This is my first project rendered in Cycles. All the textures were created in Gimp. The model is Syma S107 indoor rc helicopter that can land on the palm of your hand. Very cool. When I saw the model I figured it would be a perfect test for Cycles. Rendered at 200 passes, time came in at around 16 minutes each.
I think i just **** my pants. Where did you get the prints to make it? I would love it, if you gave me your references. I have this copter. But i have the Red one. And did a mod to make it faster.
Superb job my friend! Rc models is all ways my favorite.
nitrofreak06,
Thanks! As for prints, i took pictures of my own model as well as getting some images from a website. In retrospect I don’t think I needed my own pictures, but they were what i started out with. There are a surprising amount of spare parts available for this model so you should be able to find all the reference pictures you need for all the bits and pieces. Xheli is a good site to check. Most of the model is mesh modeled, though I used curves for the flat metal plates. I had started out mesh modeling them, but curves were a lot easier with all the cutouts.
So, what did you do to mod it?
Didn’t think about using spare parts for referencing.
I put a different prop on the tail boom. And flipped it. So now it has about twice forward thrust. Bout about 1% reverse. Which is fine.
I got one exactly like it, yellow and all. First helicopter model I actually learned how to fly. Great modeling job!
EXACT LIKENESS. Except mine’s blue. Put her in a scene!
Modeling is very accurate, but I’d like to see the sparkles come out more in the material. The real chopper has that barely noticeable sparkle finish that really helps it stand out against backgrounds. But the modelling on this thing is very well done!
As for the actual model, very good chopper, very resilient but has it’s limits… gotta order in a spare shaft cause mines bent 
nitrofreak06,
Interesting idea, using a larger tail prop, a lot simpler than trying to modify the electronics…
Magnush,
Thanks. Yeah i’m really impressed with how well it flies too.
Animaniac888,
Thanks for the complement. As for a scene, i’m open to ideas.
QS Dagon,
I’d not noticed a sparkle in the texture… perhaps it needs a touch more shine to the surface. I’ll have to play with the nodes some more…
I switched the materials a bit and rendered up a few pictures in red. If there is interest i might round out the set with blue.
WOW WOW WOW. i was about to comment that i had a red one standing right next to me, and there, you made one 
it looks crazy realistic 
For a scene, maybe you could take a picture of a table and then composite the heli in. No one would be able to tell it’s 3D
Wow, that is really nice!
Love the read. I agree with a poster above. That the material could use a little metal flake detail to it. Still amazes me to see the superb detail.
Something i just thought of. You should model the remote now. And/or, make some of their other helis. That would be cool.
mistermaster,
Thanks, glad you like it.
Animaniac888,
I’m thinking about giving it a try, i want to see if i can touch up the material a bit first though.
Hamburglar,
Thank you.
nitrofreak06,
I took a careful look at my helicopter, i can see a bit of metal flake effect in the silver paint above the canopy but nowhere else. However I did notice that the real yellow plastic reflects with a white spec value. That is to say, where its reflective the reflection is white. When i mix diffuse and glossy in cycles the color of the reflection is yellow, not white. I’ve tried varying the strengths of the two shaders but that does not seem to change the spec color. In blender internal I would set the spec color to white, but with cycles i don’t see how to achieve that effect.
As for modeling other helicopters, i’m considering it, so far none of the others have quite caught my eye the same way though.
Well i read over the articles i could find on the subject and made some changes to the node set up. Let me know what you think.
Hm… I like the new plastic but the old metal.
Looks real good. Is the material reflective? If so, maybe you can add some sort background to give it more of a glossy look.
Animaniac888,
Well the ‘new’ metal shader is the ‘old’ metal shader so i guess it must have to do with how the light is reflecting off of it.
nitrofreak06,
Yeah, the plastic is a mixture of glossy and diffuse so a background might effect it. I’ll have to give that a try.
Well, thought i’d try blue. Standard 200 passes. I tried setting up objects behind the camera as well as having a surface emit a texture, but it did not seem to make much of a difference. Lighting seems to make the most difference.
Well there are 2 things about your new blue one.
- The colors don’t really match, as I find the blue to be a bit different and the white part of the rotors a bit too yellow.
- I think the spec needs to be just a little bit harder on both the colored plastic and the black plastic.
I don’t have my helicopter sitting right next to me, but it’s late and if I go downstairs I’ll wake my dad up.