The Eiffel Tower project - Introduction
I was fascinated by this tower since being a little child. But anyway - why should I create a virtual version? There are 3D models avaiable, some of them for free, some of them in really high quality...
It's simply the fun doing it. And the challenge handling a project that might turn out to be quite gigantic.
One problem concerning the Eiffel Tower is its filigree, almost transparent structure: if you don't want to place it in the midth of a great emptiness you'll have to include some surrounding, i.e. buildings, city houses, greenery... So right from the beginning I was aware that I would have to create parts of Paris - at least a low poly version. But I thought it might be interesting figuring out how detailed the scenery should be created to be half way convincing on one hand, but not stealing too much time.
For reference I bought a book by author Bertrand Lemoine including lots of historic photos and - most important - dozens of architectual and technical drawings, even including informations about basements and scaffolding. This brought me to the idea doing a scene entitled "The tower under construction" as well, with some renders showing the half-finished tower.
Furthermore the tower's appearance was modernized from time to time within the last century, and I decided to respect that as well:
Of course the general structure stays the same, but originally there have been some pavillons on the platforms which had been removed after some time. Honestly speaking I like the actual appearance more - fits to our modern times much better...
You might as well have a look at the old Palais du Trocadero being visible between the Tower's legs on the first photo. It doesn't exist anymore... I'll have a few words about it within the next postings.
Please allow me some few personal remarks:
a) I'm still working with Blender 2.79. Of course I should have switched to 2.8 inbetween, but honestly speaking I'm afraid about the changes. I have reached a certain virtuosity with the 2.79 keyboard shortcuts and mouseclicks - something that has completely changed for the new version. And I thought the project will be complex enough even without bothering me with a new fingering.
b) Generally I don't care about units. Living in Germany I'm a metrical guy, but I don't need to have the unit displayed in every situation. Normally it's 1 BU = 1 m to me, but this time I decided to do it in 1:10 to keep it operable.
I decided to simply start with the project and look where it's gonna lead me to... finally it's just for fun and practise.
Please feel invited to leave comments, ask questions, discuss my techniques... I'm really looking forward!
But I'll beg your pardon: This is not a tutorial, and I'm not a teacher. I presume some basic 3D knowledge as well as the willingness to watch Blender tutorials - as I did.
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