simmars-forum-threads Mars BAT Building Thread!

[Mary Maurine Mayo 984]

erased

[AndisArt 2,066]

 

As of July 22nd we are working on completing the Utilitarian tile-set.

 

As the SimMars Building Team leader I want to invite everyone who's interested in Mars BATing to take a look on the Final Building Style Thread:   https://www.simtropolis.com/idealbb/view.asp?topicID=48134

 

There you will find a detailed and refined definition of that style as well as screenshots of BATs fitting in that  category.

 

Thanks for your interest!

 

 

[prepo 235]

Here are module-based prefabricated houses I created today. They could be in r$ category.



I have also made a space shuttle which I could use in some of my future creations.

[Sarg 4]

Looking fine, Prepo. Keep up that good work!

The space shuttle is just wonderful, I love it [:0]

[AndisArt 2,066]

Prepo, excellent start!

That spaceship is just total beauty!! Congratulations!

Is there a way you can make a render?

 

For your modul-buildings: For R$ it is a good idea to make the building look dirty, I also suggest you could add some more utility stuff, like pipes and such for more R$ feeling.  The way the building is now looks fine for R$$.  Very good start!

 

Another idea I have:  You can make a smal series of that building in all wealth classes. I did some sketches with that, having the same building in different wealth classes. 

Look at them here (need to update some):

https://www.simtropolis.com/idealbb/view.asp?topicID=59784

 

PS: Could you post you pics in a bit higher resolution, so details are recognized better, thank you

 

[Mary Maurine Mayo 984]

https://www.simtropolis.com/idealbb/files//PML_ModularHome.jpg align=baseline> https://www.simtropolis.com/idealbb/files//PML_ModularHome1.jpg align=baseline>

Here is what I have gotton done this morning. As you can see the windows are small.. Any adivise on this would be helpful.

[AndisArt 2,066]

pmiller, lookin good so far   You captuered the module look well. 

Here some suggestions: Can you reduce the number of HVAC units on top of the roof? Also their shape is very edgy in opposition to the rounded edges of the building. So rounded edges would fit better for the units. Can you tune the textures to a bit more marsish colors (more redish, brownish etc). Doesn't mean you can't use blue or s.th. but they have a touch of red.  You know what I mean? It' like there are summer colors or winter colors, they both may contain red, but it's tone is different. 

Please use the screenshot I posted in the final building style thread for color tone orientation.

 

And what about adding some parts/details to make the building more interesting?  Don't need to, you may want to just play around and see how it looks.  The roof texture could be more dirty. I would also randomize how you place the stelite dishes. RIght now they are symetrical in line with the buildings shape, try to put them out of symetry.

 

You may also want to use this texture (or parts of it) for the windows:

http://img56.imageshack.us/img56/9443/sky017db.jpg

 

 

[AndisArt 2,066]

For windows in general:

Since Mars sky is redish windows should have a redish texture, please use screens of existing BATs as reference and/or the texture posted above.

Some helpful textures for technical surfaces:
http://img56.exs.cx/my.php?loc=img56&image=hull136bg.jpg
http://img85.exs.cx/my.php?loc=img85&image=5alu2lp.jpg
http://img85.exs.cx/my.php?loc=img85&image=aluminmb3tp.jpg
http://img85.exs.cx/my.php?loc=img85&image=hull36l17zz.jpg
http://img85.exs.cx/my.php?loc=img85&image=wallplate4es.jpg
http://img89.exs.cx/my.php?loc=img89&image=bb1botto5oq.jpg
http://img89.exs.cx/my.php?loc=img89&image=bb3bottom9us.jpg
http://img89.exs.cx/my.php?loc=img89&image=hull45l7nz.jpg
http://img89.exs.cx/my.php?loc=img89&image=sein44oh.jpg

[Mary Maurine Mayo 984]

Thank you very much for the textures. I was having some trouble finding some that would work.

Thanks also for the comments on the bat. I was trying to keep with in the general design you posted. I mostly do domes so this is rather new to me for this type of thing.

 

Thank you very much.

 

Lynks

 

 

Update with New textures. https://www.simtropolis.com/idealbb/files//PML_ModularHomeupdate.jpg align=baseline>

 

I think this looks much better thanks again for the textures.

[prepo 235]

Here is a new version of my module building:

I also made a SimMars version of my Rautalintu Aerospace building, it could be in I-ht category:

[AndisArt 2,066]

prepo, nice job! 

The spaceship looks exquisit! I love it!  You could make different versions (with different signs on it / different colors/texture) and we can use them for airplane replacement. 

 

For the aerospace hall:

Looks definitely marsish! Some suggestions: The time SimMars is settled is starting 2050 and the atmosphere on Mars contians no air for humans. People have to wear spacesuits outside. Therefore it might be good to remove the spiral stairs (it's hard to imagine people walking it wearing cumbrous spacesuits). Also the window fronts should be replaced with metal-plates, metal-gates etc. since there's a high danger in having a lot of glass windows.  You could maybe do s.th. like gates to starships or stations like in SF-Movies, i.e. Alien, Star Wars etc. Give it a technical touch, maybe some security markings for better sight along the gates or something (you know the yellow/black stripes).

 

Good work, keep it up!

[Mary Maurine Mayo 984]

Update on the Bat I am working on... Moved the dishes like you suggested and placed one hand made HVAV on the roof. I incorporated solar plates and air and water tanks I also redid the roof texture again...  I hope you like this version better than the last.......

 

https://www.simtropolis.com/idealbb/files//PML_ModularHomeupdate2.jpg align=baseline border=11>

 

 

[AndisArt 2,066]

Nice HVAC unit  

Here some suggestions to finalize the BAT:

Try getting the pipes back, make them a bit smaller and apply a more marsish texture. Add some sort of solar panel. There is a texture issue on the inwardlooking parts of the walls. 

 

Also: Please post some nightshots and shots  from various angles, thanks.

After that we can take a look on the Lot and the BATs placement on it.

 Good job, keep it up!

[Mary Maurine Mayo 984]

Here is a speeder I am working on... Thought about it after watching Star Wars last night. Kept trying to figure out small transportation vehical this is what I came up with.. This is far from being done but thought I would post a pic of it...

 

Date: 7/25/2005 10:31:44 AM Author: andisart

Nice HVAC unit

Here some suggestions to finalize the BAT:

Try getting the pipes back, make them a bit smaller and apply a more marsish texture. Add some sort of solar panel. There is a texture issue on the inwardlooking parts of the walls. 

Also: Please post some nightshots and shots  from various angles, thanks.

After that we can take a look on the Lot and the BATs placement on it.

Good job, keep it up!

quote>

 

I have taken care of that allready will show in the next pic I upload. I had not gotton nightlighting in yet wanted to get textures right and the HVAC unit and the windows and such before.. I have also added more detail to the building... I'll take care of the pips here today and upload a new pic. 

 

thanks for the help this is my 1st apartment style building so this has been a great oportunity to learn something new...

 

 

[AndisArt 2,066]

For solar panels  you might wanna use this texture:

 

http://img115.imageshack.us/img115/9211/solarred0sp.jpg align=baseline>

[Mary Maurine Mayo 984]

thanks for the solar panel texture I had a blue one....

 

ok here are all 4 sides of the building day view only I will get the night lighting in later today or tomorrow for you...

 

https://www.simtropolis.com/idealbb/files//front_Modularhome_1.jpg width=279 align=baseline> https://www.simtropolis.com/idealbb/files//side1_Mars_Modularhome.jpg width=275 align=baseline>

 

https://www.simtropolis.com/idealbb/files//MarsModularHome_side3.jpg align=baseline>

 

I have added piping back in as well as a solar panel and some other roof stuff.I also felt one more HVAC was a good idea also. I have also added supports between the layers which is visable one side of the building has Hatches that will join with this building if placed on the lot properly. the one side will have hatches added also so that both ends will meet up.

 

this building will fit on 2x2 lot. R$$

 

I don't have any idea at this point how many people will fit in this size building. A taller one is next soon as I get this one done.

 

Night lighting will be added later also today....

 

Lynks

 

 

[AndisArt 2,066]

Good job

 

Can you add some sort of entrance as well?  How big will the BAT be? If you look from top perspective how many tiles will it need? Does it fit on a 2x1 tile?

 

 

 

[Mary Maurine Mayo 984]

I'll get that number for you here in a little while was having trouble with the nightlighting I wanted...

 

ok at long last here is the night lighting I chose blue becasue the accents lights were blue so here goes.

 

 

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

 

This took me like forever as I could not figure out how to light it up where those pillars are. At last I got it...LOL.... I still have more lighting to add but wanted to give you that update on the night lighting you asked for...

 

Lynks

 

[AndisArt 2,066]

Thanks for the update.

Are you planning to lit up some windows as well?  Please use global intensity 0.9 or 0.8 instead of 1.    

 

Something I noticed:  the satelite dish  on the broader building part is quite close to the edge (you can see it on the different angle screenshots), I would move it in more. 

 

Thanks, pmiller

[Mary Maurine Mayo 984]

just as soon as I can figure out how to get that done with out the blue. You can only use one color Maps in Bat so I am trying to figure out how to light them up using a spot light.

 

lynks

 

[prepo 235]

I think there can be some windows in hightech buildings, they can afford to make them ultra thick and bullet-proof I made them anyway smaller and frames thicker.

The spiral stair is just for emergency exit, so if it's hard to walk space suit on, it's better than nothing



Another i-ht building coverted from my old ones:



I don't know how the hovercars will look like (has any one decided that?) these which I made are a bit 50's-scifish, if you can see.

[Mary Maurine Mayo 984]

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

 

here are those mesurments you wanted.

 

2x2 tile lot and 3 tiles tall is the building so that would be 2x2x3

 

Lynks

 

[AndisArt 2,066]

Good job, prepo. The Robotech looks just great! Once we have more vehicel models I can see if I can send you one to replace with the cars.  Do you want to BAT a marish truck?  For the spiral stairs I have to say no, they just look not marsish at all and we have to adjust the look of the BATs to each other.

Thanks, prepo.

 

pmiller, If you lit up the blue with nightwindows then just drop it and use the nightwindows options for the actual windows. That's alot easier! IMO theirs no light needed in the intersections, it's not a fancy design anyways and probably low or medium wealth. If you still wanna do it then use lights for the intersections. 

Thanks, pmiller.

 

 

[Mary Maurine Mayo 984]

https://www.simtropolis.com/idealbb/files//Mars%20Modularhome_Updatelights.jpg align=baseline>

Allright I got rid of the blue and decided on the white. the lighting is pretty much the same on the whole bulding. Forgot to move the satalite dish I will get that moved. I also added somewhat of an enterance in the front here. I think I got everything else.

 

Lynks

 

[Mary Maurine Mayo 984]

Morning Folks,

Well I went and redid my Warehouses I did for my CJ and made them in more of the mars colors.

 

don't know if you will like them or not.

 

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

 

 

 

i have also made 2 other props today small one and had a few others...

 

Astronaut, Light tower and landing pad.

 

I'll get snap shots of them later today.

 

 

[Mary Maurine Mayo 984]

Update:

I have gotton my new props on a lot to see what they look like..

 

https://www.simtropolis.com/idealbb/files//New%20City-Feb.%2021,%20001122396794.JPG align=baseline>

 

I have also placed the building on a temp lot just so I can see what needs work,,,

 

https://www.simtropolis.com/idealbb/files//test-Aug.%2026,%20001122381930.JPG align=baseline>

this is using my own Mars base texture which seems to blend in well with the games texture.

 

 

I did some testing and the air locks on the one side will not meet up with the small side but they will meet up with the other side so this works for me...

 

Any changes you want me to make before I start a new project?

 

Lynks

 

[prepo 235]

I'll remove the stairs. Is there anything else to chance before I make the final high quality renders of rautalintu and robustrobots?

I made a new one too, it could be in i-manufacturing category, a factory that makes futuro houses.


About modelling a truck/airplane replacemet: I have no knowledge how to make a real moving/drivable stuff, but I can post a 3D-file if you know someone who knows how to do it.

[AndisArt 2,066]

Good job everybody!

 

pmiller and prepo, I'm happily offering you to join the team. You will then be able to access the SimMars forum. pmiller, you're account is in the works, prepo, please PM me a desired account name and your eMail adress.

 

pmiller:

For the entrance of your building, can you make a door more visible/recognizeable. And is there a way to blend in the entrance more with the design of the rest of the building? Right now its a block that sticks out from the rest. An idea: Maybe you can put it a little back so it's alligned with the let wall and then chamfer the outer edge of the entrance box. Also I would use the same/ a similar texture then on the walls for the box. 

The former warehouse could be nicely transformed in an industry BAT.

 

 

prepo:

Great job on the new BAT! Looks fabulous!

Very marsish and SF!
For rautalintu, can you try applying a more technical texture to the walls, like the one you used for the new BAT and also add some of the wall stuff that you added there? This might give it a more utilitarian look.  Otherwise everything is fine.

For robustrobots you might wanna wait till you join the team, we have some underground garage entrances and Base textures you could use to adjust the parking lot area to Mars.

 

Keep it up!

I'm moving this weekend and will be on and off for a number of days. 

 

 

For Lot creation in general:

You can wait with that for now. The final Base Textures are in the works. Also we have prop files in the SimMars Forum that you can use in case you will join the team. 

 

 

For rendering in general:

 

-Use tight LODs or

 

-if the building shape is not very square, custom LODs to allow adding props later (disregard this if you create your own base and surrounding stuff with the building scene)

 

-think of the tiles and how the BAT will fit on how many tiles. If it's just a bit over a tile border you might wanna make it smaller so it fits on the full tile and there's not much space on the Lot around it later.

 

-please use nightwindow intesity less than 1

 

 

 

[Mary Maurine Mayo 984]

Late morning or afternoon which ever it is for all of us...

 

I decided to have a bit of fun and make something new while I was waiting for the info on my bat. This is what I am calling a water plant (Pumping Station) Using inflatable habitats and tubing and such I came up with this. I don't know if you can use this or not.

 

https://www.simtropolis.com/idealbb/files//PML_MARS_waterpump%20Station.jpg align=baseline>

 

I don't have night lighting in just yet. This part took me like 3 hours to make. Comment are welcome.

 

This idea is NASA or what ever Space associaton we are using comes and refills these tanks then gets pumped to the rest of the colony. I would say a capacity of a small pumping station.

 

I also did some checking and it seems that Mars atmosphere is rish in Heavy water. I wanted to make something to make use of it. Does anyone have any suggestions? I am currently doing more research on Mars.

 

 

 

 

pmiller and prepo, I'm happily offering you to join the team. You will then be able to access the SimMars forum. pmiller, you're account is in the works, prepo, please PM me a desired account name and your eMail adress.

 

pmiller:

For the entrance of your building, can you make a door more visible/recognizeable. And is there a way to blend in the entrance more with the design of the rest of the building? Right now its a block that sticks out from the rest. An idea: Maybe you can put it a little back so it's alligned with the let wall and then chamfer the outer edge of the entrance box. Also I would use the same/ a similar texture then on the walls for the box. 

The former warehouse could be nicely transformed in an industry BAT.

 

Thanks for letting me join the team. I see what you mean about the enterance. I will work on that.

 

Could you be more specific about the transformation of the warehouse. I also want to use my domes (Agradomes) so I will need to transform them as well. More marish coloring.

 

My lighting is using 0.8 or 0.9 as suggested. Is that the same for the spot lights and other lights?

 

The warehouse and the domes I plan to take out the tubes unless we want them in. I did see a thread regarding tubes for roads but I am unsure if that was put aside or not.

 

Lynks

 

 

PS. does anyone have a hatch texture I can get from you. The only one I have been able to find was this back one and well I kinda don't like it...

 

Example Pic.

https://www.simtropolis.com/idealbb/files//e6tdoor.jpg align=baseline>

 

I need a lighter colored one. and I am not very good at making textures so if you guys have one could you tell me where to get a better one?

 

 

[Mary Maurine Mayo 984]

pmiller:

For the entrance of your building, can you make a door more visible/recognizeable. And is there a way to blend in the entrance more with the design of the rest of the building? Right now its a block that sticks out from the rest. An idea: Maybe you can put it a little back so it's alligned with the let wall and then chamfer the outer edge of the entrance box. Also I would use the same/ a similar texture then on the walls for the box. 

 

 

I moved the wall for the door back to match the side of the building I also changed the texture for the wall. Also what I did was use another box as a seal for the door (AirLock Seal) then placed the door on that. I really need  a lighter door but that is all I could find and I have done an extensive search on the internet and I just can't find another texture for it.

 

also I remembered the satalite I move it back some.

 

https://www.simtropolis.com/idealbb/files//UpdatePML111.jpg align=baseline>

 

also I added some other stuff to this I will get you the pics soon. I need to do the same with the other air locks on the side where the building is suppose to meet up with the same one. I added lights on the one side and caution strips also. I'll get those pics soon.

 

Lynks

 

 

EDIT:

here are those pics I promised you update you with...

 

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

 

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

 

Both day and night views. This side is allready fixed to match the other side.

 

Lynks