The Spartans, The Hoplite armed Soldier and Hercules W.I.P [COMMERCIAL]

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Comments

  • Arnold CArnold C Posts: 740
    edited May 2014

    Mec4D said:
    Thanks :)

    I am done for now with the theme but I will be back with one more set what is the one in the picture bellow , and I want to make exact replica of that ..but this will be my off time project as it will take me some time ..not the modeling but the setup
    I learned new tricks a lot doing my last 3 products ..

    Awesome! Thats exact the kind of linen cuirass I meant!
    Bought!
    I got a similar painting of that, which doesn't have that bronze reinforment on the belly part.

    The bloke on the right on the picture is a Spartan Hoplite of around 500 BC. Although this type of body armor was also worn thoughout all greece and even by Etruscan-Roman soldiers in Italy during that time period, (mostly varying in partially or complete scale-plate reinforcement of the body armor and sometimes different types of helmets and shields) this guy wears a distinctive feature that identify him as a Spartan warrior: the scarlet cloak draped over his left shoulder.
    I guess a non-spartan being caught with that kind of cloak would have get a free but intense "face-lifting" although plastical chirurgy wasn't even invented then.
    :lol:

    You really got me amazed. And drooling....
    :-P

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    Post edited by Arnold C on
  • Kevin RyeKevin Rye Posts: 392
    edited December 1969

    Wow. This stuff looks amazing. You do everything in ZBrush?

  • SylvanSylvan Posts: 2,711
    edited December 1969

    You are truly talented!
    Do you have any hints and tips anywhere on the net about modelling?

  • MattymanxMattymanx Posts: 6,907
    edited December 1969

    Mec4D said:
    Drooping in to let you know that
    Hercules
    Hoplite and Spartan Soldier
    are finished and preparing for the release very soon
    I will not share Free Hercules via the forum , you will get him free when you make order on the release day via your account
    will be so much easy for me this way ..

    I will let you know soon exactly the release date so you don;t miss the free Hercules


    Those look awsome. I am looking forward to these.

  • MEC4DMEC4D Posts: 5,249
    edited December 1969

    Yeah that is the one I want to replicate !!! as it is exactly the same as on the old ceramic paintings ..
    and I think this one is most beautiful and kind of "exotic " so I will have a lot of fun doing it soon
    I have already my patterns for the modeling and stuff just need to find out how flexible the linen cuirass

    The type of material that went into the construction of the linothorax is still hotly debated by academics and amateurs alike. Some of the more common theories of its construction involve laminated or quilting many layers of linen fabric (linothorax literally means 'linen torso'); the armor probably had between 12 and 20 layers. Some have claimed that it was made of leather, or possibly other materials, or a combination of both, but there is little evidence to either support or refute this. It has been suggested the fabric layers were bonded using animal glue. Although strong, this is water soluble therefore the armour would need protection against rain or sweat if this was indeed used.

    the first impression I got ..was that it was painted leather .. however from the history we know they used tight linen to protect from shooting arrows .. linen fabric can be very strong and many layers of it could still be light and protective but not as much flexible that why they used it not longer than the hip .. the flexibility of soldiers was very important ..since they need it to keep in balance or trowing spears
    I need to research little longer to better understanding the kind of this linothorax for better replication , the flexibility, thickness and other little details , but it is going to be another super awesome set..

    Thanks :) I am done for now with the theme but I will be back with one more set what is the one in the picture bellow , and I want to make exact replica of that ..but this will be my off time project as it will take me some time ..not the modeling but the setup
    I learned new tricks a lot doing my last 3 products ..

    Awesome! Thats exact the kind of linen cuirass I meant!
    Bought!
    I got a similar painting of that, which doesn't have that bronze reinforment on the belly part.

    The bloke on the right on the picture is a Spartan Hoplite of around 500 BC. Although this type of body armor was also worn thoughout all greece and even by Etruscan-Roman soldiers in Italy during that time period, (mostly varying in partially or complete scale-plate reinforcement of the body armor and sometimes different types of helmets and shields) this guy wears a distinctive feature that identify him as a Spartan warrior: the scarlet cloak draped over his left shoulder.
    I guess a non-spartan being caught with that kind of cloak would have get a free but intense "face-lifting" although plastical chirurgy wasn't even invented then.
    :lol:

    You really got me amazed. And drooling....
    :-P

  • MEC4DMEC4D Posts: 5,249
    edited December 1969

    Thank you and Yes, everything is made in Zbrush

    ryemac3 said:
    Wow. This stuff looks amazing. You do everything in ZBrush?
  • MEC4DMEC4D Posts: 5,249
    edited December 1969

    Not really , I am like 10 hours daily in Zbrush figuring new stuff out so this is my own personal workflow and ideas that evolving in the last 10 years and discovering new stuff each time I am doing something ..
    before I textured everything outside Zbrush and used it only for modeling , but then decided to skip double work and doing it all at the same time , painting while sculpting the fine details ..
    If you want some tips and idea you should join Zbrush Central as there you will find a lot of info and tutorial classes that help you evolve your own workflow , there is nothing better .. Modeling in Zbrush is a Visual Art , you need to follow the process with your eyes to better understand since the word can't teach you how to paint a painting .. and that is the same here
    so if you are Visual person and learn faster watching video you will succeed better in Zbrush , if you learn better from reading it will teach you the functions but not how to make it ..
    however before you start you need to learn the Therms and functions and what all the buttons do ..other way it will be hard to follow anything .. when I first open Zbrush years ago it was like black magic ..did not make any sense , so I had to forget what I learned and started over and it was not easy ..

    until today I did not posted yet anything in Zbrush Central as I am not ready for the showcase yet .. as I still see stuff on a daily basic that blows me away .. but with the time minder than before I guess I am evolving LOL
    one day I will be maybe in the Top Row ..but not yet

    be patience and practice a lot .. give yourself a challenge , focus on one part until you finish
    don't watch to much videos as you will forget everything next day
    find yourself a simple challenge and don;t give up until you finish it .. watch tutorials or videos regarding your challenge to find solution and how to it if you get lost ..everything on the topic
    it is the best way to learn ..it is how I learning and it is much faster than anything before

    short time ago I made simple challenge for other artist to learn Zbrush the same I used for my Online students
    people that could never do anything, finished clothing and stuff in one day, they could not believe how easy it was
    as they did not know where to start ..everyone can do that ..you don't need special skills
    but one step at a time .. :)

    Estroyer said:
    You are truly talented!
    Do you have any hints and tips anywhere on the net about modelling?
  • MEC4DMEC4D Posts: 5,249
    edited December 1969

    Thanks a lot!!

    Mattymanx said:
    Mec4D said:
    Drooping in to let you know that
    Hercules
    Hoplite and Spartan Soldier
    are finished and preparing for the release very soon
    I will not share Free Hercules via the forum , you will get him free when you make order on the release day via your account
    will be so much easy for me this way ..

    I will let you know soon exactly the release date so you don;t miss the free Hercules


    Those look awsome. I am looking forward to these.

  • MEC4DMEC4D Posts: 5,249
    edited December 1969

    warming up with simple fantasy Greek dress for her .. before going into more difficult togas and real greek chiton(s) dresses
    so much folds can be painful for rigging ..but I am going for the handles here for this free bonus dress .. so your Hercules ,Hoplite and Spartan soldiers have some companion after fighting time ;)

    I will do the original Chiton dress replica together with the replica of the next Hoplite so they can get nicely together

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  • SimonJMSimonJM Posts: 5,982
    edited December 1969

    Mec4D said:
    warming up with simple fantasy Greek dress for her .. before going into more difficult togas and real greek chiton(s) dresses
    so much folds can be painful for rigging ..but I am going for the handles here for this free bonus dress .. so your Hercules ,Hoplite and Spartan soldiers have some companion after fighting time ;)

    I will do the original Chiton dress replica together with the replica of the next Hoplite so they can get nicely together

    That splashing noise is just the launching of a thousand ships ... ;)

  • RAMWolffRAMWolff Posts: 10,212
    edited December 1969

    That dress is GOWGOUS hun! ;-)~

    You have an on line course? WHAT??

  • MEC4DMEC4D Posts: 5,249
    edited December 1969

    Thanks Simon and Richard ..

    no ...no on this moment
    starting in late October again

  • RAMWolffRAMWolff Posts: 10,212
    edited December 1969

    OwKay DOwKay Schweethart

  • MEC4DMEC4D Posts: 5,249
    edited May 2014

    I wonder what are you smoking out there today ?
    I guess in a happy mood! me too !

    Post edited by MEC4D on
  • RAMWolffRAMWolff Posts: 10,212
    edited December 1969

    Had a great work out and a good lunch and it's allot, ALLOT cooler here today so yea, I'm feeling good. Next I'm getting out the pipe and have a puff or two.... you know, the FUN stuff! ;-)~

  • CathyMCathyM Posts: 261
    edited December 1969

    How beautiful! I love the dress, will you have that hair in the store as well? It looks very nice - goes so well with that outfit! It seems every time I check back you've created some new amazing thing to inspire us :) -Cathy

  • MEC4DMEC4D Posts: 5,249
    edited May 2014

    You like that hair ?
    if you do I can include it too .. the dress is a freebie Cathy .. for inspirations ..and you know not everyone render wars.. I think my soldiers can use some romance after all :) lol
    thanks for checking in !

    Cath

    CathyM said:
    How beautiful! I love the dress, will you have that hair in the store as well? It looks very nice - goes so well with that outfit! It seems every time I check back you've created some new amazing thing to inspire us :) -Cathy
    Post edited by MEC4D on
  • MEC4DMEC4D Posts: 5,249
    edited December 1969

    Some progress with the weight maps.. no handles, decided to go for the animated way and the scarf will have handles ..
    here is the dress without the scarf with new weight maps .. posing smooth like a butter !!! following genesis poses

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  • RAMWolffRAMWolff Posts: 10,212
    edited December 1969

    Looks really pretty hon!

  • MEC4DMEC4D Posts: 5,249
    edited December 1969

    Thank Richard, I just got an idea while ago ..what I try to make here
    is that the lower part of the dress works like with dynamic cloth
    and pose in natural way as possible , it will work great with standing and sitting poses
    it is my first try doing this way and so far so good .. you can see the front is not affected just the back as it should
    since nobody bend the shin in the other direction it will working

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  • CathyMCathyM Posts: 261
    edited December 1969

    It would be so generous of you to include the hair, I hardly dare to wish it! It is exactly as I'd imagine the women of that time to wear their hair, but I don't think there are any models made of hair that resemble it. I was already amazed that you were making Hercules' outfit and hair, and then such a beautiful dress as extra gift for purchasing Spartans! I admit I am not good at knowing if an outfit is "fantasy" or whether it fits perfectly to the time it's meant for; this dress looks to me to be perfect for the old Roman times, perhaps biblical old testament times as well.

    And I agree, not everyone wishes to render pictures of warring sparsely dressed but muscular men heheh - I have to say I was shocked when my daughter asked me to go see the movie 600 with her, and couldn't understand why she or I was there until the movie started and I was confronted with so much... ;-)

    I also really love the way the dress appears to be dynamic, after recently struggling with some of the older V4/M4 clothing that doesn't bend to well without legs poking through cloth, I really appreciate what you are doing :) -Cathy

  • MEC4DMEC4D Posts: 5,249
    edited December 1969

    You mean 300 the movie :) it was based on a historical events .. there is an old painting that show exactly the soldiers and they looks almost exactly minus the leather shorts ..

    The dress was based on a Greek wedding dress ..that was based on the ancient style dress .. Roman civilization was based on the Greek and so the styles of wardrobes in most parts but more fancy , they worship the same Gods than Greeks but they give them different names
    Roman-Hercules was Greek-Heracles , his God father Greek-Zeus Roman-Jupiter so the both cultures kind of melted into one thing by Greek influences .. and Romans was kind of copy cats ..
    so I can call it a fantasy dress inspired by the ancient trends :)

    but there was a Greek dresses that was made from one part of fabric .. folded beautiful by the gravity and that is what I will try to replicate next time

    for now I am going into something different learning my ways with this one ..
    I am back to handles again .. as I need more bones for control separately the front and back ..on this moment I wish DS have regular dynamic cloth option to make a hybrid dress

    bellow 12 control bones for the lower part so it can be posed in any possible directions and scenario for better fabric flow and accurate gravity

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  • SylvanSylvan Posts: 2,711
    edited May 2014

    Mec4D said:
    Not really , I am like 10 hours daily in Zbrush figuring new stuff out so this is my own personal workflow and ideas that evolving in the last 10 years and discovering new stuff each time I am doing something ..
    before I textured everything outside Zbrush and used it only for modeling , but then decided to skip double work and doing it all at the same time , painting while sculpting the fine details ..

    Do you have any hints and tips anywhere on the net about modelling?

    Thanks for taking the time to answer!
    I am modeling in Hexagon right now and I recognize what you say about that it looked like black magic at first :)
    Z-Brush I really want to invest in, but I waited as I was unsure on how compatible it is with Studio.
    Your work gave me confidence though!

    Post edited by Sylvan on
  • MattymanxMattymanx Posts: 6,907
    edited December 1969

    Cathy, you should do an Hellenika (female greek warrior) for G2F to match the men.

  • MEC4DMEC4D Posts: 5,249
    edited December 1969

    It is compatible with anything .. but as you may know programs don't do the things for us , we do it
    if you still don't own Zbrush maybe better to wait for Z5 ..as it will have new interface .. and would be much easy to start than learn something now and switch later to total new interface as that can be for sure confusion..and not one tutorial will clearly work with it
    Daz Studio via GoZ is great for morphing or import models for edition .. but I prefer to do it manually ..if you make mistake in setup your morphs are lost ..that why I prefer to export OBJ copy of anything and import it to DS via morph loader not only I keep all OBJ information ( what partially get lost via GoZ) but have also copy of files just in case , it is worth investing ..as long you are ready for the great adventure :)


    Estroyer said:
    Mec4D said:
    Not really , I am like 10 hours daily in Zbrush figuring new stuff out so this is my own personal workflow and ideas that evolving in the last 10 years and discovering new stuff each time I am doing something ..
    before I textured everything outside Zbrush and used it only for modeling , but then decided to skip double work and doing it all at the same time , painting while sculpting the fine details ..

    Do you have any hints and tips anywhere on the net about modelling?

    Thanks for taking the time to answer!
    I am modeling in Hexagon right now and I recognize what you say about that it looked like black magic at first :)
    Z-Brush I really want to invest in, but I waited as I was unsure on how compatible it is with Studio.
    Your work gave me confidence though!

  • MEC4DMEC4D Posts: 5,249
    edited December 1969

    I guess you can use the first Spartan set to have one :)( caution : what we do with the breast ) I would go better for the Gladiatrix ..the Archaeologist found reminds of a lady that may be an ancient Gladiatrix .. female Greek warriors are legends and in most part fantasy , and the couple of them that rule did not wear anything else than dresses .. the power was in the status
    I would rather go for Xena look a like ..I think Olympia would be a perfect base for that, her face always reminds me of Xena's lol
    could be a very nice looking set
    http://images2.fanpop.com/images/photos/2800000/xena-xena-warrior-princess-2851112-750-1134.jpg

    Mattymanx said:
    Cathy, you should do an Hellenika (female greek warrior) for G2F to match the men.
  • Tarina KiviTarina Kivi Posts: 488
    edited March 2017

    .

    Post edited by Tarina Kivi on
  • MEC4DMEC4D Posts: 5,249
    edited May 2014

    Thanks Tarina

    playing with another concept ;) just 1 hour work

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  • Arnold CArnold C Posts: 740
    edited May 2014

    Mec4D said:
    Yeah that is the one I want to replicate !!! as it is exactly the same as on the old ceramic paintings ..
    and I think this one is most beautiful and kind of "exotic" so I will have a lot of fun doing it soon
    I have already my patterns for the modeling and stuff just need to find out how flexible the linen cuirass

    The type of material that went into the construction of the linothorax is still hotly debated by academics and amateurs alike. Some of the more common theories of its construction involve laminated or quilting many layers of linen fabric (linothorax literally means 'linen torso'); the armor probably had between 12 and 20 layers. Some have claimed that it was made of leather, or possibly other materials, or a combination of both, but there is little evidence to either support or refute this. It has been suggested the fabric layers were bonded using animal glue. Although strong, this is water soluble therefore the armour would need protection against rain or sweat if this was indeed used.
    Yes, I read that too. Some reject the lamination theory 'cause there wouldn't be any evidence that it was manifactured that way. But there's on the other hand no evidence that the greeks quilted them, either.
    The loudest of the sceptics seems to be Dan Howard, author of his book "Bronze Age Military Equipment". But the examples he uses at the "Roman Army Talk" forums aren't very convincing, they are from the 15th century A.D., which would be about 2.000+ years later.
    On the more than 600 pieces of art found (vases, miniatures, etc.) not even one of the ancient artists pictured a seam pattern on his linothorax art which could be some sort of evidence that it has been quilted.
    About the water solubyility, it would be possible to prepare the linen with bees wax f. e. to prepare it against rainwater or sweat.
    For linen having a tanish brown natural color, and the instance that many of the cuirasses pictured are plain white could be a hint that the greeks used something for preparation.
    the first impression I got ..was that it was painted leather .. however from the history we know they used tight linen to protect from shooting arrows .. linen fabric can be very strong and many layers of it could still be light and protective but not as much flexible that why they used it not longer than the hip .. the flexibility of soldiers was very important ..since they need it to keep in balance or trowing spears
    I need to research little longer to better understanding the kind of this linothorax for better replication , the flexibility, thickness and other little details , but it is going to be another super awesome set..

    No doubt here. As I mentioned above, this one's already on "Pole Position" of my Wishlist.

    Here is the The high detailed inspired by Greek Hoplite armed Soldier .. I added the forearms Armour , actually they used armor on chest arms and legs only but looking cool
    I'd say that depends. Arm and leg guards additional to that protecting the shin had been commonly used during the 7th and 6th century BC. in greece, but went out of service at the end of the 6th. Probaly they were too restrictive to limbs' movement, too expensive, or just plain hot/cold to wear, depending on the time of day.
    That's just the period the linen cuirass became the hoplites' standard armor. I'd guess that they found out that being wounded or killed through a slash or arrow passing their shield was less likely than die by heat stroke on a sunny day.
    :lol:
    I've found a nice illustration in one of my books about them:
    Number 5 being a upper arm guard, 6 a lower arm guard, 7 an ankle guard, 8 a thigh guard, and 9 a foot guard which had been laced to the sandal. Except the foot guard, which have been found in southern Italy (the greeks had some colonies there) and dated to the 5th century, they're all dated to the 6th century.

    But you're right, lower arm guards seemed to be less popular. The upper arm guards which have been found at Olympia far outnumber the lower ones.

    I also find a nice illustration of a cut for a linen cuirass and one of a elaborately decorated one you might find helpful for your reconstruction.

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    Post edited by Arnold C on
  • MEC4DMEC4D Posts: 5,249
    edited December 1969

    Thanks for your feedback Stefan , you know why I am thinking they paint the leather white, as Romans was used exactly layer cut as the Greeks and they did not painted it white but dark , sometimes with decorative gold ornaments , it was flexible ..until they switched later to bronze or gold..
    linen is the worse material for that , it would be dirty after I usage and if coated with wax it would be looks afoul ... and if they did then I guessing they used it just for parades and special occasions , ceramic paintings mostly have 2 color or 3 so this don;t indicate anything , however in one ceramic painting I spotted the inside of the linpthorax what was brown from inside and while from outside.. painted leather what first come to my mind .. plus don't forget that it is not possible to get pure white or black organic paint .. and for sure not in the times .. and the only one they had would be not water proof anyway so I guess it will be a mystery .

    well I guess for us no problem anyway :)

    thanks for the references .. also have some of the funny foot armors references.. the first shoe :)
    and also some leg armors with Athena , for for our set I am going for the standard showing mostly in the old Greek paintings
    and regarding the long hair .. the history tell that they cut the hair after the age of 16 ..and let it grow again by the old age ..

    and I think I keep the white .. since pink would be little bit funny here lol just kidding


    Mec4D said:
    Yeah that is the one I want to replicate !!! as it is exactly the same as on the old ceramic paintings ..
    and I think this one is most beautiful and kind of "exotic" so I will have a lot of fun doing it soon
    I have already my patterns for the modeling and stuff just need to find out how flexible the linen cuirass

    The type of material that went into the construction of the linothorax is still hotly debated by academics and amateurs alike. Some of the more common theories of its construction involve laminated or quilting many layers of linen fabric (linothorax literally means 'linen torso'); the armor probably had between 12 and 20 layers. Some have claimed that it was made of leather, or possibly other materials, or a combination of both, but there is little evidence to either support or refute this. It has been suggested the fabric layers were bonded using animal glue. Although strong, this is water soluble therefore the armour would need protection against rain or sweat if this was indeed used.
    Yes, I read that too. Some reject the lamination theory 'cause there wouldn't be any evidence that it was manifactured that way. But there's on the other hand no evidence that the greeks quilted them, either.
    The loudest of the sceptics seems to be Dan Howard, author of his book "Bronze Age Military Equipment". But the examples he uses at the "Roman Army Talk" forums aren't very convincing, they are from the 15th century A.D., which would be about 2.000+ years later.
    On the more than 600 pieces of art found (vases, miniatures, etc.) not even one of the ancient artists pictured a seam pattern on his linothorax art which could be some sort of evidence that it has been quilted.
    About the water solubyility, it would be possible to prepare the linen with bees wax f. e. to prepare it against rainwater or sweat.
    For linen having a tanish brown natural color, and the instance that many of the cuirasses pictured are plain white could be a hint that the greeks used something for preparation.
    the first impression I got ..was that it was painted leather .. however from the history we know they used tight linen to protect from shooting arrows .. linen fabric can be very strong and many layers of it could still be light and protective but not as much flexible that why they used it not longer than the hip .. the flexibility of soldiers was very important ..since they need it to keep in balance or trowing spears
    I need to research little longer to better understanding the kind of this linothorax for better replication , the flexibility, thickness and other little details , but it is going to be another super awesome set..

    No doubt here. As I mentioned above, this one's already on "Pole Position" of my Wishlist.

    Here is the The high detailed inspired by Greek Hoplite armed Soldier .. I added the forearms Armour , actually they used armor on chest arms and legs only but looking cool


    I'd say that depends. Arm and leg guards additional to that protecting the shin had been commonly used during the 7th and 6th century BC. in greece, but went out of service at the end of the 6th. Probaly they were too restrictive to limbs' movement, too expensive, or just plain hot/cold to wear, depending on the time of day.
    That's just the period the linen cuirass became the hoplites' standard armor. I'd guess that they found out that being wounded or killed through a slash or arrow passing their shield was less likely than die by heat stroke on a sunny day.
    :lol:
    I've found a nice illustration in one of my books about them:
    Number 5 being a upper arm guard, 6 a lower arm guard, 7 an ankle guard, 8 a thigh guard, and 9 a foot guard which had been laced to the sandal. Except the foot guard, which have been found in southern Italy (the greeks had some colonies there) and dated to the 5th century, they're all dated to the 6th century.

    But you're right, lower arm guards seemed to be less popular. The upper arm guards which have been found at Olympia far outnumber the lower ones.

    I also find a nice illustration of a cut for a linen cuirass and one of a elaborately decorated one you might find helpful for your reconstruction.

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