LW Dynamics - Trebuchet
 

Here is a Trebuchet I am building for the dynamics challenge going on over at CGTalk. The weapon's movement has to be generated from dynamics and the projectile has to smash a brick wall. I have most of the Trebuchet done. Just need to add a trigger.

The animation:

http://beta.usavgroup.com/cgtalk/visby2.mov (980K)



and a still:

Looking good mate. Good luck with it!

-Neo

Dude that is amazing! Hope you win :)

Adding some landscaping...

nice nice nice!!!

good luck with this one!!

and here is the enemy tower...

Beautifully detailed renders there Cory.

Thanks Mark and welcome back.

Here is the first test of the tower getting hit.

http://beta.usavgroup.com/cgtalk/tower1.mov

Cool. Lightwave8 dynamics are a bit of a hoot aren't they :D

One thing I have noticed though is if you look about 1/2 second after the rock hits the tower, at the top of the tower itself, you can see the missile escaping :)

I don't know that I would call them a hoot :confused:

That errant brick is because I didn't put collision detection on the top floor. It won't happen in the final render.

Absolutly loved the idea and the animation.... nice details.

Here is the lastest update on the Trebuchet.

http://beta.usavgroup.com/cgtalk/visby3.mov (668k)


and a still from the video:

Excellent. I'd be tempted to switch receive shadows off for the backdrop though - the shadow on there looks a little out of place.

I have to get it back to looking like the still several posts above. The shadows are too long. I'm suprised you didn't notice a big error in there.

busting
 

Will it bust out the other side of the tower?

I presume you're talking about the shadows cast by the rocks onto the matte object?

Funny thing is I noticed them, but they didn't seem to register until you mentioned it. It's the shadow from the Trebuchet that was noticable presumably because it was in motion.

Odd. Must've been too tired when I watched the vid :)

It's not that boring is it? I mean it is not like it is Gigli.

lol. No just a long day at work and a late viewing of the vid :)

Well, I am working on my official final entry right now and that one should be more of an attention grabber.

Here is a new update

Mark, Maybe this one will keep your attention more - http://beta.usavgroup.com/cgtalk/final01.mov (1.4Mb)

kool
 

Oh, very cool. Only crit is that it seems like the ball is falling very slowly. It seems like should be going faster and dropping quicker to make it look more realistic. Not sure though as there is no landscape beneath so as to be able to tell height and speed.

It is hard to tell from that angle. I should have prefaced that for the contest you need kind of a regular shot showing all the required elements and that is what this shot is for. I'm hoping to get a regular cut scene together before Sunday's deadline.

Wow! Nice scene! The ball does seem to fall slow. Maybe u could change the camera angle or something.

I don't know though - not having the frame of reference to judge the ball by does seem to add something to the shot I think. I like the apparent look of the simulation starting and ending at regular speed, but seeming to slow slightly in the middle...

(or maybe I'm just wierd :o)

The camera is traveling with the ball but not at the same arch so there is looks slower than it is. It is really traveling 140 meters or so. I was going to put a few things on the ground for perspective but haven't gotten to it yet. There is no time to change this one to another camera angle but the other cut scene version will show it differently.

Oh and Mark, you're wierd regardless.

Here is a pure side view:

http://beta.usavgroup.com/cgtalk/sideview.mov

All finished. Here is the final animation for the challenge:


http://beta.usavgroup.com/cgtalk/cgtalktrebfinal.mov


(link to final: http://www.cgtalk.com/showthread.php...39#post1509039)

Nice one Cory. That's a top piece of work - one to be proud of.

Not yet Mark. It always takes some time for the 'hate' to wear off at the end of a project and view it more objectively.

Voting has started and will last until next week - http://www.cgtalk.com/showthread.php?t=162862

The challenge is over and the results are in. Thanks to anyone that voted (for anyone).

http://www.cgtalk.com/showthread.php?threadid=162862

Mucho respec there Cory - well done.