drmidnight

My workflow varies depending on the model, but I usually do a super basic mesh in 3ds Max, then bring it into zbrush, then back into max to retopologize and create the low-poly. Currently I am doing my work 100% in Zbrush, especially since it can handle hard-surface modelling quite well and shadowbox is amazing for making little tid-bits and detail pieces. You can create a top, side and front silhouette image of something in photoshop, import it in to shadowbox and you'll get a perfect high poly model. It's great for rapidly creating things that would take quite awhile in max, but it still has limitations. I think it would work wonders in vehicle modelling, but I have never had the patience or attention span to try. I would recommend trying it out, especially if you are more of a visual person like myself. You either love it or hate it.

Not sure if they are for these units specifically, but something I started working on for Fox. DAPS and Groin pad. Just beginning to detail the arm protection. Kind of testing how to do the molle straps, might just model them on like I originally planned on doing so the normals have a lot more depth to them.

I had to stop working on these due to a hectic work schedule, but things have calmed down and I'm going to start working on some stuff in the coming weeks.

I think I am going to redo that Pakul at some point now that I am getting back into things. Also might be the view but the latest screen the pants look excessively baggy.

Looking good, do you have normals for the chest pockets? they look indented.

This is one of the most impressive add-ons I have seen. I can't wait to see this progress and be released. I can see endless possibilities on the mission building side of things. How are the props handled, would it be fairly simple to add new prop models to the system? Is it possible to limit what is shown in the UI, not just by filters, but so only a set number of objects shows up as default? Sorry if the video answers any of the questions, not able to view it, currently on my phone. Keep up the good work.

I think it looks great as is ingame. You really don't want to overdo the fabric texture. Maybe sharpen it just a tad if you are going to, but you could get away with not doing anything to it. On a side note, I want to talk to you about the CIA guys a bit when I get home later tonight so hopefully you will be around.

"But commanders now want “professional-looking†soldiers in the field – at least those who deal mostly with Afghan troops, not civilians." Beard them up all you want.

Not really since I personally dislike them :p. I am just doing a hard shell one and probably wont do any others for the time being. I'm trying to simplify the amount of things I make so these eventually get done.

Must be the wax matcap I use. What's making it seem "ghetto"? The recon-wrap? or everything together? Maybe when the pouches finally get in to tie it together.

About to start on the rest of the jacket, just getting the vest placed so I have a reference for the folds. I need to widen the shoulder straps some and make the zipper larger. Also feel like I need to structurally change the hood some more and bring out the sides so they fold over a bit. I might completely redo it. It just feels too small currently and it isn't a matter of scaling it up.

lol :p it gets cold up in those mountains.

first detailing pass before I bump it up again for another one to add some texture and finer details.

Thanks, hopefully it turns out well ingame. Took a break from moving verts and deleting polygons to work on the hood high poly. It's getting there, need to pinch out the sides a little so it would actually go up like a hood. time for lunch :D UPDATE: Starting to add in some smaller details. Nearly finished then it is on to retopologizing and uving.

I've heard of that but never really tried it before, guess I'll check it out for when the models get to a more complete state, thanks. For where its at now I just use the default max render engine with one light since it is basically an insta-render :p. I've cleared my schedule tomorrow so I can spend pretty much all day on these so expect some updates.

People seem to be really picky, but who cares they aren't making them, so make what you think looks good. I really like the current look of them. As far as other suggestions go, personally I would ditch the chem lights and zipcuffs, not really something you actually see often if at all.

I talked to a good friend that just got back from Afghanistan and he said that he usually wears Ranger green, but it ultimately comes down to personal preference and a few guys do have an extra tan carrier. I say make what you guys want, but in the end it should take no time at all to recolor it if need be.

Thanks, expect even more detail soon, currently they are just the super low poly base models. It would probably come down to fox since I have no experience getting things ingame, but this is something I would love to see as well. Once we get everything together I am sure we will talk more about stuff like that. I am going to mess around with trying to get a working unit ingame before too long so eventually I hope to be able to produce some on my own, but for now it is up to fox.

Crappy max renders :p Little to no smoothing is applied so things are reeeeaaally blocky and plenty of errors. Redid the mask, really wish I could alter the head without the major hiccups I assume would come with such a task so the ears aren't sticking out. Radio and magdump are the only things optimized and ready for zbrush everything else I haven't touched and I am still trying to scale them right. Current vert count of everything including the soldier base and head is sub 9k so I have plenty of room to add stuff to, not sure about the engines limits, but I am aiming for 15-18k once I get all the details done and bump these square bases up after I do the high poly's and retopologize the lowers. Still to do: Buckles for vest Hydration tube Radio cords/Headset and/or handset Jacket zippers Various Magazines Finish Holster and thigh mount. Glasses/Goggles Colors are just for fun. Please point out stuff and make suggestions, keeping in mind what I said above, everything is heavily wip and not even remotely close to reflecting what it will look like when it is done.

Finally back from vacation so expect some more updates in the next couple days.

That man looks baked out of his mind.

How did you know I was going to do a nanernade? Decided to start from scratch on every base model since I tweaked my workflow to produce stuff more efficiently and it also allows me to not get bored as quickly :p. Nothing is currently scaled right so the proportions may be off. Currently 2k polys, probably could lose a lot from deleting hidden faces and optimizing. Still need to do the chest rig, custom leg holster mount, hood, shemagh, bundled rope, this helmet, and maybe a beanie, other than that the base models are pretty much done. Going to hopefully do all those tomorrow, then UV most if not everything so they are ready to sculpt when I return from the holiday next week. This is just the loadout for one guy, but I am going to expand the collection once he is done so expect more pouches and bags later. Left to right: Molle hydration bag(handle is wip), SAW pouch or Utility pouch, Double M4 tucked cover, Double M4 covered, AN/PRC-148 Pouch, Early Safariland 6004 base, TCFM 02 knife in sheath, Molle mounted dump pouch, Triple M4/Pistol Pouch (bungees are done just not shown). Expect a test fitting soonish once the other bases are done. Update: Current hydration pack. Was going to model out the molle straps, but no point. Adding some straps and buckles on either side so I can attach things like the AK or rope or boltcutters etc. Done until after the holiday. Mask is going to be redone just using my old one to show the look I want and I realize the beanie is clipping, too tired to fix it, plus the headset will cover the ears just not sure which one to do. Only a couple more base models to go and then its on to uv's and sculpting/textures.

Base is looking good, maybe a little darker and the leg normals are quite awkward, the folding is too symmetrical.

Because of that I stopped working on the jacket to rough out the pack. No longer a box :p Might slim it down some though.