While fooling around with an idea for a scene, I started making a bunch of pipes. At first it was just to fill up space on an empty wall, but soon I found a need to add more and more detail to these pipes. After fooling with that for a while, I soon decided that it would be interesting to get actual measurements for the pipes, adding a bit more realism to the scene. In the course of my journey looking for various pipe radii, I happened upon set of pipe models for sale. While they did not interest me, I got to thinking that a reusable set of pipes could be very handy. Once created the set could have several different skins making them useful for a variety of tasks. A super clean set could be used in the cargo hold level, a slightly worn set could be used in the suburbia level, a rusty set for more of an abandoned industrial or military complex level.
So what is needed to make a pipe set? I am starting with several straight pieces, an elbow, a t-intersection, a pipe cap, a few varieties of valves, a few varieties of meters, as well as some level specific large sized models like pumps, generators, fuel containers and the like. Left is the set I have currently finished - a straight 10 and 20 cm and a 5 cm elbow - and an asphalt material on which I am working. These are my high polygon models, not textured. These have a 5 cm outer radius (just under 2 inches for those unfamiliar with metric) and are in metric because of the ease of scaling up and down.
These three cylinders obviously did not take a month to do. In my silence I have been learning thing like architectural visualization and concept art creation methods. I do not have much to show for these topics, but I will hopefully have a few images by year end. If I could get some money, I have been looking at hardware and software I would like to get. Most of that, at least for the time being, is a pipe dream, but it gives me something to eventually shoot for. And finally, I got around to looking at Art School. I only looked at one, and it is unlikely I could afford it any time soon, plus as of the moment I do not have a portfolio, but I do think it would be fun. Not that I am sure it is necessary or the one I looked at is where I would go, but I did get an idea of pricing and entrance requirements.
Hopefully it does not take me as long to get back here for my next post and I have something even better to show off. Until then,
~gunnah
