SPAs Urbanist BAT Thread

[AndisArt 2,068]

Well done BATs

with the rear steps for the 1x1 version: if u r willing to re-render u could replace the rear doors with windows. Or leave one of them as a door and have small steps sideways, along the wall, not towards fence.

[Gn_leugim 858]

I think that both 1x1 and 1x2 would work well

[T Wrecks 10,209]

I think 1x2 would be preferable. Since they are not wide enough to be W2W, they don't look as urban as most rowhomes. That's why I guess I'd probably use them for small towns, where they will look so much better with at least a small backyard/garden. Just throwing in my

[spa 970]

Pingangster: Ahh, but I didn't mean to imply that it's one or the other. It's actually both. I'm keeping the 1x1s and the 1x2s. I agree the 1x2s are more natural, but the 1x1s can make for a good transition in dense settings. Check them out working alongside the 1x2s in the picture below.

Beebs: I'm going to keep them both! Thanks for stopping in

Todd: Thanks. I concluded you're right and that I can get away with the 1x1s. Several people suggested removing the fences though so the 1x1s live on, but they're now a lot cleaner. Don't worry I'm keeping the 1x2s. 

Madhatter: Thanks cute is definitely a word for these. Maybe it's the colours? I know what you mean about the roof line. I actually already cheated there and nudged the roof up a bit I don't want to take it any higher because the real buildings have pretty flat roofs and, I think, if I go much higher I won't be capturing the feeling of the originals anymore. I'm planning a whole bunch of old wooden rowhouse type buildings and, trust me, there will be plenty of others that have the more familiar steep 45-50 degree roofs.

Allez: Thanks. They do look sharp against the greens of cycledogg's trees and base textures don't they. I can't recall, actually, the last thing I made that didn't have a CP dependency. His stuff is just amazing and is a godsend to lot makers.

Andisart: Reorienting the steps eh. It's definitely an option. I could reorient them, but I just don't have the energy to make alternative versions with steps turned, render them and then make alternate lots. It just doesn't seem worth it for the small reward. I would rather move onto something else. If you look at the back of the new beige version (posted below) you'll notice that the steps on the left do go off to the side instead of straight to the back.

Gn: Thanks and I agree

Twrecks: I agree, the 1x2s are the most natural. There are a fair number of other detached, but dense, old residential buildings in Halifax that I'm planning to recreate. Hopefully these will be the first of many

The yellow, green and red Church Street Apartments were lonely so I added 3 more variations, a blue, a beige and a brown. Check them out

I think it works fairly well. The beige and blue are plainer than the rest, which I think mixes things up nicely. You can see the difference in setback for the 1x1s and 1x2s. It would be nice if they lined up a little more but there just isn't the room and I would rather the 1x2s were consistent with other rowhomes. The 1x1s will either fill a streatch by themselves or will fill in the corners so I don't think it's a big deal to have them a little closer to the street than the rest.

And at night

Unless there are any last minute suggestions, I think they're finished.

[nofunk 1,933]

Sam, these are fantastic! Really, really fantastic! I love the colors and variations, and the lotting is very well done. You've hit a home run with these, and I can't wait to see them in my cities!

And congratulations on your Trixie! You deserve it!

[Simbourgeois 139]

They're looking great, especially in the night  One can feel a lovely, warm atmosphere in those houses!

Can't wait to see them in my city!

Simbourgeois
Mayor of Belleville

[madhatter106 3,905]

Great pictures of the whole set - rows and rows of those are a neighborhood I'd love to live in...

Your nightlighting is spectacular, as always...they have such character during the day, and they really come alive (if it's even possible) at night...

[allez l'om 1]

Wow!! Great Job!! I like the fact that the houses are similar but they get all some different details fom each other!! Moreover, the color are amazing!! The night lights are very well done!!! You made a fantastic job too with the LOT editor!!!

[_Atticus 10]

As people have already said, these are fantastic! The colors, the details and the nightlights. Oh and congrats on your Trixie, it is well deserved.

-Pingangster

[mosin33 5]

THEY look really good!!

Can not wait to see what your next project is!

Hmm great work I really them!

Nice nightlighting also

-mosin

[SimHoTToDDy 2,939]

No complaints with these, they looks perfect for their intended use and the fill a great little niche in SC4.

We will have a blast with these,

-Todd

[plasticboy 36]

I can see those become megalots one day, yeess? maybe?

[Gn_leugim 858]

magalots? XD It would be nice

[danielcote 9]

Wow this will be great Spa! Can You make some landmark versions too thanks!

[spa 970]

Wow lots of replies. Give me a sec here.

Nofunk: Thanks. I'm pleased with how they turned out too. Congrads on your trixie as well. You were mistakenly overlooked last year so I'm glad to see you get one this time around 

Simbourgeois: Thanks. I'm glad you liked the night lighting. I actually half-worried that the night lighting was perhaps too strong for residential buildings.

Madhatter: Thanks.

Allez l'om: That's exactly what I was going for. Similar but different. It's kind of tedious to do actually going in and tweaking a few small things on each model since it doesn't give the rush of making something new and you've got to texture twice! I'm glad it works and that the extra effort seems to have been worth it.

Pingangster: Thanks

Mosin33: Thanks

Todd: Thanks Todd. I'm hoping to add a lot more variety to that niche. Apart from Cycledogg's 19th century stuff, I can't think of much else that has been made in this style. Luckily, Halifax and Atlantic Canada offers a lot of colourful old wooden things to choose from

Plasticboy and GN: Sorry guys, but I didn't go the megalot route. It only occurred after I had already packaged them up. If it's any consoliation, they seem to grow fairly easily and look quite sharp alongside Cycledogg's 19th century stuff. When I make my next round of residentials I'll take a look at doing a megalot.

Danielcote: Thanks. Being residentials I didn't include a landmark version (plop residentials don't work). They grow fairly easily though.

Well I promised a while back I would be releasing my latest batch of old commercial buildings. They'll be on the exchange shortly, but before I let them toddle off into the big world I want to finish up #7, the Imperial Theatre from Saint John, New Brunswick. I started this a year ago, but kind of lost interest for a while there. I'm now dusting it off again so incase you missed it the first time, here's a pic of the real thing:

Pretty classy old building and the pride of Saint John. The only problem is the modern addition that has been put onto the back of it is damned hideous. Anyway, the last time I showed my version it consisted of just the entranceway. Well the front has come together and besides texturing the windows and putting on the very top parapet, the front is pretty much done. Check it out.

Still lots to do of course. I can't consider any of the textures final until I see how it looks with windows. In particular, the first floor corners may need some adjustment as may the brown on the main parapet. I'm planning on taking this one back to the past when it comes to the sides and back. I just can't bring myself to replicate the modern addition. So it's going to be a bit of a fantasy for the rest of it.

[danielcote 9]

Thats good at least! Great scott That theaters magnificent can't wait until it comes out on STEX! Well I hope you upload these pupies soon or I'll go on a crazy rampage eating innocent ice creams Muhahahaha! ..... Ok gotta lay off the sugar thanks bye!

[Wrightguy0 40]

There is no chance in hell that I am going to forget about this bat. The Imperial has been a big part of my life and I'm glad to see someone BATing it. Thanks spa.

There should be some old photos of this building that will give you the dimensions of the old stage house, as for textures, you'll need to carry the brick from the sides of the old facade all the way back.

[nofunk 1,933]

Love it! The details on the door and the marquee are fantastic.

I look forward to seeing how you tackle the sides and back. It's always tough to balance a building's current versus its historic condition when making a re-creation, but I think its often best to stay true to the history of a building.

[SimFox 802]

it is a nice building, but if this is supposed to be a recreation then there are serious proportion issues here: relative size and proportions of windows, width of the sections, placement (vertical) of the top most windows. On the other hand, if not to look at the photo it all very plausible...

[SimHoTToDDy 2,939]

Oh jeez, that's fantastic. Some of the colors may need adjusting, but that is a beautiful model, and a great recreation I might add. I was just commenting on one of SimGoober's buildings that we could use more theaters... I suppose we are in luck

-Todd

[Gn_leugim 858]

Originally posted by: SimHoTToDDy Oh jeez, that's fantastic. Some of the colors may need adjusting, but that is a beautiful model, and a great recreation I might add. I was just commenting on one of SimGoober's buildings that we could use more theaters... I suppose we are in luck

-Toddquote>

just to state that your post was the 1111th post XD

spa, once again, your models are just.. gorgeous (is this way it is said? lol )

[Jasoncw 11,933]

There seems to still be a lot of work and tweaking left for the textures but the model is looking lovely.

[spa 970]

Danielcote: You forgot your spoon.

Wrightguy0: Ahh you've obviously spent some time in Saint John. Is the Port City home by chance? I checked out some old photos of the place and I used them for inspiration. From what I can tell the side walls were generally blank with a few isolated windows and fire escapes. From what I can tell, the original playhouse jutted out past the main building's side walls. I have stuck somewhat to what was historically there, but I have taken some liberties. Check it out below.

Nofunk: Thanks. The Marquee took a long time to do, but that was a year ago so from today's perspective it was really quick and effortless As for the historic versus the current reality debate... well it depends doesn't it? In this case, the addition to the Imperial is so damned tacky and ugly I just can't bring myself to do it. Crimes like that demand only censure. There are buildings out there, however, that have been altered and have actually been improved by the alteration. In those cases, I would lean on including it as it is now. There is a building in downtown Halifax like that. It's an old bank building with a 1970s office tower built around and over it. It actually works really well. It'll be one I bat eventually, without rewriting history!

Simfox: Your sharp eye doesn't lie. Some of my spacing is off compared to the real thing. I didn't map this one out very well ahead of time. By the time I realized some of my scaling was off, I was well into it. In a lot of my works, I do take liberties and this is going to be one of those times since changing it now, especially for such relatively minor details, would be just too much work. The basic elements are all there which is good enough for me

Todd: I like Goober's new theatre too! There will probably be some texture tweaks to the front before this one is final.

Gn: Thanks

Jason: Yeah a few tweaks still to make, particularly to the columns on the left and right corners at street level. The white bricks may also need a touch of cream or peach or some other warm colour. I don't know whether thd white bricks will translate into the game as they are now. We'll just have to see how it looks with a roof on.

Well the Imperial Theatre is moving along. The basic structure is pretty much done at this point. Check it out.

The roof is obviously the biggest missing element right now. I'll need to put some equipment up there and an access point. On the back of the building, I'm planning on including two or three loading bays. The idea is that the area with the clean new bricks was added on to modernize the place (that's where I'm assuming the stage and behind the scenes stuff sits). This is pretty much fantasy since the addition on the real thing is far more intrusive. Compared to my earlier preview shot, you might notice a slightly different feel to the building in terms of massing. That's because I scaled it down on all dimensions by about 10%. I noticed when I mocked it up in game that the place was just a little too big. It'll now blend in a little better and I think it was something that was defiitely needed. By the way, does the grafitti tag work? Anyway, there are still some other details to take care of, but this one is coming along.

[jacqulina 162]

wonderfull details

[Gn_leugim 858]

the purple bricks are a bit odd =1 apart from that is looking good

[Wrightguy0 40]

Yes I do call the port city home, and I have spent many hours in the audience or backstage.

Imo you should add some more beige to the bricks out front, it's much lighter irl, and the roof was curved, not flat as it is now

[danielcote 9]

Yah you know I always forget the spoon for some reason. Any way I can't wait until its finished!

[edmonton_stinks 5]

The front of the building is beautiful, the side is a little strange. Is it meant to be W2W (or close)?

[beebs 129]

Looks amazing, Spa! Love the detailing on the front. Can't wait for it to hit the STEX!

Might just be me, but the bricks on the side look awfully.. purple. Is it meant to be like that?

[SimHoTToDDy 2,939]

Lovely work so far.

The wall isn't too purple, it is too blue. I took your picture, and reduced the blue level from 255 to 220 (reducing until your highlights didn't appear to have a tint leaning towards blue or yellow) and it looked just about perfect. I like the idea of having the rear part of the theater a different, more modern brick, but I think if you made them a little closer together it wouldn't look so foreign and tacked on. I'm not saying to make it look as worn out as the older wall, but perhaps the same size and approximate color. I should stop going on about the textures when you are not even done the model... but I can't help myself Only other point is that your facade's brick texture is starting to look an awful lot like siding... Ok, I'll stop.

Really shouldn't complain, its coming along well,

-Todd