[WIP] She'll make point five past light speed....

[MajorPayne]

So some details before the piccies. Firstly the original model was done by Al Meerow and Don Showalter for the texture maps and optimization on the mesh and is around 84,370 polys. The model was stripped of all its detail and only the major parts were kept (such as the radar dish and guns). The mesh was then loadable in milkshape and after around 10 hours over the past few days is noa more game friendly 4730 polys. This is a reduction of around 92-96% which I'm much happier with. Further reference material from image based models, blueprints and images of the original studio model were used to get the dimensions of the hull correct. Some minor adjustments and slight changes to small areas were needed (the dish support module is different from the original). I'm going to attempt to sort out something for the texture/s as a temporary measure until I can obtain some better detailed versions. For now though. Heres the mesh itself as rendered through 3dmax 6:

 

[Rifraf]

WOW. That looks awesome. Very nice work there

 

[Zelph]

Fantastic!

I feel the need to throw in a quote about the Falcon...not sure if this one is the right one considering how awesome the model is: "She might not look like much, but she's got it where it counts kid."

 

[Avon]

Looking good, she's always been a classic ship. I wonder if the versiom for the new movie will look older and even more tatty.......maybe we'll need new textures for her?

 

[Majestic]

Nice work MAP, 4700 is a good poly count for a hero unit. As far as textures if you do end up falling short, hit me up and I might be able to do a texture for her to match the other ships I have been doing for Rifraf and the MSFC Community.

 

[MajorPayne]

That would be perfect Majestic. I've spent a good deal of time looking around but theres nothing with the kind of detail I would like.

 

[Majestic]

Not a problem mate, I have been having my fair amount of practice lately and think I have gotten a decent style for Star Wars ships down. I'm happy to help.

 

[Jetfreak]

As expected of MajorPayne, she's a fine ship and a great mesh rebuild. I'm also hoping you're going to make a pristine stock version of her. I believe the early models had some white-blue paints like the CR70.

 

[MajorPayne]

Whilst I thankyou all for the comments my work is only as good as the original high poly work that others do. Without those people I dare say that any models I produce would be nothing more than low standard.
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Okay so an update to this. After sorting out some real world issues, I've had the chance to have a very good and close check of the texture set that Majestic was kind enough to provide. The detail is good but I believe the image files to be from an orthographic set of photos taken of a pastic moulded and repainted kit. Therefore, there is some significant missmatching and I'm seriously not happy with the results (this is no baring on Majestics attempt to get the textures to match). With this in mind, and because I feel the need to rematch the textures up better the model with be altered as necessary to fit to the textures. These themselves will be ripped into the necessary pieces and applied as necessary.

I know that rifraf is likely still waiting on this, but to be honest until I'm happy with the results I won't be handing the mesh to anyone else yet. Patience is its own reward, or so the saying goes

 

[Adm_Z]

That's really awesome! I haven't seen a decent falcon around the community for a long time. If you are still trying to cut polys(if that even matters anymore) I'd suggest lowering the detail on the bottom since in A2 it won't really be seen. If it was mine though, I'd just leave it like you have it. She is far from a piece of junk.

 

[Rifraf]

Take your time MP. I have tons of other work to do and am still working on the concepts of the game play with Majestic before I even get the stuff in game.

 

[Majestic]

Well if you can't get it to a reasonable level MAP I still have the Star Wars Galaxies Falcon that I was planning on converting and releasing at some point anyway. Not the best textures but they work ok. I just need to remap the 3 or so textures onto the one texture file though it has been on the backburner for a bit while I work on getting my models done and released.

 

[MajorPayne]

Hello all. Firstly, actual texturing has started on this beast but the going is VERY slow. Heres a quick image of the progress so far and my plan on how this will proceed:



Now as many will notice the "prongs" at the front are using the same texture for both sides which is inaccurate to ALL source images as the four "holes" show a different section. I won't be changing this due to the nature of the original images being used and quite frankly it would have been nice if I could have gotten my mits on the original high poly model I was after but no matter. Each image from the original will require close scrutiny and require stripping of specific detail to be applied to my clean base texture. Its not a perfectly ideal solution but its the best I'm going to use. Once this is completed (and I've no idea how long this will take), I'll see about getting a more "friendly" poly count for a generic version. For now, though this is where the model stands. Oh and this will use more than one texture but hopefully no more than 3 at the most.

 

[MajorPayne]

Well. After over 15 hours of messing with the image files I've finally got four workable 512*512 based TGA files to go with the mesh. One thing to note though. There is some mirroring with regards to the textures so I'm calling this a "pre-Solo upgrade". I am fully happy with the results so this is now ready for conversion considering the soruce images used

 

[Rifraf]

WOW that looks sweet. You've done a fantastic job on her. You're talents never cease to amaze me.

 

[Zelph]

Beautiful job there man! Pre-Solo upgrade or not haha.

 

[MajorPayne]

Rifraf. When your ready for this model and texture set email me and I'll send them to you.

 

[Majestic]

Great work MAP some seriously good work a shame you couldn't get it all onto one texture file though.

Still a great job.

 

[Rifraf]

Rifraf. When your ready for this model and texture set email me and I'll send them to you.

Thanks MAP. May be a little while, but will let you know. Thank you so much for your work on it.