mtpeak2

Thanks everyone. I was able to setup the surface constraints in a pose, you just have to name the ground plane "ground_surface" (I'll have to test if you can just rename it in the chor or you have to do it at the model level). The only thing is the ground surface model has to be one mesh, I'll have to experiment more with that. I added counter expression for the wheels for turning, but they don't work exactly as I want yet, getting close though. I have one more pose to setup to make this a reusable rig. Rght now you have to edit a pose/expression to set the diameter of the tires for the auto wheel rotation. I can use a pose slider (that would be set once in the user properties) for the wheel diameter and use that as the input value in the expression. Right now all you need to do is, name the ground "ground_surface" drop in chor, drop the truck in the chor and scale (using a pose) and shape the path (using a bone chain). Then set the ease poses at the start and end of chor range. No need to add any constraints or expressions in the chor, it's all done already in the poses.

I haven't tried to set that up yet, I don't know if it's even possible. Plus, I never experimented with HA:MR, so I don't know what it's capable of.

Looks great Nancy, I especially like the hair with dynamics.

Great start Stian.

I've done a little more work on the rig. I've add a path to the truck model itself that can be scaled and shape in the chor. The path constraints are already setup, so this will eleminate setting them up in the chor. I'd like to be able to setup the surface constraints in a pose as well, but I'm not sure if that's going to work. Right now it's fairly easy to setup, scale and form the path, adjust the ease of 2 path constraints using pose sliders and setup the 4 surface constraints in the chor. There's still a few things I'd like to do, try to setup the surface constraints in a pose and add counter expressions to the wheels so the wheels slow down or speed up while turning. I may upgrade the geometry of the suspension and add the rigging for that as well. v15_test.mov

Yes, you're better off starting over. There were alot of bones out of position. The thigh is positioned too high, the tip of the calf is not at the ankle, but the foot is (you did something wrong there). The hands have alot of issues. When you scale the bones you must use the corner of the manipulator that scales in the XYZ axis. To delete the existing rig, select the bones folder and delete using the delete key on your keyboard. Select the relationship folder and delete using the delete key on your keyboard. Then in the models user properties, select each pose folder and delete using the delete key on your keyboard. After you have deleted these, you can reimport the 2008 rig installer and start over. You can send me the model before you run the install rig and mirrorbones plugin, to check bone position.

Sure. I'd like to see a before and after mirrorbones, if you have them.

I really couldn't tell you the problem without looking at the model. I assume the model is CFA'ed? Did you use the correct setting in the MirrorBones plugin?

Thanks everybody.

Thanks guys. Kat, I didn't model the truck, it's on the extra cd or dvd. Jaff, it's a rig I setup for the truck that uses surface constraints to keep the wheel planted on the ground.

Thanks guys. Sorry Vern, no plexiglass, how about this. truck5.mov

Possible pass the ball entry? pass.mov

It sounds like the thigh orient bones are not in a good position in the modeling window. There are probably other bones out of position as well.

Thanks guys. Vern, your "newton car" is why I revived the project. I was thinking the same thing, setting it up with your newton rig. No, I didn't setup a HA:MR project. If I can get an expression remote working for it, then it would be an ideal HA:MR project. No squish to the tires. Right now there's not enough geometry for it, though the setup shouldn't be too hard to do.

Here's another render. I want to see if I can setup the truck model to be controlled by a remote control model using expressions. truck4.mov

Thanks. If you remember, I had issues with u-turns (tires stopped rotating), that problem is fixed with the added driver pose.

A few years ago I setup a car suspension rig using surface constraints. The tires were driven by expressions with a use of a bones translation (had some issues, but fixed now). As the model moves along a path, the tires will rotate according to speed and direction. The setup consists of a blank driver pose. The bone that spins the tires and the path ease are driven by the driver pose, with expressions in the chor. The steering of the tires are also driven by a second path consraint of a target bone. truck3.mov

If I want multiple hairstyles for the character, I would use a percentage pose, I consider this as animating the hair.

Applied to character mesh and groomed in modeling window. I never groom hair in an action, pose or chor, unless I want to animate the hair.

The model bone for the sphere/raindrop is set in a negative Y axis. Set both start and end to 0.

Thanks Jesse. Phatso, you can use a density map. You can also adjust the density in grooming mode.

Turn OFF the limit manipulators on those 2 bones. (see image) Here a link to example models with the 2008 rig.

There are euler limits applied to the forearms, which limits the rotation to one axis. You'll need to use the bicep to help position the forearm. The foot and hand targets for IK are missing in the rig. The fingers are constrained to control bones and can not be animated directly. If you want to animate the geometry bones directly in locked IK, just delete the relationship folder and poses from the user properties. Is there any reason why you chose the 2001 rig? There are a number of free rigs available.

Yves' skin shader, I believe it comes with A:M as well. If not, it's on the forum.

Yes, the MuhHair shader comes with A:M.