My 1953 War Machine (WIP)

[Tripod Bait]

A special thanks to Lensman for helping with the references. I actually made a few modifications to the model after using his link - mainly because the body of the machines in the schematics was much thicker than what was in the movie..

This is far from being complete - it still needs some obvious details, and the model's geometry still needs to be refined, but otherwise I'm pretty pleased with the progress thus far.

Modeling is being done in Silo. Final scene construction and rendering will be done in LightWave.

Click on the thumbnails for a larger image.

[Luperis]

Wow - looking good so far! I can't wait to see it when it's finished.

[andyd4h]

I've tried for ages to get the body right in 3D MAX, but with little to no success.

NICE work my friend.

Cant wait to see it finished.

[Anim8tr]

Good form and accuracy to the model! That will look very cool once the final skins are on.

[Tripod Bait]

Thanks, guys. I'm glad you like it so far.

I did some more refining last night... I'll have some screen grabs up soon (hopefully this evening, if I get a chance to work on it some more). After watching a few scenes for reference I realized the head was too blocky, and needed to be flatter and more "cobra-like." The heat ray lens was also too blocky and not curved enough, so I've fixed that as well. I'm also in the midst of adding the magnetic leg repulsers and hatches.

[Tripod Bait]

Here are some images of my progress from last night.

I refined the mesh a bit more on the body, added the magnetic leg repulsers and the remote eye hatch, as well as reworked the head to make it less blocky and closer to the film.

I realized after I uploaded these images to scifi-meshes.com that I painted too much surface for the nose, making it too big. It extends a bit too far into the body making it look a little "front heavy." All of the current materials are only place-holders at this point anyway, so this can be easily fixed.

Click on a thumbnail to see a larger version.

[the Donal]

This is looking great Tripod Bait- though I would say the front is a a little bit too pointed and protrudes too far- it looks like you've got the division right between the green and beige, but it just needs to be a little shorter and rounder.

Are you going to put the hatch for the pilot in also?

[Tripod Bait]

Thanks, Donal! And good observation! ...Now that I see it I know exactly what I did to cause that... Looks like I have a little war machine rhinoplasty to take care of this evening.

And to answer your question: yes I'm planning on adding the pilot's hatch.

[krys666]

Good, it's guuud! lol

[Anim8tr]

I agree with, Donal. Scale back a bit on the nose and add the pilots hatch as intended and the main body will look great!

Your rework on the heat-ray head/lens is also looking good. May I suggest reducing the lens protrudence a little as well? A bit more flush with the head of the heat ray?

Just my nitpicks, otherwise great job !

[Commandingtripod]

Looks great!

Can't wait to see the finished thing.

Have you thought about making a diorama from the film?
Perhaps when they are going through a city or something like that?

[Lensman]

WOW!! That's stunning, Tripod Bait! Have you done any professional CGI work?

I'm glad to help, but jeez all I did was spend a few minutes Googling. I wish I had your software and your ability!

[Tripod Bait]

Unfortunately I didn't get a chance to work on my war machine last night... *sigh* such is the life of personal projects. Hopefully tonight will be a bit more productive.

Thanks for all of the feedback - I really appreciate it.

Anim*tr - I'll take a look at the lens. It was a bit bulbous in the film, but I may have overdone it. The scene where the Martians take out the high altitude signal plane has great shot of the lens.

Commandingtripod - I'm still debating on what kind of scene I'll create once the war machine is done. I have considered the scene you mention, as well as possibly the martians first emerging from the pit, or possibly an original scene of my own design... I think I'm going to let that evolve once the war machine is done.

Lensman - Thanks! I have to give credit where credit is due, so even if it was only a brief Google you still aided in getting this off the ground (...no pun intended). Professional CGI...? Not as of yet, but it is my goal. I've been doing 2D design and illustration for the past 12 years, but I've always had a deep-rooted interest in 3D illustration and animation. About a 8 months ago I began to make a transition from 2D to 3D, and 3D has now become my primary focus. My goal is to continue improving my skills, and within the next year to have a job that will have me doing 3D illustration and/or animation on a professional level.

Thanks again everyone. I hope to have more to show soon.

[Tripod Bait]

Here we go... It's been about a week since I could work on this, but I put in a little time last night and added a bit more detail.

I cleaned up and tightened the neck and head, added the base of the neck, and I added the pilot's hatch to the underside of the body. I also reworked the magnetic leg repulsers and remote eye hatch - the repulsers were too small and I wanted to make the geometry flow surrounding them on the body a little cleaner. I also reduced the size of the nose on the body.

I still need to tighten up the edges on the neck joints, and I just noticed that I have some bad geometry around the Disintegrator Ray emitter that needs to be fixed.

Comments are welcome.

[the Donal]

Looking great Bait!

I think perhaps you could still soften the curve of the front just a weensy bit, but that's easy for me to say!

[Anim8tr]

It's really looking very good, Tripod Bait! I particularly like how you've smoothed the "point" at which the Heat-Ray joins the main saucer. The nose of the craft also looks more in check.

I look foward to seeing your fine model finished!

[Commandingtripod]

tripodbait said:

Commandingtripod - I'm still debating on what kind of scene I'll create once the war machine is done. I have considered the scene you mention, as well as possibly the martians first emerging from the pit, or possibly an original scene of my own design... I think I'm going to let that evolve once the war machine is done.

Well what ever happens I look forward to seeing it. ;D