February Status Update: Kain and other projects

What's the word?
I got a chance to work on Kain again today, I haven't completed the layout yet, but I have about 8 pages completed.  I wanted to have Kain released by the time Duodecim hits the North American shore.  So I'm on track for now.

I caught a glimpse at some magazine screen shots of Gilgamesh and his costumes in Duodecim.

Looks pretty good.  There is a version based off of his FF8 appearance.  I like that look for him, but so far it looks like they reduced the number of arms he has for that costume.  I think his EX mode is his multi armed sprite from FF5.  Ah Gilgamesh... you are too awesome.

I am finally getting around to trying to work with FFX files (SO MANY MODELS TO BUILD!!!)  Thanks to Kaizo's instructions and Ace's help I'll be able to start work on those this year.
Right now I'm thinking: Anima's torso (Definitely), Ifrit (maybe), Sin (If possible I'd want to make it a ceiling model),  Also I think all those Fayth that are on the floors of the temples would be cool to make papercrafts out of, but I'll have to start exploring the files.  I'm sure there are hundreds of them, so it might take some time.


I have some somewhat unfinished models that I need to complete, they've been haunting me for a while now.  I think I might finish the layout for Zidane's EX-mode and then pass it on to someone else to test build.  I'm afraid my hands might be too clumsy for that.  I rather enjoy large models since they are easier for me to work with, I'm sure that as I improve my building skills that I could make smaller models.  The smallest model I built was a Cat-unicorn gundam, but that was an incredibly low poly count.

But we'll see how these models go,  I'd like to try some "wall models" and hanging models, they won't take up as much shelf space.

...in case you couldn't tell I'm excited about the Gilgamesh models...

GOLBEZ

Get him here

Here's Golbez for you all.

Its a pretty straight forward build, as usual refer to the PDO if in doubt.  Beware though he uses up a lot of black ink! Especially if you're considering his alternate costume. Either way he's 65 pages of dark colors.

Enjoy

KAIN: the posing process

 When you're doing a custom pose, you want to spend plenty of time working with the model.  If it doesn't look realistic it's going to be awkward and not look good.  Since I've taken it upon myself to custom pose the Kain models, it has taken me 3 days to:pose, take a break, re-pose, take a break, and start the posing process all over.  I even took pictures of myself in the pose in the mirror to see how my legs,hips and arms would be realistically positioned.  Of course I'm trying to keep it in line with the Amano artwork as much as I can, but there are certain limitations working with the models of course.
  Here is what I've learned so far.
   Kain is standing on one foot, with all of his weight on his left foot, and his right leg raised beneath him.  His right hand is holding his lance up next to his side, while his left hand rests at his side, and his head is slightly angled down with his hair blowing behind him.
  In order for this pose to make sense, his left leg must be underneath his center of gravity, so somewhere between his shoulder blades.  When you stand on one leg, your weight distribution shifts, and therefore your hips are going to be angled as well.  Holding your right leg up, you'll notice that your right leg will probably come underneath your center of gravity as well, and that your ankle will always (naturally) fall in line with the shin.  Holding your hand naturally at your sides you'll see that they don't fall straight, the muscles in your arms keep them from falling into a straight line, there is a slight bend.  Your resting arms clavicle will be even if not slightly pointing downward due to the weight of your arm.  The arm that holds the lance's clavicle will be close to parallel if not somewhat upright.  For the most part the right arm is just held back and the wrist is angled down.

whew that was long but based off of that I would suggest that you take plenty of time when custom posing a model, and also you should use multiple reference materials.  The "iconic" Kain poses that I used all had a profile shot of him, from one side only.  A 3D model on the other hand is more than a profile shot.

After all that, here is what I ended up with....

One thing I had to compromise was the hand.  I couldn't manage to put it in a fist of sorts, so I just put it in a relaxed pose as most people probably would when they have their hand at their side.  But I believe that I've ended up with a quality product,  time to work him in sketchup...

I

GOLBEZ Progress

I've completed the non-caped part of Golbez, I have to re-arrange the cape to fit on paper.  What i've noticed is that these large caped figures can get kinda "heavy" and hard to work with if you use cardstock for the cape.  I've been using regular paper for the capes.  So in my Exodus (that's for you Kaizo) and this Golbez model I put the majority of the cape peices on sheets with nothing else on them.  In this case, Golbez has large pauldrons, which I'll make out of cardstock, but that is all that will be on those pages, the rest of the cape layout will be printed on regular xerox paper.  I'll get it done maybe next week.

A question about future models

I have yet to compile a list of projects which I want to complete for the year (set some goals and deadlines).  But when I get the chance I'll compile it as well as some information on what I learned from the process of making Exdeath.  I think that this would help other future builders.  If I had a better computer, I think it'd be easier to just make some videos.  Something like Kaizo's tips and tricks video.

In any case, I think I'll pretty much stick with the dissidia/duodecim models for the time being.  I saw some gameplay footage of Duodecim, and it would appear that they don't have the preposed statues as in the the first game.  WHICH is excellent in a way, because it means there is more of a need for posing models.  The question is, which kind of pose to use.
I'd like to build Dragoon Kain and Holy Dragoon Kain from the After Years

 The Dragoon Kain,
1 Yoshitaka Amano conception.  This one is classic! Absolutely classic, and the Duodecim artwork looks like it mimics this pose (Speaking of mimic when are they gonna put Gogo in another game?)







2 The DS pose of him.  I like this a lot as well.  There's movement, stability, and a sense of preparedness in his stance.  I'm also a little more inclined to this model because he's holding the lance in his left hand.  (Even in the duodecim artwork they have him holding the lance in his right hand).  I know, I know, just because you're left hand dominant doesn't mean you can't hold something in your other hand.  I also figure the model could  be flipped along the vertical axis in order to make him hold the lance in his right hand.  



3 For the Holy Dragoon, I don't know what other posing options I have, but I really like how this image is balanced in 2d.  The pose is really interesting!  However in reality, the question would be how to I make a model like this stand on it's own?  Somehow I'd find a way to make this work.  I can't see any other pose for him, and I don't know if I'd want to make him just standing flat footed on the ground.

With these models in mind, and the prediction that there will be no pre-posed models I want to get some opinions on poses.
I think I have a pre-conceived notion of which poses I think are most feasible, but I'm open to suggestions or criticisms.  The thing with the Amano rendition and the Holy Dragoon, is that the poses are too similar, and I rather like some amount of variation.  The DS rendition has more action to it, and would make the model seem more interesting.  At least that's what I'm thinking as of right now.  But tell me your thoughts and maybe I might be persuaded otherwise.  So if you have any other pictures for reference images you think would be good, send them my way.

GOLBEZ Progress

24 January 2011
I've defeated Golbez, but alas he is still after the crystal...

I've been a bit busy, but I've still been trying to work on Golbez.  So far he's a pretty straightforward build.  Here is what he looks like as of tonight.

I hope to have him done by the end of January maybe.  I've been taking plenty of pictures, so hopefully I'll be able to provide better instructions upon completion.  I think I'll have to redo the layout for the cape.  Previously the cape just barely fit onto all the pages I had set up, however I had forgotten to check the page size, as a default Pepakura was on a style of paper that I don't use.  But there is a potential "problem" with Golbez' cape.  It involves the horns on his shoulder, I'm afraid that these horns are just going to have to be attached onto the cape, rather than built into the cape if that makes sense.
   I don't want to have to edit the model in sketchup and then redo the entire layout.  It's not being lazy, its just there are more models that I'd like to work on.  And depending on how bad it looks I might have to release the cape in a separate PDO.  I don't like the idea of doing that and I think I'd only resort to that if the cape ended up looking absolutely terrible.

EXDEATH

Download Ex_Death

Continuation of the Dissidia models.  He is a bit complex, but if you refer to the PDO you should be alright, build from the bottom up, and use logic.  The instructions should help, but I'd read through them first before I built it.  Any suggestions from individuals who build this are always welcomed.