Songbird Remix's Product Preview Thread

[JOdel]

And here's another bird pretending to be a butterfly. The Wallcreeper.

 

[Ken Gilliland]

I started to throw on a base wip texture for my latest model (no bump or displacement yet), and it seems like l'm going in the right direction, so decided to share the progress.

The "base" Mantis set will include m/f versions (and probably green/brown color variations) of the European and Carolina Mantises. My add-on set (Volume 1) will include 7 others including the amazing Pink Orchid Mantis and the Peruvian Leaf Mantis.

 

[Ken Gilliland]

Yesterday, I shared the start of my mantis textures, showing the European Mantis (Mantis religiousa)... here's a much more finished version of it....

 

[Ken Gilliland]

It's looking like I won't make my "under the tree goal", so it will be an early January release... to be fair with myself, the model was more challenging than I expected with over 140 body parts, and a lot of complex JP code. Plus, I also expanded the species list, making way for a Volume 1.

Here's the Shield Mantis from Volume 1...

 

[Ken Gilliland]

a few more...

 

[Ken Gilliland]

Here's a look at the Avocado Mantis in Iray/DAZ Studio

 

[JOdel]

Buuuuuug!

 

[Ken Gilliland]

Well, I finished the "Main" images from the Mantises base set and the Volume 1 set. I have to do these images before my beta tests begin because the images are part of the manual and some icons. Now, that they're done I can start the beta tests and hopefully have these out in early-to-mid January.

The base set image has a Ruby-throated hummingbird spotting the Carolina Mantis above its feeder port. Mantises will capture and eat hummingbirds (see my post). The image also includes my hummingbird feeder and Seashore House.

The Mantises of the World Volume 1 image has the Pink Orchid Mantis pretending to be an orchid. These Mantises also create an orchid scent to help attract insects to their doom. The male is also in the image; it is 50% smaller than the female and as with most male mantises, allow on the menu for the female. I picked up the orchid at DAZ for time's sake. I'll probably create my own orchids, and maybe, a headless mantis for a prop set add-on.

 

[Ken Gilliland]

Here's two more...

The Australian Large Brown Mantis...

...and the European Mantis... somewhere there's a story with a punchline in this image, but it escapes me "This French walking stick meets a Mantis on a leaf and says...."

 

[JOdel]

There was a point in the '90s that some of the people here in the building bought a number of "helpful insects" for the courtyard. Among then were mantises. The mantises didn't last too long because they aren't especially agile flyers, and several of the tenants had cats. But they were interesting to see around the place. I'm sure the cats found them entertaining.

If I were a French walking stick I don't think I'd want to come face to face with a Mantis on a dark leaf. Or even a bright sunny one.

 

[Ken Gilliland]

...maybe the the joke story goes... This French walking stick meets a Mantis on a leaf and says "Wow, it must be hard to work with those big forelegs". The mantis replies "You'd think so, but more often than not, they help me get ahead".

 

[Ken Gilliland]

...maybe the the joke story goes... This French walking stick meets a Mantis on a leaf and says "Wow, it must be hard to work with those big forelegs". The mantis replies "You'd think so, but more often than not, they help me get ahead".

Another variation... The Mantis tells the Walking Stick, "You're hardly even a meal... once I caught a prey this big".

 

[Ken Gilliland]

a first look at my orchid/headless prey for my mantises xtras set...

 

[Ken Gilliland]

I've been trying to figure out what comes next after Mantismania, and find myself going into two different directions, more Nature's Wonders or a return to birds. As far as Nature's Wonders, I've Frankensteined my ladybug model and some up with a fairly decent beetle. I can easily see doing a base set and volume 1, so that will be happening soon. On the bird front, I, of course, have a long list of bird sets I sort of want to do, but nothing was sparking my creative demons until I ran across an old document I found in my project folder with a couple candidates for a "Cool 'n' Unusual Birds" v4. After looking at the birds I quickly filled the set with a dozen more and (at least for now) am genuinely excited about doing the set. What kind of birds? The C&U series always has some flashy birds, ones with goofy names and/or favorites of mine... Yellow-billed Tit-Tyrant, Pompadour Cotinga and the African Paradise Flycatcher are just three...

 

[Flint_Hawk]

It sounds like you are more excited about the birds & those you mentioned are fantastic!

 

[Ken Gilliland]

It sounds like you are more excited about the birds & those you mentioned are fantastic!

thanks... to be fair, I'll been playing around with the beetle this morning too. I haven't decided what species will be in the base set on that, with the exception of one... the Pinacate Beetle (aka here as the "Stink" bug). when threatened, it sticks its end in the air and spray a noxious liquid (that does indeed stink). Probably the Stag beetle will be in the base set too. Other than that, the Volume 1 will definitely have the dung beetle (with a dung ball) and a scarab for the 3D Egyptology community.

 

[Flint_Hawk]

That sounds like a good selection!