introduction thread (Pzkpfw IV Ausf E.)

[Caman0]

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Last Update:
http://www.caman.nl/pics/3d/panzeriv/tracks3.jpg

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hey everyone!!

im relly glad i found this board, to fit with my personal interests!! Some really great artwork here (ive checked some threads). Really excellent work, and most of all, attention to detail and realism, something i missed on other boards (cgtalk etc)

what better way to introduce myself than a few quick WIP renders of my latest work, a panzerkampfwagen IV, Ausführung E:

http://www.caman.nl/pics/3d/panzerIV/running_gear_close3.jpg

http://www.caman.nl/pics/3d/panzerIV/total3.jpg

http://www.caman.nl/pics/3d/panzerIV/total6.jpg

http://www.caman.nl/pics/3d/panzerIV/total9.jpg

C&C always welcome!
Nice to be here :)

Caman0

PS. for more work (M4A3 sherman, M3 halftrack AA gun etc):
http://www.caman.nl

[Martocticvs]

Can't think of any better way myself! Welcome to military meshes!

Nice work on this! Are you planning on texturing it at some stage?

[kevjon]

Welcome Carmon0, I've been regularily browsing your work at cgtalk but haven't really commented as tanks are not my thing but I really like the nice modelling and your attention to detail and accuracy.

[Spinner]

Hi
Like the work you've done on your site.
Suspect you enjoy modelling more than texturing.:lol:

[JFandL]

Very nice work, I'm doing a IV G myself right now not as far along as you have got.

[Lukem]

Very nice work, I'm doing a IV G myself right now not as far along as you have got.

Yes John, and when are you going to post it here?:D

Hooray, another tank builder! Great work - I didn't realise the earlier German tanks carried S-hooks instead of the C-hooks on the Panther and Tigers.

What colour will the final model be? Is it going East?

[Caman0]

...What colour will the final model be? Is it going East?


:err: I cant texture :err:

was hoping i could get some help here maybe.

Also, i saw some excellent tanks here, was hoping some ppl could help me a bit with polymodelling and meshsmoothing issues.

did some work on the turret today, and im thinking about re-doing the tracks, since theyre not as accurate as i want them to be.
render:
http://www.caman.nl/pics/3d/panzeriv/tank.jpg

[kevjon]

I found this site really good for learning about texturing with photoshop http://www.simmerspaintshop.com/forums/articles.php?action=viewcat&catid=3

[cobra6]

lol, ha gast. Kon niet lang duren voordat je dit vond ofwel ;)

Looking good ^_^

Cobra 6

[Lukem]

Did the track links change on these between Ausfs? If not, I've some photos of the links on a later model IV if they are of any use to you.

The one (really picky here) thing I noticed was that your drive sprockets look very sharp. Is it worth chamfering / bevelling the main edges on them?

[Caman0]

Hey Lukem, that would be awesome

i think i can use them, as far as i know the lower part of the tank remained the same throughout the war, as for the tracks. Upper part had mods of course, but not the tracks as far as i know.

so yes, pls send them to me!

Cheers
Caman0

[JFandL]

Did the track links change on these between Ausfs? If not, I've some photos of the links on a later model IV if they are of any use to you.

The one (really picky here) thing I noticed was that your drive sprockets look very sharp. Is it worth chamfering / bevelling the main edges on them?

Yes the tracks changed on the IV 3 times starting with the F
The older track was 36cm(Pre F) and the newer were 40cm but they also change this with the adding of 40cm ice tread.

[Caman0]

you mean the tracks they used in russia?

http://www.lexikon-der-wehrmacht.de/Bilder/Panzer4/Pz4G-16.jpg

[Lukem]

Hey Lukem, that would be awesome

i think i can use them, as far as i know the lower part of the tank remained the same throughout the war, as for the tracks. Upper part had mods of course, but not the tracks as far as i know.

so yes, pls send them to me!

Cheers
Caman0

When I get home, I'll post some images for you - see what you think.

[Lukem]

Right then - I'm not sure what model IV these pictures were taken of, but they might help.

[JFandL]

Yes them are 40cm ice tread with the added track extentions.

Lukem that G has the 40cm tracks, he needs the 36cm.

I'll see if I can dig up a picture of them or a drawing.

[Spinner]

Nice Churchill variant model in background #3 pic.

[Lukem]

Courtesy of JFandL, here's a drawing showing the main differences between the 36 and 40cm track links.

Thanks for the image sir.

[Caman0]

thanx man ill try my hand at it when i find some time...

work and my new mtb are keeping me from the pc ;)

[Skyraider3D]

Great model and welcome to MilMesh! :)

[Caman0]

re-did the tracks :)

http://www.caman.nl/pics/3d/panzeriv/tracks.jpg

[Caman0]

fitted with brand new tracks:

http://www.caman.nl/pics/3d/panzeriv/tank2.jpg

[Skyraider3D]

polycount? :)

[Caman0]

polycount is aprox 1.3 million, before subdivision.

started my texturing adventure. This is actually the very first time i make textures for a model, so be gentle ;) Critics and tips very welcome!!

http://www.caman.nl/pics/3d/panzeriv/texture-test.jpg

[digiartist]

Great looking model CamanO! Good start to your texturing too, I would recommend using photographs of real life surfaces like metal, concrete etc to use as a base for your maps. Mulitiple layers of these can give you a nice convincing random element thats difficult to achieve by just painting the textures. Looking forward to seeing your progress:)

[Lukem]

The tracks look much better mate!

1.3 million polys before subdivision - that's a lot isn't it?

Looking forward to seeing your progress with the texturing.

[Caman0]

Digiartist: Thanx for the tip! Ill try it on some parts, but i wanna practise painting in PS a bit more first. Btw you know good sites for those type of pics?

Lukem:Thanx for liking the tracks! About the polys, yeah that might be alot, im not too careful when modelling ;) but that will improve in time i think.

I have a texturing question.
Im working on the turret now, and it has many differnt objects. When texturing one object, how can i see where it hits the other one? like when i have the turret roof plate, how can i see where the commanders cupola is located?

and another PS question. How can i quickly reselect brushes i used before? like when i painted one section on layer A, then something else on layer B, how could i go back to layer A and quickly get the brush i used there? dont know if its possible at all, but it seemed like a option that would exist...

thanx in advance!

Caman0

[Spinner]

I save them as presets with a name I recognise then select back n forth. May be a better way, someone else knows?

[digiartist]

You can find lots of good high res textures at mayang.com

[cobra6]

I have a texturing question.
Im working on the turret now, and it has many differnt objects. When texturing one object, how can i see where it hits the other one? like when i have the turret roof plate, how can i see where the commanders cupola is located?

Caman0

By using the UNWrap UVW modifier, selecting "Render UVW template" and checking: show overlaps (default color = red)

Cobra 6

[Caman0]

By using the UNWrap UVW modifier, selecting "Render UVW template" and checking: show overlaps (default color = red)

Cobra 6

for some reason that wont work

setup:
http://www.caman.nl/pics/3d/panzeriv/nw1.jpg

when i render the uvw thingy, expecting to see a red line i get this
http://www.caman.nl/pics/3d/panzeriv/nw2.jpg

what do i do wrong?
btw the flatten mapping was just for quick results, not the definitive layout.

cheers,
Caman0

[Spinner]

Isnt that the barrel? Why should there be a red circle there?

[cobra6]

Is the barrel a seperate attached object? did you put the filling to solid. (default colour is yellow/beige I think)
Cobra 6

[3DRichard]

UWV rendering doesn't show overlaping between separate objects.

[Caman0]

small update on the texturing... tedious work *yawn*
http://www.caman.nl/pics/3d/panzeriv/texture-test.jpg

[cobra6]

thats some very nice texture actually.

Cobra 6

[Lukem]

Nice work mate - I especially like the way you've handled the gun muzzle; gave me a few ideas, actually!

[schoenrock]

dear god that is nice!

[Caman0]

update, been texturing the tracks, had some problems with the uvw coordinates getting messed up by an on-render-meshsmooth.

tracks, textured
http://www.caman.nl/pics/3d/panzeriv/tracks3.jpg

[Lukem]

Looking good mate! I assume you UVed and textured one link then copied the UV co-ords? (I'm very new to texturing - I prefer the clay-look (easier!)).

[Caman0]

Looking good mate! I assume you UVed and textured one link then copied the UV co-ords? (I'm very new to texturing - I prefer the clay-look (easier!)).

same here man! :) texturing takes soooooo much time when you have as many objects as i have...

btw the texturing was done on one link, yes. Had a nightmare unwrapping and stitchng the bastard haha. Im new to texturing too, so im having all the trouble one could wish for :)

texture-pic, painted in PS, no photos used (obviously ;))
http://www.caman.nl/pics/3d/panzeriv/texture_track.jpg

[Lukem]

Many objects? Yep, I know that one!

I wouldn't know where to start with a map like that - I'm using procedurals for the spare links at the moment - just concentrating on the main turret maps at the moment.

[Spinner]

Nice to see a gun barrel that's been fired for a change.
WTG