[Vehicle] Leopard 2A4 [WIP](FDF)

[ukkis]

Hello o/

About a year ago when 3ds max and 3d modeling itself was a completely new thing for me I started working on this model of leopard and got it almost ready. But then for some reason stopped working on it and just forgot about the whole thing.

So for the last few days I have been fixing the old model since it had an awful lot of weird and bugging things in it (rats nests as max calls them) and added some extra detail in it.

It has been a real pleasure to model this tank because the internet just seems to be full of useful reference images and a lot of them especially from the FDF version.

Now that I think I have the turret pretty much wrapped up I'd like to receive some critics.

I heard there are some other comfacs in need of the Leo but I am planning to make some very fdf -specific details in it. Should I include those details in a separate child object and uv map? Is that even possible?

FDF details are seen here in red wireframes.

















We have also been talking about adding the kind of camouflage seen above with alpha planes.

[Hulabi]

What's the preferred tricount for main battle tanks btw?

[$piTfirE<*F!N*>]

The turret looks good to me. I served with Leos in the armoured brigade and I have to say that you've done very well.

As a bonus, if you'd like, maybe you can add a logo on the side of the turret. Like this:

[ukkis]

As a bonus, if you'd like, maybe you can add a logo on the side of the turret. Like this:

Maybe we could do that. a heart would have been pretty bad *** though.

Do you have more useful reference images?

[$piTfirE<*F!N*>]

Maybe we could do that. a heart would have been pretty bad *** though.

Do you have more useful reference images?

Sure, bunch of 'em... I'll scan my archives and send some more via PM

[ukkis]

Sure, bunch of 'em... I'll scan my archives and send some more via PM

thx your help is appreciated

[$piTfirE<*F!N*>]

No problem, mate... kiva olla jotenkin avuksi

[Zeno]

NF needs a Leo A4<3

[BloodBane611]

I heard there are some other comfacs in need of the Leo but I am planning to make some very fdf -specific details in it. Should I include those details in a separate child object and uv map? Is that even possible?

If you're going to make multiple versions, you should model each separately in Max and export them as individual models. So if you haven't added FDF specific details at this point, save the turret in a separate max file (you should be making periodic backups anyhow) and then start making your changes, if a COMFAC wants you to do their own nation-specific modifications you can go back to the original turret and start from there.

You can do the child object method AFAIK but its horribly inefficient, I wouldn't recommend it in the slightest.

[TeRR0R]

The turret looks good to me. I served with Leos in the armoured brigade and I have to say that you've done very well.

As a bonus, if you'd like, maybe you can add a logo on the side of the turret. Like this:

I like this extra armour plate

[Hauteclocque]

What's the preferred tricount for main battle tanks btw?

Looking at the current tricount of new PR models...go for something between 8k and 9k, provided the detail is worth it and the model is pretty well optimized. (and you will have to make some good LODs for it too )

About the model, you may add a few tris to the end of the barrel, looks pretty squary at the moment

And be careful about the way you model the barrel, the part which moves when you fire shouldn't be welded to the rest of the barrel (they are exported in two parts, "Barrel__GenericFireArm", the moving part and "Barrel_Base__RotationalBundle, the part rotating Up and Down.)

[ukkis]

About the model, you may add a few tris to the end of the barrel, looks pretty squary at the moment

And be careful about the way you model the barrel, the part which moves when you fire shouldn't be welded to the rest of the barrel (they are exported in two parts, "Barrel__GenericFireArm", the moving part and "Barrel_Base__RotationalBundle, the part rotating Up and Down.)

Fixd. Thanks for info

[ukkis]

Whats the final and absolute triangle limit for an ingame model that is about the size of a main battle tank.
Not that I had a model with well over 10k tris. : P

Right now I am trying to find out ways how to lower the amount of tris without making this too ugly.

[Adriaan]

I think the Challenger 2 is about 10k tris.

[Hauteclocque]

The Chally is under 8500 tris without cupola mg.

[Hulabi]

Leopard 2 A4 is really hard to lowpoly model without making it look bad, there's so many details that cannot be normal mapped, Would it be an impossible thought of having lod 0 over 10-11k tri and then have good LOD's?

[Adriaan]

The Chally is under 8500 tris without cupola mg.

Damn

[Hauteclocque]

Leopard 2 A4 is really hard to lowpoly model without making it look bad, there's so many details that cannot be normal mapped, Would it be an impossible thought of having lod 0 over 10-11k tri and then have good LOD's?

Well, might be possible if the model is really optimized.

Show us screens in edged faces so that modelers can give you feedback

[AquaticPenguin]

Tried to nitpick a bit since you're trying to keep the polycount down. Would be good to see a wire of the rest of the tank.

1.you can probably remove/texture in that block since it's obscured by the mesh and doesn't stick out much anyway.
2. looks like you have a loop to smooth off the edge, I'm not sure it's worthwhile, you could also lower the number of edges to the tubing since it looks overly smooth.
3. Don't think there's much point the gun being connected since it's perpendicular to the surface and unlikely to cause z-fighting.
4. Hatch is very detailed, but it will only be seem from above, you could get away with some detail lost here without any cost to quality.
5. Seems overly smooth for something that's on top of the tank, could reduce the number of smoothing polys. You could probably get rid of the gap underneath the object and put it in the texture.
6. Also quite high poly for something that's not that visible
7. Same as 6, Quite a few edge loops at the base of it which could be faked on the texture.
8. vertex can be removed? doesn't seem to be adding anything to the shape/shading.