Yoshi's BAT Playground

[ROFLyoshi 1,760]

Welcome!

Like many, I have decided to jump on the bandwagon and start modeling for Sim City 4. So here will be my thread to showcase works as well as take hints, help and criticisms.

My first project will be a local building from my town, the Nicholas Building. Rising 41 metres above the corner of Swanston St and Flinders Lane, it's style follows the Chicago school of architecture and is a little Melburnian gem.





And of course, my version so far...



I have taken some liberality with the lot length as I want it to fit on a 3x2 lot as a W2W. (the width is only 1 metre more than IRL but the back is several metres longer).

[libellibicus 396]

A solid start. Keep it up.

[Forthwall 1,118]

Good start, I wish the best of luck!

[T Wrecks 10,209]

I'll be following this thread. I like the building you chose, and so far the BAT is shaping up nicely.

[jason leo 485]

Looking nice, mate !

[ROFLyoshi 1,760]

Thanks for the encouragement guys

Its one of my town favourites. I prefer the little W2W ones anyway, and I will leave the skyscrapers to Reddonquixote. More progress pictures will follow, I just need to model the roof and the little architectural features and motifs, as well as getting to make some windows.

Should I use some roof props or would it be best to model them myself? Same goes for a billboard that hangs on the southern face of the building.

[B.C builder 291]

A real nice start!

And I'm looking forward to download it/ to see it finish

[Toothless Stitch 2,901]

Before you get used to gmax, you should maybe think about getting 3dsMax. However, I like your start

[ROFLyoshi 1,760]

What can 3DSmax do that Gmax can't?

[Hamish 1,369]

Gmax can sort of be seen as 3DS Max's younger brother, it can't do everything that 3DS Max can, but is still a viable way of modelling for simcity 4. 

Gmax has more support through tutorials in the omnibus, so if you want Simtropolis to be your main place for modelling help, then I suggest using gmax first, and then moving on to 3DS Max later once you have general modelling ideas down.

I made two buildings through gmax before moving on to 3DS, and I suggest everyone does the same if modelling buildings for SC4. There are more tutorials on ST for gmax, and once you get the basic ideas and concepts down, then moving to 3DS Max will be a whole lot easier.

[ROFLyoshi 1,760]

Gmax can sort of be seen as 3DS Max's younger brother, it can't do everything that 3DS Max can, but is still a viable way of modelling for simcity 4. 

Gmax has more support through tutorials in the omnibus, so if you want Simtropolis to be your main place for modelling help, then I suggest using gmax first, and then moving on to 3DS Max later once you have general modelling ideas down.

I made two buildings through gmax before moving on to 3DS, and I suggest everyone does the same if modelling buildings for SC4. There are more tutorials on ST for gmax, and once you get the basic ideas and concepts down, then moving to 3DS Max will be a whole lot easier.

Makes a lot of sense. I'll probably finish up this building then and move over to 3DSmax.

Anyway the structure of the building is done, now I just need to deck out the windows, model the little flourishes and whatnot.

[jason leo 485]

Nice job with the model. Let's go to the next stop, texturing.

[T Wrecks 10,209]

gmax actually can be regarded as something like 3dsmax 5 lite: a sorely outdated version of 3dsmax stripped of many features. AFAIK, there's nothing you can do in gmax that you can't do (better, faster, and with fewer bugs and limitations to boot) in 3dsmax, but there's much you can do in 3dsmax that won't work in gmax because it was either excluded from the "lite" version of 3dsmax that gmax really is, or because it hadn't yet been developed at the time gmax was made.

[ROFLyoshi 1,760]

Nice job with the model. Let's go to the next stop, texturing.

Thanks, I just need to model some windows... time to find some tutorials to modelling glass.

[libellibicus 396]

Looking good.

[darn42 1,268]

For your purposes, I'd just make a big plane and put it inbetween your mullions. Idk about materials in gmax for windows, but that will be good for the geometry.

[ROFLyoshi 1,760]

I hate to be a pain (pun not intended), but I am having trouble with applying textures.
I have made a thin sheet-like cube to sit as the window glass, but I don't know how to apply a image to the cube. I've tried experimenting, but so far fruitless. Anyone have any tutorials/answers?

[jason leo 485]

I hate to be a pain (pun not intended), but I am having trouble with applying textures.

I have made a thin sheet-like cube to sit as the window glass, but I don't know how to apply a image to the cube. I've tried experimenting, but so far fruitless. Anyone have any tutorials/answers?

First, create a texture. Then, click the object (in this case, windows). Then, click the texture and click the "apply" button. The box will use the texture you made afterward.

[Toothless Stitch 2,901]

Why do you already care about texturing? As I can see, your building is far from being modelled. And you shouldn't start with texturing until you are. Btw, you should use preview option to see how it'll look in SC4

[ROFLyoshi 1,760]

Much more progress is done than in that picture Skyscraper, and even though there are bits and pieces to finish, I just want to know how to apply it.

That's what I have been doing Jason, but no avail.

[jason leo 485]

That's what I have been doing Jason, but no avail.

Make sure that you don't make any mistake, create the texture first by clicking the "new" button, then select the object and click apply after you select the object, don't do the opposite, it will not works.

[ROFLyoshi 1,760]

That's what I have been doing Jason, but no avail.

Make sure that you don't make any mistake, create the texture first by clicking the "new" button, then select the object and click apply after you select the object, don't do the opposite, it will not works.

Ah okay, that's probably what I have been trying to do.

In the meantime, more modeling away! Will put a progress shot (in preview for you Skyscraper ) when the model is complete and just before it needs a texture.

[Toothless Stitch 2,901]

Btw, that was actually no offense!

[ROFLyoshi 1,760]

None taken.

Any criticism will (hopefully) inspire me and point me in the right direction, leading to a better BAT for you to enjoy.

[IL. 1,043]

Great work, can't wait to see more  

[libellibicus 396]

It seems to be taking shape quite nicely. Keep up the good work.

[Jasoncw 11,840]

I hate to be a pain (pun not intended), but I am having trouble with applying textures.

I have made a thin sheet-like cube to sit as the window glass, but I don't know how to apply a image to the cube. I've tried experimenting, but so far fruitless. Anyone have any tutorials/answers?

First, create a texture. Then, click the object (in this case, windows). Then, click the texture and click the "apply" button. The box will use the texture you made afterward.

 

For the record, bump maps are broken in gmax.  They don't work. 

[Gn_leugim 853]

that's true, I have test it thoroughly and don't work. you can use displacement maps instead, but most times they are more trouble than help :\ 

[ROFLyoshi 1,760]

Btw, you should use preview option to see how it'll look in SC4

Like this?

[__A 792]

Yay! More Melbourne BATs! Nice start!!