Advanced 3D Graphics Introduction

The aim of the Advanced 3D module is to create a model based on something which inspires you, with the final piece being a cinematic lasting roughly a minute.

From my Advanced 3D Graphics project, I have decided that I will model a section of racetrack and a car which will drive through the scene. The track section will be based off of the Mulsanne Straight of the Circuit de la Sarthe in France. The area I will focus on the section of the straight before and including the first chicane. I will attempt to roughly recreate this area from photos and footage of the actual location, however I will make changes such as removing some objects from the areas as well as likely adding others to increase the interest in the scene. I will set the scene at night, the idea being that the majority of the light in the scene will be from the headlights of the car driving through. While I think this would make the scene incredibly atmospheric, I do think that having so little light may take away from the actual models in the environment and the model of the car. As such I will look at either changing to the time of day to twilight or adding spotlight on the sides of the track, just to try and show more detail in the scene. The car which I have chosen to model is a Porsche 962, a car which raced at the track in 1987 and 1988. Along with the headlights on the car, I will also aim to add other visual effects too it, including glowing brake disks, small bursts of fire coming from the exhausts and brake lights.

The plan for the final cinematic is that it will begin with a brief flyover of the track before the camera then moves down low to the track. At this point the car will drive into the scene and past the camera. The camera will then cut to a different view showing the car more clearly as it enters and then exits the corner. Hopefully I should be able to create a basic block out and then first version of the cinematic by next week.

I have chosen this as my project because it will give me a chance to research a range of different areas which I previously haven't had a chance to look at. This includes dynamic lighting, visual effects, foliage and most importantly sub division modelling on the car. This project will also allow me to work at the two areas of 3D modelling which I have the most interest in going into in the future, environment/prop and vehicle modelling. While I would love to go into the industry as a vehicle artist, I'm not yet confident in my own vehicle modelling skills so this project should give me a much clearer idea of whether it is worth me pursuing vehicle modelling or whether I should instead aim to specialise in environment and prop modelling.