3D) pterosaur

[ArcaneFalcon]

Since I can\'t play PS (nat firewall) I decided I would attempt to contribute instead.  This is my first attempt at a model of this type, so input would be greatly appreciated!  I\'m still working on getting the model cleaned up (it was pretty messy), uv mapped, skinned, animated, and ported to the CS engine.  But before I do all that, bar cleanup, I will also be making a saddle, luggage, and possibly some different versions.

Model specs:
435 verts
936 tris

Optimized version (shown):
414 verts
897 tris

Edit: images taken off because they were old and long

Here is the URL to the picture I based it on.  The only change I made is I combined the front of the wing and the arm sort of thing.

zip URL (contains model in .3ds and .max, and also the sketch texture):  http://www.freepgs.com/falcon/psimages/pterosaur.zip(zip last updated 10/1)


*note: the .3ds format adds _tons_ of vertices, they just need to be rewelded with a padding of no larger than 0.1 .  

[Stydracos]

I\'m no dinosaur expert but a quick search on the net yielded many images and text from museums who say the pterosaur has \'thing\' out the back of its head.

*Sty wonders what it is? maybe some sort of counter balance to its beak?

Anyway the model looks good can\'t wait to see the cleaned version with saddles, luggage and hopefully different versions (including different skin patterns?).

*edit*

Appears no head problems, excellent .

I like the idea of a peacetime/commerical versus a military look!

*/edit*

[ArcaneFalcon]

Stydracos:

I\'m no dinosaur expert but a quick search on the net yielded many images and text from museums who say the pterosaur has \'thing\' out the back of its head.

Yeah, I redid my google image search and turns out you\'re right.  Seems that one is more of a general term and the other is a specific name (I think).  Meh, it\'s not all that important anyway

Stydracos:

Anyway the model looks good can\'t wait to see the cleaned version with saddles, luggage and hopefully different versions (including different skin patterns?).

I\'m planning on at least trying to make a war version (or evil?) and a luggage version (good?).  The war version would be smaller and quicker, while the luggage one would be larger so as to carry more.  Then, yes, I\'ll be making several skins (that\'s the easy and fun part!).

[Zeraph]

I like it, althought I think for a Pterasour you may want to flatten the chest somewhat but still it looks great... I like the head...

[Moogie]

Looks pretty good, but there\'s just a few things that bother me:

Firstly, its wingspan is not nearly enough to carry itself into the air, let alone carry luggage, a saddle, and passengers.

Also its claws are much too small. In real life, pterosaurs used their claws for walking when on the ground. They need to be large enough to grip wall surfaces and support the weight of the body when on horizontal surfaces.

Finally, it needs a tail. Bats don\'t have tails because their wings are large and powerful enough to allow for hoverring in the air. Pterosaurs are more like gliders, and so they need a \'rudder\' to help with controlling their flight direction.


Keep it up, looking forward to updates.

[ArcaneFalcon]

Firstly, its wingspan is not nearly enough to carry itself into the air, let alone carry luggage, a saddle, and passengers.

I see your point.  I\'ve enlarged the wings, hopefully enough.

Also its claws are much too small...

I noticed that and had started working on it even before you posted.  I made them a bit larger, but they may still be a bit too small.

Finally, it needs a tail.

Actually it had a tail, but my renders just didn\'t show it very well.  The updated ones should suffice.

[Icefalcon]

It looks good so far, a few tweaks are needed, as Moogie pointed out. I also think the legs are a tad bit too long.

[ArcaneFalcon]

What\'s done:
modeled - 90%
saddle - 50%
uv mapped - 90%
skin - <10%
rigged - 90% (I hope)
(all the 90%\'s means I will have to do a bit of editing for the war version)

What\'s not started:
bags
animating
CS exporting stuff

I\'ve tweaked the things Moogie suggested.  Icefalcon, I shortened the legs a little (they were a tad long I think), but I didn\'t want them so short they looked funny animated.  I think I reached a happy medium.

As far as the saddle/bags go, I was figuring there would be 2 versions.  A \"wild\" version, with no bags, saddle, or straps; and a \"trained\" version.  I figure the straps I can put on the skin easy enough.  The saddle and bags will be seperate meshes that the engine just sort of adds accordingly (like different hair styles on player characters).  

Most(ly) up to date render:



Does CS have any sort of poly smoother (like the max 5/6 renderer) does anyone know?  I\'ve gotta be honest, it doesn\'t look near as good faceted.   I\'m just gonna hope it does, and if it doesn\'t, I\'m just gonna hope it looks better in-game than rendered :emerald:

*side note:  :baby:  This is supposed to be a baby?  I thought it was a bald guy with a gotee.  Seriously.

[Zeraph]

It looks good
Can\'t wait to see it animated & fully textured!

[ArcaneFalcon]

Ok, here is the beginning of my skin.  Pretty much all I have done is the base texture, and the eye.  But hey, I kinda like the eye.

Anyway, I have a bit of a dilemma.  I read the blurb on the PS site that says:  The Pterosaurs are reptiles with organs adapted to flight,...and long tails, which they use as a rudder.   Now, I saw this and realized my tail was nowhere near long, and what did the \"rudder\" thing mean?   Well, here is the only thing I could think of:

The solid gray thing is the tail, and the gray outline is a verticle rudder at the end of the tail.  Is this what it is supposed to be?  I need some thoughts, \'cause that one sentence isn\'t overly clear.

[josephoenix]

As I see it, the pterosaurs use the tail as a rudder and counterbalance, not have an actual rudder tacked on the end of the appendage
I think the tail as a whole needs to be somewhat flattened on the sides (the sides being wider to assist with steering) and definitely needs to be longer

josePhoenix

[ArcaneFalcon]

I went ahead and added the tail.  I know it looks a bit funny pointing straight out, but that will help me rig it easier.  Though, don\'t expect it to change too much with the animation, as the pterosaur flies the tail won\'t be in much of a different position.  Also, I added a faceted version of the same render for comparison.



:emerald:

[Enter_the_Xero]

Shouldn\'t there be sharp teeth?

[Stydracos]

Just thought I\'d check in and see your progress, must say its come a long way and is looking really good so far.

I had a quick check on the web to look at comparasons to see if I could offer anything to help you out.

http://www.ucmp.berkeley.edu/diapsids/images/pters.gif

This picture shows a skeletal view and might help you with the tail size (which by the looks of it the tail is about another body length in size).

I read some more and found they were just like birds having different niches of food... so the beak is fine without teeth (not sure how accurate this has to be anyway I think its great if its at least a little unique itself.)

Anyway I guess my only concern atm is the rudder like bit at the end of the tail.. but I think a nice skinwill cover up its jaggered look.

Anyway keep up the great work *thumbs up.

(must remember not to post when this tired... forgive me post if there are too many mistakes in it!)

[Desnonroth]

Nice work... This pterosaurus looks almost too kind and happy