Modo progression

Here's an update on the Modo model of the VW SC I designed. Still tweaking some lines, and adding more details.
On this round I added lower sculptural details, headlights, tail lights, side vents, and started the rear deck lid. I plan on redesigning the wheels and continue adding details and working on the glass portion next. Here's a few renders using global illumination and very simple shaders.
enjoy!
-Alx

New Star Trek Trailer!

Check out the new STAR TREK TRAILER #3!
Enjoy!

The Journey back into 3D with Modo

3D sculpting for overall form...
re-topology for a clean mesh and clean lines...
starting some details, like wheels...


I say 'back' into 3D because I never really left 3D, I just allowed it to be used to a certain point. I used to be fluent in such programs like Form Z and Electric Image. I used them for modeling and animation for animatics and layout. Then getting busy at work and having people who specialize in such aspects take over for a while, the 3D world for me became just a blocking and perspective guide for the most part. I mainly built rough models in Google Sketchup for blocking, never to be used in the artwork except for getting some quick perspective underlays or shading cues. Then there was the stigma of 'if you did it in 3D then you're cheating'! Recently (meaning several years ago) there has been a huge move for designers to use 3D for full blown concept models and artwork. It used to be that designers would just design, and modelers would just model, and that is still the case in some places. Although Maya has been around for a long time and I've been exposed to it for just as long, it always seemed out of reach if you weren't 1. rich and 2. using it everyday in every way and 3. a tech head with math variables floating in your head. Artists by nature tend to shy away from things that involve too many numbers and technical data, and that's where Maya lost me.
Thankfully things have changed a bit, and I too have embraced the new motto "it doesn't matter 'HOW' you get there, just use the best tool for the job"! AKA, if you can explain your idea better and possibly quicker in 3D then go for it! Plus most if not all design students are taught a 3D package of some sort in school these days, so it's good to keep up!
So one tool that has crossed my path recently is Modo from Luxology. It's a great all around 3D package that has it all and is accessible both in price (around $800 for the full package) and it's usability. I've only been using it for a few weeks now and am on my way to feeling very comfortable back in the world of 3D. It has a great modeling structure and the renderer is super fast! So you'll be seing more 3D designs from me soon, I'll even share some of the progress along the way. I started with one of my designs that I thought would be a good start and a challenge. So here's my progress after just a few hours with my VW super coupe and watching the concept car demo from Modo's own down loadable demos.
Enjoy and God Bless!
think above and beyond!
original design drawing
quick slap of materials to see the surface reaction to reflections.

Local Motors - RF side vent design competition

Meh.... came in 11th on this one. But I only had an hour to do it and the one that won is pretty cool, congrats!
my vent design The RF-Extractor
the winner of this quick "parts bin" competition wins $200 and the possibility of the design ending up on the Prototype car!
thanks for voting! we'll get 'em next time.
-Alx

Chicago Interceptor for Local-Motors Competition

VOTING IS OVER, winner is.... NOT ME :-/ looks like I came in 9th place.
video of the winners
Congrats to Giulio Partisani for his wild and sculptural entry 'Socom' for 1st place
I had entered another car design into the Local Motors competition, this one was for Chicago. The competition was to design a car that looks cool, but is practical enough to run in the snow and Chicago's not so smooth roads and fit the classic 'gangster' mentality. Mine was the 'Interceptoor'.


See My Design!


-Alx


here's my write up on the Interceptor:
About my Design:
The Chicago Interceptor is a multi-purpose low slung cruiser. I works as a sleek family sport wagon with it's cool low stance, space for up to 5 adults and storage. It can also serve as a Police cruiser in the same fashion as the 'Paddy Wagon's' of old. Then there's the interceptors darker side... the sinister gangster ride. With it's minimal dark windows, unique reverse sloped windscreen and classic lines the interceptor calls on the 20's and 30's dark rides of the mafia. To handle Chicago's adverse weather and not so smooth streets the Interceptor is equipped with performance Haldex all wheel drive linked to a slick 7-speed DSG gear box and all powered by a clean burning torque filled turbo diesel TDI engine. To save some fuel in the stop and go traffic it is also equipped with Hybrid drive. Sinister angry eyes made of L.E.D. technology use less energy than H.I.D. lamps and pierce the dark city streets.n The Interceptor can be many things....which one will it be for you?

DAS AUTO! VW RULES DAKAR!!

The Dakar is a grueling 2 weeks long cross continent race that is run by both Factory sponsored professionals and individual privateers. It is usually run in Africa, but this year marks the 1st year it was run in South America. It also marks the 1st year that is was won by a diesel powered vehicle. That TDI machine was non other than the VW Race Touareg 2, and not only 1st place, but second place as well! The 15 stage race across more than 9,600km of rough terrain proved to be a tough one indeed. VW's main rival Mitsubishi started the race with 4 cars, and ended it with only one. BMW looked strong from the start with their lead driver Nasser Al-Attiyah paving the way with a strong lead, but in stage 6 he missed several waypoints by going around the dunes and was hence disqualified. VW would've had a 1-2-3 domination of this year's Dakar if it were not for a poorly marked dry river bed that swallowed the dominating leader VW's Carlos Sainz in stage 12. He and his co-driver fell 13 feet into a waddy and landed on their roof. Remarkably the VW was still viable but the crash left co-driver Michel Perin with a broken shoulder and therefore their race was over.


The lead spot then fell to VW's Giniel De Villiers and second to VW's Mark Miller with Robby Gordon in his Corvette powered Hummer in third, but well over an hour and a half behind the 2 lead VW's while the remaining VW driver Dieter Depping finished in the top ten at 6th place overall. There were many ups and downs throughout the 2 week race across some amazing terrain of Argentina and Chille. If you missed the action check out the highlights on the Dakar site in the video section!

VW Bluesport!

Wow, it's not a Karmann Ghia, but it's pretty darn close. At the Detroit International Auto show VW unveiled this sweet little roadster that, like my previous post called for, a mid engine rear wheel drive VW. This car looks amazing and shows that VW may actually produce a more sport oriented coupe with light materials, the right type of drive-line layout and some sweet styling!
Check out more of VW's Bluesport concept at VWvortex.com

Karmann Ghia dreamin'

I'd LOVE for VW to revive the Karmann Ghia, but this time as a mid-engine coupe. The rear deck vents would feed the mid-mounted engine (2.0T or bigger) and would pop up like a 911 at speed and retract to be flush with the rear window. It could use the adjustable ASC from the New Scirocco and the magnetic suspension from the RS4 to allow adjustable ride and handling levels. Anyway here's my stab at keeping the great lines of the old Ghia, just bringing it up to date. Enjoy!
-Alx

Local-Motors Rally Fighter hits the road!

OK, maybe not yet, but I thought I'd add my rendition of a possible image to inspire the guys at Local-Motors in their first car build. Oh and BTW, I didn't win the Boston competition, but thanks for voting. I'll be entering more in the new year so I'll keep you posted. Congrats to the Boston Bullet for winning this one.
cheers!
-Alx

MERRY CHRISTMAS 2008!

Merry Christmas!
I know it's a bit early, but things get pretty busy so I figured I'd just post it now. :)
Like God from 'above and beyond' us, He came down to be 'with and within' us!
-Alx