Looking for a modeler

Joined: 09 Oct 2003 Posts: 43

Hi,

I am looking for someone who can create some military items. I can supply you with the following:

800+ scans (300dpi) of Medals (US Military, US National Guard & Government Agencies)
200+ pics (72 to 120dpi) of the above
1200+ scans (300dpi) of ribbon bars for the above
15000+ pics (72 to 120dpi) of US Army patches
Pics of military uniforms

The scans of the medals and ribbon bars are all from my collection. I took a 5 year sabatical from playing with Poser to do research on Medals & Awards, and ended up purchasing all these for use with the books.

My son-in-law just went back over to the sandbox for another tour, and would like to make some pics to send him and the guys in his unit. So, any help would be greatly appreciated.

TIA

Robin

Jan's ShareCG Stuff · Posted:Tue Nov 03, 2009 8:51 pm

Hi,

MY son in law just went back to the 'sandbox,' too. Crying or Very sad

I'd love to help you but I am swamped. I've got two projects going and neither are moving along very fast 'cause crises keep popping up.

Chris Cox is a great modeler, as is Joe Estholtz. Let's see, who else? Assassin can model, but she's into SciFi...I'm drawing a blank. Confused

Maybe some one will come along who has some free time. If they do, I sure envy 'em. Smile

This would be a great project. And a good pick me up for the boys.

Joined: 09 Oct 2003 Posts: 43

Thanks for the reply,

This is his 4th or 5th trip over in the past 4 years, so want to do something special for him. He gave me a set of his desert camo's (blouse, pants & boonie hat) which I'm going to take pics of this week.

Have a couple "fun" type pics using The Girl and M3 with the Humvee ready to send him, and trying to come up with several more ideas.

I'm ex-Navy and always on him about being a "prop head" (Air Force), but he's a terrific son-in-law and a great dad to my grandsons.

Edit(By fun, I mean The Girl in her GI Girl outfit meeting the troops out in the sandbox. Didn't want that taken wrong)

Jan's ShareCG Stuff · Posted:Wed Nov 04, 2009 4:25 am

He'd enjoy some renders, I'm sure. Smile

I'm trying to come up with a list of stuff to send my son in law but I have no idea what guys over there need or want. My daughter's been trying to help me...

I'm trying to make a gesture of goodwil...I was not so happy about their marriage. He's a lot older than she is. But barring one wacko incident, they're doing well, for a 24 and a 44 year old! Smile

I sure wish I had time to model those items for you...but if I get the two things I'm working on done (one's just planned and I've been dawdling, putting off the actual work, and the other's not a modeling project but it's almost done) by Xmas, I'll be doing good. Smile

Have you thought of taking some of the clothes that are already made and putting camo textures on those? Or...there's got to be a camo outfit for Mike somewhere. Renderosity might have one, if DAZ don't. Smile

I could probably manage to make a few medallions or ribbons for you, to dress up the outfit.

I'll look for an airforce uniform for you and if you'll post a scan of a particular medallion you like (or pm me with an upload link), I'll see if I can model it right quick. Smile

I know I couldn't do an entire uniform, but maybe a medallion or two could be worked in. Smile

Oh, do you use Mike 4, BTW?

I feel bad, like I ought to help. Especially since we're kind of in the same boat, so to speak. Smile

Jan

Posted:Wed Nov 04, 2009 4:58 am

Moved to the Commons as it's a request for help, not an offer of a freebie.

What are you wanting - you say models, but is that what you want or are you wanting textures for an existing uniform? It would make sense to model the basic shape of the medals, if they vary, but most of the detailing would be better done with textures (you might want to have a look at Crazy Bump, which - if it matches its claims - should be able to convert a photo of a model into a bump or displacement map that could be applied to a blank medal shape).

Jan's ShareCG Stuff · Posted:Wed Nov 04, 2009 6:07 am

I can't speak for El Jefe, but I THINK he wants something to simulate a soldier's uniform, so he can do some renders to send to his son in law.

http://www.daz3d.com/i/3d-models/-/modern-desert-soldier?item=2604&_m=d

This is the best buy I found. It's for Mike 3. There's a really elaborate general bundle with airforce textures and every other kind of uniform but that, when you bought all the necessary bases, would be at least 30 bucks.

It'd take me a week, at least, to model a complete uniform, working night and day...but I could manage a few medals, I think.

I wish you hadn't mentioned that Crazy Bump. It's got me interested. But...even if it does bump and displacement maps...he'd need a plane to start from, right?

Sigh...off to check out Crazy Bump. Richard, don't get me interested in any more cool products, please. Wink

Jan's ShareCG Stuff · Posted:Wed Nov 04, 2009 6:15 am

Hey, Crazy Bump is FREE!!! Shocked

Thanks, Richard. I hereby eat my words...mention all the cool products you want to!

http://www.blendernation.com/crazybump-for-windows/

Jan's ShareCG Stuff · Posted:Wed Nov 04, 2009 6:16 am

This thing posted double. Evil or Very Mad

Just to make this post useful...I think ZBrush will do the same thing as Crazy Bump -- just needs too many polys to do it. It'd choke Poser. Don't know about DAZ Studio.

Summation: El Jefe, if you can find a uniform, or get someone to texture an outfit to simulate a uniform, I'll model your choice of medals. Smile

That's the best I can do at the moment...no time. Crying or Very sad

Maybe a really good modeler who's dying to model a military outfit will drop in...(hopeful smile.) Smile

Joined: 09 Oct 2003 Posts: 43

Hi again,

I already tried making a plane and using pics of the medals back in '03 or '04 before I started working on my books. They turned out so-so, and I wasn't too impressed. Just downloaded the software Richard mentioned and will play around with it some today. I'll try to find the HD that I have them on and upload one so that you can see what I mean. Altho, now that I have better scans, they might look better.

I own the Daz Modern Soldier set and got the add-on texture set from Rendo, but, altho pretty close, not quite there. I have to look thru all my files and try to find the BDU's that I got from PoserWorld several years ago, but that's taking sometime. Am rebuilding my Runtime folders from scratch, as it's been almost 5 years and 5 computers since I've "played" with Poser, and there are ALOT of files to be unzipped/unpacked!!!!! LOL!

Jan, here's a partial list of things that my son-in-law mentioned:

Hard candy, chewing gum, wet-ones wipes, music CDs, DVDs, anthing along those lines are greatly appreciated.

Jan's ShareCG Stuff · Posted:Wed Nov 04, 2009 10:23 am

Thank you, El Jefe! Smile

His mother said he like motorcycle magazines, so I guess I'll be shopping in the bike section, too. Smile

That's a beautiful medal. Would you like a model of that? I could do that today. Smile

Oh, BTW, glad you're playing in Poser again!!! Very Happy

That'd be something, wouldn't it, if your son in law came into contact with my son in law...he's with the Georgia Boys. Smile

Joined: 09 Oct 2003 Posts: 43

Hi Jan

What medal pics would you like, and just front or both sides. Also, how do I get the pics to you? Not sure if my MS SkyDrive is still available or not.

Robin

Posted:Wed Nov 04, 2009 11:08 am

Hi..

Jan19
I hope you don't mind..?
It looked like a fun challenge so I had to give it a try.
This took me 15 min. in Hexagon to create.
Rendered in Carrara, with it's basic shaders..

The polycount is way to high, but by planing a little better it is possible to reduce.
The basic shape is easy to make. What would be interesting is texturing.
The whole thing could be modeled, but the polycount would be way to high.
The figure in the middle could be modelled as a outline, and then textured for greater details..

Joined: 09 Oct 2003 Posts: 43

Varsel,

That looks great!!! When I tried this several years ago, I used Blender (I believe) to make the mesh. But, the texturing turned out to be beyond my skills (non-existant), so I just made a plane and applied the tex & bump map to that. Worked out so-so, and I made them available to anyone who wanted them.

Robin

Jan's ShareCG Stuff · Posted:Wed Nov 04, 2009 11:21 am

Quote:

Hi..

Jan19
I hope you don't mind..?
It looked like a fun challenge so I had to give it a try.
This took me 15 min. in Hexagon to create.
Rendered in Carrara, with it's basic shaders..

Mind? Heck, no! I'd just gotten started! Very Happy

And yours looks 25 times better than mine does. Wink

I was doing a point by point deal, which would've taken me the rest of the afternoon.

Lord, no...if you're willing to do this for El Jefe, you'd do a much better job than I would and you'd get it to him quicker, too. Smile

Thank you!!! Wink

El Jefe, he's much, much better than me. Like...well, compare a creek to an ocean, with Varsel being the ocean and me being the creek. Wink

You got lucky. Smile

Thanks, Varsel. Smile

Posted:Wed Nov 04, 2009 12:14 pm

The linked page on Crazy Bump is old - it isn't free any more, a non-student. non-commercial licence is $99 (students are $49, I think - closed the window). It's something I've had on my list of things to try for a while.

Posted:Wed Nov 04, 2009 12:21 pm

Please Jan19 Embarassed

My head is big enough already....

It would be fun to make something like this.
But we need to get a texture artist onboard as well.

Is this ment to be used as a prop to the uniforms ?
If so, the back doesn't have to be modeled ?
It would be easy to make it as a smartprop, parented to the chest..
It can also be made as a figure, with bones in the ribbon, for movements.
That's a bit more work...

It can also be made as a simple prop, so it can be put in a case...

And it should be made as a freebie.... Cool

To do this I would need:
a front picture, to show the overall shape.
a picture at a angle to show the carving (if that is the right word for it) or shapes of it.

I come from the land of polarbears, enghlis is my third language, so please forgive my spelling errors.

I have time to do this after the weekend. I'm one of those people that has to work during weekends and it's the nightshift... Crying or Very sad

Joined: 09 Oct 2003 Posts: 43

Hi Varsel,

Thanks for the help!!!!

A smart prop that is parented to the chest would be perfect. That way it can also be used in a case/frame.

I also have scans of the medals (Decorations, not normal everyday medals) showing them with the medal, ribbon bar, & lapel pin on the presentation backing. I can take pics of the actual presentation box also, some are named with the name of the decoration, but most are blank.

I will have to take pics of the edges of the medals, as I don't have those. Can get on those tomorrow and finish over the weekend hopefully (will be at the VA Hospital all day Friday, so won't be able to do any then).

I am in complete agreement that these medals should be free to anyone who wants them. That's the way I did it the first time, and that's how I want this project to go.

I am setting up an area on my Microsoft SkyDrive for the pics of the medals today. Anyone wanting to tackle the texturing, PM me and I will send you the link and password to download. I'll just put up the Military Medal pics for now, and hold off on the National Guard medals 'til later.

To Jan: Thanks for all your help and time! BTW, I love your work!!!

Robin

Jan's ShareCG Stuff · Posted:Wed Nov 04, 2009 4:39 pm

Quote:

Please Jan19

My head is big enough already....

Get real, Varsel. Wink

You know you're tops. You're doubly tops now, too! Smile

A real sweetheart.

Quote:

To Jan: Thanks for all your help and time! BTW, I love your work!!!

That's fine...I really didn't do anything but lay down some points and make a heart. By the time I did that, Varsel was finished! Very Happy

Oh, Varsel, about the texturing...it looks easy. Maybe a great one (Wayii?) will come along and offer to do it but she's tired, I think, from working like a dog lately. If it's a matter of putting El Jefe's (doesn't that mean head honcho? You must be a colonel or something) Smile

images onto UV maps, I can do that. IF someone with more skill doesn't come along. I believe I could set displacement settings, also--IF someone with more skill doesn't offer. Smile

I can even map your prop if necessary, Varsel.

Varsel, you saved my bacon in more ways than one. I've been trying to install SP 2 to Windows and MS has been telling me I need to wipe out th hard drive and reinstall Vista...well, today I said "the heck with it, I'm gonna do it." Why, I do not know. The computer was working fine. But right now, I'm reinstalling Vista on my texturing and rendering computer. Lovely...all those zips and installations to send to Poser again. Sigh...

But I'll help however I can! If I'm needed!

Oh! Richard, thanks for the heads up about Crazy Bump. But I think Zbrush will do the same thing. It just take too many polys to do it with. Smile

And El Jefe...thanks for your comments about my work! Smile

Varsel's turned out some jim dandy hair not long ago before a friend and I high-jacked his thread. Twisted Evil

Joined: 09 Oct 2003 Posts: 43

The pics of the medals are up in my SkyDrive folder. Anyone who is interrested in this project, please PM me and I'll send you the link. Thanks for all the help!

@Jan: No, not a coronel, much higher. Am a retired E5 Personnelman, and we run the Navy!!! LOL.

Robin

Jan's ShareCG Stuff · Posted:Thu Nov 05, 2009 2:28 pm

Oh, lordy. Heaven forbid that I run afoul of someone that official. Smile

I was assuming Varsel was going to let you have access to his beautiful medal. Surely he will...

He really is a much better modeler than I am (heck, he made hair that was so cool it rivaled commercial hair). So I'll sit back and let him call the shots.

I think he said it'd be after the weekend when he finished the medal? Anyhow...if you two need me in any way, holler, and I'll do what I can. Smile

I know I can't model a uniform. I can model clothing but there's not time right now. Still, I could squeeze in some uv mapping, if necessary, or texturing (if push comes to shove) if y'all need. me. Smile

BTW, I sent off a box to my son in law this morning. Got magazines, 'tater chips, DVDs (sent him some of mine and bought two), starburst candy (probably'll melt) and...a book. Yeah...I think that's it. Smile

I hope he can use all that. Thanks very much for the tips. My daughter had already sent baby wipes, chewing gum and more hard candy. The poor man better be brushin' them teeth! Wink

Seriously, I feel so sorry for our guys over there. I wish that awful war would end.

Okay, back OT. Y'all let me know if you need me. Smile

Jan...I knew El Jefe mean 'hot shot' or something similiar. Wink