Experiments and New milestones

Since my last post the animation and rigging is completely finished, the lighting set up is also ready i can now swap different HDRi images for different environments. Now i am moving on to getting the detail modelling and texturing done.

Also today is the day that my research document is going to be finished. So for the purpose of reference this blog post will be showing how my animation tests have developed over the last 8 weeks. Below are several videos taken from the wheel motion developed over the weeks:

Version 1.1 main wheels test with Depth of Field and Velocity data used

V 2.1 Basic Wheels with Camera movement DOF and Velocity data

Final Version 3.4 Complete rig with no post production effects

Modelling, Animation and HDRi

Since my last post i have researched the engine i am working on in extreme detail. From the Walschaerts Motion of the wheels to the physics of how fast the train should move depending on the Driving Wheels RPM. Using the original Blueprints of the Locomotive I have made a good start on the overall model. Also using the 1000+ Reference Images taken at the National Railway Museum i will be able to pick out the details, textures moving parts and make them in great detail.

Also I have been experimenting with HDRi lighting both for this module and Research Practice. Using a Gazing ball and a DSLR camera i have been able to create some experimental HDRi Maps and Reflection Maps which can be put on a 3D Sphere. This in turn allows for photorealistic Lighting and Reflections of the environment.

While researching i discovered a plug in called Rail Clone. This works in the same way as instancing but works using a combination of a Spline path and a Mesh. This could be used to make the track that the 3D Locomotive will be on.

The animation of the train is almost done now apart from 1 piece of the side rods that drive the piston motion. My main focus now is to get the rest of the model made and start texturing.