Brief

My aim for this project is to re-create three vehicles. The vehicles I am going to study and horseboxes from the early 50's to 80's. The main brand of horseboxes that I have been looking at are from the Bedford TK series and the Oakley series. These both have interesting features containing wood materials.

I aim to re-create these to what they would of looked like. My main focus is the vehicles and to help that I will be creating a scene in which they suit, for example; Stable-yard, Open garage or courtyards.

I am to create a realistic environment in which you would fine these vehicles. I want to successfully create the environment to set a mood and feel for the history of these vehicles, as they were a much needed vehicle to many equestrians.


Specification;

Engine; Unreal Development Kit
Software used; 3DS Max, Adobe Photoshop, Zbrush, nDo2

After looking over many different types and styles of wooden horseboxes, I have chosen the make of the vehicles I would like to study and re-create for my project.

The Bedford TK horse box is known for the wooden style and the large chunkiness. I have chosen these because of that and also the nice curves and styled detail on the front cabs. 

Bedford Horsebox

Winterbourne Horsebox

http://www.winterbornehorsebox.co.uk/usedboxesforsale.htm

http://www.jswhorseboxes.co.uk/

After realising that I really enjoy vehicle design and looking back over two years of uni, finding out that my strongest project contains vehicles, this seemed like a logical focal point.

During the summer I learnt to horse ride, it has always been something I have wanted to pursue and I finally plucked up the courage to do so. After finding a passion for something it's not that easy to forget. And what better way to help me push myself through my FMP but to add something that I love. Mixing the two subjects together seems like a good thing to do as I think it will keep me focused and interested throughout the project. (fingers crossed)

Vehicle design;

To create three horseboxes from a style such as;

Oakley Horseboxes
Bedford Horseboxes
Winterbourne Horseboxes

These companies have a very similar style to there horseboxes and it is something that I would like to model and re-create. I find that it is the materials used that attracts me the most towards them.
For the three vehicles I would want them to be set within an environment such as a British country state home.

With research of horseboxes I can easily attain first hand resources as I work on a livery yard and also know some people with many different types of trailers and horseboxes. This is a huge advantage on this idea as I would be able to go back and forth if I need to look at something with more detail.

Ideas for my project haven't been going so well. There is just too many ideas that seem to run away with each other and I think I would end up over complicating everything. That is one of my main concerns about freedom in projects, over-thinking.

So I have a couple of ideas that have to good base volume to them, starting with;

(Google images)

Idea 1a and 1b
Character and Environment Design


This entire idea could easily be split into two separate projects in which one would show character design and the other would be environment design. This idea seems fun but alot of work for the time I have been given.

When I was young my favorite story was 'Goldilocks and the Three Bears'. Using this as a guideline, I want to re-create the main characters the way I would like to see them;

The scene for 'Goldilocks and the Three Bears' would be in an outback pine forest with mountains, e.g; the rockies, Alberta, Canada. Living in a wooden cabin with individual cabins attached depending on the size of each character; Big, Medium and Small.
To create the brothers, I still want them to come across as bears, I would design them as hunters, this way I would use bear furs as clothing such as gloves, cloaks and equipment. Hunters are sometimes seen as viscous with animal instincts, I am trying to keep a strong link between the three brothers and bears.

Goldilocks is the youngest of the four siblings. Each of the 'bears' is an older brother;

Big bear;
Oldest brother, giant like.
muscular but not exactly the most intelligent.
Doesn't always know what to do with his feet and always breaking things because of his huge size.

Medium bear;
The second oldest brother. He has the brains of the family alongside Goldilocks.
Average height and build but that doesn't matter when you have the brains.

Little bear;
Even though he is not the youngest, because of his size everyone treats him like the baby.
Always trying to be seen as older than he is and trying to have an input. Nothing ever works for him or goes his way.
Small and stumpy, looks of an overweight child aged 7-8yrs old.

(images from the internet, general idea of the brothers)

Goldilocks;
Smart just like her second oldest brother but has in a way street smart.
Very slender but muscular, so wouldn't take her as a 'girly girl'
Knows how to live in the wild, perfect survival skills.


For this idea I would focus on the environment but concept the characters to give a full story. I am not at all confident with character design and find it my most weakest point.

I have been given the task to create something. Something that will probably make me miserable and grumpy for a good 6 months, FMP. That much hated abbreviation called Final Major Project.

A Final Major Project is self explanatory really but I'll explain anyways. A Final Major Project is a project which is usual given to a student for their final moment in which to shine at the end of a university course. You are basically left by your lonesome in the real world to create a project to show how much you have learned through out the years of being at university (in my case). At the beginning or before even starting it, you might feel happy and excited about all that freedom you are given in which to make what ever you like. But when you start to think and contemplate about what you could actually design/make it gets all very over whelming. Well for me it has. 

Already. 

It's just that thinking of something amazing to do. That something that no one has thought of before. That wow factor. 

That really isn't going to happen. 

I am going to take the steady approach and look at what I have enjoyed over the years I have spent at university and what I considered a good project.