Need Low poly (preferably animatable) Tank treads...

[Bigfootmech]

I just made some REALLY good looking tank treads I got from other tuts, only prob is they ALONE are over 6k polys... any tips, help, etc?

 

[Mechanical Man]

What are tank treads?

 

[Bigfootmech]

i found it easier on the internet is I was looking for somethnig like "tank tracks", but same thing really it's the wheels and the thing surrounding them on a tank allowing it to move through all sorts of terrain... bla bla bla, atleast now you know.

 

[Mechanical Man]

Yes, now I know what you are talking about. You should make a simple mesh like this:
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\______/

not focusing on single chain, because they they are too small to be seen ingame. Make more detail in the skin rather in the model.

 

[Ki]

Indeed, good skins can make models with the lowest poly count look good. Models don't require 3k polygons, just a good skin. How to compress the shape of the model to a low limit while maintaining a shape is the biggest challenge to making a model.

 

[Blitzkrieg]

and there is also a program called polygon cruncher that you can find over the internet.. it will decrease your polygons number but it will mess up your mesh (it will be harder for you to apply your skin so be careful)... you may want to try it, especially if you're very good at skinning (UVW wrapping).

Also, try to remove unueful polygons (the ones you'll never see in-game) that means, the one under the tracks, and between them. Ex:

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TOP VIEW
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|____________|

the polygons in red are useless

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|____________|


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Doing that, you will decrease your polygon count by 50%!

 

[Bigfootmech]

hehe, ok then, still, wish i cuda used the prof tech...