My first attempt at trucks/bogeys

[thegrindre]

Hi guys,
I'm going to give this thing a try. I haven't got a clue how to animate with 3DC but will make an attempt at it. (They don't roll at this time but they do work as bogeys.)
Here's the basic design of my Diamond Archbar Trucks;
3 foot NG
3 foot wheel centers
21" wheels
Poly count is 2100





Any input welcomed...

[Pencil]

Very nice, Rick!
What about adding a couple of polies to the springs, to get a more rounded shape? Maybe an 8-sided cylinder, and delete all but the 3 sides facing out?

[thegrindre]

Thought of that, too. Wasn't sure about my poly count and whether I should make 3D springs or not and the reason I posted here looking for input. LOL

Rick

[Pencil]

Well, that would increase your polycount by 16 if I counted correctly - against 2100 total, that's probably negligible.
I have the same problem on my trucks (and that's something I have to watch for in general) - sometimes I'm so focused on cutting polygons, I make things a little simpler than they should be. Often, adding just a few polygons will make a visible improvment.
On the other hand, a couple polygons here, a couple there, and all of a sudden, you've doubled your polycount

[thegrindre]

OK, good. I've tweaked the textures a bit and am going to rework the spring detail, now.

Thanks a million, Curtis,

[thegrindre]

I built a 'spring and bolster box' and added two springs. Polys are now 2300 according to TO. 3DC says 3024.

I like this. I think the textures came out pretty good, too. How about you guys? What do you think?
(I gotta figure out how to make the wheels roll, now. LOL)



Your opinions are welcomed here...

[Col Hogan]

I like 'em fine. The first photo looks like the textures are slightly photographic.
The last one seems okay. But somewhere, there needs to be a little more contrast.
Either the archbars or the wheel-centers need to stand out a little more.

Ken

[thegrindre]

Funny you should say that, Ken. I tried to NOT make any one thing stand out. LOL I tried to blend everything together with it's own texture rather then making everything say, black.

Well, I've failed to make the wheels roll so, I guess this won't see any tracks. Although it was interesting to create and I am using them on my route. They slide very nicely. LOLOLOL

[Pencil]

If you haven't already, try posting on the 3DC forums for some animation help.

[thegrindre]

Thanks, Curtis... Been there, done that... All to no avail, so far...

[Col Hogan]

After giving it some thought, how did you get the other rolling stock wheels
animated ?? Blacksmiths Car & Sand Car come to mind.

Are they your bogeys or someone else's ??

[thegrindre]

Those are all re-skins, Ken, before I started creating.
That gives me an idea although, I don't think it'll work...