterday.

[SimHoTToDDy 2,938]

Looking better.

Sorry I forgot to get back to your question. The doors do look a little big, but you are the only one who can tell for sure. I gave you the guidelines of what I use, so it is up to you to measure and see for yourself.

It looks like you are using transparent glass for your main building. The general consensus about glass is that it should be opaque with a large part of it's appearance based on reflections. It is ultimately up to you how you want to do it, but fully transparent glass and an interior really doesn't add as much to the model as one might expect. Sometimes it looks just as good (often better) faking the interior completely.

[Sniper296 83]

…

It looks like you are using transparent glass for your main building. The general consensus about glass is that it should be opaque with a large part of it's appearance based on reflections. It is ultimately up to you how you want to do it, but fully transparent glass and an interior really doesn't add as much to the model as one might expect. Sometimes it looks just as good (often better) faking the interior completely.

The glass is more translucent than it looks and will be more based on reflection, until I have made the ground textures it is reflecting an aerial photography shot and looks slightly odd.

Sorry there has not been an update in ages but my laptop no longer has the power needed to render the scene, I am still working on the model and will post a render when I have finished building my new computer (estimated end June). I may post a few scanline renders until I have the new computer.

  Edited June 4, 2011 by Sniper296  

[Ceafus 88 1,794]

Its Looking Good So Far.

[Sniper296 83]

My new computer has reached a runnable state and I am starting work in this project again. An update will be posted tomorrow or Wednesday.

[Dannibee 138]

Wow, that's a bump and a half

I wish you good luck with this though, as it looks nearly identical to the fire station near me, so I look forward eagerly

[art128 4,618]

Nice to have you back on track. This fire station was all I needed for my suburbs, so it is very welcomed! Hope to see the next renders soon !