Spring RTS Engine

Well, I started playing some Spring again against my friends in CA, and noticed that more and more of my favorite Arm models are being replaced with...other things. I'm one of those guys that would just like to see a TA2, and am a big fan of Mr. D's beautiful remakes. So...seeing as how I haven't seen anyone go full force with an Arm remake, I though I'd dabble a bit into the 3D realm and try my hand at it.

I was trying to think of a simple unit that hadn't been remodeled yet (I know I've seen a Peewee, Zeus, and Flash before. And I think the Stumpy is also new in CA) and eventually decided on the Hammer. So here's my first attempt at an original model using this Wings 3D (finally got the hang of it, I mainly use to cut and paste pieces of TA units in Rhino).



I like how the top cannon part came out, though I seem to recall that the Hammer seems to open up the ends of the cannon when it fires? So I guess I'd have to split it in half. Also the feet are weird, I gotta work on that too. Let me know what you think!

A few basics of modeling, aside from how good/bad the design itself is,

A) Don't model the inside of gun barrels, it just wastes polys that could be spent improving the unit.
B) Gun barrels don't need that many sides to seem round in game. 6 is enough for almost everything, 8 if they are very large like that.
C) In general, just adding bevels to flat surfaces like you've done there isn't the way to go.

Somewhat unrelated,

D) The things that "flip up" on the hammer are actually square covering that go over the ends of the guns to protect them, not a part of the barrel. I'm embarrassed I can't remember the technical name, but I'm sure one of our military buffs around here will drop in with the name and a picture of real life ones.

I find the design to be a little basic, and no really what I would look for in a unit remake. It's good for an early learning model, but it does look like an early learning model. I'll let the more experienced people about comment further.

Cutting and pasting TA units to make a new one is not good news. #1 it's copyright infringement.

As far as model critique goes. The poly wastage hurts my eyes. For one thing, why are the barrels 16 sided? Also, there is no need to waste polies by using an intrusion on the inside of the barrels.

Among other things.

It would be best if you sat down and really tried to learn how to model. Cutting and pasting things won't get you very far.

Yea, I knew about the barrel poly count thing, but unlike Rhino, I couldn't find a specific option to chop up a cylinder to less faces. Cleanup seems to remove something, but I guess it's something else.

FA, I don't mean I do that now. I'm talking about back in the day (5 years ago or so) that my only "modelling" experience was cutting/pasting TA model parts. I know that's what Spring is trying to get away from, hence why I am attempting to learn in Wings. Guess I should work more on some sketches to try and improve the look, instead of a simple, straight up remodel.

Lol - kinda reminds me of what they did to Megaman with Powered Up! ...
Would be pure win for Cute Annihilation...



Well on the model itself: Erom said many things already. Just keep improving as this isn't that bad but you really should think a bit more about proportions as those barrels are way too big (at least their end)...

The guns are not big enough

lol

Ok, redid the torso. This time with separated cannon flaps, and lower poly cylinders. How do I delete a face, as when I try to select one from the inside of those flaps, it just stays there. Also would it be possible to create a plane by selecting the vertices you want to connect?

Nice binoculars

WHERE IS THE BULLET WHICH REQUIRES THAT BARREL? it would be as big as the unit's torso.

Scale the barrels down half and it would be much better.

Hmm. But isn't the Hammer a plasma artillery k-bot? Why would it have shorter barrels if the tanks and Thud (core alternate) have long ones?

Maybe it's actually a headless Peewee!

He meant half the diameter, stealth.

FLOZi wrote:He meant half the diameter, stealth.

hur hur that one

Well, the barrel is a little smaller than the flaps, but here they are even smaller I guess (same sized flaps, is that what you want shrunk?).

looks like a peewee with a bad case of elephantitis on its limbs

otherwise its ok

I'll agree that cute exaggeration of the barrels is fine, but this is looking a little ridiculous. Anything that fires from there looks like it'd send the poor thing flying backwards...

It'd be cute to animate, though... show it shoot, then land on its cute lil' butt, and make a cute squeaky noise...

Well, I already have a few Hammer replacement designs, Arm won't be the side and the Hammer won't be the unit in CA, eventually. I simply haven't put them up because my scanner is broken.

For the Arm unit, I like it, the design is cute without being entirely absurd.

Clearly what any hammer remake should be based on.

Just texture on the glasses. Resemblance given.