Working on my entry for the speed challenge. But I'm having a problem with the wake. I like the way it looks behind the jet, but the front part bothers me and I don't know what to do to "fix" it. Any suggestions would be appreciated.

The back wake looks great, but the sphere in front is wrong (as you already know :) I would just create some surf type terrains real close to the body of the ship, nothing too far in front of it. You might want to study an actual boat wake, that may give you a better idea. Also a wake from behind would come out in a triangle type shape, not two straight lines.

Attached Link: http://www.renderosity.com/viewed.ez?galleryid=678580&Start=1&Artist=ICM&ByArtist=Yes

I created a wake in this image some time ago. Not quite so dominent as in your scene. Here is the material setting.

Also you could try duplicating your wake object, shortening the depth so the material is more concentrated near the craft. then use a completely transparent negative lattice and try to break it up a little.

Looks great! ps...could also alter & touch it up with post work. ICM

Message edited on: 10/10/2004 16:14

Not sure this will help, but you might try selecting "Fuzzy" from the menu in the down arrow to the left of your "LowClouds15" texture. This could keep the sides of your sphere from looking so stark.

Message edited on: 10/10/2004 17:13

Thanks for all the help. I tried all of your suggestions and combining all of your advice was seeming to come along fine. BUT! My computer crashed and I can't recover the br5:( When I get finish crying I'll start over again I guess. Kinda depressed right now. Thanks for all of your inputs.

I wouldn't bother with the wake at the front. At that speed all the disruption and trurbulance would be behind it.

ps. cool model.

The texturing on the model is great. Trying to figure out how the transition from shiny black to semi-transparent dome is achieved, I think I can see several thicknesses of hull? Oops - just occurred to me - did you make the spaceship from metaballs? I always forget that they exist. Would have been worth saving that into your Objects folder right away - you don't even need to do a general save of the file, just select and Add into your objects in the Create menu As someone who stands at the back of a big ferry quite often.......the wake has to start out very thick, high and white right at the engines, then it gradually flattens and increases in size widthways like ICM says. I can see though that your engines are way above the water, so don't know. I really like what's happening in the lower right of the picture, on the surface of the water. Don't give up. And don't forget to save save save save :^(

PS - why not use a negative terrain to gouge out a wake, since the plane is above the water? That way it might look like the blast from the engine is very powerful, and pushing the water down and away - a bit like the way a helicopter's blades effect the surface of the water.......

sexy

There is a fabulous example of this effect in the movie 'FIREFOX' starring Clint Eastwood. Even if the storyline was a turkey, the S.E.'s were excellent.

OK. I'm back to square 1.5. The Falcon Mk III is rebuilt and saved this time. I couldn't recreate the sky or water scene like it was so it's different now too. This is a rough restart. I like the sky(thanks to Jedswindells) not sure if I'll be allowed to use it, since I didn't create it. Got the wake in the V shape, just gotta get the size right. Tjohn, I tried the fuzzy for the rooster tail and it disappeared on me, don't know why. ICM, the settings worked great in the test I did, so I'll probably be using that for the rooster tail. Pogmahone, I used the terrain to gouge out the center wake, but from the camera angle you couldn't see it, but it worked. Thebryster, you're right, so I put a little one right in front and will put more in the following wake. Drac & Xenic thanks. In a couple of months when I get my hosting straighten out it will be one of my freebies. Thanks for everyones input and help.

Here is another pic with a different sky.

Ok now I would lower the terrains, and add some spheres with a cloud texture, right now they look like mounds of water (maybe add some erosion?) I dunno I feel stupid even trying to give advice being such a newbie myself. That really sucks about your HD loss.

Don't worry about it Karen I've only been at this for a few months. Your advice sounds good, will post more pics later. Thanks.

The sky reflections on your first version make the plane look sleeker and more subtle than the two later versions. Did you mention that you lost the first version in a crash? Bummer! :^(