I have done the bulk of the unwrapping on the stunprod today as well as some face normal cleanup (I just cannot get over how good models tend to look after I’ve done this) especially around those 45° bevels I have everywhere.

A lot of parts are going to share textures, and I’ve purposely gone for a relatively “flat” kind of unwrap to ensure that I can keep texture distortion around labels minimal.

One of the “doors” on the front I cannot mirror or even reuse because of where I’ve placed the little round LED, so I’m wondering if I should add some unique markings on those for the front and the back side of the stun prod, or if I should tweak the model to make it share texture too.

Yesterday I had some trouble putting my head into “work” mode, so here is some cool sci-fi door for the prison “map” project instead.

I was sick, so this is all the progress I could get done on the stun prod for today’s update.

The Low-poly model is more or less complete, but it still needs unwrapping. On more practical things… I was hoping that PBR would finally be available on Firestorm, but  still nothing.

I was hoping to move towards PBR-only product in 2024… Can we ever have nice things?

I’ve pulled back the stun prod rubberized grip a few centimeters because the buttons looked a bit weird with it. That also allows me to use the gray markings on the handle as a logical stop point.

I’ve also added a better (grippy) trigger and an on/off slide switch on the other side.

The free space is just enough to put the S-23 logo… It looks a bit complex for such a small decal, maybe there is a simplified version I can use?

The low-poly model is progressing well, I have my doubts here and there on where to use unconnected detail pieces and the “square thing” on the front should merely be normal-mapped or not. About 3000 triangles so far, a bit much if you ask me.

I ended up scrapping the huge LED array in favor of something a bit closer to the original stun prod from Signalis. I should be able to get by with only 3 LEDs for the “charge” indicator and a single LED to indicate empty (blinking red?) and recharging (amber?).

This is a bit reminiscent of a cheap Russian dosimeter I bought a few years back, it fits the vibe. Scratched up the painted details, to give it a bit more character.

I also made the instructions face the user, while the warning label faces towards the “enemy” 😛

I started working on a little stun prod to add to my list of “impact” toys.

It is meant to be a breath of fresh air from the latex maid dress, and an occasion to indulge in something a little easier for a few days. I originally had a spiked guard, and while I’m keeping the idea for a variant, it really makes it look like some kind of space marine weapon. Not quite what I’m going for here.

Currently trying to use Krita to draw texture masks, and it is a struggle… especially with the vector  shape tools. Maybe I’ll get used to it.

2023 is almost over and as usual, I’m late on all my projects… Oh well, what else is new?

I will be away tomorrow to spend a couple of days with my family. I already want to return to all my friends as quickly as possible, and I’m not even gone yet.

See you soon and happy holidays everyone.

Some good and somewhat unexpected additions to the maid dress today:

• Fixed the front of the skirt, it separates from the legs a bit more now.
• Finished up the corset lacing, the bow specifically.
• I’ve redone all the pleats and trims to be more consistent, with some variations too and made sure they all fold with the right side out.
• Built a bib for the tea apron, it looks pretty good, but it doesn’t work well combined with the tie at the moment.

Those black trims on the apron are just great.

Steady progress on the maid dress over the past two days, I’ve redone the back of the corset once more, tightened it and made all the trims a bit more even. I also got in a few attempts at making the tea apron which I think really “ties” the outfit together (no put intended).

I did try a 4-hook version of the corset, but 3 appears to be plenty.

I might just reuse the lace knot I made a long time ago for the corseted suit because I had another look at it, and I’m not re-making one of these from scratch, absolutely not.

The skirt needs a bit of reshaping in the front in order to move it away from the body and legs, a lot of parts still need to be creased up, and the apron is going to need a nice fancy bow…

Debating on whether I should start on the alternate pieces (sleeves, bib apron, a longer skirt?) after I’m done with this variant or if I should get onto the low-polygon model and discover whatever problems this outfit may have, right away.

Back to work on the latex maid dress.

I had an attempt at trying to get fuller folds in the skirt until I eventually realized that what I was trying to do didn’t look that good. Sometimes the first attempt is the best one you’ll get I suppose.

Shape wise, the skirt still need some tweaking and, maybe more volume? I’m always a bit wary with skirts, they tend to clip through the legs or the butt really easily if I don’t give them enough room, and this one is short enough that I’d rather not end up hiding the body under it, if I can.

I’ve added the rear zip, nothing really special there, it looks just like the front one.

The corset is in a very good place at this point, I’ve refined it a lot and added boning, edge piping, paneling and a first attempt at lacing it. I don’t really want to have fully modeled laces, and with those flat ones, I might be able to get away with a normal-mapped flat polygon strip. I’m not 100% sure there. There is also enough space on the front to have two corset bones really, it looks a bit bare compared to the backside.

Next step is going to be the apron I assume, before tying up the corset, I need to check how the apron’s is going to fill the space.

With all the detailing on the sleeves, corset and skirt, the top is starting to look a bit bare. I’ve added a decorative groove into the tie, I still want it to be a little leather “strap” but it doesn’t look quite like that yet.

I wish I had been more present for You.
By the time it was too late there was no way to really exchange any last words, or wrap up any loose ends.
But at the same time, I don’t know if you can just “conclude” a relationship with someone who pretty much raised you alongside of your parents, just like that, with a few good words and kind gestures.
I’m also not sure if You’d have cared to listen anyway.
I feel awful because part of me is relieved that this is all over: fewer obligations, less guilt, less pain of seeing you slowly but surely going away. I also feel awful because I do not feel as sad as I thought I should be.
Furthermore, I know that I’ve seen much worse departures before, but this is fresh, raw and new. I know this, and I know it will take time.
I don’t believe in god, but I know you did, I guess you’re all reunited together now, we tried to accommodate with your (somewhat) conflicting desires on how to handle your funerals, I hope we made the right choice, but it also feels like we leaned on what was the most “convenient” option.
This clumsy goodbye will never reach you, and I’m writing it more for myself and who care to join my little pity party than anything else.

The past week has been both easy, and difficult mentally…

I’ve been extremely restless, and haven’t really done anything of value, I feel “fine” 99% of the time, but I am having a really hard time focusing on creative work.

It is already mid-December and things are only going to get busier from this point, but I’ll do my best to show some progress on current projects.