Final Video

This is the final video containing our work as a group:



Tom

Final group meeting

The final group meeting was on 7th December, where it was decided we would present in the following order:

1. Kevin, introduction and name of engine
*show video*
2. Teresa, detail about history of engine
3. Tom, environment and the machine's purpose
4. Dan, recovery of machine; reason for choice; target audience of video

We rehearsed the presentation and realised cue cards would help enormously. Also, we decided to have the following video in the background after the main video has been shown:



Tom

Meetings

completed model

The modeling has now been finished, we all did a part of the model as discussed in the previous meetings. We needed to get the modeling done as quick as possible, so we all took our pieces and then came together in the lesson and made them all fit together.

Fitting all the pieces together was a hard job, as we had all worked off different of images as references. This meant in some areas the scale was different, and needed changing to accomplice everything. But we managed to get it all together and looking pretty much exact to the real life model.

















I have created a colored diagram of the new model, to show what work was completed each member. We had originally only spoken about what parts we would do and a simple image was used to explain what each member was making.

Problems that Occurred

But due to there being so many small pieces to the model, some parts were made doubled. This meant that some of the group members had wasted time making parts that had already been done, which was due to the break down in communication. But luckily in the end we managed to use this to our advantage using the best bits from different versions and bringing them together to make the model really look its best.

Overall

We all completed the parts that we had decided on to the best of our ability, I think that the model is looking brilliant. We are all really happy with the end result, it will look even better once it has been put into the environment that Tom has made, which he will be blogging about shortly.

There is still allot of work to do, in the weeks to come:

Myself helping out with anything that encounters problems, due to the amount of modeling I completed we wanted to ensure the rest of the work was spread evenly.
Tom will be creating the textures for the model
Teresa will be writing and recoding a voice over for the video
Kevin will be: animating the model, using cameras to film the video, taking the rendered video and using editing software to add the voice over and sounds to create the finished clip.


We will all then be working on the presentation for clients we will be presenting too, making the power point, writing scripts. Also rehearsing a few times to ensure that we have it down to a tea.

Started the Main Modelling

As we were having problems with finding out the correct place, I wanted to make sure that we started to get the model itself up and running.










I have started the modeling on the main part for the Joseph Evans Reliable Steam Pump. I have used the images that Teresa collected that were taken by the museum staff. They were allot clearer and taken from the correct angles to enable modeling.

I have explained the detailed process of modeling on my personal blog:
http://dreevevirtualenviromentsgroupwork.blogspot.com/

But for the purpose of the group blog I have uploaded the finished Image:



As you can see I have done the main part of the rig that was given to me when we as a group distributed the work, I have also created most of the main base, which is missing details but will be added soon.

"Teresa I have done the front part of the base so you don't need to make that, if you do the bits that we decided on and send it to me I can add it to the model." Then again that applies to all the group members if you want to send me the work I can put it on it, or if you would like a copy of my version then that is also possible.

I have tried to make sure that all the details are correct to the real model, I spent allot of time looking at loads of photos for reference and watching the videos to make sure the moment would be achievable with the models design.

Images of the brick houses at the tar distilleries

These are images I retrieved from tar distilleries one of which is from a tar distillary in Wales at Carphilly (sorry spelling will be corrected) in Wales. I have found some exciting results to do with reliable steam pumps and will post it on the blog later.

I really feel that the group needs to meet and discuss the exact animation and cross sections.


Tom I hope these images go well for your environment. Today is my last day of research and tommorrow I will start modelling.

Dairy Products Steam House




Thomas ness tar distillation works - Note the lagging this was necessary to stop the tar from freezing.



Tar Distillation Plant



Today I have received the information on how the tar was collected. I will post as soon as I have digested the content.

Teresa

Very early factory

This is a very early version of the factory environment so far to show the floor, ceiling and wall textures I have created. All the features still need to be added and the lighting is just a suggestion of how windows can be used to create dramatic shadows.

Tom

Initial Presentation

It was essential to create a presentation to allow people to understand how our project was working, both in how we were approaching the design, and also as to how we would be delegating tasks. The slides that were used in the presentation and a summary of each one, and what was mentioned to the audience follow:





It was important to start by presenting what tasks we had acocmplished over the previous weeks.





It was then important to present our work flow, and how we were splitting tasks


Next we showed the audience what machinary we were modelling, as well as explaining why we came to the decision accompnied with a little information about the machine itself.



Finally, we showed a few extra images of the machine - Two photographs of the model, and a sketch diagram of the model.

Some Backgound Sketches

We have now started to progress on the group work, looking at the minutes that Tom has shown from the meeting. I wanted to come up with some Visual Aids and a quick few notes to talk about the work that I had been assigned.

I am making the main elements to the machine, but using other group members for assistance and helping out with there assign tasks. The reason for this is because we feel a group can work better when the work is passed around and help is given when it is needed (Such as when problems occur).

We have decided that we are going to be using a PowerPoint Presentation to show to the class on Friday, which will more than likely be uploaded to here after it has been shown.

Making things Simple











As I am making the main part of the machine, I have mocked up a quick and simple design to show how the elements should be broken down. Each piece will need to be made at a time, so I needed to start looking at how the overall.

This is going to be really challenging as there are so many moving parts within the machine. I will do the best I can but will look to the other members in my group for support and I feel we can produce a brilliant looking model.

Daniel

Videos and Pictures of the Joseph Evans Steam Pump

The Governor

I am interested in the “Governor” it is a device which was common on some steam engines
Controls the speed of the engine as the engine speeds up the balls are thrown out by the centrifugal force and as it slows they drop back in. This movement is used to automatically adjust the throttle, so that the engine is kept running at a constant speed.

Joseph Evans Reliable Steam Pump

Reliable horizontal 4x2x4, No.26900, 1929
Size: 4" steam cylinder, 2" pumping cylinder with 4" stroke and 24" diameter flywheel, double acting.
Woodall Duckham Ltd, purchased this pump in 1929 for the new Bedwas coke works, Trethomas Monmouthshire and used it for internal transfers and the loading of crude tar into road and rail vehicles. From 1939 when Caerphilly Tar Plant opened, Bedwas tar was sent to Caerphilly for distilling.
Bedwas coke works closed on 23 December 1986 and this pump was purchased for £10 from the demolition contractors in March 1987. Upon stripping it was found to be well worn, and the valve rod in the steam chest had been eroded to half its original thickness, due to the action of wet steam impingement. A replacement rod has been manufactured and many other parts have been replaced with original spares obtained from the stores at Caerphilly upon closure.
The pump is complete, in working order, and runs well on compressed air. It is the smallest of the" Reliable" steam pumps manufactured by Evans being of 4" stroke, other pumps in the series were manufactured with either 6", 9" or 12" stroke. This particular pump is not fitted with a reversible eccentric.
This pump is presently on display at the Museum of Power, Langford, Maldon, Essex and regularly runs on air.

I hope this is of help to you guys, heaps more but too many to put on the blog. I will give you my pen on Friday.

Teresa

Virtual Environment Design

Below is my design for the environment the steam engine could be placed in:




















Tom

Group Meeting - 23/10

The group meeting today will allow us to progress with the project as we achieved the following:

- We decided to model a Joseph Evans Reliable Steam Engine (pics and info can be found here http://www.steampumps.net/JosephEvansReliable.html).

- It was decided that we would each be responsible for a part of project but if any one of us struggles, we can share the workload.

- I will be designing, modelling and texturing the main environment the machine will be in- probably a factory of some sort similar to the museum.
- Teresa will be building the governor on the engine.
- Dan will be mainly building the mechanicals of the engine, however we will divide the model up and work on different parts each.
- Kevin will storyboard the animation, design and add lighting, and animate the scene.

- We also discussed the presentation on Friday. Although I will not be present for this due to prior arrangements, as a group we feel there is enough to talk about as we know what we are doing, who is doing it and how we will present the product.

- Within the next week, we are all going to research the steam engine, prepare for the presentation, and I will begin designing the environment.

Tom

Minutes from meeting 5th October

Minutes from meeting
- We arranged a group meeting for Monday October 5th at 10 AM
- All group members attended this meeting
- We discussed what we believe would be the best way to approach the task in hand
- We discussed what pictures we liked from the collection that we had taken
- We discussed what we could do for each picture that we liked and then narrowed it down working out whether it would be too much work, too little work, or just not within our knowledge of 3dsMax
- We also discussed how best to share work among each other, decision to use Dropbox was made
- Another visit to the museum was discussed, and the time allowing we will hopefully revisit
- The machine that we decided we would most likely be modelling is the "reliable steam engine"