Taking Up The Slack

eturning five years later to finally begin completing these models has been interesting.

I cleaned up model topology and improved UV maps whilst also adding in some extra detailing, making each piece consistent with a level of detail from the viewer's perspective.

One model I added further detailing to before texturing was the Coiling Block. This piece features heavily in gameplay and is centre stage out of all of the mechanical equipment for bringing up crab pots, so it made sense to focus more attention on it. I further reduced the poly count and added hydraulic cables to the back.

Something I have always done manually since learning Maya at Uni is wrapping hard surface objects with other objects like cable ties, tape and rope.

I always found this a time-consuming and annoying task (even though I have got pretty quick at the steps involved and avoiding intersecting objects). Recently, while looking at rope modelling inspiration, I found a simple tutorial on wrapping objects in Maya 2026.

Using the ShrinkWrap deformer, I was able to wrap a cylinder around cables and make it look like bound tape holding the cables with ease. How have I never used this super simple technique before?

Like other things I have learnt along the way, this is something I will be instantly adding to my tool bag workflow!

Below are a few screenshots of the tool in use on the hydraulic cables...where a little tweak in the attribute editor and topology clean up can all be achieved in a minute or so!

Jason Bartlett ©

Next time, some inspo!

Thanks for reading :)

Comments

6 Yr Blog Anniversary

H appy 6th Blogiversary! Six years ago today, this project began! Over two thousand days later (Gulp) , I'm still proud of the consistency I've maintained. I often think back to University, which instilled in me the habit of posting regularly on Blogger. Looking back, it's incredible to see how much has changed, and yet how much the core of this project remains the same. It's not always easy, but this blog has become a vital part of my creative process and personal growth. Developing D_ROGUE has been a long journey with many challenges and lessons learned along the way. Seeing the progress over the years fuels my motivation, especially that initial drive to document my work and build a portfolio. There's still a looooooong way to go, but I'm more determined than ever. Remembering my original intent...to document my journey, share my learnings, and build a portfolio, is key. Seeing my skills grow through previous posts has been both invaluable and ...

Boat Bow

U nlike the relatively rectangular mid-section, the curvature of the bow demanded a lot of attention to model correctly. Accuracy of the F/V Scully's bow was paramount, as the front of the boat defines the vessel’s silhouette but also its ability to cleave through the sea. I was determined to get this to feel right and improve upon my first attempt from back in 2019. To achieve this, I scoured hundreds of images of crab boats, just to find at least one with a clear angle in dry dock below the water line for reference . I then stumbled upon a couple of images of a boat undergoing repairs with its hull plating partially removed. This was a massive breakthrough, offering a much better understanding of the reinforced internal structure. What’s more, the reference image just so happened to be of the fishing vessel seen in the TV show Deadliest Catch I originally based the F/V Scully on…the F/V Kodiak ! Following the reference image, I actually laid o...

Forepeak Progress

F ollowing on from the progress made modelling the bulwarks of the F/V Scully's main deck, I continued along towards the bow. Below we have the forepeak. This is the very most forward section of a boat, typically used in crab fishing vessels for frozen bait, general storage and essential machinery. The process of bringing the forepeak to life involved not just creating its fundamental shape, but also considering the practicalities of its function for authenticity; much like the rest of the boat. Given how vital this area on the boat is, I made sure to pay careful attention to the steel plating and seamless transition from the sides upwards . The forepeak, in particular, has to look integrated with the rest of the deck and feel like it is capable of withstanding the constant battle with the elements; visually reflecting both its inherent strength and industrial purposes. Jason Bartlett © Next time, I concentrate very hard on getting the bow just right (that'...

D_Rogue Game Art Project

Search This Blog