Final Shots

Lamps

Next I started to create a couple of lamps that would be located around my diorama, I used a cylinder to create the vase shape around the base of the small table lamp, I the created multiple edge loops and scale a few of the edges inwards. To create the lamp-shade, I used the tube polygon shape, scaled the top half inwards and the bottom half outwards to give the effect of a lampshade.

I applied the same technique for the tall-standing lamp, but instead extruded from the cylinder radius inset then scales it half down. I wanted to keep the texture clean and simple for these lamps, I creates a base colour and changed the material from a lambert to a blinn this is so they have a nice shiny surface.

Banner

Creating the actually banner itself was the sort of the same techniques used for the table cloth, I created a basic plane in position of where I wanted it to be, I then added a transform constraint to the top vertices of the plane to the banner rail. This allowed the object to fall down lightly when adding an nCloth to the plane, this again makes them look more realistic and gives the result of gravity.

However, before I applied the ncloth I first had UV the plane onto a separate UV map, this is because when I add the nCloth modifier, the shape will no longer be its original shape. To texture this prop I created a simple, dark-grey base colour and then added the Iron-Cross emblem in the centre of the banner, this was to avoid having any Nazi references in my scene.

I also modelled and textured a picture frame on this same UV map. I used a basic cube for the frame and then extruded the front face into the object, I then selected the face and extracted it from the mesh, and this will be the face which painting picture will be on. At this stage I then duplicated the picture frame, rotated it 180 and scaled it up so it can used at the main war-map.

The next model I worked on was the war-room banners, I first had to create a banner-rail from with the banner will hang from, I created this using a cylinder and scaling up both ends and then smoothing the face normal's. I then textured this on the same UV map as the War-table, this is because this object is fairly small and therefore can afford to share UV space. 

Fireplace & Rug

To create this fireplace, I created a basic cube shape and inserted various edge loops around the object, I then began to extrude selected faces inwards where the inner fire would be, then started extruded the faces outset, then extruding again to give me the clan edges effect along the top and bottom of the fireplace. Once I had UV’d this I then duplicated the wall marble texture onto the fireplace texture, I had to slightly decrease the resolution because of the size of the fireplace compared to the wall, this made the fireplace fit nicely on the wall and not look out of place.

I made was the rug for the office side of the diorama, I wanted it to be a dark red rug with some floral type patterns, and because this was such a specific texture I had to use the internet to collect a various reference images. I then manipulated these images by cutting and overlapping different sections of the rug, In order to create a different style rug. The geometry for this object is fairly straight forward, I used a cube and deleted the faces that we’re hidden from the camera.

Office Sofa and Chair

I took a lot of influences from Albert Speers Reich chancellery, I wanted to re-create the sofa located in Hitler’s office. I did this because they have a very 1940’s style to them, to begin modelling I created various boxes and then used the sub-division tool to get a smooth cushion shape. I then created one half of the sofa’s wooden frame, and then used the mirror geometry to make the sofa symmetrical. Once I have the basic shape, I started to extrude different face of the mesh too add more decoration to the sofa. Once this sofa was modeled I could create a simple one seat chair by duplicating the object, remove the side cushions and scaling the wooden frame to fit the middle cushions. 

War-table

The first props I created are the tables, for the war-table I wanted it to be a large open table with no chairs around it, taking influence from other people dioramas. I wanted to create a sheet that would drop down either side of the table, here is the first block out of my war-table in Maya I originally had the table supported by two separate legs, I felt that didn't really suit the style of architecture so instead I played around with my concepts and believe that having a wooden panel underneath connecting all legs suited this diorama a lot more. For the tablet op I create a cube mesh and added some edge loops around the height of the shape, I then used the scale tool on the vertices to scale those inwards to give the effect of the wood curving around the rim of the table.

Now I had the model of the table done, I wanted to have a sheet that would run down the centre of the table and hanging of the edges, to do this I created a simple plane that covers the middle table making sure it has 20 x 20 sub divisions. Doing this I then was able to use a new modelling technique called N-cloth, this tool allowed me to make the sheet fall onto the surface of the table, this then makes the edges droop down either side giving the effect of gravity, making it more visually realistic. 

This is my final model of my war-table

Influences

I will be taking major influence from Albert Speers Interior work, especially the Reich chancellery, as I feel this would be a great opportunity to look at how he was able to exploit the power of a country using architecture. I will be taking influence from his idea of scale, I will want the interior rooms to be quite large with square column supports built into the walls. I will also be taking influence from the way he has designed the glass ceiling, have square glass panels with clean beveled edges around the outset of the ceiling.

I’m also interested the way Speer uses light in and out of his building to show off the architectural features, I could use these technique to show of my main focus point within my environment.

I also like the beveled insets in the walls, I think this works really well with the composition of objects/props within the room, and I think it gives the room a nice clean orderly effect. I will use this concept to create an inset around the fireplace instead of having multiple insets around the room. I think this will make viewer’s focus more on the fireplace making it more visually interesting. As for the fireplace I really like the way Speer has used the marble wall material, specifically how it merges into the fireplace making it appear as part of the buildings architecture. I also taking influence from how the room is split into two areas; the study and a small lounge. I will add my own twist on this and have my diorama be split into two different rooms, separated by a large marble wall. I will be taking influence from the types of props around the room, all furniture look very luxurious, made with expensive materials.

One major influence I had for creating a war-room came from the movie ‘Inglorious Basterds’ there were a two scene in particular which were shot inside of Hitler’s head quarts, inspired by Albert Speers architecture, this provided me an opportunity to see another person’s interpretation of a Nazi war-room. They have used a very similar architecture style to Speers, having a large scaled room, with minimum decorations to give it that severe deco look. One major feature I will be taking influence from is the huge war-map that represents the domination of Germany, I will create a similar looking map replacing the swastika and eagles with the basic German iron cross.

 I also multiple props in this scene I think the sheer size of , the table with very few chairs surrounding it really exploits how the Nazis used scale to show supremacy, large objects show dominance and superiority. I will be taking influence from this, having a large wooden table in front of the war-room, I could use mahogany as a luxury material for the wood and have a table cloth that extends over the furthest ends of the table, made from a fine cotton material. I also like how the lamps are used as the main source of light, I will use the same technique in my diorama placing the lamps close the map to make it more visible. One last feature I like again similar to Albert Speers Reich chancellery is the fireplace, being very large and having the effect of it being a part of the architecture.

Another scene from this movie was set in Hitler’s office, I think this room resembles many features from the original Reich chancellery, such as the room being split up into two parts, work/ business on one side of the room and comfy pleasure in another.  However it does have some unique elements such as the banners, I will be incorporating this into my scene but instead have the banners beside the war map from the top image. I will also be taking influenced from the lower part of the table, that it style of legs I’m going for, I like how the wooden panels are flat on the ground, rather than having individual legs supports.

Another influence for the War-room was from the TV series ‘Game of Thrones’, in various episodes throughout the series there are scene set on a war-planning table. This is the type of layout I want to have on my war-table, this was the real motivation for focusing on an interior war-room, I think having those chess-like strategy pieces spread along multiple battle maps would look very distinctive, I think by combining this with WW2 theme will create something very unique. 

One video game I will be taking influence from is Wolfenstien, there game is set in a world where Germany is winning WW2, this game is a great reference to use as it gives me an opportunity to see what the structure of building the 3D artists and created, if they have been historically accurate then they would be influenced by albert speer architecture.