Tune's Nuclear Assets: Chernobyl Restoration

[Naamtune 58]

Chopped down tris for Unit 3 & 4 from 6k tris to 2.5k tris and cleaned up the messy geometry. Will have the structure textured this week. Ventilation stack for Unit 3 & 4 will be tricky to work on.

[Naamtune 58]

Well, the ventilation stack wasn't as difficult and time-consuming as I had anticipated. Base models should all be completely textured this week.

[Naamtune 58]

Being a newbie to 3D modeling, there's a lot for me to uncover and to learn. 

The last progress I made I was getting close to finishing up on the texturing of the assets when I realized something I had failed to take something crucial in to consideration: texel density. 

Some assets were displaying different texture quality. I did some research and found out the why behind inconsistent texture quality and what I needed to do to fix them. The problem? I would have to backtrack again.

This was shortly after fixing a technical issue w/ maya that had stopped me in my track. At that moment in time I was already feeling frustrated and overwhelmed to where I felt like rushing my work and release the assets half-assed. Instead, I chose to step away from the project for time to give myself room to breathe and to come back when I feel ready. I made a few attempts to go back to work on the project, but each attempt was met with lack of will. Yesterday, I was able to go back in to the project and have fun working on the assets again. A short break revitalized my desire to finish this to the end.

This project seems to be more complex than I had anticipated when I look back. I'm eager and determined to finish it to preserve historical building in digital world, especially now that the new sarcophagus have been put over the reactor 4 and the decontamination work is now in progress. I'm also happy that it's through this project that numerous challenges sprang up. I've learned a ton about 3d modeling workflow and got to explore indepth the making of the real life Chernobyl power plant.

 

Here's what the UV looked like before and after when I corrected texel density to be consistent throughout. I proceeded to spend a few hours reworking all the UVs and is nearly done with the entire assets-- The Unit Reactor 4 half is the only remaining asset that needs to have its UV unwrapped.

[Naamtune 58]

Taking shape in the direction I want. Need to add more decay effects to roofings and to the walls. Then I just gotta slap on the illumination mask.  

[xonedl 342]

Amazing stuff, we need more people chasing realism! 👍

Wonder if there will be some random Cheeki Breeki easter egg in those assets 🤣

[Naamtune 58]

Updates! 

[MekkA 0]

On 1/13/2020 at 4:59 PM, Naamtune said:

Being a newbie to 3D modeling, there's a lot for me to uncover and to learn. 

The last progress I made I was getting close to finishing up on the texturing of the assets when I realized something I had failed to take something crucial in to consideration: texel density. 

Some assets were displaying different texture quality. I did some research and found out the why behind inconsistent texture quality and what I needed to do to fix them. The problem? I would have to backtrack again.

This was shortly after fixing a technical issue w/ maya that had stopped me in my track. At that moment in time I was already feeling frustrated and overwhelmed to where I felt like rushing my work and release the assets half-assed. Instead, I chose to step away from the project for time to give myself room to breathe and to come back when I feel ready. I made a few attempts to go back to work on the project, but each attempt was met with lack of will. Yesterday, I was able to go back in to the project and have fun working on the assets again. A short break revitalized my desire to finish this to the end.

This project seems to be more complex than I had anticipated when I look back. I'm eager and determined to finish it to preserve historical building in digital world, especially now that the new sarcophagus have been put over the reactor 4 and the decontamination work is now in progress. I'm also happy that it's through this project that numerous challenges sprang up. I've learned a ton about 3d modeling workflow and got to explore indepth the making of the real life Chernobyl power plant.

 

Here's what the UV looked like before and after when I corrected texel density to be consistent throughout. I proceeded to spend a few hours reworking all the UVs and is nearly done with the entire assets-- The Unit Reactor 4 half is the only remaining asset that needs to have its UV unwrapped.

Hi Naamtune!

Just wanted to say that this is really exciting stuff. I stumbled upon your post this morning and can't wait to see a product you are happy with. As someone with no modelling knowledge whatsoever beyond my starting to read up on the subject and seeing that you are a self labelled "newb" I'd really love to hear your thoughts on the learning process.

1. How would you summarize your progression and comfort with the process of this project?

2. What key lessons would you share for someone wanting to get into this that they should be aware of as a point of priority?

3. If there's any other thoughts you'd want to share that you'd consider pertinent to learning, I'd really appreciate it.