R Reynolds Posted October 1, 2012 Posted October 1, 2012 I've always been intrigued by the utility vehicles to which the railroad companies attach retractable flanged wheels to allow them to ride the rails. So when I saw the image shown in the upper left of an actual VW bus version, I knew I had to modify my own microbus model. And inspired by the image of a prototype pickup bus shown in the upper right, I decided to go off the deep end and design a stake truck version. Before I started texturing the finished model I decided it was best to add bones, constraints and finish the movement of the wheels. Considering the time I spent tweaking it, especially the hydraulic hoses, the action is remarkably boring. I suppose in some ways it's the equivalent of a convincing walk cycle for a realistic character; if you do it right, a casual observer accepts it as believable with no concept of the effort to get to look that way. VW_wheels_up_test_a000.mov Quote
Hash Fellow robcat2075 Posted October 1, 2012 Hash Fellow Posted October 1, 2012 That's pretty cool. I presume the propulsion is still from the rubber tires, right? I remember seeing some thing like that in the old Lucius Beebe "Highball" book. I recall an old movie where two guys get their car to ride the rails by letting air out of the tires. Of course, that didn't end well. Quote
thejobe Posted October 1, 2012 Posted October 1, 2012 hahaha i love it! what a great way to start the day. Quote
Kelley Posted October 12, 2012 Posted October 12, 2012 I've always been intrigued by the utility vehicles to which the railroad companies attach retractable flanged wheels to allow them to ride the rails. Here's two pics of a single rail railroad that I ventured in the early days of "Scarecrow of Oz". Quote
Admin Rodney Posted October 12, 2012 Admin Posted October 12, 2012 Here's two pics of a single rail railroad that I ventured in the early days of "Scarecrow of Oz". Nice. I like it! A bit hard to believe those would stay on the rail without something to keep them on track. Even if it was just a couple plates/rods of steel hanging down from the cart/locomotive on both sides of the track. If there were two in the back one in the front might be used to steer with... Quote
John Bigboote Posted October 12, 2012 Posted October 12, 2012 Wow! Great work Rodger... and Kelley! Love looking at this stuff... Quote
Hash Fellow robcat2075 Posted October 12, 2012 Hash Fellow Posted October 12, 2012 I'm sure in the magical land of OZ that one wheel works great! Quote
Admin Rodney Posted October 12, 2012 Admin Posted October 12, 2012 I'm sure in the magical land of OZ that one wheel works great! So does no wheels a'tal. But you are right. In the case of one wheeled locomotion though I'd push the dynamism of the composition to have the vessels rocking back and forth a lot more, especially the one being operated by Cap'n Bill. There are other things that would help in pushing our suspension of disbelief further. Exaggeration would be one. Perhaps making the cart driven by Cap'n Bill really tiny and showing it launched up over the top of the track. Or make the wheel hugely heavy... or... Something to further ground it (literally) into even Oz's reality. When I first saw the image I didn't even notice it was a one rail system. I just thought... 'ooo... cool train'! I had to read the words first to figure out what I needed to be seeing in the image. This tells me that some additional emphasis could be placed on augmenting that one rail magic to help us believe in it. Of course if this scene was animated then much of that would be evident. I'm enjoying thinking about the effect that Kelley's image would have if the train was exaggeratedly huge and heavy and the cart exceedingly small and delicate. And they would both have different ways of running on that single rail system. I don't think this training riding element made it into 'Scarecrow of Oz' and it's too bad that it didn't! It'd go that much farther toward making Oz feel like a land lived in. Added: An example of what I was talking about regarding size comparisons. The images are in reverse order of the action I had imagined which was of the huge train lumbering forward slowly while Cap'n Bill races down the rail. I meant to have that bottom cart off the rail a little... Quote
R Reynolds Posted October 20, 2012 Author Posted October 20, 2012 A bit hard to believe those would stay on the rail without something to keep them on track. I fully realize that when it comes to hardware design I'm whimsically challenged, however you could at least turn the wheels into pulleys to make some concessions to the laws of physics. Quote
R Reynolds Posted November 11, 2012 Author Posted November 11, 2012 Material test submitted for opinions. Almost all of the materials shown use the same combination of combiners and plug-ins with just varying parameters. My goal was to build and learn only one material "formula" that was sufficiently flexible that I could build everything from new hotness to old and busted and all the shades in between (sorta' dirty, kinda' rusty). Naturally the risk I run is that they all look the same but most real surfaces age in similar ways so IMHO it's justifiable. And the "back story" on the paint job: they were originally going to paint the lifting mechanism, framework and bumpers with the same green paint but someone suggested that if you're going to drive on city streets with all that hardware hanging out, it might be safer to make it red to attract attention. Since it was a last minute decision they used some red paint they had lying around that has not weathered well outside. Quote
Hash Fellow robcat2075 Posted November 11, 2012 Hash Fellow Posted November 11, 2012 I have trouble with the green body color. Is that a 70's avocado thing? Quote
Fuchur Posted November 11, 2012 Posted November 11, 2012 I'd say with a little bit of tweeking it is like the Bundeswehr (German army) green, which would be quite right for that vehicle... Bundeswehr green See you *Fuchur* PS: Quite ironic that the hippie-car itself is colored in military color . Quote
NancyGormezano Posted November 11, 2012 Posted November 11, 2012 Material test submitted for opinions. My problem with any procedural material is the obvious regularity of the pattern. It specifically shows up in your image in the red weathered material. I think it needs more "layering" to break it up. Any weathering/deterioration on any vehicle will be more obvious around the areas that water or dirt collects. For more believeable weathering, you could also paint a more specific indication of grunge/rust around the seams, bolts, openings, etc to decal over the material. This junked simca is just an exaggerated example of a specific weathering pattern. Perhaps you intended to later also decal more specific grunge? Quote
R Reynolds Posted November 14, 2012 Author Posted November 14, 2012 Quite ironic that the hippie-car itself is colored in military color Is that a 70's avocado thing? Actually it's 50's Canadian National Railway thing. The best examples I had are shown in the attached collage. I sampled mostly from the number plate at lower right and used those samples to generate the upper left logo that is used as my standard paint chip. It's the same colours I used on my locomotive. For more believable weathering, you could also paint a more specific indication of grunge/rust around the seams, bolts, openings, etc to decal over the material. Good idea, Nancy, thanks. Quote
R Reynolds Posted February 25, 2013 Author Posted February 25, 2013 Presenting a completed model against a generic grey background just doesn't cut it. Finally having a sufficiently detailed city street really helps IMHO. Quote
Hash Fellow robcat2075 Posted February 25, 2013 Hash Fellow Posted February 25, 2013 Presenting a completed model against a generic grey background just doesn't cut it. Finally having a sufficiently detailed city street really helps IMHO. Looks super, Roger! Quote
Gerry Posted February 25, 2013 Posted February 25, 2013 videos uploaded here go through some kind of conversion to a Flash player. Don't know what, but I started asking about this over a year ago. doesn't matter what you upload, the default player for this forum software is some version of Flash. If you try to view any videos on an iPad you just see a "broken" icon of some kind that I don't recognize. Oh, and super model, Rodger!! Quote
Hash Fellow robcat2075 Posted February 25, 2013 Hash Fellow Posted February 25, 2013 videos uploaded here go through some kind of conversion to a Flash player. Don't know what, but I started asking about this over a year ago. doesn't matter what you upload, the default player for this forum software is some version of Flash. That can't be. When I play a QuickTime from here it plays in the QuickTime player. Quote
John Bigboote Posted February 25, 2013 Posted February 25, 2013 Phenominal, Roger! I looked at that image for a good long while, you have quite a nice set going on. (animate it! , I say) just kidding. Yeah, it bugs me sometimes that I can't see Quicktimes on my iPhone. Do we need to all start uploading 2 versions now? (.mov and .mp4) Quote
*A:M User* Shelton Posted February 26, 2013 *A:M User* Posted February 26, 2013 Awesome work! Steve Quote
Kamikaze Posted February 26, 2013 Posted February 26, 2013 Oooo that look real ...... nice job.....!! Quote
thefreshestever Posted March 16, 2013 Posted March 16, 2013 great model, really really cool! would be even more realistic with a little DOF. Quote
Fuchur Posted March 17, 2013 Posted March 17, 2013 great model, really really cool! would be even more realistic with a little DOF. Looks great See you *Fuchur* Quote
nino banano Posted March 25, 2013 Posted March 25, 2013 Very well done...amazing modeling and renders, I like the concept Quote
Recommended Posts
Join the conversation
You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.
Note: Your post will require moderator approval before it will be visible.