Hello folks,
Not sure where to begin here so I may as well dive in. After being a Poser/Daz studio artist/3d modeler for many years I recently discover a game called Virtual Sailor which on can add content for (in 3ds). Being a supporter of the Royal National Lifeboats Institute, the UK's voluntary maritime rescue organisation I decided to have a go a created a lifeboat model or two for VS. The  model looked great in VS and also in Max as a renderable model. I therefore decided wouldn't it be great if the whole fleet past of present could be modelled and available free for the  online community (and in doing so raise awareness of the RNLI subliminaly!) At first I was thinking of the making the fleet just for Virtual Sailor but this is restrictive (especially if you like rendering things and hate games!) also its rather an impossible dream so I'm looking for a bit of help.
 If anyone is interested (or a supporter) of the RNLI then I'm looking for 3d modellers (any program max, truespace , LW etc) and not just to model boat but crew clothing and just about anything connected with the RNLI and 3D. I'm also looking for texture artists and even writers are welcome.
The project is name Virtual RNLI, and I do have a website under construction for the purpose but there is not much to see yet!
http://www.virtualrnli.co.uk

At the moment I'm just collecting "names" from anyone who wishes to help and this way try to orgranise everything so that work is not inadvertently duplicated and if you're not from the UK or have not heard of the RNLI I'm considering opening it encompass voluntary Maritime Rescue organisations from around the world (many of which are trained by the RNLI in the UK and some even use sold on members of the fleet.)
If you want to be part of this then just contact me here or send an email to scoopey@hotmail.co.uk
Thanks for your time,
Steve C

hey that sounds like a cool idea way to go on your thinking of bringing the wet rescuerers into the public view

 I have to blame the game(s) for that.
I'm an RNLI branch member but from one of the many inland fundraising branches. Consequently the only water we get are puddle when it rains. Trying some crazy weather in Ship Simulator 2008 (the only other big non fighting boat sim) and realising how difficult it was to manouvre made me think that if I get stuck or sink or capsize then one just presses the reset and start the "mission" again but those guys and gals in real life don't have that option and go out in the kinda crap I set up in the game, sometimes paying the ultimate price.
Steve C

nope they don't but even in using a simulator ppl get an idea of how difficult it is for the real heros

Certainly do,
Thats why I've decided on creating this project.

well i can texture a bit (kinda new to it) still getting a bit better at doing it and working in daz3d and using psp7 and pspX for graphics editing (mostly psp7)

Any help is welcomed.
I admit I'm good at model building but crap at texturing! I'll put your name on the list. If you can do themed "maritime" rescue art then that is welcome as well. I'm making the website a sort of celebration and thinking of including an on site or html linked gallery. (This goes for anyone else reading this post!)

umm if i can find pics of it i probably can recreate it for models it's the doing it from memory or imagination that can be hard

Well I'm sure we can find something for you to do! At the mo I'm just trying to collect names, and you're the first to respond on this forums so well done!

thanks and i gotta start somewhere to get it out that i can do something lol

Hi,great idea!
 Ihave made a few ships with Lightwave and considered how I could help the RNLI with them.I thought of putting a readme asking for donations to RNLI or similar in the download .zip.But realised that it may not conform with the host sites policies.
If you get your website up and running it would please me if you linked to my freebies or any of my pics here at Rendo.
 If you check my site you will realise that my stuff is rather pre RNLI but I am slowly working my way through the centuries,I'll  soon be at the C20th .
 Regards Jed.

I can put a link (soon as I get the site fully operational).The front gate is at www.virtualrnli.co.uk.
But there's not much to see. I'm in the process of creating a proper CSS/PHP site and have the first layout page up and running with my new "Launchometer" which calculates how many launches the RNLI might have acrued based on 2006 figures.
That page can be found here
http://www.virtualrnli.co.uk/mainhub.php
If you want to be part of the project let me know. I'm struggling to find modellers at the mo and appreciate people can have plate loads of projects. (I wanted to model the fleet until I realised it might take until 2021 to do on my own hence the website and project!). I've only had a brief fling with Lightwave. I'm more of a Max man and at the mo so far the only modeller. The interesting news is I hope to be obtaining some actual lifeboat plans which would be of great use to any modellers!
Steve C

Hey,if I can find any plans for lifeboats on the net or otherwise,I'll give it a try!.
 I make models as .obj 'cause Lightwave won't export big and complex stuff as 3DS but all 3D apps can cope with .obj models.
 Sign me up as a crew!...Cap'n. 
 Cheers! Jed.
      

the only 3d prog i can work with is sketchup. i can't model ships, but if you need buildings, like lighthouses, command centers (interiors too) and the like you can put me on the list - as i have only the free version of sketchup somebody else must be able to handle the export. i could make obj.files, but the exporter that's available to me is not perfect.

No probs there,
Coming from the Virtual Sailor forums, seems sketchup is quite popular! I'd be glad to have you aboard!
Steve C