MontageStudio - Airship Project

[Ecks]

Hey guys,

over at MontageStudio we're working on our first collaborative project. And no, it's not only me and Jonathan Williamson (Mr_Bomb) working on it. Ben Dansie recently joined the fun with us. Make sure to read our latest blog post to learn all the cool thing Ben Dansie is bringing to our little world that is www.MontageStudio.org.

The link to our latest blog post:
http://www.montagestudio.org/83/mont...-two-man-show/

So, what is the Airship Project? It will be a nice little animation, showing what MontageStudio can produce quality wise. Oh and, did I mention the WHOLE modelling process is being recorded in real time? It will later be subject of a Commentary video/dvd which will serve as a video tutorial for intermediate blender users (i.e. blender users who know the basic short keys and can easely navigate the 3d view).

Our current pipeline of production is quite simple. For now, Ben Dansie has produced excellent Concept artwork for me and jonathan to model from. Ben will post his concept art in a reply to this thread. As for myself, I'm doing most of the modelling on the airship and I'll handle the texturing once we are there. Jonathan will take care of the character(s) as well as the Balloon section on the airship. We're working with linked files, so we can follow the progress of the other and make sure both section are connecting together correctly.

Without more text, here are our progress. Make sure to click the image to get the full HD view.

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I hope you'll like our progress. We'll try keeping this thread as updated as possible! Your comments and critics means alot to us, so keep them coming!

[freen]

Cool design.
...inspired by a supersoaker?

[JiriH]

Very nice. I like to see from you not only character modelling. You show great style with non-character one too. I like it very much.

I am really glad that your studio is prospering well. Good luck!

[maybeapreacher]

freen, I was about to say the very same thing. I first thought I see a weapon (i.e. supersoaker water gun ;-)).

Hey, wow, very nice airship!! I am quite impressed (but having seen what jonathan
can do, I did not expect less!!)

[BenDansie]

Ha! Supersoaker eh? There is actually a possibility that is what happened. I just came home from my shift at a toy store before (eating) and seeing this post...

Anyway,

http://www.vimeo.com/1217739 - Timelapse of the initial sketch. Took 25-30 minutes in real time from memory, but sped up to around 2:30


The final concept - smaller version

http://uploader.polorix.net//files/1...e_polished.jpg
The final concept - really big version...

Yes, I know, the perspectives don't line up well. This is the largest piece of concept art I've done, so I need to work on consistency for larger works. That and I took the initial sketch and painted over it with detail, which was bound to cause issues in the accuracy department. It is concept art after all - the guys are doing a great job of bringing it to 3D and that is the whole point.

There were a few other concepts that didn't make it, but we'll hang on to those.

Inspiration - probably came from three main films. I was watching 'Steamboy' as I drew it to get the whole steampunk feel, I saw the Golden Compass recently (well, pieces while I was in hospital for a bit) which was at least visually quite cool and if you can't recognise the front then you have never watched Return of the Jedi...

[Nichod]

It also reminds me a bit of Castle in the Sky. Great concept. I look forward to seeing where this goes.

[leojS]

Looks really great and ben - the concept art is nice too! Are you guys actually going to be making a short film out of this, or just an animation fly by or something?

[BenDansie]

Thanks guys.

The others can correct me if I am wrong, but the current plan is flybys etc to show off the details, overall form, textures (when done) and so on, but we wouldn't be opposed to using it in an animated short later on if the right opportunities lined themselves up. And while the modelling is being recorded in real time, I didn't record the full concept in real time, just the initial sketch. Maybe next project if there is interest enough in the concept side, seeing as that part usually doesn't involve Blender directly.

[Ecks]

Originally Posted by BenDansie Thanks guys. The others can correct me if I am wrong, but the current plan is flybys etc to show off the details, overall form, textures (when done) and so on, but we wouldn't be opposed to using it in an animated short later on if the right opportunities lined themselves up. And while the modelling is being recorded in real time, I didn't record the full concept in real time, just the initial sketch. Maybe next project if there is interest enough in the concept side, seeing as that part usually doesn't involve Blender directly.

While flybys and "beauty shots" are what we are aiming at first, me and jonathan talked alot yesterday night, and we came up with some possible short anim ideas, and I'd definitly be up to start producing such a short as soon as this beast is done. Nothing official yet, but we're definitly leaning toward that

Thanks for the comments everyone, more update coming in soon!

[Sammaron]

whoa, i really like the glow on the front of the airship. great design too.

but i wouldn't say castle of the sky esque. too carnival-ish. oh well, looking great

[Hobo Joe]

Great concept, and great model, awesome work from Montage Studios, as usual.


However, there are a couple things I'd like to mention. From looking at the concept, it looks like the actual 'ship' part of the airship is very fat and rounded, with the hull bulging outward at the sides, which really helps along the whole steampunk feel of it, but in the model, it's very narrow and knife-like, which gives it a much more futuristic feel, which takes a lot away from the piece.

Another small thing is that in the concept(as far as I can tell at least) the bottom of the hull is fairly smooth along the bottom edge, but in the model it has several distinct ridges, which only help the illusion of it looking like a knife. Of course, that could be what you were trying to do, but in my opinion it does take away a small part of the steampunk feel.

Also, the color scheme seems a bit... bland. From looking at the concept, the first impression I get is that the boat would be very old looking, made out of really dark wood. But as it is, it blends in with the rest of the ship, which is a very golden, and not very wood-like feel.

But this could all be intentional, I don't know. Those are just somethings that stuck out to me.

And even though I sound really negative about it - those are just some small nit-picky things, overall, I love it. It's excellent design and excellent modeling.

[kbot]

Hey that space ship is mighty pleasing to the eye and invites one to spend more time viewing the finer details and wonder. It's nice mix between the past and the future fantasy - the sort of toy an enonmously rich future space trader would have. Great job.

[Irowebot]

Looking forward to seeing more Blender stuff. Im glad you guys are doing something like this, the more pro quality work out there for Blender the more the industry will take notice and knowing you guy and Montage it will be pro.
Can't wait for the DVD's

[Nitronic755]

Looking sweet... Too far above my level to criticize. Keeping an eye out for future updates.

[BenDansie]

http://uploader.polorix.net//files/12/Airship1280_1.jpg

A render JS just sent me, definately wanted to share it. I toned down the colours a tad out of curiosity, but the whole thing will end up textured anyway. The colours are there as a rough block-in for now. Thanks all for the kind comments.

HoboJoe - The brief for the concept was to look into steampunk, so that is how the concept came out. The brief for the final ship is more or less whatever looks coolest in the end. If JS and Jonathan turn it more into a fantasy style or a hybrid between them, that's fine by me. Thanks for your suggestions though, I'm sure JS will be keen to know.

[mr_bomb]

HoboJoe - thanks for the excellent critiques! That is just the kind of thing we're looking for, good, honest critiques. We're already taking into account some of the things you mentioned

Here're a few more renders to complement the one Ben just posted, including several detail shots.

[cecilff]

Hello!

Well I'm a Final Fantasy fan so to me it's so much an FF airship! even if not quite but yet!

I was wandering if there's going to be a short movie with a plot and all, if it's planned to make some place to the travelers to sleep, eat and such???

Great work any ways! you guys at montage are great!

c ya!

[Jeepster]

great model O_O
cant wait to see more
good luck with this project

[leojS]

A short film would definitely be awesome, even if it was only a really simple story and like 2-3mins long... And I think it would probably help iron out your workflow as well!

[freen]

Sweeeet!
Nice detailing. Very classy.