Update: Hat Submitted....The Fire Drake

[Tehrasha]

This has been slowly leaking out of my brain for the last couple weeks.



Progress has been slow (I do have a day job, and a 2 yr old) but I think it has come far enough that I could post a WIP pic.
Still lots of optimization, texturing, and fiddly bits to go. Having never played with 3D modeling before, this is a learn-as-I-go process.

Currently far too many polys, and the smoothing is just quick and dirty (all one smoothing group).
The background 2D images are NOT textures.. those are picture references from which I built the 3D model.

[Tehrasha]

Got the lower jaw built, and even managed to reduce the total count by over 500 polys at the same time !!

Some ideas suggested to me include....
a ) Jiggle-bone the jaw so it flaps a bit.
b ) Make the nostrils smoke like the Spy's cigarette.
c ) Flickering flame entites in the eyes.
d ) Breath fire during the taunt-kill.

( a ) Should not be too hard as it is only a minor addition to the model.
( b ) and ( c ) will require learning how to add attachment points to the model which also should not be too hard.
( d ) Although I think that would be insanely cool, it would require learning full blown animation, and I would like to get this done sometime this month.

[Ignis Solus]

Wow looks nice so far! Are you using Maya?

[Purplecat]

I actually wonder if you could make it work as a misc item, as long you do what's necessary to avoid clipping with most hats out there.

[Tehrasha]

[Ignis Solus]

Is there a way to check how many tris there are on the model?

[Tehrasha]

[Tehrasha]

Last nights progress with texture experimentation...

[Jinx]

Holy cow that is scary and awesome at the same time

[Tehrasha]

More texturing...