SpartanFlower Landing Gear Update

I tentatively rigged the landing gear for the SpartanFlower, but unfortunately there are several problems, principle among them is the design. It looks too flimsy to support the 'Flower's weight. Another problem is that when unfolded, the gear barely reaches the ground and it doesn't have enough room for the shock absorbers to take effect. Oh well, back to the drawing board!

Airlock/Gantry Rigged

I rigged up the airlock/gantry for the Spartan-Flower. I may add a winch to the platform portion so that the entire thing doesn't have to come down. I didn't texture anything yet. I call this airlock/gantry system, "The Plank."

Airlock entry with Elevator and Ladder

Created the preliminary look for the airlock entry way with ladder and platform. I'll have to examine how it looks before I decide to finalize this.

Another View with door logo

Next Steps for Vast Space

Command Deck:
So I finally got the Command Deck to where I want it to be (minus a few things here and there).

Spartan-Flower Airlock:
The next set I need to build is the airlock of the Spartan-Flower. I need a close-up of the airlock/elevator system for when Hugo actually reaches the planet's surface.

Moon's Surface
I was considering modeling the planet's surface, but I decided that that would be easier done using Vue X Stream (an enviromental modeling program that has a plug-in integrated for Maya.) This way, I can add several instances for the rocks, stones, boulders, pebbles and randomize their placement. This should be really fun.

I believe that should be it for the sets. Next up is finalizing the character rigs.

The Wute:
I've learned even more about rigging and I think I'd like to apply that to the Wute character. That means re-rigging. This is probably the third or fourth time I'll be rigging this character. However, practice makes perfect!

Hugo Vast:
I think Hugo's modeled how I want him to be. Just have to rig him. I only want to do it once, so I'm practicing on another character called, Giga-Man, until I more thoroughly understand the rigging, skinning and weighting system.

Spartan-Flower:
Rigging the landing gear and elevator system is next for this beast.

Once the characters and environments are done, I'll just have to concentrate on the special effects (particles for the thrusters, scripting/particles for footstep dust and managing large crowds) and then the hardest part - and arguably funnest - would be the animation and editing. Whew!

Clipboard

Created a clipboard for Hugo to have on the console of the SpartanFlower.

Virtual Keyboard

I added a virtual keyboard and touch display. Not sure it I'm going to add the tubes and wires (well, perhaps one or two). I might try and add some atmospheric haze to the scene.

Holographic Displays

I just added in the holographic test screens for the command deck. These screens won't be the final ones (those will be animated), but I'm still nailing down the look.:

Control Console

It's finally coming together and getting closer to the look I envisioned in my head. I've added all those neat dials, switches, toggles and lights and made some of them incandesent. Next steps are adding the tubing & wiring under the console and hanging from the ceiling. Finally I'll have to design animated, holographic displays to make the scene come alive.

Amazingly, you'll probably only see this room for mere seconds in the short film.

Note: I added the starfield background as an afterthough in post.