Unit Preview Renault FT 17

[Kinboat]

A French Tank from WWI... As usual let me know what you think about color, size, or whatever you think needs to be changed.

The markings are taken from an actual tank, except for enlarging the card so you can actually see it on the unit. I think the flag was a Semophore flag to signal other tanks etc.

 

[Kinboat]

A preview of the 8 directions and actual size in the game (unless you think it needs to be smaller )

 

[Ed O'War]

Looks pretty good.

 

[davros42]

Looks great!

But maybe just a little smaller? It looks like it would dwarf the modern armor...

 

[Smoking mirror]

Some of the earlier tanks were much bigger than modern tanks, todays tanks rely on high tech armour, speed and hitting power; the tanks of 1918-1940 relyed on thick plates of bolted armour, the russian T35 (C1935) was huge, with several turrets, more like a battle ship than a modern tank. I don't know how big the Renault was, but I think it looks good that size.
Iv'e just finished some WWI/WWII marine infantry that would be great for a WWI mod.

 

[Dark Sheer]

I don't think the tank is too big, but is it a bit too narrow? I thought WWI tanks are generally wider?

 

[Kinboat]

Actually the Renault FT17 was a smaller tank (only 2 crew) were as the MKIV had an 8 man crew and the German AV7 had 16-18... I might shrink it a little

 

[Jimmyh]

I think it's brilliant and you should'nt change the size at all.

 

[cracker]

You do great modeling work. I hope people recognize the value of the wireframe models that you use in your animations.

I know this is a nuance of the good 3D animations for Civ3, but the shadow in your sample doesn't seem to look true to the CIV3 orientations. Something is strange with the same basic position of the shadows when the unit is position in different orientations.

Are you using a sun (light source position) that is constant at SE of the object regardless which direction the unit is facing??

I found the CIV3 units to be sunlit from the southeast except for a few cases of mecahnical units that were obvioulsy done by some other animator in the Game development team.

I have been using a double or triple intensity point light source at a elevation of 5000 to 1000 feet to simulate the sunlight so you do not get too much non-isometric convergency of the shadow shapes.

It would be nice to set some sort of a standard here so that it would be easier for others to replicate the setup once we understand the key variables.

 

[Pablostuka]

This is a very accurate unit design work. This FT17 is very nice, and is very well sized, according to the MKIV, for example.A great work, again

 

[Pablostuka]

Here is a pic of Gunpoint 3D 's FT17

 

[Pablostuka]

And another pic...

 

[Kinboat]

I think I have my light source more to the south rather than the south-east. And it's the same I've use on the MKIV... It does look slightly odd now that I look at it again. I've made it slightly smaller and a wee bit wider. As for setting a standard, I tend to change the settings myself for each unit to get everything to fit in the space I'm using... Although this is the same setup as my other tank and some of my planes are similar So I don't know if I'm the one to start a standard...

 

[Polaris]

Another great looking unit Kinboat! However, I think Davros42 is right, it looks a little big. The FT-17 was quite a small tank. Look at a picture with men next to it for scale. They must have used a shoehorn to get them in that thing!

The size is really no big issue though. Won't stop me from using it.

 

[Kinboat]

It's no big deal for me either, and I've shrunk it a little. Although Civ3 isn't really to 'scale' (not trying to start a debate, just commenting).