Helicopter shading

Raider · Mon 27/09/2004 03:29:32

Hi all,

I need some help with this helecopter...
I would like some help with the shading so if you could give me tips that would be great. Paint overs welcome (light source coming from top left corner)
Also if I could improve things then that would be great.
Cheers

- Raider

Moox · Mon 27/09/2004 03:33:49

It looks like a red x

The pic isnt working

Raider · Mon 27/09/2004 06:02:50

I have been trying hard to get it to work but it doesn't want to. I am using ArtGem and when I save the file as a png file it doesn't come up.
This shouldn't be in the critics lounge, oops.
Do you know how I could fix it?

- Raider

Raider · Mon 27/09/2004 07:43:15

- Raider

Angelos · Mon 27/09/2004 08:04:31

Well done perspective-wise. Yet you have been lazy concerning detail.
What bothers me most is the mount of the main rotor. It is not realistic at all.

Reference : http://www.copters.com/mech/mr_semi.html

Also.
Your copter looks like a military one. Which means I would expect all sort of
machine-guns, rocket lanchers, antimatter beams and neutron-warp-field-accelerators
attached to it. Yet, I see nothing. Before shading you have to work on the detail a bit more.

Here you can find some pics of Apaches. Hope they help you.
http://www.fas.org/man/dod-101/sys/ac/ah-64.htm

Angeos.

Raider · Mon 27/09/2004 12:31:32

Thanks for the links.
This is what I came up with, still not what I want but I still need tips on the shading.

- Raider

EDIT* Argh its not working... I will try to get it going
EDIT*2 Got it

Andail · Mon 27/09/2004 12:40:13

In your last link, you spelt helicopter "helecopter". It doesn't work to just change it though, but you might want to be aware of it for future trouble-shooting.

A good thing is to use the preview function before posting.

Raider · Mon 27/09/2004 12:49:29

Okay thanks,
I figured out what I was doing wrong (hosting the pic)
I noticed the mis spell right after I posted, can I change it?

- Raider

InCreator · Mon 27/09/2004 16:37:58

There's a "modify" button on the top-left part on every your post, try this.

Neutron · Mon 27/09/2004 17:54:28

hi, i made this model loosely based on your drawing.Ã,Â i hope it helps. also i think some details might look nice on the dark side in the form of lighter colored lines representing edges, like of the doors and windows, or whatever.Ã,Â gas cap maybe.
<edit> image replaced, see next page <edit>

Pft! · Mon 27/09/2004 18:17:07

Gradients work for me!

Albert Cuandero · Mon 27/09/2004 18:19:11

It seems you are trying to draw an AH64-A/D. The old version from the 80's (no Lonbow radar system) - I LOVE THIS MACHINE! (har-har-har)

Notes:

It has a crew of two, one (pilot) sitting down right in the nose, the other one (weapons & tactic eng.) having his knees roughly above the other guys shoulders.
It has 4 rotor wings (@ Neutron)
The firmpoint wings look very different.
It does not have that many corners in the back (only reason for those is to eliminate any "shot traps" - known from tank design)

I built five models of this engine so far, so I know it's looks quite well (never attempted to draw it though)

more details (and many pics) here:

http://www.army-technology.com/projects/apache/

Darth Mandarb · Mon 27/09/2004 19:22:21

I didn't have a lot of time, but I wanted to help if I could ...

Basically I just started throwing random details (panels and rivets) and added some shading to make the side a little darker (following your light source). I didn't have time to follow perspective (or even do the whole thing) I just wanted to give you the idea of what I mean!

What others have said about detailing is important.Ã,Â The rotor assembly for example.Ã,Â Also there are several parts where depth is missing.Ã,Â The rotor blades for example.Ã,Â Some have depth, some don't.Ã,Â I added depth to the cockpit windows on the side as well as straightening some of the connecting lines.

Sorry it was rushed, I hope it helps.

loominous · Mon 27/09/2004 20:38:18

Some sloppy modifications:

Requires flash 7 player (about 30kb)

Basically, what you need to do is imagine the helicopter as seen from the lightsource. The best way is to actually draw the object in the angle from which it is seen from the lightsource n then note all the areas that are _not_ seen.

These areas, which are in shadow, should be given a darker tone (how dark depends on the other lightsources; if there s a lot of ambient light for instance, the shadow tone should be pretty light; if there s no additional lightsources, it should be pretty much pure black (light bounces off object though, so if an shadow area is close to a lit up area, the light will bounce, if the angle is right, onto the shadow area, illuminating it).

Edit: When choosing tones, make sure you re not afraid of using contrasting tones. Something seen in pretty much all novices drawings/paintings is a lack of contrast which makes the image look flat n uninteresting.

Pft! · Mon 27/09/2004 20:53:27

Add some shadows & detail. Thats it!!! 8)

Cluey · Mon 27/09/2004 21:54:44

Loominus' rocks.

Raider · Mon 27/09/2004 22:52:11

Thanks for the ideas
- Darth:
I did do rivits earlier but I over did it and it looked stupid, so I discarded that idea. I seemed to have learned a lesson not to ditch things that don't look right straight away.

- Albert:
Yes I will redraw the cockpit or maybe just add a secondary one on top soon.

I am having trouble with attatching the rotors to the blade holders on top of the helicopter they should be large but then they 'thin' down to almost nothing making it look like it will snap off any second. Help with that would be great.
Thanks again,.

- Raider

Raider · Tue 28/09/2004 00:03:34

Here is the version with the panels on it.

- Raider

Albert Cuandero · Tue 28/09/2004 04:00:26

Being in a hurry, just some colorful details (badly and randomly applied) to get the idea over how to make the picture more interesting...

Also: not only the glass would break in a crash, some of the panels would hang loosely scratches and burns etc...

Raider · Tue 28/09/2004 08:44:22

Thats good but a bit over done. I like the 07 and the crown but the rest doesn't fit into my game. I will take the idea though and put colour into the chopper. Also I don't know what to put on the wings. Guns and rockets arn't my strong points. Any help with those would be very good.

- Raider