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Post by grendelsmother64 on Sept 26, 2017 11:48:36 GMT -9
I dunno. Pinning one's hopes on Ron Howard isn't the safest bet in my opinion.
Don't get me wrong....he's made a handful of incredibly good flicks. Apollo 13 is quite possibly a perfect film.
But he's made a bigger handful of stinkers. And his recent output hasn't been all that great.
He turned the amazing source material of In the Heart of the Sea into a really forgettable B-movie. For me...a huge age of sail nut...that was unforgivable.
So I'm not holding my breath over his Star Wars debut...
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Post by grendelsmother64 on Sept 26, 2017 5:59:09 GMT -9
Watched the first 2 episodes. The dialog is a little clunky, and I'm not sure how I feel about the high-gothic Klingons...but generally not a bad show. Most of the production design is top -knotch, and the opening credits are stunning. Definitely some potential here. Makes Orville look like crap by comparison. In my opinion anyway. GM64
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Post by grendelsmother64 on Sept 25, 2017 9:46:40 GMT -9
So a little sketchup tinkering results in this Trek inspired shape: Should be easy enough to texture into an itty-bitty shuttle.... GM64
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Post by grendelsmother64 on Sept 25, 2017 9:02:03 GMT -9
Damn, I don't have a Runabout to mod... Looks like it's gonna be a Type-6 shuttle. Yes...I think some kind of light craft might be in order.... GM64
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Post by grendelsmother64 on Sept 25, 2017 7:49:12 GMT -9
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Post by grendelsmother64 on Sept 24, 2017 18:36:43 GMT -9
Got tired of staring at brick walls so I decided to rejigger an old figure I made into a Halloween pinup: witch by grendels_mother64, on Flickr First draft. Need to fix a few things to make her paper-figure friendly. And give her a back.... GM64
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Post by grendelsmother64 on Sept 22, 2017 17:49:50 GMT -9
As for programs...I mostly use inkscape for vector stuff, and lately I've been using a free paintshop-like program called Medibang. Medibang is very similar to Krita, but I tried Krita on 2 machines and it was kinda buggy on both...especially with my Wacom/Bamboo. I don't know why. Medibang seems to have most of the same stuff, but it runs way smoother. It does have an ad that pops up when you first open it, but only on opening. My old Corel-Draw suite had way more pop-ups...even though I'd already paid big bucks for it. Gimp has lots of features, and you can probably do more with it than Krita or Medibang, but it really is cumbersome to use...designed by programmers, not by users.... Anyway, I'd recommend trying Medibang as a free photoshop alternative. GM64
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Post by grendelsmother64 on Sept 21, 2017 20:09:45 GMT -9
I found a second hand Bamboo for $20 (Canadian) on Kijiji (is that Canadian too...?). I needed a new pen for mine (the dog ate it...true story), the one advertised had 2 pens, and it was cheaper (and quicker) than buying a replacement pen from Wacom. So I got a pen for my old one...and my daughter stole the new one...good thing it had 2 pens. Oh...and don't buy a cheap knock-off tablet on Amazon. The reason my daughter stole the second Wacom/Bamboo was because her cheap knock-off only lasted 6 months (it was a HUION...definitely not recomended). My original Bamboo is going on 6 or 7 years now... GM64 Edit...the next month or so might be a good time to find a used one. Sometime around the end of October college kids start running out of money and the first thing to go are the toys they never use....
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Post by grendelsmother64 on Sept 21, 2017 11:36:48 GMT -9
And speaking of grapbic tablet, I got my hands on one! The Wacom Intuos S. After using it for an hour I love it. My drawing has not improved (yet), but I can already see how this could be a huge time-saver compared to working on paper, and I have not even gotten decent at using the buttons yet. Thanks for the help to decide on that route, especially to jeffgeorge and alloydog ! I've been using my same Wacom Bamboo for years now, and I don't use the buttons on the tablet or the stylus at all. Instead, I draw on the pad with my right hand, and keep my left hand on the keyboard to punch the regular keys for the GIMP or Photoshop controls. I don't use the tablet for anything else, really--I use Scribus to make PDFs, but that's all mouse work. I two hand it....one on the bamboo, and one on a taped up mouse with a roller-scroll. I use the mouse buttons, and the scroll for zoom and position. It makes sketchup really easy to use. GM64
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Post by grendelsmother64 on Sept 21, 2017 7:14:37 GMT -9
This is my light box: 20170921_115546 by grendels_mother64, on Flickr Decidedly low tech. Requires the use of an adjustable lamp...of which I have many... It also doubles as a reading stand. I tend to work mostly directly on the computer these days though....so I don't use it all that much. GM64
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Post by grendelsmother64 on Sept 20, 2017 11:45:01 GMT -9
If you use a glue strip that both sides glue to, instead of a glue tab on one side, the pieces will fit very flush. Especially if you let it dry under weight Is that like a 2 sided tape...? I wasn't really thinking stackable boxes....more like one solid box with flat textures tacked on.....but either would work...
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Post by grendelsmother64 on Sept 20, 2017 11:37:17 GMT -9
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Post by grendelsmother64 on Sept 20, 2017 11:04:47 GMT -9
Will there need to be a seam across it? I don't see how to do four floors without one Yeah, I think the floors will need to be seamed. But as long as the texture is straight, I don't think this will be that noticeable. And the painted billboard will likely have to be printed as a seperate piece, then tacked on....
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Post by grendelsmother64 on Sept 20, 2017 10:47:38 GMT -9
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Post by grendelsmother64 on Sept 20, 2017 9:52:06 GMT -9
Still not done....but this would be the about the finished look of the buildings: t02 by grendels_mother64, on Flickr The bottom storefront would have a bit of 3D to it...up to a cornice moulding at the top of the first floor. And the roof cornice would be 3D. The rest would be flat printed sections for each floor (5 inches wide by about 2.5 inches high for each floor) So a little clean up...and a little dirty up...and I should have the first files ready for a build.... GM64
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Post by grendelsmother64 on Sept 19, 2017 13:51:20 GMT -9
Is the first building going to be two-story, or are you thinking of making it modular with additional floors? I've had a few ideas on making things modular, but I'm not sure anything will be better than glennwilliams F&T modular buildings. Those are just texture trials. What I was thinking was 3 building widths 5", 6" and 9". That's 3, 4 and 6 window widths. A couple of different storefront/main floors for each. And a matching (but much simpler) back and possible sided. Then you keep adding storeys to the height you want. Then a roof cornice....either single front or cornered for a 2 sided building. The idea might be to build a stronger box for your base (5, 6 or 9" width) then tack on the printed textures. Say 4 brick styles x 6 window styles x 4 storefront styles x 4 trim colors x 2 cornice styles x 3 heights(2-5 storeys) = a whole lot of different possible buildings. Although realistically I think about 10 to 15 different buildings with height options would be the goal here. GM64
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Post by grendelsmother64 on Sept 19, 2017 13:20:30 GMT -9
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Post by grendelsmother64 on Sept 19, 2017 11:29:09 GMT -9
More details...almost done making the textures. So I should have a model to share in a few days... warehouse02 by grendels_mother64, on Flickr GM64
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Post by grendelsmother64 on Sept 17, 2017 14:54:41 GMT -9
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Post by grendelsmother64 on Sept 16, 2017 20:10:33 GMT -9
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Post by grendelsmother64 on Sept 16, 2017 20:06:38 GMT -9
OK...so time to start a thread on this. The idea is to make a set of city buildings/streets like you might have found in New York in the 1800s or early 1900s. 3 to 5+ storey tenement buildings with warehouses or shops on the main floor and apartments above. Something that could be useful from Victorian right through to Pulp scenarios. Maybe even modern if I get around to making some modern storefronts... So here's very basic concept (skinned with an elevation drawing I found online)(the building on the right was a free sketchup model I downloaded from thier free warehouse, just for scale) : 3d scale by grendels_mother64, on Flickr And here's the initial round of vectors (with some intrepid adventurers for scale) for the main floor shop fronts...all still way too pretty yet for a real slum though: storefront02 by grendels_mother64, on Flickr So...we'll see how this project develops... GM64
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Post by grendelsmother64 on Sept 15, 2017 13:21:42 GMT -9
More like 'curiosity'. Are you going to have corner buildings? How do you see the alleyway in back? I think the alleys/backs could just be plain brick walls with a single door and fewer, simpler styled windows...like the Illinois models. Corner building...? 2 fronts with custom corner entrance...? A wrap around storefront or awning..? Maybe some cobblestone street tiles as well. fancy in front, crappy in back....
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Post by grendelsmother64 on Sept 15, 2017 12:42:12 GMT -9
So something like this: 3d scale by grendels_mother64, on Flickr This was a couple of hours of goofing around with sketchup to get an idea of what might work. The building on the right is a free 3D model from the sketchup warehouse. The other buildings are what I drew up....and textured with an elevation drawing I found online. The cardstock model would be like the 3 buildings together....with original textures. The idea that you construct a solid box, then tack on the textures. Options would be: 3, 4 or 5 window widths with several different windows. Several different styles/colors of brick. Optional building sides....for alleyways. Several styles of cornice/roof treatments. Main floors with a few differnt shops, warehouse, entrance options. Some elevated entrances with basement windows below. Several fire escape styles. Any building could be constructed 3 floors to as high as you wanted to go. When I get some actual usable stuff together, I'll start a thread under my name. ANy thoughts...? GM64
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Post by grendelsmother64 on Sept 15, 2017 9:13:31 GMT -9
I' come to the conclusion that the trick to enjoy new scifi shows is to entirely drop your expectations. If you expect nothing, you can only be surprised. You cannot be disappointed, because you don't set a standard for the series to meet. Sorry, that didn't work for me on this one. I just thought the jokes were flat and writing incredibly dull. There is one sci-fi show on TV right now that is really good....The Expanse. It's a syfy channel show, based on a series of novels. Set in the not too far future when people have colonized the asteroid belt and are beggining to terraform Mars. It's very well done. Really good effects, decent sets, accurate physics....and really good characters and writing. I think Adam Savage from mythbusters has some kind of stake in it, he has promoted it a fair bit....and he had a bit part in one episode (spoiler...he gets killed...) It's no Serenity, but in my humble opinion it's the best sci-fi that's been on TV for a long while... GM64 Oh....and many of the Earth exteriors are filmed in and around Toronto...Toronto has a lot of post modern and brutalist architecture style buildings that have a near future feel to them.
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Post by grendelsmother64 on Sept 14, 2017 14:27:52 GMT -9
Nope. Don't see this one getting picked up for a second season. I barely made it through episode one. After seeing the ads I was expecting a kinda lame version of Galaxy Quest. Turns out it's a really lame version of Galaxy Quest. A real shame, because there's some decent actors in this that can do comedy...but the writing was horrible. Let me know if it gets better, I doubt I'll stick around for episode 2. GM64
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Post by grendelsmother64 on Sept 14, 2017 9:11:57 GMT -9
You have definitely hit the right target. I don't know exactly how you picture it, but I was thinking storefronts on either side of the entry to the upstairs. Although I'm not certain that some of these might not have had back alley entrances. Some of these were probably over warehouses and shipping offices, too Entrances either to the side or between 2 shops. Maybe one or two main floors like one of the photos you posted...half storey steps up to the shop with semi-basements to either side. This would definitely break up the rows of windows along the street front. Also the odd warehouse main-floor. Like these: Yes... this definitely has potential... GM64
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Post by grendelsmother64 on Sept 13, 2017 16:57:23 GMT -9
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Post by grendelsmother64 on Sept 13, 2017 14:37:10 GMT -9
This would be a good project. A few different brick wall patterns, a dozen different windows, some architectural bits for roof corner and entry florishes... A few different storefronts and signage. A couple of fire escape options. All mix and match...that can be easily shopped around, printed, built alone or applied to stiffer boxes to build a streetscape. There's lots of late victorian era streetscapes around where I live. Maybe a photo expedition is in order.... Hmmmmmmmm.... GM64
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Post by grendelsmother64 on Sept 13, 2017 11:27:56 GMT -9
I found this page a few years ago: Build Your Own Historic Illinois BuildingsMostly colonial era buildings, but if you scroll down to the bottom there's a pretty good streetscape that could pass for just about any 1800s/turn of the century town/city. I think it's HO scale, but that can always be jiggered by a creative fellow... GM64 edit: I just realized someone already linked to this page. Good models anyway...
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Post by grendelsmother64 on Sept 12, 2017 8:29:29 GMT -9
As both a theatre junkie and a trekkie, DS9 was by far my favorite of all the Trek series. The main reason was the huge variety, and sheer numbers of the characters involved....and how well they utilized this large cast. Because they had so many established characters, they could litterally fit their characters into any kind of story template. One week they could do a murder mystery, the next an epic tragedy, the next a comedy of errors, the next a shoot-em-up western, the next a film noir. Any kind of story was fair game, so they never really got stale in the writing. Add the bigger over-all story arcs in later seasons.... It reminded me of a large theatre utilizing its company to put on a big variety of shows. GM64
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