Desktop Arrangement

Hey people,
yesterday I moved my desktop to my room here in Delft. I have hooked it up to the TV screen. I realized that this screen is HD Ready...and therefore it is connected through the HDMi connection! Very sweet and sharp images! Ideal setting! A pity that I can't bring the screen a little lower...that would have been ideal...

I am still very very satisfied with the overall result!

Check it out:






Cheers!

New Pictures of Focus

Hello people,

Here are a couple of pictures after having waxed my car and placed the final plates...
Sorry about the quality of the pictures, these were shot with my phone.







(this last picture was shot last week with my 'good' camera...feel the difference?)

Cheers!

Ford Focus has arrived!!

Hello people,

Big news: my ford focus has arrived...and of course...it's gorgeous! haha.

Here are some (of the many) pictures....










Cheers!

Modelling a Clay Car: Part 2

Hello everyone,

Over the last weeks, we developed our concept and designs in such a way that we have a clear idea about how we want the car to look like while having a solid backup story. It is time to move to the second step of the process: refining external design.

STEP2: RIVER CLAY MODELING / FORM STUDY

The second step is the creation of a clay model. This model will not be the final model (Thank God!) as we have to refine the looks of the car as we will be able to visualize the car. There is a tremendous difference between 2d/3d drawings and a 'real' model. This is done with (free) river clay.
The advantage of this stage is the possibility of making a series of small models in which you can open the design possibilities through a variety of 'form-studies'.
The disadvantage of using river clay is that it dries, having as consequence the shrinking of your model. During the drying process, cracks may form on your model....even imploding it! The use of alternative clays (Plasticine) greatly compensates these negative effects.
Our professor also introduced the use of Wax to us. These two different alternatives seem to be very interesting as your design doesnot shrink, implode, dry out, etc. The disadvantage is the price tag! This means that you have to create a model, take pictures of it and destroy it for a future model.


Well, here are my 2 different models (till now):
You will notice that the first version is too much of an aircraft...while the second one is much more car-like. However, you will notice that there is a problem with the proportions. This is fine as this is the form-study.

First Model: (notice only one part modeled)




Definitely looks too much plane in this car!

Second model:





Definitely much better! Symmetry is a tricky one. Fortunately this is not the real model!

TIP: for cutting away areas:
Let the model dry for one night! It's much easier to cut (or remove) when the clay is harder. You'll be able to get more detail in while having a cleaner cut!

For the German police car, it will be moving towards this direction:


See you next week for some more progress (and the rest of the remaining lengthy process of making a 1:5 clay model!)

Cheers,
Michiel

Modelling a Clay Car: Part 1

Hello everyone,

As you could have read in my previous post, I am currently studying at the TU-Delft and taken an automotive track. One of the elements of this track is the selection of automotive 'compulsory' electives. One of these electives is called "Automotive 3D" and we have to make a painted clay model (scale of 1:5). This model will be made out of automotive clay .

I will be keeping a diary of my progress and the major steps in making such a model.


STEP 1: IDEA / CONCEPT DEVELOPMENT

Before you start using clay, you need to have a concept, an idea of what you want to make. Once you have generated 'something' you need to develop it. This is done by analyzing the "Rituals" of the future users. A ritual would be an action that a person (or animal) performs in the car. (Drinking coffee while driving, driving off-road, transporting animals, etc etc.) It may also be that a ritual could happen outside of the car (shopping,...). This means that when developing a concept, you always need to start with the inside of the car.

Once you have a concept and explored all the rituals; it's time to start thinking of the external design. Here you need to look at "Mimes". A mime is the fact of copying an element of an already existing object. It may be that the logo of your future car may be the shape of a toilet, the paint may be the color of a specific bird,... This is not plagiarism ;-) as it allows you to open your minds to a multitude of designs.

In my case, I have chosen to create a super-fast, super-modern chase car for the German Police. (Why German? the word "POLIZEI" on a police car always 'looks good').


Underneath you can find my sheets answering all the questions above... ;-)
As always, Click to enlarge!







See you later for next part!

Cheers,
Michiel