Hi Guys,

Not really sure how much you really want me to post these images, but here is the beginning of the first home, on Block Fourteen.

This one so far is going to have an alley. You see in this image.

Hope you like it.

Just a test render in 3D Studio max, so many things could change.

Tom

Yes, please show the progress. Your stuff is fantastic, and I enjoy seeing your creative process and development.

Well I am glad, as most people tell me they want me to post here, but then they comment once, and never post again. Makes me wonder, so not I know.

So you all come back now, hear? :-)

Tom

I like your models very much, own a few, and enjoy seeing your progress, so please keep on posting and displaying (even if I fail to comment).....

Nope!

You have to come back, or else!!!   :-)

Tom

Aiiiiiii!!! I feel the tug of GRAVITY!!!!!!!

LOL

Quote - Well I am glad, as most people tell me they want me to post here, but then they comment once, and never post again. Makes me wonder, so not I know.

So you all come back now, hear? :-)

Tom

I do most of the time. I'm just afraid of posting in threads because this site auto-subscribes me to every damn thread I post in and then my outlook inbox fills up with twenty pages of "someone replied to" mails and I reaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaalllllllllllllllly hate that.

I hear you on that. :-(

Just hit unsubscribe.

Then you won't get an e-bot.

Tom

Love the previews

Please, keep the previews coming!

indeed, keep em coming...I have as many of your blocks as I  can afford and love 'em....

Your work is rocking, Tom!

Plan to pick a bunch more very soon. Glad you're continuing with your series! Superb work!

it's looking great.

Oh you should also model some city scapes for distant shots.

Love esther

Here is a little more refinment on the first home.

Thanks for all the kind words! it makes my day when someone is nice to me.

Tom

My guess would be that you would have quite a fan following!  I don't know how you find time to do so much.

Nice start Tom :)

Loving Block Thirteen...

This looks great.

Looking forward to it.

I like to see what you are doing and read a little about the process. :)

Since you plan to make 81 blocks I assume you have them listed if only in your head and, since the ones I have seen in your store all appear to be convex (viewed from the outside of the block), I am wondering if you will, at some point, make a residential concave block (viewed from the inside of the block)?

I do not model, but I would think if a block = buildings along a street within a set overall diameter, then putting the street in the center with houses along both sides should fit within a two block length.  Maybe a cul-de-sac block and a tube block with no cross street between them / at the ends.  Bonus points if the cul-de-sac is big enough to put a gazebo on grass in the center, but that limits the houses on the end.

Just wondering. :D

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Wellwyn_Garden_City_Cul-de-sac.jpg

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Brookside_Close_-geograph.org.uk-_37506.jpg

Also, the street need not be straight.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Cul-de-sac80020_copy.jpg

Sign will be a separate object, in case you want to move or hide it.

On to Home 2

Tom

That tornado in the background will carry the house--and us--to Oz, right?

Is the tornado backdrop included?

That house looks fantastic...

Almost done with the second home. Still needs railings and stairs and who knows what else. :-)

I think there will be about ten homes in this set. not sure yet, depends on the real estate that is left.

Here is a look at the second home.

Tom

Very nice Tom :)

Looking forward to moving in...

This looks really good. You do a great job in creating these blocks and my bank account can verify to that!

One thing that I thought would be interesting for a future block came to mind when I saw your first couple of images. With your 81 City Blocks the interior blocks look really good with your existing sets, however on the peripheral roads I thought it might be interesting to have some blocks that look like they might be on the edge of the town or city. That is what struck me with the first couple of images. They looked like some homes on larger more widely space lots like you might find on the edge of the town. I would love to be able to do some renders showing traffic driving along the edge of the town or leaving/entering the town from the country. I don't know if that is an idea you have considered or not.

For now though,  I will stick with the direction I am headed.

Here is another image of the second home. Did not have a lot of time to work today,  but it is pretty close to done. Added arches on the porch as well as stairs and railings. Also added the details on the soffits. Cut in a few more windows and repaired a couple windows that were too low.

Then on to Home 3.

Hope you guys like it.

Tom

Hi Gremelkin,

Not sure how I could do a cultasac as these blocks are only 1/10th of a mile long or a city block in length. I like the idea, but I will have to give that some thought. Maybe by virtue of a lot of trees around the perimeter of the block to stop you from seeing the back of the homes that would be facing inward. As well as the property being higher than the sidewalks. Maybe about 8 to 16 feet higher. with a sloping road into the sac.

Hmmmmmmmmm

No promises.

Tom

:D

In the last link I provided, in the bottom left, there is a 'sac with four houses on it - it is not its own street, just a turn off into a mini-block.  That might fit into your standard grid.  As a stand alone product, the user could put it w/e and adjust the cameras to only cover the street side.  If it is in an outer corner of a 9 x 9 grid, only one "back" would need to be blocked from view and something with a high outer wall, such as a public pool with no diving board, could do it - the only time the backs would bee seen is if the end user set the camera as a crane shot from the opposing angle, and that would be a "Director's" issue.

Home 01 in the foreground. 3 Siding Zones

Home 03 in the middle has 7 siding zones that may be changed. Added a big deck on the rear of it.

Home 04 far left rear

About 7 Homes to go.

Hope to release by next weekend if at all possible.

All of these homes on this side of the block have the garage facing the alley.

Still one more home going inbetween the two in the foreground in the empty lot.

Also decided not to build the cultasac as it seems to not fit in with my plan.

Sorry Gremalkyn. :-)

Tom

Once again just a test render in 3D Studio Max with no frills. Crappy lighting.

Tom

Today I decided to add a corner store to this block. The Ford's letters are a separate object so you can make your own sign if you like.
Still have about Four or five more homes to build this week. :-)

Hope you like it enough to comment.

Tom

Coming along nicely Tom :)

Hi Chris,

The landscapers finished the front yard today and the loam plaster is set up enough to move in. There are three siding zones on Home 05 with plenty of light coming into those nice big rooms with tall ceilings. :-)

The old fashion carriage house was  converted into a 1-1/2 car garage a few years back.

I use a simple box UVW mapping on all my walls to you can change the color schemes as much as your patience will allow. :-)

If your image map is too big or too small simply adjust the tile parameters for the desired scale.

Was hoping to release this set this week but I am having way too much fun to let it go out the door that fast.

Actually I am adding more and more detail to these homes to they smack of real in your renders.

As always this is just a test render in 3D Studio Max 2014.

Hope you like it guys!

Tom

Very nice Tom.

The simple mapping is appreciated... I do like to tinker with materials a bit, on occasion :)

No rush, glad to hear you're enjoying making it... that always bodes well for the end product I think ;)

Looking forward to seeing your Poser promo renders, when you get to those...

Tom

I just stumbled onto this thread - DANG - these look awesome as always, Tom! The progress renders are beautiful artworks just by themselves..

I still have yet to create a scene with 13, but maybe over the 3-day weekend!

I'm assuming you're providing the residents with basements considering those twisters bearing down on them! :-D

Quote - Hi Chris, Here is another look, This time Home 6 and the start of 7 to the left of it and a little of Home 5 to the right. These are just mock materials in 3DS Max. The method I am using in poser is to use a grey scale siding for example and stain it so if you don't like the color simply change the diffuse color to one that you like. Mostly for the siding and maybe a roof here and there. I am all about giving options where possible, with out going insane. :-)

Tom

That's ideal... makes it easier to use it with BBGlossy2 (very mild gloss generally... although maybe more for wet look)

;)

Almost ready for export to Poser. :-)

Hope to release this one soon...

Tom

That's looking good Tom! :-) Bring on those Poser promo renders!

I have virtually no time at the minute to play with Poser... my PP2014 box arrived yesterday... but is currently on the shelf next to the computer, not even had time to install it! Number two son is now 8.5 weeks old... number one is 18 months.

I find a bit of time for foruming, on the bus to and from work...

...and I should find a few minutes to pop this set in the cart when it arrives too ;)

But otherwise... I'm just planning projects in my head for when they both go to bed at 7.30-8 and sleep through till morning, more or less... :)

Looking good!

Sorry I haven't commented until now, but these are really nice.  I am looking forward to adding them to my collection

Keep in mind this image is a test render in Max and the displacement is not so good. I like the displacement much better in Poser.

Don't have a target date but I would guess very soon.

Tom

This set has 60 flower zones on the Block Fourteen.

Tom

Very nice Tom :)

Here you go. just finished import into Poser about an hour or two ago, and here is the first test render, just for kicks and giggles.

Only about 1000 materials to go. rigging, pivot points and all that. :-)

Really this scene only has about ten materials applied so far. I really have about a 1000 materials to go.

Tom

it looks amazing!  You are really good at this!!!!

Looking fantastic!

Chris, here is what I am talking about on the siding colors. The two homes in this image are using white textures and I have just tinted them via the diffuse color. Ted taught me that little gem of a trick, which is probably been done since the dawn of time. :-)

Same treatment on the roof if you like. All of the 3 in 1 shingles and roof ridges are mapped to 36 x 36 inch so they are interchangeable. You can make the roof and siding purple if that is the color you like.

Tom

That looks very nice indeed Tom! Excellent work... and the approach you're taking to the materials is much appreciated here :)

I am totally jazzed about it!

Really made my day.

Here is my first attempt at using them.

Tom