Tonksies BAT Thread NDEX

[ILL Tonkso 1,236]

Yeah, if u look at the supports you can get a basic idea of the roof clearance.

[fosterk 4]

Glad to have assisted you tonks!

EDIT: WOOHOO!!! 1,000 POSTS!!!

[ILL Tonkso 1,236]

Appreciate it, probably neva wlda finished otherwise

[SpartanBadger 4]

Well it looks awesome! I can't wait to test it out in my cities.

[ILL Tonkso 1,236]

My new BAT project is another Portsmouth UK BAT. The Technopole Center. Its difficult in the sence that all i have is a black and white photo that i did for photography and this one http://www.solenthub.co.uk/80256C1B003534AD/Files/enterprisehubsummaryleaflet/$FILE/solent+enterprise+hub+summary+leaflet.pdf

I will do what i can from memory.

 

[Chris M 406]

I like the way that looks so far ! Great work

[ILL Tonkso 1,236]

The Front side is now complete, once the whole model is complete i will revise the textures.

https://www.simtropolis.com/idealbb/files//Technopoleprev2.JPG align=baseline>

[rp2005 165]

Nice mid sized office building, just the sort of thing that gets left out between the shops and the skyscrapers.

Looking at the roof style, a visit to GaryReggae's thread could give you some ideas as his unit 42's roof is similar.

 

[Maranello575 5]

Ooh.that building is coming along nicely there and you're doing a quick job!

[ILL Tonkso 1,236]

Here is my latest BAT, in very early stages. I will be working on this over the next week or so. It will hopefully become a victorian townhouse. I am going to use Underworlds Textures (credit given of course) to hopefully make this as realistic as i can get it.

https://www.simtropolis.com/idealbb/files//earlystages.JPG align=baseline>

PS. A word on my textures used for the Technopole, the textures used are made delibratly to look plastic and bland. I did this to reflect on the real thing. A photograph is available from a link on this page.

[ILL Tonkso 1,236]

I have worked on it a bit more (made it much smaller, two to a tile now. Still a lot of work to go though

 

https://www.simtropolis.com/idealbb/files//Tonks%20Townhouse%20Model.JPG align=baseline>

https://www.simtropolis.com/idealbb/files//Tonks%20townhouse%20Model%20Back.JPG align=baseline>

[underworld 129]

Looks good sofar!!

[ILL Tonkso 1,236]

Time for another update, i have used kd5rax's tree BAT's from the stex to shoe what the final BAT will hopefully look like There is still a lot of texturing work too do and i will add some more detail to the front, (maybe flower boxes on the windows i dont know)

https://www.simtropolis.com/idealbb/files//tonksoterracetrees.JPG align=baseline>

[frogface 352]

that looks very goood so far, the textured part. the textures just need to be slightly weathered then it'd be perfect

[Chris M 406]

Whats with the purple textures on the roof thats what you are talking about working on right ?

[ILL Tonkso 1,236]

dragonanime: the purple roof is un textured. when yopu create objects in gmax they are automatically assigned  a colour

[Chris M 406]

Yeah, I noticed that, I thought that was a texture.

[Lord_Bertrum 3]

Forget about the colour, this is a great BAT, will you be creating a family of these so that we can have row of them all looking slightly different?

[ILL Tonkso 1,236]

Lord_Burtrum: yes there will be several of these with differant props (all will have the tree at the front) I will release ploppable as well as growable versions if people wish to create a street of them.

[ILL Tonkso 1,236]

Just to Show Off

https://www.simtropolis.com/idealbb/files//509the_tower_600.jpg align=baseline>

https://www.simtropolis.com/idealbb/files//Spinnakershot.JPG align=baseline>

https://www.simtropolis.com/idealbb/files//technopole2.jpg align=baseline>

https://www.simtropolis.com/idealbb/files//Technopoleshot.JPG align=baseline>

[ILL Tonkso 1,236]

Another one im working on at the moment.

Its an late 60's early 70's british style inspired office block. Grey Concretes have been used although i may decide to clad with aluminium. Still a lot of work to be done on this one, as for he townhouses i am currently experiancing Render problems.

 

https://www.simtropolis.com/idealbb/files//basictower.JPG align=baseline>

Suggestions Welcome, this is the sort of style popular with GaryReggea so he probably will have a few suggestions.

 

As for the double post, its been nearly a day.

[GaryReggae 80]

You're right, this is my kind of style!

Is this based on anything real?

 

Anyway, some tips:

 

The windows are too blue, darken the colour.  I usually have windows as a dark greyish greenish bluish colour. 

 

Add a texture for the main building surfaces, it looks too plain at the moment.  I would suggest some kind of textured concrete (a la Tricorn!), try this:

 

 

Alternatively, a mosaic tiling effect would be good, like this:

 

https://www.simtropolis.com/idealbb/files//blackmosiacsv2.BMP align=baseline>

 

Apart from that, it's a great start.

 

I love the 'solent' lettering, what font is that?  It looks very Modernist.  The round nitelites behind the letters look great though.  I'm not sure the shape of that column with the letters on is in keeping with the general feel of '60s architecture...although of course it could be a later addition.  The building looks a lot more modern, i'd say late 90s although a bit of rough concrete texturing will soon fix that!

 

 

[Lord_Bertrum 3]

this advice must of worked has it's already hit the STEX

[ILL Tonkso 1,236]

Heres the Sails of the South. A Landmark in on the junction of the M27 and M275 Portsmouth UK, Will Render it Tomorrow

 

https://www.simtropolis.com/idealbb/files//Tri%20Mast.JPG align=baseline>

 

[timo 15]

Looks pretty cool!

[ILL Tonkso 1,236]

Thinking about possible new projects, as well as my much delayed 'Portsmouth Tower Block' project i am thinking about a large skyscraper (dusktrooper style) for my Evil Empire 'Tonks Industries'. Smaller projects like the Technopole have also raised issues about my texrturing quality, i am working too improve them every day. Hope you enjoy the current BAT's.

[T Wrecks 10,209]

As I commented in the STEX about your Solent buildings, I think you are actually getting to the point where everybody will enkoy your creations. I didn't like the texturing of your earlier BATs, but the Solent Building is definitely a keeper! You could still add some more grain or structure to the textures, and the window textures are not the most exciting - but all in all, the Solent Building is still a great BAT, and I'm already looking forward to have it grow in one of my cities. Besides, it fills a deep gap, as there are hardly any good BATs for smaller office buildings. We have CO

[ILL Tonkso 1,236]

T wrecks, i do hope to make some more midrise CO

[GaryReggae 80]

Your BATS are getting better and better, Ill Tonkso.  Yes, you still have some way to go with improving textures etc but practice makes perfect!  Posting pictures of your work here and getting feedback and advice is a great way to learn.  The main things to work on are textures (as previously mentioned) and attention to detail. 

All large surfaces should be textured if possible*, this was the main flaw with your otherwise excellent Technopole building.  Things like window frames, text for signs etc doesn't need to be textured but walls, roofing etc does otherwise it looks flat and 'brand new'.  With your Solent building you've definitely started out on the right track with this.  Another thing to think about is using 'gradient textures', these really add an extra dimension to buildings.  There is an excellent tutorial by Gascooker about this in the Omnibus.  You don't need Photoshop to be able to do this, other packages such as Corel PhotoPaint will do it, as long as you can use 'layers'.  Or see my original thread entitled 'Newbie' if it's still there, I picked up a lot of my texturing knowledge on there in a short space of time thanks to the help from BATters more advanced than me.  I would however like to add that your modelling skills, ie shapes, forms etc are very good. 

 

*Glass can be textured or not, I tend to not to use a texture but instead just a semitransparent dark blue/green/grey colour. 

 

With regard to attention to detail, this is the part of any BAT project which takes a long time to do bit it's worth it!  Things like window frames, doors, roof junk, signs, fire escapes, vents, anything which adds to the realism.  Again, looking at your Technopole building, the windows are a little too flat and I can't see any doors (although they may be on the other side of the building).

 

Lastly remember that every new thing you try adds to your knowledge of BAT which after all is a very complex tool. 

 

Keep up the good work and any questions, let me know!  I'm looking forward to the Portsmouth tower blocks!  Also, I reckon you should BAT Gunwharf Quays, that would go very well with your Spinnaker Tower!

[ILL Tonkso 1,236]

Heres one for my good friend (and solent city rival) garyreggae, i may darken the main textue on this before completion but here it is, a portsmouth tower block (keeping on with my simvision label 'Pompodian Batter'

https://www.simtropolis.com/idealbb/files//srhprev1.JPG align=baseline>

as you can see i have only managed one wall so far, and no ground floor. If i can find a picture of the small multi story carpark serving the building i will BAT that too.

 

This thing is also gonna be absolutly loaded with roof junk (i hope so anyway) to accomodate all the TV arials and Sky Dishes ect.