On Wednesday 9th August 2011, three past students from the BTEC National Diploma in Media Production joined me to build two 3D jigsaws of Notre Dame and Capitol Hill. This video is a record of that even, documenting the process, and experimenting with timelapse photography using a Canon EOS 550D linked to a PC laptop to capture 1600 frames. All this a part of the development of the climatic scenes in the feature film ‘Monty’s Quest’.

I would like to take this opportunity to thank Aidan Carroll, Laura Fegan and Richard Ellison for their help in building the 3D jigsaws and shooting the documentary footage shown in the video.

Continuing on with the 3D modelling of characters and vehicles for ‘Monty’s Quest’, this last week I have been working on a Roman Centurion. There are still a few more characters to build and, quite possibly, a re-working of the Centurion but this is where we are now.

This video shows the basic design of the model done in Photoshop Elements and then used as a front and side plan in Blender 2.58a for the 3D modelling and rigging. It is still very rough but the process is giving me a chance to further develop my skills in Blender 2.58a.

Next week, I have plans to build two real-world 3D jigsaws of the Notre Dame and Capitol Hill. We will be recording this in time-lapse and using the models as a photographic guide for building the models in Blender 2.58a. So watch this space.

Day twelve – catch up on what has been happening on the animation side of Monty’s Quest. As well as modelling an aircraft carrier, I have been exploring how to use Rigify and how the games engine can help with falling buildings.

Day Five – and I have produced a model of a British WWI tank. Again this model is going to be used in ‘Monty’s Quest’. Hope you enjoy this fifth short video.

Another important model created today for ‘Monty’s Quest’. There are a couple of shots that require this model so hopefully this will speed things along a bit in getting the animation done for the film.

The third progress report on the M113 shot.

The second progress report on the M113 personnel carrier produced in Blender 2.58b. This time I have managed to get all the wheels to rotate as the vehicle is moved across the screen.

This video is a quick update report of a 3D model M113 Personnel Carrier I have built for several animated sequences in ‘Monty’s Quest’. At this point (Sunday 17th July 2011) there are still some 150 shots to produce in animation, so I may still be working on this project throughout the next academic year.

This model was produced in Blender 2.58b.

This video is a test shoot using my new Sony CX115E camcorder and edited in FCPX.

A group of Newry lecturers head for North Carolina as an exhibition of Artwork is launched at Sandhills Community College.