March 28, 2024, 10:17:06

Author Topic: modeling ships  (Read 14170 times)

Offline skygunner58201

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modeling ships
« on: October 25, 2012, 16:17:10 »
I wanted to work on modeling my own ships.  Will any version of LW work?  I tend to do all of my modeling in SketchupPro and texturing in GIMP and Wings3D.  Also, is there a ship creation tutorial somewhere?  Or is it just the one in the tools?

Offline The Old Dragon

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Re: modeling ships
« Reply #1 on: October 26, 2012, 20:10:45 »
Hi SkyGunner,

As far as I know, you can make your models with whatever program you're comfortable with as long as you can export the model into .LWO or .LWS format in order to add the required hard points and also, this is the only format that the nexus converter understands.

Without meaning to sound daft, can you define what you want by ship creation tutorial? Once the model is made/converted, you just have to associate it with an entry into the tactictypes.ini and it's available for use.
Better to look the fool by asking, then prove them right with ignorance.

Offline skygunner58201

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Re: modeling ships
« Reply #2 on: October 28, 2012, 01:19:37 »
Ya.  I prolly could've phrased that better.  I know how to model and that sort of thing....tho texturing is definitely NOT my strongpoint.  I am looking for something that shows proper placement of nodes and whatnot in lightwave.  I know that sketchup doesn't do points...at least I don't think it does.  and I've never used LW before.

Offline The Old Dragon

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Re: modeling ships
« Reply #3 on: October 28, 2012, 09:43:23 »
Ok, not sure if you've already found them but if you look in following path...

Nexus - The Jupiter Incident\mods\SAMPLE 02  Everything Change\__work\art\meshes


You'll find several of the original games models in .LWO / .LWS format which should serve as an example.
Give me a little time and I'll see if I can get a simple 'how to' guide up on the NexusWiki at  http://nexusthegame.net/wiki/Nexus_-_The_Jupiter_Incident.
Better to look the fool by asking, then prove them right with ignorance.

Offline skygunner58201

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Re: modeling ships
« Reply #4 on: October 28, 2012, 16:18:36 »
I'll take a looksie and see if I can make heads or tails of it.  But yeah, a simple how-to would be great cuz I had an idea for a ship to put in-game but no idea how to do it lol.

Offline The Old Dragon

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Re: modeling ships
« Reply #5 on: October 30, 2012, 23:23:18 »
Ok, the first part of the guide is now up. You can find it at http://nexusthegame.net/wiki/Guide_to_Modelling_Parameters and it currently covers the engines.

In the meantime, if you've got any questions in particular, ask away and someone will usually try to answer before long.
Better to look the fool by asking, then prove them right with ignorance.

Offline skygunner58201

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Re: modeling ships
« Reply #6 on: October 31, 2012, 03:35:48 »
Wow... Just wow.  You are a hero...to me at least.  This helps a lot more than the info in the nexus tools.  I'm looking forward to seeing the rest of the tutorial as this will definitely help me out.

Offline The Old Dragon

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Re: modeling ships
« Reply #7 on: November 09, 2012, 15:02:44 »
Little bit of a wait (sorry, work and ME3 taking up too much of my life  ;) ); however, the second section covering weapons is now up and available.
Better to look the fool by asking, then prove them right with ignorance.

Offline skygunner58201

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Re: modeling ships
« Reply #8 on: November 14, 2012, 08:11:47 »
No worries.  ME3 is just that good.

Offline The Old Dragon

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Re: modeling ships
« Reply #9 on: November 22, 2012, 14:49:36 »
Added some more to the guide, now includes devices and flashing lights.
The only other category I can think of adding at this time would be the ships name plates. But as I've not really done a lot in this area, it'll be a while as I figure out what needs doing. In all honesty though, I think I used to cheat and simply copy the required poly's and textures from the human destroyer you can find in the 'Everything Change' mission mentioned earlier.

If there's something I've missed or that you want in particular, post away and we'll see what we can do.
Better to look the fool by asking, then prove them right with ignorance.

Offline skygunner58201

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Re: modeling ships
« Reply #10 on: November 22, 2012, 18:24:10 »
Thanks for the updates.  I'm trying to model a decent first-timer ship made in google sketchup, then i'm gonna texture in Wings and bring it over to LW for the rigging.  I'll take a peak at the new info when I get home from work tonight.  Its wonderful getting 1.5 pay for holidays.  And Happy Thanksgiving to all who celebrate it.