[WIP] Aircraft altimeter

nikita_nomad · Jun 30 2025

Hi community. I started to work on a simple asset for practise and to learn a few things here and there. The main goal for this project tho is to learn painter. So will eventialy texture it there. Refs below

Image: https://us.v-cdn.net/5021068/uploads/editor/bf/pgnd7evf2q3g.png

Image: https://us.v-cdn.net/5021068/uploads/editor/rt/sbawtne6zdn9.png

Image: https://us.v-cdn.net/5021068/uploads/editor/vd/xpp01tqt03w2.png

Here are some early stages as well. Thanks.

Image: https://us.v-cdn.net/5021068/uploads/editor/8p/k74euls36n7m.jpg

Image: https://us.v-cdn.net/5021068/uploads/editor/ey/o7conu7osyyc.jpg

nikita_nomad · Jul 1 2025

A bit more progress. Getting some details in.

Łukasz · Jul 7 2025

looks promising, it might be cool to have such edge damage on the edges of screws' drive recesses as well - where it could be damaged by screwdriver
In general if object is not supposed to look heavily worn I'd try to keep edgwear rather subtle and non-uniform - just accents here and there rather than along whole edges, looks quite nice so far

Image: https://us.v-cdn.net/5021068/uploads/editor/go/lp9oi9utjdtp.png

nikita_nomad · Jul 7 2025

Hi Lukasz, thanks for reply and actually great idea. I'll go back and sculpt bit more. In general this was meant to be a test project to learn painter and also learn workflow for high to low poly. Still learning, but really enjoying, although not easy to figure it out on my own

and I think I will go for a more old/worn asset rather then new looking

kosh3d · 8:16AM

@nikita_nomad very nice! Small projects like that are ideal for learning. I noticed that your model is missing the really big bevel on the back of the altimeter

Image: https://us.v-cdn.net/5021068/uploads/editor/84/1s2prg2stnvx.jpg

nikita_nomad · 11:50AM

Thanks, yeah, I've decided not to follow the reference that much, as it's really a practice piece. For me is more important to learn the workflow and steps. Actually can you guys advice if I'm doing it correct by creating a very low low poly?..or shoud I try to add more bevels to edges and a more consistent wires also..

Image: https://us.v-cdn.net/5021068/uploads/editor/li/q3t1m920lomi.png

Image: https://us.v-cdn.net/5021068/uploads/editor/ye/tjmz6m1e5y53.png

Image: https://us.v-cdn.net/5021068/uploads/editor/34/yipncwaefyqx.png

Image: https://us.v-cdn.net/5021068/uploads/editor/g0/q1t77o9l3bii.png

nikita_nomad · 11:52AM

I was watching a tutorial from one guy and he said it only makes sense to add geometry that adds to the silhoutte.. but the wireframe does feel overly simplified in that case...thanks

kosh3d · 3:53PM

nikita_nomad said:

I was watching a tutorial from one guy and he said it only makes sense to add geometry that adds to the silhoutte.. but the wireframe does feel overly simplified in that case...thanks

This is correct, lowpoly wireframes for games should be, well, lowpoly. There is no point in having edgeloops that add nothing to the mesh. I have a breakdown of one of my projects here on polycount where I go into detail what's important for a lowpoly, you can check it out here

Your lowpoly has a density mismatch between cylindrical shapes. The tiny cylinder in the center of the dial has almost the same amount of segments like your body cylinder, which does not make any sense. In the same key, the holes in the corners have only 8 sides which is very low and results in visible facetting. Same goes for the cylindrical shapes on the back as well. The "quadgrid" screws inside the dial are also way too highpoly. The strip on the back also seems to be super dense and could have been optimized a lot more.

Otherwise it looks pretty good!

[WIP] Aircraft altimeter

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