I personally would not use it. I can absolutely appreciate the effort though, some aspects of it are just not copacetic. The grads are too heavy to my eyes, 2D is a little rough.
Also, I know I mentioned this subject nd you stated your feelings on it pretty clearly, but that plane needs to be given more love. It's a kick ass basic shape, but it's so rough right now. I know you're designing something that's going to be built, but why not approach it from that angle? Your wings for example, they're rectangular in cross section, that makes it look very unbelievable and crude. Getting the basic shape of a model is the easy part, it's the details you add that make it alive.
It's really easy to find a cross section of an airfoil, copy it as best you can by using a spline and extruding it.
I'm not saying that's a perfect example at all. It could use work. But imagine that model with basically flattened boxes for wings. It would detract from it massively.
I say don't sub it yet, go back and go over it, replacing parts as need to make it more detailed and believable, you can only learn more and have a better looking wall in the end, and that's def. a win-win situation for you.
Max - no problem making things lighter or darker. That's easy enough.
Colossus - That model is awesome. The difference between that one and mine (aside from how good it is) is that your model is really the only piece in your image, and mine is only a part of the image. Granted, it's a big part, but it's not good enough to be the center of attention. I'm willing to try to work with the model more, but I'm not sure how far I'll get. I'd have to redo the wings - and as far as adding some curvature - which they definitely need - I'm not sure how to go about doing that. This is the sort of thing that helps me learn, though, and I think it'll be good.
OK, I re-worked the model a little. I made the intakes a good bit thinner, as they looked too boxy before. I re-did all the wings, fins and canards with extruded splines so they look much more realistic. I also added a bit of lighting, just to accentuate the depth of the model.
I haven't been able to put a material on the wings, though. Typically, I would convert the wings to NURBS so they can handle the material, but that's too intensive and 3DS just basically hangs. Is there another way to make those shapes handle materials? I'm still learning, and it seems to me like a poly or a patch can't handle it. It does take on the basic color, but not the texture.
That's the new model with the textures, and I got rid of the other grid and changed the alpha balance of the overall image. I also tried to make the top and bottom 2D more subdued and softer.
Great. Now I need a name for it. I can never name the damn things. Then again, that's what half price pitchers are for. Come midnight, I'll have a name for it.
Colossus - I should mention you're like a resident coach here. You've really helped me improve, because you hold me to your standards and you don't hold back. I respect that you don't take a condescending approach and instead offer real advice.
Come to think of it, it's odd using the message boards for their actual intended purpose.
Try using a stock photo for the bg, a nice high res fluffy clouds over water high altitiude sort of look and hit it (the (model) with g.i. or maybe a sunlight system. (Use advanced lighting!)
Maybe take down the specularity/reflect on your mats as well. Military hardware isn't reflective. In fact, I think the plane would be better with a duller all over dark gray, with rivited seams spaced across it in appropiate place. Easy enough to whip whip up using texporter.
Let the scene depend on the model, it's decent enough at this point, and the 2d you have on there isn't making it any better. You just need a better render and some "Wow" lighting.
Rarely if ever satisfied. I'm much more satisfied with the model than I am with the background. I may try a less complex panel texture on there.
I think finding a good stock photo of that would be tough. I like the open water and sky idea, kinda like the dogfight in Top Gun. I also like the training scene from Top Gun where they are over the mountains and Goose dies.
