The Portland & Oregon BAT Team, Chapter 1

[sfobb 0]

Whoa, you're hobbies are basically the same as mine! I find Portland buildings to be really useful in my cities since I like to have a Northwest theme going in my financial districts. Can't wait to add these new buildings, especially since my CO$$ demand is on the rise.

I have one set of documents relating to Portland freeways that I'd be happy to scan for you if you are interested. It covers the proposed Mt. Hood Freeway and the widening of the Marquam Bridge. Of course, if you want something on Seattle freeways or shopping malls (my other specialty), that could be arranged.

[sparkythepenguin 90]

I'd be happy to see both. I have a lot of scanned dead Portland freeway stuff of my own as well and would am always willing to share! PM me Sfobb with more details! Hopefully you can help me figure out what the heck the Rose City Freeway was supposed to be...

[sparkythepenguin 90]

OK the progress pics on the Hatfield that I promised:

Perspective from the (mostly complete) front entry:



Perspective from the southeast, featuring the new lower roof:



The base parts are, for the most part, done. Still needed down there are the metal awnings, lobby pillars, and the main lower roof overhang structure. I will also be making small modifications to some of the existing base, which I found are needed. Then it's on to the building's signature curving roof!

It is about 60% modeled so far... Enjoy!

[bixel 1,228]

Wow! things are looking great! I'm just wrapping up a huge project over at the HK forum, but I've already picked out my next building to do in Portland, I'll get some pics up as soon as I can.

[Andreas Roth 626]

This is definitely coming along nicely. I like the unique shape - much more interesting than those generic boxes you see everywhere.

[SYM Productions 7]

Looking good Sparky!  Of course the texturing is not done...

With the long weekend, I have lots of time to model the Electric Railway Chambers... and we're still waiting for you to chose a Portland building for us!

 

- CDI_spy

- Yatagan_L

[sparkythepenguin 90]

@Bixel: Can't wait to see what you're up to! Thanks for joining up. It's a little tough doing this all by my lonesome

@Andreas_Roth:The Hatfield is certaily one of Portland's more unique buildings. I like how ultra-modern/Brutalist mix. The rest of the buildings around it are mostly internationalist, brutalist, post-modern, or a combination of those. It really ties Government Square together while standing on its own merit.

@SYM: It's hard to choose just one for you to do, so I guess I'll post some pics and let everyone viewing this project (including you guys) to decide.

I'm swinging into a weird night-based sleep cycle again, so you'll probably see more progress pics in the morning of the Hatfield.

[zmveliger 16]

I'm not a big fan of CO-type large buildings-skyscrapers but your BAT is obviously very different of what is available on the STEX. I like to give constructive comments but this time will be an exception. I'll just say to continue your good work.

Bye!

[diablo_del_bano 3]

you guys do excelent work. keep it up. these buildings are awesome, and while i never thought i would want to go to portland, now i want to!

[SYM Productions 7]

Wow Sparky... that's about the best thing that can happen to a re-creation project... it makes ppl want to visit the real city!

- CDI_spy

[Loose Fur 0]

All this time I had no idea.  Simply awesome work.

  Just another Portlanders 2 cents.

 

Requests/suggetsions:

 

Widmer Brothers Brewing- the states largest brewery.
Baghdad Theatre

Vista House

World Forestry Center

Japanese and Rose Gardens

 

[bixel 1,228]

Sorry this is very dark picture, I didnt get up early enough and it was raining, but I wanted to at least show my next project. Its the Holladay Park Plaza located at 1300 NE 16th, just across from the Lloyd Center!

https://www.simtropolis.com/idealbb/files//HPP1m.jpg align=baseline>

[sfobb 0]

Sweetness! Can't wait to see it!

[sparkythepenguin 90]

Sweet! We need some more Residential stuff and Lloyd District buildings! Thanks Bixel!

Sorry for the late update, my laptop's being a turd and slept in (again, not too suprising lately), but here's the new lobby entrance columns and lower roof overhang for the Hatfield Courthouse:



I stopped last night at the beginings of the upper roof and hopefully will get that going strong this evening.

[diablo_del_bano 3]

excelent work. i can't wait to download it!

[praiodan 78]

Mark O. Hatfield U.S. Courthouse looks very good so far!

BTW, do you already know/think about when releasing the Portland building? I just can't wait, lol

[sparkythepenguin 90]

OK before the latest screen of the Hatfield, I'll address some previous posts that I forgot about and some new ones that popped up:

@diablo_del_bano: Portland is a beautiful city with a lot of interesting things. But I may be a little biased on that I'm glad that you like our work so much that you are now interested in visiting!

@Loose fur: Happy to see another Portlander! I have seenmost of those requested before. Will add to the pending list for future projects. Soon, I'll have some pics of things that the Winnepeg Project could make for us. The Vista House will definetly be a candidate. Keep watching!

@praiodan: Once the Hatfield moves into Texturing stage, work on the Portland Building will resume as well. I am still awaiting word on the statue though. If there's enough interest (and demand for it), I may release it early without the statue. A stutue-included version would be released separetely when the statue is done. Good idea?

OK now for the treat of the night/morning:



The roof is now on! Now to finish up modeling all the minor details, esp. all the little razorblade thingys along the curving chimney part. Then the texturing may begin! muahahahahahahahaha!

[praiodan 78]

Date: 11/12/2005 5:50:53 AM
Author: sparkythepenguin

I may release it early without the statue. A stutue-included version would be released separetely when the statue is done. Good idea?

quote>

Yeah, that would be cool if you'd do that.

And the update of the Mark O. Hatfield U.S. Courthouse is very cool! That roof is somewhat different to most BATs thats are out there! Well done!

[meowza 230]

Very interesting deisng, I like the layered theme..

[DuskTrooper 316]

Dude, there is some seriously high quality work going on in this thread! Keep it up, and I can't wait to plop this in my city!

[vidioman 21]

Absolutely stunning!

[SYM Productions 7]

OH... AHH... LOVE IT!

You really have the neat talent package... can't wait to see this out on the STEX!

 

- CDI_spy

 

P.S. YAY! We're dwellers with this post!

[sparkythepenguin 90]

Congrats SYM on achieving Dwellerdom!

And thanks for the comments, and keep them coming. The more daunting challenges are ahead and I need all the constructive criticism that can be mustered!

Well, today marks the end of the modeling phase and the start of texturing! Here's a shot of some texture testing:



Some notes:

*The stone used in the real building's main walls is a pourous stone called Oolite. I don't know if the main walls look that good or not. The base walls are pretty simple, and I think I got those perfectly. I may lighten up the Oolit texture (the darkest yellowish texture) to better match the base's brick texture color.

*The metal roof overhang should be much darker, somewhat grey. The rest of the overhanging things are more on the silvery side, and I'll darken them just a tad.

*Windows and spandrels aren't textured yet. Will get these going once the walls are finalized.

*Roof junk is sparse on the real building, but will add those, plus some of the gardens under the roof overhang now that the building is scaled.

*Will add flags as well. I will render a flagless version for non-US users concurrently with this project. That way, you can choose if you want US, Oregon and Portland city flags on it! Still deciding how to package this for the STEX...

Well, will take a break and be back maybe later today with some more progress...

[diablo_del_bano 3]

nice!

[diablo_del_bano 3]

nice!

[sparkythepenguin 90]

OK This post is my 600th post!

So here's some progress on my two main projects. I know a lot of you are looking forward to the Portland Building, so I have restarted it. Texturing these are going to be quite a process. Lately it's been like 2 steps forward, two steps back...



Fixed: Turquoise base tiles, yellow bricks, red parts
Added: faded blue top walls, roof textures, grey topmost walls



Toned down the oolite walls, but looks too light now
Silvery parts don't contrast well with the walls

Any comments? Constructive criticism is very needed and actually crucial!

[kaji 0]

having not seen the actual building properly i cannot really say much but i think the brick texture on the bottom is too large compared to the door. thats my only negative critism. i really do like the buldings youve produced. some very interesting shapes in those buildings =)

[sparkythepenguin 90]

Well, another night... I'm having some SERIOUS problems with these now.

I was playing around with night lights, more specificly the omni and spot lighting. I've never been good at that and there is nothing I can figure out that keeps them from lighting everything up, even excluding objects.

I'm also losing my patience with texturing too. *sigh*

Anyone interested in lighting and texturing these up?

[kaji 0]

i know how you feel =/ i cant light for sh*t and my texturing isnt much better. i hope you have the patience to do these because i know that in time you'll have the skill =) i think that the taller building is so good you could get away with it as is hope you can find some help =/

 

~kaji

[newyorkrunaway1 110]

Your doing such a god job!!!!! Keep it up!!!!