Posts by Ember
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This is going to be one helluva journey.
My two bits worth....
The two biggest holes need to be something built underneath, to look into, again making use of the forced perspective for added depth. Perhaps even something that breaks out of your 'shades of white' theme.
The large round one, not sure why, but I keep seeing it as accommodation of sorts. Prison? Mine workers? The displaced? Slaves? But stacked, 'reverse tower' accommodation going into the bowels of the earth. Something in real dark earth colours. I could probably draw it easier than I can explain it. Maybe looking down into another 'society'. Mutants? Colours could start white and get grubbier as things get deeper/smaller. Strangely Gattacca keeps coming to mind. A place for the 'unauthorised'.
The other big one I keep seeing as water or volcanic for some reason. Volcanic could make sense as the power production of the 'city'. Archeological dig maybe? But again it needs to be something to draw the eye down into the track to me and play up the 'white perfection' of the city above it. Maybe a mine, with the red glow of magma at the bottom.
Apologies, the above started off being structured but finished up just riffing. Its early, I need more coffee.
Embs
My two bits worth....
The two biggest holes need to be something built underneath, to look into, again making use of the forced perspective for added depth. Perhaps even something that breaks out of your 'shades of white' theme.
The large round one, not sure why, but I keep seeing it as accommodation of sorts. Prison? Mine workers? The displaced? Slaves? But stacked, 'reverse tower' accommodation going into the bowels of the earth. Something in real dark earth colours. I could probably draw it easier than I can explain it. Maybe looking down into another 'society'. Mutants? Colours could start white and get grubbier as things get deeper/smaller. Strangely Gattacca keeps coming to mind. A place for the 'unauthorised'.
The other big one I keep seeing as water or volcanic for some reason. Volcanic could make sense as the power production of the 'city'. Archeological dig maybe? But again it needs to be something to draw the eye down into the track to me and play up the 'white perfection' of the city above it. Maybe a mine, with the red glow of magma at the bottom.
Apologies, the above started off being structured but finished up just riffing. Its early, I need more coffee.
Embs
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The beauty of forced perspective going downwards is the pit can become quite deep in a short space with harder 'forcing'. Enter 'N', 'HO' and 'Z' scale train gear.
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Rebel activity in the mis-shapen abyss works for me. Full scale destruction on one side. Blacks, earths, smokes. Sheared cables, bared wires, twisted and blackened girders. Areas of tumbled base rock, with glimpses of red volcanic glow through fissures in the rock. The other side harsh, cold blues. Fake, plastic surfaces but slightly grubby and a little twisted (as in not quite right) to the eye. Not like the pristine, shiny type surfaces above. And again that glow of anger and destructive red from the bottom of the abyss.
Dang, I can picture all this in my head. Its frustrating how easy it is to get caught up in enthusiasm about someone elses build. And not be able to drum up similar enthusiasm for your own anymore. Argh!
Embs
Rebel activity in the mis-shapen abyss works for me. Full scale destruction on one side. Blacks, earths, smokes. Sheared cables, bared wires, twisted and blackened girders. Areas of tumbled base rock, with glimpses of red volcanic glow through fissures in the rock. The other side harsh, cold blues. Fake, plastic surfaces but slightly grubby and a little twisted (as in not quite right) to the eye. Not like the pristine, shiny type surfaces above. And again that glow of anger and destructive red from the bottom of the abyss.
Dang, I can picture all this in my head. Its frustrating how easy it is to get caught up in enthusiasm about someone elses build. And not be able to drum up similar enthusiasm for your own anymore. Argh!
Embs
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When you get an idea you really don't muck around, do you. Great research (play). Very impressive.
A little disappointed that the pit isn't working better. But it could be just detailing. Any use making the cone narrower at the base, but that might make it too short to work well. Hmmm..... The repeating gantry will probably solve the issue. Or how about a repeating floor, ie) different sized meshes for factory floors could have figures walking across them. It would help distort vision downward. And should help diffuse lighting at the bottom. But might get too busy.
Love the roughing in of the city. But, you're right, it looks too bulky. Need some positively spindly towers in the very centre.
Actually, I was a little surprised how much space on the table it took up. Will you still have enough room left to make a decent driving experience? Or is this largely being built for photo and video composition and less about the actual track? Either is equally valid, but it may be worth thinking about which is the most important.
Wonder if it's also worth forcing some thing flat, using glass (perspex?) flats to paint on as they used to do in the film industry. When you work out where the drivers stations will be you may be able to work out some views that can be encapsulated with this method. It would give the opportunity of very distant views at minimal space outlay. Maybe a glass cylinder in middle of city? Would also give the opporunity of permanently out of focus area to indicate distance. Not sure on this one.
Let the experiment commence.
Embs
A little disappointed that the pit isn't working better. But it could be just detailing. Any use making the cone narrower at the base, but that might make it too short to work well. Hmmm..... The repeating gantry will probably solve the issue. Or how about a repeating floor, ie) different sized meshes for factory floors could have figures walking across them. It would help distort vision downward. And should help diffuse lighting at the bottom. But might get too busy.
Love the roughing in of the city. But, you're right, it looks too bulky. Need some positively spindly towers in the very centre.
Actually, I was a little surprised how much space on the table it took up. Will you still have enough room left to make a decent driving experience? Or is this largely being built for photo and video composition and less about the actual track? Either is equally valid, but it may be worth thinking about which is the most important.
Wonder if it's also worth forcing some thing flat, using glass (perspex?) flats to paint on as they used to do in the film industry. When you work out where the drivers stations will be you may be able to work out some views that can be encapsulated with this method. It would give the opportunity of very distant views at minimal space outlay. Maybe a glass cylinder in middle of city? Would also give the opporunity of permanently out of focus area to indicate distance. Not sure on this one.
Let the experiment commence.
Embs
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QUOTE (sig @ 30 Sep 2010, 17:37) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>i think the plan of attack now is to de-bulk the city with an eye to the ´racing experioence´(tunnels, bridges, under and over etc), i think ember that the city should shrink down at the base (the opposite of what you suggest!) , i see it as a kind of 2 point vanishing point kind of sketch, the perspective dissappeares to the centre of the base of the city but also the tower height goes off further so should be tapered into the sky too.
That makes sense. Particularly if you're looking to lift the roadways off the surface level as well.
That makes sense. Particularly if you're looking to lift the roadways off the surface level as well.
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Davoq has got the only way that I can see it working at all. Either that or you've got to loose the walk around aspect of it all and drive only through the foreground. It's been a questionmark that's been hanging over it for awhile. Hence the earlier question as to whether it was more about the driving or the photographic backdrop (or the cleverness
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Not sure I can see any other real way around it other than being very careful where you chose to mix the cars and the city itself.
It's a problem that will definitely take some mulling over.
Not sure I can see any other real way around it other than being very careful where you chose to mix the cars and the city itself.
It's a problem that will definitely take some mulling over.
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Sig, smallest train scale is Z which is 1:220. Convenient, huh? Next is N at 148 to 160th. And on its way up through HO, O, G etc.
Actually, I take back what I said about Z being smallest. Apparently there is a T scale which is 1:450. How's that for running around the top of your towers?
Top down shot I can see room to get in around the two arches. But the rest of the city is sitting is fairly dense. With it all lifted up on an inverted cone then you can go to town on the city foundations and get cars in and out around that.
You're more than capable of pulling the idea together without anyone's help.
Actually, I take back what I said about Z being smallest. Apparently there is a T scale which is 1:450. How's that for running around the top of your towers?
Top down shot I can see room to get in around the two arches. But the rest of the city is sitting is fairly dense. With it all lifted up on an inverted cone then you can go to town on the city foundations and get cars in and out around that.
You're more than capable of pulling the idea together without anyone's help.
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As Davoq says it would be easier to essentially have the track as a 3 sided track rather than 4 sided. But I do lilke the thought required to try to get around it.
I love all the Blade Runner and Freejack (far from a favourite film) talk. But if it were me doing a sci-fi based track I'd be torn between doing the amazingly beautiful (even if a bit bent and nasty) version of the Sci Fi theme and the low-rent BBC version that I love so much. But fortunately for the viewing populace it's not my choice.
Just for those that aren't familar with the BBC low-rent look....
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Star Bug from Red Dwarf
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Marvin the Paranoid Android from Hitch Hiker's Guide to the Galaxy
And surely everyone knows what a Darlek looks like
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I love all the Blade Runner and Freejack (far from a favourite film) talk. But if it were me doing a sci-fi based track I'd be torn between doing the amazingly beautiful (even if a bit bent and nasty) version of the Sci Fi theme and the low-rent BBC version that I love so much. But fortunately for the viewing populace it's not my choice.
Just for those that aren't familar with the BBC low-rent look....
Star Bug from Red Dwarf
Marvin the Paranoid Android from Hitch Hiker's Guide to the Galaxy
And surely everyone knows what a Darlek looks like
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6,433 Posts
Sig, I believe the 1:160 scale trains officially fall in the the N scale category. But as you say, the letters all seem rather random anyway.
I like the idea of the flipper to send you either across the table or down into the pit. Is there any way this can be randomised do you think? Imagine how cool, car comes in around the top gantry of the pit, does a donut or two (we know you love 'em) and then at random shoots off to the back of the city or heads down into the bowels of the earth. Might take someone with some electronics ability to do it.
Oh... And I remember your comment after viewing the Gucci Guilty ad. How about this couple in N scale or these folks in HO. There are many others like them, made by Noch. (I knew those train folks were a bit strange
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I like the idea of the flipper to send you either across the table or down into the pit. Is there any way this can be randomised do you think? Imagine how cool, car comes in around the top gantry of the pit, does a donut or two (we know you love 'em) and then at random shoots off to the back of the city or heads down into the bowels of the earth. Might take someone with some electronics ability to do it.
Oh... And I remember your comment after viewing the Gucci Guilty ad. How about this couple in N scale or these folks in HO. There are many others like them, made by Noch. (I knew those train folks were a bit strange
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The extra perceptual depth is going very helpful, I think. Certainly will help make the cars look a little less grounded. Like they're not stuck with being earth bound.
Should be able to keep the bridges fairly neutral and still have them seem structurally sound. Keep things open and 'light' like classic victorian steel railway bridges.
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I'm guessing this sort of structure is right up your alley. It's both beautiful and practical and somehow timeless.
Should be able to keep the bridges fairly neutral and still have them seem structurally sound. Keep things open and 'light' like classic victorian steel railway bridges.
I'm guessing this sort of structure is right up your alley. It's both beautiful and practical and somehow timeless.
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Tower lighting test is looking good Sig. But, might I suggest a colder light colour might work better. I figure the colder light colours would highlight the modernity of the upper city and keep warmer light colours for the grimey underground.
As you assumed the first two pics were the Forth Bridge. The third one was from a modern rail bridge in NSW.
Boys, you've certainly come up with some beautiful bridge samples. But you forgot this one.
http://www.canalscape.net/Liverpool%20Link...0Bridge%201.jpg
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As you assumed the first two pics were the Forth Bridge. The third one was from a modern rail bridge in NSW.
Boys, you've certainly come up with some beautiful bridge samples. But you forgot this one.
http://www.canalscape.net/Liverpool%20Link...0Bridge%201.jpg
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Sig, always love your full on recycling efforts. The transporter looks great. Can't help but hear the Thunderbirds theme playing in my head as I look at it.
The reinforcing mesh looks just the thing for at least one gantry, if not more. Lars (Pssrfh - Ugh can never spell that!) would be the one to talk to on how much or little tyre wear it might create. He's got a metal mesh bridge on his main track.
Cheers
Embs
The reinforcing mesh looks just the thing for at least one gantry, if not more. Lars (Pssrfh - Ugh can never spell that!) would be the one to talk to on how much or little tyre wear it might create. He's got a metal mesh bridge on his main track.
Cheers
Embs
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Nice to see the old fashioned world of the courtesan is reaffirming itself in the future.
Sinister surface... hmmm..... How about white(ish) metal plates, rivetted in place. Lusterous white surface peeling in places (cheap plating job approved by corrupt council so they could skim the city's wealth off for themselves) with mild rusting showing from around the rivetts but heavy yellowing and corosion visible beneath the flaking white surface. Should serve to denote the rotting corruption seathing below the surface of what should be a gleeming city.
Also needs large swathes of reflective windows.
Just an idea.
Sinister surface... hmmm..... How about white(ish) metal plates, rivetted in place. Lusterous white surface peeling in places (cheap plating job approved by corrupt council so they could skim the city's wealth off for themselves) with mild rusting showing from around the rivetts but heavy yellowing and corosion visible beneath the flaking white surface. Should serve to denote the rotting corruption seathing below the surface of what should be a gleeming city.
Also needs large swathes of reflective windows.
Just an idea.
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My only concern with mirror black is that it will stand out like infected dogs' genetalia (sorry Eno) if you're sticking to the earlier mentioned lighter monochrome. However, reflective black was one of the first things that sprang to mind.
Eno, do you know the Coles Myer shareholder office at all? Big black mirror glass block. We used to call it Battlestar Galactica. Silly thing is I can't even remember exactly where in Melbourne it was, cos when I went past it was usually about 10pm at night and I was in a cab on my way home from work. Was looking for some photos of it. Any way, the point is it is (or was) just a big, heavy, black reflective cube sitting in the middle of empty, grassed ground, with nothing to break it's lines.
I think sinister is as much about the shape as the surface treatment Sig. Round is usually warm and friendly, no sharp edges to bark. All the samples you show are hard edge, strong squares. Lots of big sharp corners for people to bump into and damage themselves. A bit like government really.
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You could probably mix some early bauhaus architecture in amongst that lot too. I love bauhaus design for its practicality and fitness for function, but the architecture is big and blocky and bulky, unfriendly by today's standard.
While looking for photo of it I found this one...
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Another little bit of Melbourne I'd forgotten about. It's a heritage listed shot tower, of the sort that was used for dropping moulten led from to make lead ball shot. It was 'encompassed' by a dome and included in the main court of a shopping centre. Possibilities for the new enveloping the old?
I'm wondering if your government building needs to be the only short, wide block amongst the city. Something that brings a certain visual dischord with it compared to the rest of the city. Something to house the mass of beaurocracy. The corrupt city fathers would, of course, take whatever land they wanted to use for themselves and the needs of the growing city be damned.
Love the way the dome is looking. Combination cathedral dome and coal scuttle helmet.
Eno, do you know the Coles Myer shareholder office at all? Big black mirror glass block. We used to call it Battlestar Galactica. Silly thing is I can't even remember exactly where in Melbourne it was, cos when I went past it was usually about 10pm at night and I was in a cab on my way home from work. Was looking for some photos of it. Any way, the point is it is (or was) just a big, heavy, black reflective cube sitting in the middle of empty, grassed ground, with nothing to break it's lines.
I think sinister is as much about the shape as the surface treatment Sig. Round is usually warm and friendly, no sharp edges to bark. All the samples you show are hard edge, strong squares. Lots of big sharp corners for people to bump into and damage themselves. A bit like government really.
You could probably mix some early bauhaus architecture in amongst that lot too. I love bauhaus design for its practicality and fitness for function, but the architecture is big and blocky and bulky, unfriendly by today's standard.
While looking for photo of it I found this one...
Another little bit of Melbourne I'd forgotten about. It's a heritage listed shot tower, of the sort that was used for dropping moulten led from to make lead ball shot. It was 'encompassed' by a dome and included in the main court of a shopping centre. Possibilities for the new enveloping the old?
I'm wondering if your government building needs to be the only short, wide block amongst the city. Something that brings a certain visual dischord with it compared to the rest of the city. Something to house the mass of beaurocracy. The corrupt city fathers would, of course, take whatever land they wanted to use for themselves and the needs of the growing city be damned.
Love the way the dome is looking. Combination cathedral dome and coal scuttle helmet.
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