VSFX 768 - Photo-realistic Modeling

CG Hard Surface Model - Theme-driven Diorama - My Childhood Backyard

Project Summary:
Using any modeling techniques, create models for a diorama based around a theme. It can be built in the round or as a "scale-model" portion of an area. It must contain some sort of vehicle. Emphasis should be on reliable photo references and generating the surface via modeling instead of bump or displacement maps, except where they make more sense.

Results:
Click on the image to the right to see an animation of the finished model.

Wireframe

With so many high-octane, machismo-driven vehicles in my modeling portfolio I wanted to go with something with a softer side. I have many fond memories of my parents' back porch when I was a child as it was a play area for my friends and I. It seemed like a perfect subject to build a small vignette with some of my favorite grade-school toys. The turtle sandbox is a necessary fixture and are so ubiquitous that they seemed to be issued to parents in the maternity ward. It's attendant items are recognizable to just about anyone that's ever played in a sandbox. The truck is one I found online and liked the design to so I thought I would give it a shot modeling it. The other main item, the ride-along Little Tykes coupe (the "Cozy Coupe" as it is called) was another ever-present item during my formative years. My father went so far as to label my own with fake-chrome letters spelling out my nickname. The whiffle ball and bat are a bit of a smirk in this group, I always loved the hollow 'DOINK' the bat would make....particularly when I would bounce it on my sister's head. She never seemed to enjoy it as much as I did though; perhaps it was a gender bias.

Occlusion Renders