3DVIA®

Michael Petersen is better known to 3DVIA visitors as smike. He is a regular in the weekly 3DVIA Top 10 list and tops the list of users with 234 models in his 3DVIA collection. Smike started both the 3D People Character Figures and Ships – Boats – Vessels groups and, just recently, also started the Squirrels group to add another gathering spot for 3DVIA humor. He is always quick to compliment and make helpful comments on other users’ models.

When the “Squirrel Wars” became a bit fierce (as in his own model of “Squirrels Attack Squadron 21″), smike reminded us not to take the whole thing too seriously with “Squirrels Enjoying Watersports”.

Smike’s fertile imagination keeps him busy and his model subjects range widely; from Babylon 5 spaceships to aircraft carriers, bicycles and Batman! His attention to detail is amazing.

Here’s what Michael/smike has to say about himself and his development into an accomplished 3D artist:

I live in Copenhagen, Denmark, in a troubled neighborhood called Nørrebro. Right now we have a gang war going on with the Hells Angels against gangs of kids formed by immigrants to Denmark. I live alone with my dog and my son when he visits for a weekend every two weeks. I grew up as the black sheep of the family, but in 1979 I bought a Commodore 64 computer and got interested in programming.

OK, in the beginning I was hooked on cracking games, since it was fun. Then I started making my own games, databases and small utilities and became totally interested in the world of computers.

In 1980 I got a job at a computer firm building computers out of imported parts from Taiwan. This changed my life totally and I loved working with computers. I was self-taught and the only one in the workshop without a computer technology education. I was surprised to learn that I knew more about computers than the others. A year and a half later I was the leader of the workshop with 10 technicians under me.

My main task became computer repairs and setting up computer networks at schools, universities and private companies. I worked there for 10 years until the firm broke up and I changed to a new company that specialized in computer repairs and error finding.

Three years ago I became sick with blood flow problems in my legs and have been on sick leave since then. I am still called out on jobs to solve problems in network systems and install new ones. I also do a lot of computer repairs from my home for people I have worked with in the past.

Because of the problems with my legs, I suddenly had a lot of spare time at home and started learning to program in html, Java and JavaScript to make my own web site. Now I also make web sites for small firms and private individuals.

Q1: How did you first become interested in 3D modeling?

I first learned about 3D models while making the home page for my web site B5-Complitia – Babylon 5 Universe Guide and working on the spaceship/vehicle section. I searched the internet for info and pictures about Babylon 5 and found a web site called Celestia, a great site with free 3D models. There I found a lot of 3D models of Babylon 5 items/vehicles and that made me interested in learning more about 3D models.

My first 3D models were used to make pictures and gif animations for my site, which helped me learn about converting files into formats that I could use. (I also made sure to contact the 3D artist who made the models to get permission to use them.) Only 25 out of about 140 spaceships seen in Babylon 5 were available as 3D models, so I began thinking of making them myself.

I tried several 3D programs like Lightwave 3D and Blender; but must admit that they were confusing, difficult to use and it took forever to make a model. In June of 2008, I downloaded the free version of Google’s SketchUp and tried some of the available tutorials. I was hooked – mostly because it was so easy to learn and has a lot of great help/information materials. I later bought the SketchUp Pro version and use it to make all of my 3D models.

Q2: What type of 3D models do you do?

I am interested in all types of 3D modeling, which can be seen in my models. I started out making models of Babylon 5 spaceships for my site and have made around 60-65 vehicles.

I then got interested in making character/people models and other things like my bicycle, cranes, aircraft carriers and other vessels.

I want to note that even though other 3D artists say it is important to have 2D  drawing skills to make good 3D models; I believe this is not true, since I have to admit that I have no 2D drawing skills at all. Somehow, it is different drawing in 3D where the objects have a natural depth, unlike 2D drawings where you have to create the illusion of depth. For me, it is like working with blocks of clay that I shape into the object I want. Many times I have to delete it all and make a new one until I am satisfied.

I also want to mention a few valuable things about SketchUp. It has a great option called Components. Once you define an object/item as a Component you can save in a Component Library. So every time I make an item like a wheel; I can reuse it easily in a new model and, if needed, change it to fit the new model, which saves a lot of time.

Components have two other great features. First is that when you make a copy of a Component then make changes to that Component, all the copies are changed too. The second feature is unique to SketchUp and only works with the skp format. Copies of the first Component don’t add to the file size, since SketchUp only saves the data for the first Component, which is then used for all the copies.

This can make a SketchUp model file size incredibly small, which can be seen in my model of the U.S.S. Langley CV-1 aircraft carrier [shown below]. The entire model is only 2MB as a skp file. When I convert the same file into the 3ds format, all of the Components must be converted and the model size goes up to 9MB.

Q3: How much time do you spend, on average, on one particular model?

That is hard to say, since I usually work on 3-5 different models at a time and change between them depending on what I feel like doing at the time. It also depends on the complexity of the model and the amount of detail I want to add – plus how interesting the model is to me.

Q4: What additional software do you use to create your images?

I use PaintShop Pro in all my work with 2D images. I use 3D Photo Browser to view and organize all my images and 3D models, except for skp files, which it cannot show.

My main and most important tool is the file manager program Total Commander, which I use for everything having to do with my computer files and disk drives.

Q5: What are your tips for staying focused on a big project?

I love making large complex models and have no trouble staying focused while working on them, but I must admit that I have many models that which have been started, but not yet finished.

Q6: What is your work day like?

It depends on my legs; but one thing that is the same every day, no matter what, is to go out with my dog. Mostly I work on making web pages for other people.

Q7: Where do you go (web sites, museums, race tracks, anywhere) for help, tips and inspiration?

This is my biggest problem with making 3D models…what to make a model of. Since Denmark is a small country we don’t have so many interesting subjects to see. I use the internet as my main source of material.

I prefer making models of subjects that have not been made before and avoid items like furniture, since they are made in the thousands by other artists. I love great new designs and concepts plus strange machines or vessels not familiar to or seen by most people. Even more exciting is when I get an idea of my own and can design something using my imagination.

Future Ocean House Concept is a good example of smike putting his imagination to work!

Q8: What part of 3D modeling do you find most rewarding?

That is difficult to say, since many times I feel sad when I have finished a model and realize that there is nothing more to add. But there is a feeling of satisfaction from looking at the model and knowing that I made it. And it does feel great when a model gets a variety of responses and becomes the subject for discussion.

Q9: Just for fun, what is your favorite game? movie? comic book?

I am not a big gamer, but for me, good old DOOM was a great game. My favorite movie is hard, I am totally a Sci-Fi and Fantasy fan and devoted to series like Star Trek and Babylon 5, which can be seen on my site where I have made the biggest and most detailed guide/dictionary on the internet about Babylon 5.

I also love to read books like Rendezvous with Rama written by Arthur C. Clarke. The Dune trilogy written by Frank Herbert has meant a lot to me.

I love comics and have collected them since I was little and have a nice collection now. I am a devoted fan of Spiderman, the X-Men, Spawn and many more.

smike has compiled the most complete lineup of Batmobiles that I’ve ever seen!

Q10: What is your favorite subject other than 3D modeling?

For me, computer programming has always been my favorite since I first learned the language BASIC in 1979. I mostly use BASIC for private projects, since it has turned out that I have a special talent for computer repairs and error finding, which has been my main work since 1980.

For 3-4 years I got interested in html, Java and JavaScript and used my Babylon 5 site as a work project to try it out. I then starting making home pages for other people which I still do with most of my time.

Thanks smike! Now we all know a little more about you, and how and why you make your great 3D models. I hope visitors to 3DVIA will take some time to explore more of your models on their own, because there is no way that I can do justice to the amazing wealth of subjects that you cover. I’m looking forward to your next 200 models!