[WIP] Mariners Court, Portland (Replica)

[Meekal]

Hi all,
Been a while since I posted here. I've stopped by a few times though. I was in the mood to do a bit of mapping today. I've been wanting to replicate the building I live in for sometime, so here we are. I've made some good progress and it's starting to take shape. I will take some real-life photos tomorrow for comparison. For now though, here are some development screenshots.

The interior shots are of my flat, with the exception of the stair way. I will only be making my flat accessible.

[URL="http://postimage.org/image/w7my5ad21/"][IMG]http://s20.postimage.org/w7my5ad21/hl2_2013_04_22_00_17_57_13.png[/IMG][/URL] [URL="http://postimage.org/image/6dd5fid21/"][IMG]http://s20.postimage.org/6dd5fid21/hl2_2013_04_22_00_18_09_99.png[/IMG][/URL] [URL="http://postimage.org/image/gou3lwu55/"][IMG]http://s20.postimage.org/gou3lwu55/hl2_2013_04_22_00_18_01_95.png[/IMG][/URL] [URL="http://postimage.org/image/t4qtfnnh5/"][IMG]http://s20.postimage.org/t4qtfnnh5/hl2_2013_04_19_09_29_28_75.png[/IMG][/URL]

[URL="http://postimage.org/image/z6yg65bx5/"][IMG]http://s20.postimage.org/z6yg65bx5/hl2_2013_04_22_00_17_44_93.png[/IMG][/URL] [URL="http://postimage.org/image/6vcw93s0p/"][IMG]http://s20.postimage.org/6vcw93s0p/hl2_2013_04_19_09_29_37_48.png[/IMG][/URL] [URL="http://postimage.org/image/tlc123b89/"][IMG]http://s20.postimage.org/tlc123b89/hl2_2013_04_22_00_18_18_81.png[/IMG][/URL] [URL="http://postimage.org/image/r5a7o8t5l/"][IMG]http://s20.postimage.org/r5a7o8t5l/hl2_2013_04_22_01_11_08_11.png[/IMG][/URL]

[URL="http://postimage.org/image/l5mgkl8d5/"][IMG]http://s20.postimage.org/l5mgkl8d5/hl2_2013_04_22_00_51_38_33.png[/IMG][/URL] [URL="http://postimage.org/image/3tm3z5evt/"][IMG]http://s20.postimage.org/3tm3z5evt/hl2_2013_04_22_01_11_15_87.png[/IMG][/URL] [URL="http://postimage.org/image/magipyuu1/"][IMG]http://s20.postimage.org/magipyuu1/hl2_2013_04_22_00_52_05_81.png[/IMG][/URL] [URL="http://postimage.org/image/t26xstjtl/"][IMG]http://s20.postimage.org/t26xstjtl/hl2_2013_04_22_01_11_21_31.png[/IMG][/URL]

[URL="http://postimage.org/image/j6ag6x3fd/"][IMG]http://s20.postimage.org/j6ag6x3fd/hl2_2013_04_22_02_11_47_77.png[/IMG][/URL] [URL="http://postimage.org/image/tue75rdeh/"][IMG]http://s20.postimage.org/tue75rdeh/hl2_2013_04_22_16_26_08_53.png[/IMG][/URL] [URL="http://postimage.org/image/recdrwvbt/"][IMG]http://s20.postimage.org/recdrwvbt/hl2_2013_04_22_03_19_28_57.png[/IMG][/URL] [URL="http://postimage.org/image/fdqxr6nx5/"][IMG]http://s20.postimage.org/fdqxr6nx5/hl2_2013_04_22_16_41_37_19.png[/IMG][/URL]

[URL="http://postimage.org/image/4s72f6hll/"][IMG]http://s20.postimage.org/4s72f6hll/hl2_2013_04_22_02_46_34_90.png[/IMG][/URL] [URL="http://postimage.org/image/uc9clm2zd/"][IMG]http://s20.postimage.org/uc9clm2zd/hl2_2013_04_22_16_42_07_24.png[/IMG][/URL] [URL="http://postimage.org/image/nzu7brzx5/"][IMG]http://s20.postimage.org/nzu7brzx5/hl2_2013_04_22_16_26_23_47.png[/IMG][/URL] [URL="http://postimage.org/image/82vff27ix/"][IMG]http://s20.postimage.org/82vff27ix/hl2_2013_04_22_16_42_21_28.png[/IMG][/URL]

[URL="http://postimage.org/image/jghyq9i1l/"][IMG]http://s20.postimage.org/jghyq9i1l/hl2_2013_04_22_16_42_42_74.png[/IMG][/URL] [URL="http://postimage.org/image/7354jcsd5/"][IMG]http://s20.postimage.org/7354jcsd5/hl2_2013_04_23_13_38_46_10.png[/IMG][/URL] [URL="http://postimage.org/image/4lyf97es9/"][IMG]http://s20.postimage.org/4lyf97es9/hl2_2013_04_22_17_28_50_43.png[/IMG][/URL] [URL="http://postimage.org/image/jvyageaah/"][IMG]http://s20.postimage.org/jvyageaah/hl2_2013_04_22_16_43_11_60.png[/IMG][/URL]

[URL="http://postimage.org/image/6t2nx4k2h/"][IMG]http://s20.postimage.org/6t2nx4k2h/hl2_2013_04_25_20_57_52_17.png[/IMG][/URL] [URL="http://postimage.org/image/4ps8pgk9l/"][IMG]http://s20.postimage.org/4ps8pgk9l/hl2_2013_04_25_20_58_18_21.png[/IMG][/URL] [URL="http://postimage.org/image/53tkp24d5/"][IMG]http://s20.postimage.org/53tkp24d5/hl2_2013_04_25_20_58_03_89.png[/IMG][/URL] [URL="http://postimage.org/image/im0h1cgih/"][IMG]http://s20.postimage.org/im0h1cgih/hl2_2013_04_25_20_58_53_58.png[/IMG][/URL]

[URL="http://postimage.org/image/uceeiq9ax/"][IMG]http://s20.postimage.org/uceeiq9ax/hl2_2013_04_25_20_58_25_75.png[/IMG][/URL] [URL="http://postimage.org/image/yzkgkhwnt/"][IMG]http://s20.postimage.org/yzkgkhwnt/hl2_2013_04_25_23_15_49_93.png[/IMG][/URL] [URL="http://postimage.org/image/tpfht7cex/"][IMG]http://s20.postimage.org/tpfht7cex/hl2_2013_04_25_23_14_54_00.png[/IMG][/URL] [URL="http://postimage.org/image/aydkj1huh/"][IMG]http://s20.postimage.org/aydkj1huh/hl2_2013_04_25_23_15_09_82.png[/IMG][/URL]

[URL="http://postimage.org/image/rnjlsp3tl/"][IMG]http://s20.postimage.org/rnjlsp3tl/hl2_2013_04_25_23_15_55_71.png[/IMG][/URL] [URL="http://postimage.org/image/lb4giv0rd/"][IMG]http://s20.postimage.org/lb4giv0rd/hl2_2013_04_29_17_38_22_69.png[/IMG][/URL] [URL="http://postimage.org/image/bf3dj7uzd/"][IMG]http://s20.postimage.org/bf3dj7uzd/hl2_2013_04_29_17_36_27_37.png[/IMG][/URL] [URL="http://postimage.org/image/cvew1cxw9/"][IMG]http://s20.postimage.org/cvew1cxw9/hl2_2013_04_29_17_38_51_12.png[/IMG][/URL]

[URL="http://postimage.org/image/yj3ubsyah/"][IMG]http://s20.postimage.org/yj3ubsyah/hl2_2013_04_29_22_00_59_01.png[/IMG][/URL] [URL="http://postimage.org/image/t8yvkie1l/"][IMG]http://s20.postimage.org/t8yvkie1l/hl2_2013_04_29_22_00_47_15.png[/IMG][/URL] [URL="http://postimage.org/image/w4byrdi1l/"][IMG]http://s20.postimage.org/w4byrdi1l/hl2_2013_04_29_22_01_31_78.png[/IMG][/URL] [URL="http://postimage.org/image/hmerjdqqh/"][IMG]http://s20.postimage.org/hmerjdqqh/hl2_2013_04_29_22_01_56_50.png[/IMG][/URL]

[URL="http://postimage.org/image/gleiu99qx/"][IMG]http://s20.postimage.org/gleiu99qx/hl2_2013_05_23_20_31_54_51.png[/IMG][/URL] [URL="http://postimage.org/image/5abv5w2vt/"][IMG]http://s20.postimage.org/5abv5w2vt/hl2_2013_05_23_20_30_39_96.png[/IMG][/URL]

[Mozartkugeln]

You sure you got the scale right? The corridors seem a bit on the narrow side (especially in [URL=http://s23.postimg.org/rehvwqul3/hl2_2013_04_22_01_11_08_11.png]this screenshot[/URL]).

[Meekal]

Yeah, that did cross my mind but I thought it was just me. The corridor in my flat my is quite narrow anyway. I'll try increasing the width a bit to make it feel not so tight in-game.

[Meekal]

Here are some comparison photos. I've updated the map a little too.

[url=http://postimg.org/image/dti24r1hp/][img]http://s22.postimg.org/dti24r1hp/image.jpg[/img][/url] [url=http://postimg.org/image/u3887nc5p/][img]http://s22.postimg.org/u3887nc5p/image.png[/img][/url]

[url=http://postimg.org/image/j7lfq1glp/][img]http://s22.postimg.org/j7lfq1glp/image.jpg[/img][/url] [url=http://postimg.org/image/ylaizqs7h/][img]http://s22.postimg.org/ylaizqs7h/image.png[/img][/url]

[url=http://postimg.org/image/sgnm05php/][img]http://s22.postimg.org/sgnm05php/image.jpg[/img][/url] [url=http://postimg.org/image/69oz2p8b1/][img]http://s22.postimg.org/69oz2p8b1/image.png[/img][/url]

[url=http://postimg.org/image/6wsh5yukt/][img]http://s22.postimg.org/6wsh5yukt/image.jpg[/img][/url] [url=http://postimg.org/image/bdku4n8st/][img]http://s22.postimg.org/bdku4n8st/image.png[/img][/url]

[url=http://postimg.org/image/4gqns4ci5/][img]http://s22.postimg.org/4gqns4ci5/image.jpg[/img][/url] [url=http://postimg.org/image/6vijcjsr1/][img]http://s22.postimg.org/6vijcjsr1/image.png[/img][/url]

[Fartomatic]

The roof is much too shallow, in fact I think the building is too deep. bring the roof down and put the top floor rooms in there and make it less long. The general 'bulk' of the building is too big when looking at that pic. You've got a good start but you'll need to observe more the actual scale. It takes a while but you'll be seeing buildings irl in 16, 32 and 128s in no time.

[Meekal]

Originally it was not as deep, but when I was building the brushes for the flat I found it was far to shallow. If I reduce the depth I won't have enough room for my flat. When walking around it "feels" on scale, some areas do need some work. I think it's the angles I've taken the screenshots making it look more "deep". I will make a quick video so you can get a better idea of the scale.

I'm not sure what you mean by "you'll be seeing buildings irl in 16, 32 and 128s in no time"?

[editline]22nd April 2013[/editline]

Here is a video for a better idea of the scale.

[video=youtube;mmrAnC_f58o]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mmrAnC_f58o&feature=youtu.be[/video]

[Mozartkugeln]

It's a bit early to tell, but somehow your version doesn't match the original as well as it could.

[Meekal]

Yeah, it's in very early stages. This is only about 4/5 hours work. I think it's simple things like the height of the curb being to high can make things to out of proportion.

Any ideas from anyone who think things are out, let me know. I increased the width of the corridor, which was previously mentioned.

[Fartomatic]

By 16 32 128 I mean that's the units you want to be working in ideally. so when you see a picture try to think how many 16s fit into the wall between windows or how many fit into the window. Rule of thumb doors should normally be 56 wide with 16 on the part at the top, walls 128, windows depend on the type, so that may be adding the the width and depth. I don't think the building in the photo is as spacious as you think and I'm not sure the flats would have a single hallway, they may be open plan.

[nickster50]

If this is going to be just a house for the entire map maybe you make a town. Around it

[Meekal]

[QUOTE=Fartomatic;40380627]By 16 32 128 I mean that's the units you want to be working in ideally. so when you see a picture try to think how many 16s fit into the wall between windows or how many fit into the window. Rule of thumb doors should normally be 56 wide with 16 on the part at the top, walls 128, windows depend on the type, so that may be adding the the width and depth. I don't think the building in the photo is as spacious as you think and I'm not sure the flats would have a single hallway, they may be open plan.[/QUOTE]

Oh I see. Yeah I am aware of unit dimensions. All my doors adhere to the 56ux112u size. The windows are 64u high and 32u from the floor. Most of the map is actually using 8u(walls), 16u and 32u.

These flats are where I live. The flat that you can enter is my flat, it's laid out exactly like it is in real life. Sorry I keep calling it a flat, I can refer to it as an apartment if you'd like, lol.

[editline]22nd April 2013[/editline]

[QUOTE=nickster50;40380666]If this is going to be just a house for the entire map maybe you make a town. Around it[/QUOTE]

It's not a house, it's a block of flats. I will add all surrounding buildings, but you won't be able to reach them. Basically, anything I you "see" from the main building, car park and a few feet from the front of the building will be added.

[Meekal]

To give you a better idea of the surrounding area have a look at it on Google Maps. [URL]http://goo.gl/A1SMm[/URL]

I plan to allow the player to access the street about 5ft from the main building. I will block of the road with things like Road Closed signs or placement of cars.

[devastated]

It's hard to tell how it looks until textures come in; the dev textures make it seem spacious while the photos give a crowded, clutter feeling.

Although I would suggest to raise the ground/lower the sidewalk. In your photos the stairs are taller than the sidewalk and in your map the sidewalk comes out of the ground 16(?) units. Set it to 8 units high because right now it seems out of proportion. Besides that it looks good so far!

[Meekal]

Small update. I changed the angle of the roof, looks more like the real thing. Adding window details at the moment. I want an easy way to give the impression there is a room behind the window, for now I have just put some curtains. The lighting isn't great at the moment, I will do this towards the end. The interior shot is in the lounge.

[URL="http://postimg.org/image/5ktptaps5/"][IMG]http://s18.postimg.org/5ktptaps5/hl2_2013_04_25_20_57_52_17.png[/IMG][/URL] [URL="http://postimg.org/image/t0bmyn9j9/"][IMG]http://s18.postimg.org/t0bmyn9j9/hl2_2013_04_25_20_58_03_89.png[/IMG][/URL]

[URL="http://postimg.org/image/auyokla11/"][IMG]http://s18.postimg.org/auyokla11/hl2_2013_04_25_20_58_18_21.png[/IMG][/URL] [URL="http://postimg.org/image/irj5stlhh/"][IMG]http://s18.postimg.org/irj5stlhh/hl2_2013_04_25_20_58_25_75.png[/IMG][/URL]

[URL="http://postimg.org/image/imfej5e6d/"][IMG]http://s18.postimg.org/imfej5e6d/hl2_2013_04_25_20_58_53_58.png[/IMG][/URL]

Any idea how I fix the odd shadows under the doors?

[Fartomatic]

Glad to see you took my advice on the roof, it's a lot more impressive now! Not sure what you are referring to with the shadow, it looks like it's from the window to me unless I'm looking at the wrong thing.

[Meekal]

[QUOTE=Fartomatic;40422947]Glad to see you took my advice on the roof, it's a lot more impressive now! Not sure what you are referring to with the shadow, it looks like it's from the window to me unless I'm looking at the wrong thing.[/QUOTE]

Thank you. The shadows are at a weird angle when they are closed.

Update:

Started working on textures. The PC is just a func_physbox with custom textures, just wanted to see what it would come out like.

[url=http://postimg.org/image/t9r5zx5df/][img]http://s21.postimg.org/t9r5zx5df/hl2_2013_04_25_23_14_54_00.png[/img][/url] [url=http://postimg.org/image/pc3waiik3/][img]http://s21.postimg.org/pc3waiik3/hl2_2013_04_25_23_15_09_82.png[/img][/url] [url=http://postimg.org/image/q46k9pmr7/][img]http://s21.postimg.org/q46k9pmr7/hl2_2013_04_25_23_15_55_71.png[/img][/url]

[FunnyStarRunner]

For the roof, you should go with actual shingles instead of metallic ones. Left 4 Dead has some handy.

[Meekal]

[QUOTE=FunnyStarRunner;40424130]For the roof, you should go with actual shingles instead of metallic ones. Left 4 Dead has some handy.[/QUOTE]

I'm searching for more materials, I'm using that roof material for now as it's the closest I could find in the stock materials. I'll take a look through the L4D materials. Do they need porting or will they work as is?

[FunnyStarRunner]

[QUOTE=Meekal;40424195]I'm searching for more materials, I'm using that roof material for now as it's the closest I could find in the stock materials. I'll take a look through the L4D materials. Do they need porting or will they work as is?[/QUOTE]

They're fine as is.

[Meekal]

I've started applying materials now. Nearly all the materials will be custom.

[URL="http://postimg.org/image/xaerekzip/"][IMG]http://s24.postimg.org/xaerekzip/hl2_2013_04_29_17_36_27_37.png[/IMG][/URL] [URL="http://postimg.org/image/haw3v13gx/"][IMG]http://s24.postimg.org/haw3v13gx/hl2_2013_04_29_17_38_22_69.png[/IMG][/URL]

[URL="http://postimg.org/image/4m6ep3mq9/"][IMG]http://s24.postimg.org/4m6ep3mq9/hl2_2013_04_29_17_38_51_12.png[/IMG][/URL] [URL="http://postimg.org/image/p7l6h04b5/"][IMG]http://s24.postimg.org/p7l6h04b5/hl2_2013_04_29_17_39_18_64.png[/IMG][/URL]

I know the lighting isn't great yet.

More screenshots, with a few more updates. That's enough for this evening.

[URL="http://postimg.org/image/gq0ymmkb5/"][IMG]http://s8.postimg.org/gq0ymmkb5/hl2_2013_04_29_22_00_28_91.png[/IMG][/URL] [URL="http://postimg.org/image/8n2sbazpt/"][IMG]http://s8.postimg.org/8n2sbazpt/hl2_2013_04_29_22_00_47_15.png[/IMG][/URL] [URL="http://postimg.org/image/nryw8tnwx/"][IMG]http://s8.postimg.org/nryw8tnwx/hl2_2013_04_29_22_00_59_01.png[/IMG][/URL]

[URL="http://postimg.org/image/ryf5aey4x/"][IMG]http://s8.postimg.org/ryf5aey4x/hl2_2013_04_29_22_01_31_78.png[/IMG][/URL] [URL="http://postimg.org/image/q7w48xglt/"][IMG]http://s8.postimg.org/q7w48xglt/hl2_2013_04_29_22_01_56_50.png[/IMG][/URL] [URL="http://postimg.org/image/b34lp5hsh/"][IMG]http://s8.postimg.org/b34lp5hsh/hl2_2013_04_29_22_02_15_55.png[/IMG][/URL]

[Mozartkugeln]

That already looks much better compared to when I last saw it.

[Meekal]

[QUOTE=Mozartkugeln;40489253]That already looks much better compared to when I last saw it.[/QUOTE]

Thanks! I'm spending a lot of time working on custom textures for this. I've done quite a bit more since these. I will post updates when I feel it's worthy, I don't want to keep posting updates of small amount of work.

[Meekal]

Sorry for the lack of updates. Been working quite a bit, also working on another map for my server. I have started working on the surrounding buildings, I'm trying to keep them as close to the real thing as possible, without going over board.

[url=http://postimg.org/image/r25gvy4hz/][img]http://s23.postimg.org/r25gvy4hz/hl2_2013_05_23_20_30_39_96.png[/img][/url] [url=http://postimg.org/image/ukhgsc5dz/][img]http://s23.postimg.org/ukhgsc5dz/hl2_2013_05_23_20_31_54_51.png[/img][/url]

[Fartomatic]

Make sure you definitely put houses to the sides of the building as well even if it's in the skybox. The skybox will probably need changing too as it feels out of place. The building itself does still feel a little bigger than the original but it works. Otherwise your map seems to be coming together very nicely!

[Meekal]

[QUOTE=Fartomatic;40756266]Make sure you definitely put houses to the sides of the building as well even if it's in the skybox. The skybox will probably need changing too as it feels out of place. The building itself does still feel a little bigger than the original but it works. Otherwise your map seems to be coming together very nicely![/QUOTE]

Definitely. I've decided not to rush this. I'm going to replicate all the surrounding houses, and use a 3d sky for the distant details. I also plan to make this a night map, I like the atmosphere of night maps. I am also going to have random passing traffic in the road. May even have people walking past, like people coming out of the pub just down the road. I'm using this to help teach myself about more advanced stuff in hammer, rather than just slapping brushes everywhere and making them look pretty.

I quite frequently sit out in my balcony at night , it gives me inspiration. Such as sounds, I also notice smaller details like cats walking along walls. Is there any models of cats with bones that can be used as npcs? I know there is a rag doll one, but I would need it to be able to walk should I want to add this kind if detail.

[Fartomatic]

I would probably avoid doing the cat until you get more knowledge of hammer. From the sounds of it you're on the same track I was on with Shambles. Good to hear you're taking your time, this map is a learning tool, remember that.