**NEW** WEEKLY MODELING SESSION: Week 011 Saxaphone

southern · 05-18-2009, 06:46 AM

Ok, week eleven. A new theme altogether this week and it's a musical one! Everyone needs a nice shiny brass instrument in their collection and this week we are going to attempt a very complex Saxaphone.

COMMENTS:

There are lots of intricate part on a sax so get googling and find close ups of as many instruments as you can. A mix of hard surface and organic modeling skills is required for this project. Get ready with a nice HRDI map in your render program!!!

Good luck and enjoy!

Starbuck · 05-18-2009, 01:12 PM

If anyone wants more reference material: "Alto Sax".

This is what I got after 1.5~2 hours. I'm experiencing a hard time to figure all the tubes what not on this thing.

It's not really clear to me, there are so many of those valves and tubes. So the end result might not be 100% accurate.

/edit: Added the attachment and some explanation.
PS: Sorry Paul, I stole your background gradient colors, I just happen to love them

Everett Paul Stretch · 05-18-2009, 04:41 PM

Starbuck, enjoy!! I kind of like them too.

Glen this is going to be a tough one.

Starbuck · 05-19-2009, 03:11 PM

@Paul: Thanks!

Update regarding my Saxophone. (See attached image).
I only have Pixie, Blender and ZBrush to render, so I used ZBrush.

. Everything is modeled in Silo of course, only applied the Sub-D in ZBrush, that's all. Will show my WIP in Silo later on or tomorrow including my wireframe. Now it's time to start adding all the tubes and buttons and little details like screws, et cetera.

RogerKnightly · 05-19-2009, 05:30 PM

jeez thats a rough challenge. easy to model but bloody hard to work out. If anyone wants help with the HDRI / Mentalray setup in 3DSMAX gimme a buzz

Starbuck · 05-20-2009, 04:22 PM

Another update:

Added more detail. (A lot more to come). Only thing that will be textured is the cork, so I went ahead and did that already. I have a nice black and gold color scheme in my head, so it's going to be just that.

In the next coming days, I'll add all the tubes and what not on this thing and clean up my scene / mesh.

PS: If you want some good reference material, I'd suggest looking over here: Link. (HQ images).

Everett Paul Stretch · 05-20-2009, 05:32 PM

Starbuck thanks for the link. It gave me a view of the other side, which I couldn't find.

here's my start.

Starbuck · 05-20-2009, 05:43 PM

Looking good Paul! And I know what you mean, I was happy to find the other side of the Sax.

PS: (@everyone) If you are like me and use ZBrush to render, here's a nice tip for ya to use HDRI in ZBrush: Link. If you use Blender I'd suggest installing Yafaray.
At work I used VRay once to render with HDRI and this little tutorial came in very handy back then. I don't know much else about VRay though, more a Silo + ZBrush user

Everett Paul Stretch · 05-21-2009, 02:54 AM

Hi Starbuck,

I do this as a hobby, mostly I just model. When I do render I use Strata.

Starbuck · 05-21-2009, 12:45 PM

Hi Paul, sorry for the confusion, the links were meant for everyone as a help / point to where someone could find information about HDRI rendering in different apps.

/Edit: sorry for the lack of updates, will be working on the Saxophone shortly hereafter.

Starbuck · 05-29-2009, 11:08 AM

Got a little private project in between now, but here's what I've got so far. Cleaned up some mesh faults, still not 100% happy though. Added some small details. Still need to continue working on the tubes and connect those tubes to the valves. (If that's what they're called).

xbo · 06-01-2009, 07:23 PM

Hi Starbuck,
looks great. I was watching the whole details in the Sax and looks a bit complex.
I also take a look what you done and i dont know, but.... the Cylinders are in the right angle? Looks like the cylinders dont have the right angle.
Im not sure but for me looks like.........

Are you planing to finish this one?

Great work mate.

CHEERS
XBO

Starbuck · 06-01-2009, 08:14 PM

Hey XBO, thanks! Regarding the cylinders, you're right. Some should be looked at, which I'll do later on. When I started this thing I thought of it as a great challenge, and it still is, but sometimes it gets tough to see how all the parts connect to each other. I'm planning to finish this one, oh yes. Piece by piece we'll get there haha

Thank you for the comment, cheers!

xbo · 06-02-2009, 12:58 PM

Hi Starbuck,

Quote:

but sometimes it gets tough to see how all the parts connect to each other.

Right and i think thats the challenge

Looks easy but because we dont have to much Info that makes the work difficult.

Quote:

I'm planning to finish this one, oh yes. Piece by piece we'll get there haha

I cant wait to see the final one.

Have a nice modeling day

Cheers
XBO

Starbuck · 06-03-2009, 04:45 PM

Hi XBO,

Thanks for the comment!

I continued working on the sax today, adding more tubes and detail. I found out I messed up some tubes, but they are corrected now. Started adding buttons and remade the head piece, quads only and it looks a little better now I think. Rotated the valves accordingly, but I still have the feeling they are off. We're getting there

David · 06-04-2009, 01:07 AM

Congrats Starbuck on your work on this weeks modeling session. You've been selected as our T-Shirt winner. Excellent work as well from Everett Paul Stretch.

Starbuck · 06-04-2009, 02:33 PM

Thanks David and Nevercenter, can't wait for it to arrive!

This topic will stay open I presume? As I do plan on finishing this one. And when I do, I'll also release the original file, as .SIB and .OBJ including textures.

I have to admit I feel a bit ashamed to be chosen the winner as I was practically the only one (besides Paul of course) who was working on this model. None the less, *yay* on the T-shirt!

xbo · 06-05-2009, 08:15 AM

HEY! Mate Congrats....

Starbuck · 06-07-2009, 11:04 AM

Thanks XBO!

This coming Tuesday I'll go over to a friend of mine who apparently has an old sax lying on the attic. It might be completely different than this model (or not), but at least it's something I can inspect up close. Expect an update shortly after that.

05-18-2009, 06:46 AM	#1
southern Senior Member Join Date: Feb 2004 Location: UK Posts: 364	NEW WEEKLY MODELING SESSION: Week 011 Saxaphone Ok, week eleven. A new theme altogether this week and it's a musical one! Everyone needs a nice shiny brass instrument in their collection and this week we are going to attempt a very complex Saxaphone. COMMENTS: There are lots of intricate part on a sax so get googling and find close ups of as many instruments as you can. A mix of hard surface and organic modeling skills is required for this project. Get ready with a nice HRDI map in your render program!!! Good luck and enjoy! __________________ ________________________________ SouthernGFX Website http://www.southerngfx.co.uk Follow me on Twitter http://twitter.com/southerngfx SouthernGFX Blog http://southerngfxblog.blogspot.com

05-18-2009, 01:12 PM	#2
Starbuck Member Join Date: Jul 2008 Location: the Netherlands Posts: 51	If anyone wants more reference material: "Alto Sax". This is what I got after 1.5~2 hours. I'm experiencing a hard time to figure all the tubes what not on this thing. It's not really clear to me, there are so many of those valves and tubes. So the end result might not be 100% accurate. /edit: Added the attachment and some explanation. PS: Sorry Paul, I stole your background gradient colors, I just happen to love them Attached Thumbnails Last edited by Starbuck; 05-18-2009 at 03:20 PM.

05-18-2009, 04:41 PM	#3
Everett Paul Stretch Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2005 Location: Galena IL Posts: 189	Starbuck, enjoy!! I kind of like them too. Glen this is going to be a tough one. __________________ Paul

05-19-2009, 03:11 PM	#4
Starbuck Member Join Date: Jul 2008 Location: the Netherlands Posts: 51	@Paul: Thanks! Update regarding my Saxophone. (See attached image). I only have Pixie, Blender and ZBrush to render, so I used ZBrush. . Everything is modeled in Silo of course, only applied the Sub-D in ZBrush, that's all. Will show my WIP in Silo later on or tomorrow including my wireframe. Now it's time to start adding all the tubes and buttons and little details like screws, et cetera. Attached Thumbnails

05-19-2009, 05:30 PM	#5
RogerKnightly scallywag Join Date: Oct 2005 Location: Cork, Ireland Posts: 2,126	jeez thats a rough challenge. easy to model but bloody hard to work out. If anyone wants help with the HDRI / Mentalray setup in 3DSMAX gimme a buzz __________________ Xeon Quad 2.5ghz 3GB Ram Quadro FX 570 XP Pro Wacom Intuos coffee.. lots of coffee Last edited by RogerKnightly; 05-19-2009 at 05:41 PM.

05-20-2009, 04:22 PM	#6
Starbuck Member Join Date: Jul 2008 Location: the Netherlands Posts: 51	Another update: Added more detail. (A lot more to come). Only thing that will be textured is the cork, so I went ahead and did that already. I have a nice black and gold color scheme in my head, so it's going to be just that. In the next coming days, I'll add all the tubes and what not on this thing and clean up my scene / mesh. PS: If you want some good reference material, I'd suggest looking over here: Link. (HQ images). Attached Thumbnails

05-20-2009, 05:32 PM	#7
Everett Paul Stretch Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2005 Location: Galena IL Posts: 189	Starbuck thanks for the link. It gave me a view of the other side, which I couldn't find. here's my start. Attached Thumbnails __________________ Paul

05-20-2009, 05:43 PM	#8
Starbuck Member Join Date: Jul 2008 Location: the Netherlands Posts: 51	Looking good Paul! And I know what you mean, I was happy to find the other side of the Sax. PS: (@everyone) If you are like me and use ZBrush to render, here's a nice tip for ya to use HDRI in ZBrush: Link. If you use Blender I'd suggest installing Yafaray. At work I used VRay once to render with HDRI and this little tutorial came in very handy back then. I don't know much else about VRay though, more a Silo + ZBrush user Last edited by Starbuck; 05-21-2009 at 12:43 PM.

05-21-2009, 02:54 AM	#9
Everett Paul Stretch Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2005 Location: Galena IL Posts: 189	Hi Starbuck, I do this as a hobby, mostly I just model. When I do render I use Strata. __________________ Paul

05-21-2009, 12:45 PM	#10
Starbuck Member Join Date: Jul 2008 Location: the Netherlands Posts: 51	Hi Paul, sorry for the confusion, the links were meant for everyone as a help / point to where someone could find information about HDRI rendering in different apps. /Edit: sorry for the lack of updates, will be working on the Saxophone shortly hereafter. Last edited by Starbuck; 05-25-2009 at 01:33 PM.

05-29-2009, 11:08 AM	#11
Starbuck Member Join Date: Jul 2008 Location: the Netherlands Posts: 51	Got a little private project in between now, but here's what I've got so far. Cleaned up some mesh faults, still not 100% happy though. Added some small details. Still need to continue working on the tubes and connect those tubes to the valves. (If that's what they're called). Attached Thumbnails

06-01-2009, 07:23 PM	#12
xbo Senior Member Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: Munich Posts: 258	Hi Starbuck, looks great. I was watching the whole details in the Sax and looks a bit complex. I also take a look what you done and i dont know, but.... the Cylinders are in the right angle? Looks like the cylinders dont have the right angle. Im not sure but for me looks like......... Are you planing to finish this one? Great work mate. CHEERS XBO

06-01-2009, 08:14 PM	#13
Starbuck Member Join Date: Jul 2008 Location: the Netherlands Posts: 51	Hey XBO, thanks! Regarding the cylinders, you're right. Some should be looked at, which I'll do later on. When I started this thing I thought of it as a great challenge, and it still is, but sometimes it gets tough to see how all the parts connect to each other. I'm planning to finish this one, oh yes. Piece by piece we'll get there haha Thank you for the comment, cheers!

06-03-2009, 04:45 PM	#15
Starbuck Member Join Date: Jul 2008 Location: the Netherlands Posts: 51	Hi XBO, Thanks for the comment! I continued working on the sax today, adding more tubes and detail. I found out I messed up some tubes, but they are corrected now. Started adding buttons and remade the head piece, quads only and it looks a little better now I think. Rotated the valves accordingly, but I still have the feeling they are off. We're getting there Attached Thumbnails

06-04-2009, 01:07 AM	#16
David Nevercenter Marketing Join Date: Oct 2008 Posts: 147	Selection: Starbuck Congrats Starbuck on your work on this weeks modeling session. You've been selected as our T-Shirt winner. Excellent work as well from Everett Paul Stretch.

06-04-2009, 02:33 PM	#17
Starbuck Member Join Date: Jul 2008 Location: the Netherlands Posts: 51	Thanks David and Nevercenter, can't wait for it to arrive! This topic will stay open I presume? As I do plan on finishing this one. And when I do, I'll also release the original file, as .SIB and .OBJ including textures. I have to admit I feel a bit ashamed to be chosen the winner as I was practically the only one (besides Paul of course) who was working on this model. None the less, yay on the T-shirt!

06-05-2009, 08:15 AM	#18
xbo Senior Member Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: Munich Posts: 258	HEY! Mate Congrats....

06-07-2009, 11:04 AM	#19
Starbuck Member Join Date: Jul 2008 Location: the Netherlands Posts: 51	Thanks XBO! This coming Tuesday I'll go over to a friend of mine who apparently has an old sax lying on the attic. It might be completely different than this model (or not), but at least it's something I can inspect up close. Expect an update shortly after that.