Updates Updates Updates! Interceptor V2.0 WIPs & Orca/Dolphin-Dinosaur Hybrid?

This is probably the most burnout I have ever experienced. The sheer amount of stuff on my plate has just destroyed any desire to work on any creative projects. But hopefully I've found a window of opportunity now that I've finally overcome a huge technical challenge with how I want to develop and update my future models.

To start things off I have been testing out some new design changes for the Interceptor model. Texturing is definitely not my strong suite and the ones I'm showing today are only temporary. I wanted to add a bit more flavor than just applying a blanket scale texture across the model with the only variation being the size of the scales. Some inspiration came from my older Allosaurus models that I created long ago and some from the lizardman models. My aim is to have a more stylized and minimalist approach with scales while using larger plates to break up the empty space.

  I also want to experiment with an eyelash mesh to help the eyes really pop. The current one leans more feminine so I will test with some more neutral styles.

And probably the single biggest update to the Interceptor (and all models going forward) was my breakthrough with mesh switching.

I've demoed something like this in the past but I ran into a serious roadblock when it came to incorporating everything into my workflow. I wasn't quite sure how to get all of the pieces to behave in zbrush without having to do some crazy border strip reprojection nonsense. The borders for all the pieces need to be exactly the same or else it would show a nasty seam. Thankfully triplanar projection solves most issues when it comes to adding high frequency surface detail.

As for the Dracophin..

Well.. I had this crazy idea in mind of a hybridization between a dolphin/orca and a dinosaur. Something I've very rarely seen anyone do. Not to say that Dracophins are common but since I'm far more comfortable with a dinosaur-like body than a dragon, I thought I would at least put my existing head sculpts on a couple bodies and see how it turns out.
 I think it can kinda work.
It's very rough and quickly slapped together but I think after a bit more refinement and some quick colors it could come together pretty nice.

Anyways that's all I've got for the mean time. I should (hopefully) slowly start posting updates more frequently. My plans are to at least update the Interceptor with the new mesh switching and a newer rig and do the same for the Tyrant. After that I will decide which of the two aquatic beasties to tackle!