Ok guys, this work started quite some time ago. After almost 3 years this is coming to an end. This is a thread I copied from another forum recently. It shows all my progress from the very beginning! Comments and critics are welcome! Koen (PS. first post over here - hopefully my effort as 3D artist can be welcomed! ) Forum Post: After a very long time, I finally decided to get back on this. Some recapitulation: Content: Animal Transformer; A spider beast mode together with his robot mode. Inspired by a TV series called Beast Wars, aired during 95-96. Goal: This was one of the first full CGI series ever made, 15 years ago this was top quality and professional stuff. I wanted to know if I can reproduce that as an amateur at this time. So the goal is to re-create the Beast mode Spider, the robot mode, and eventually texture, rig and animate both (With the transformation being the center point, obviously). This is what I had before I continued early 2012. Spider model (Original): Spider model (after rigging, I realised I needed to build to legs differently) Rig: Materials: Textures: Early this year, I finished the robot model. Completely UV mapped, Rigged... Recent turntable renders: In the meantime, I made the configuration of the transformation already. Next steps would be to pick some definate colour scheme, materials, and render setup. This is the first time I'm doing something big, new-territory (never made a decent animation before), and taking the time to do it properly. I'm really proud on what I have so far
PREVIEW VIDEOS IN THIS POST! Hard work on this during three years (on and off, obviously) finally starting to pay off! Beast Wars Transformers - Secret behind the transformations - YouTube What I want to show is how the transformation works. The green model is the spider, the blue one the robot. All red parts are being used to make a transition between Spider and Robot! Tarantulas, TERRORIIIZEEE! And a first material and turntable test!: Beast Wars Transformers: Turntable Tarantulas Final model - YouTube Ok guys, let's start the speculation! Might this just be the model that was used in the Original TV series?
Nicely done. You're deffinately on the rigth track. Spider mode looks almost spot on. I think the bottom of the robot head flares out to the sides a bit much, and maybe the upper arms are too big but you're doing a fantastic job.
Thank you guys! Finally I got the transformation animation, materials and textures all setup. Below is a link to a YouTube video: Beast Wars Transformers: Transformations - Tarantulas Final Model - YouTube From now on, I could literally do whatever I want with it
Really awesome! Looks spot on! Just a question: now that you have completed it, do you have any plans to bring out a second version, more 'realistic' version? CGI has come a long way in the meantime of course, I'd love to see a Tarantulas that's even more real and creepy! That's not a point of critique, mind you! This thing looks great!
Thank you for the replies guys! I'm glad I managed to bring it this far. The link below results in a High-Quality version. I also changed the colour slightly and added the yellow spots on the knees. Beast Wars Transformers: Transformations - Tarantulas Final Model - YouTube @LT Tarantulas: Why would it beat yours? One can only learn from what they do - Can we see it somewhere? @Digilaut: You ask me one of the questions I expected would be asked at a certain point. But I do not really have plans to make an ultra-detailed modern model on this. One of the reasons is my limited capabilities (As you can see, I'm able to do what was professional 15 years ago, but I can't do what CG brings us nowadays ). Another reason is because I'm not really spider-crazy. And a third one could be because there is a whole lot more areas to explore. I'd rather think about doing another character in the future. However, because of my job and the knowledge Tarantulas took me 3 years...I also have reasons not to do that. On the other hand, it's tempting from time to time The reason I took Tarantulas in the first place, is because I found him easy to model, texture and transform; yet was quite nice as design (Scorponok didn't look too hard either, but it's a very boring model to me). Now, I'd want a bigger challenge like Megatron, Optimus Primal, Dinobot, Rhinox, Terrorsaur, Inferno...? But hey, who's to take? Another predacon, or a Maximal? Etc, etc... I think I'll do some renderings and wallpaper on Tarantulas. Then it's ready to hit my shelf to stay there considered finished - There isn't a big point in making a fancy animation with only one character either, is there? I don't know what I should do further on the Beast Wars franchise - What I will do however, is making a reel video about Tarantulas. Where people can explore the nude models, the textured models, the animation, the bone setup, the rig, materials, a view inside the software, my 'secret' behind it (a demo of the trick behind it can be seen on youtube already). Something to look forward to I hope for any fan of Beast Wars, Computer Graphics or animation! One thing is clear already at this point. It was a VERY satisfying experience, where I learned a lot to say the least. Respect for the guys who made this with a lot more restrictions back in 1994-95 3rd of January, 2013 - Koen Calleyl
To be honest, with the exception of Airazor, every character has been coming up in my mind to do in a near future However, at the moment, Rattrap is overruled by the will to do Optimus, Dinobot or Rhinox. Maybe I'll do something different, like a high-detailed head only or so. Who knows
Thanks! It takes quite some time to put it all up, however, I din't experience it as extremely difficult. I should post some more information about the controllers. Thanks for that! I'll try to remember to put some wires, UV layouts, etc of my models aswell At this point, I've been considering it as done... - It's sad to leave it behind, it was very pleasant (But I don't know what else I can do with it)!