(Yes I did model an entire couch for this intro scene alone. My mental state is FINE.)
I've created a total of four full models for this set in what is definitely my BIGGEST 3D project to date!
Once again there is so much stuff that I've put it under read more (emphasizing. there is four different models) but I very much encourage you to keep reading if you're interested whatsoever!!!!
This also marks over 6 months of learning Blender plus 5 months since I did the original Record Deal models so I'll ramble about that near the end.
Reblogs and comments are VERY appreciated!!! MORESO WITH THIS PROJECT!!!!!!
Now onto the actual models...
(In order: Danny, Zoe, Kat, Jeanie)
TURNAROUNDS! In the time since the first models I figured out how to make them spin individually (thankfully without clipping... I think).
(Click for higher quality)
By far my favorite part of all of these models was the hair!!! I think I've improved so much with it. I've also managed to simplify the process which makes it actually enjoyable!
If I had to choose a favorite it would probably be Jeanie's.
They also have a lot more detail than initially planned but I think it works for these four. It was a bit limited due to how the UV maps were set up but like. Look at this. THEY HAVE CHARACTER!!!
Next up: The faces!!!
Once again using the 'transparent plane shrinkwrapped onto the face and connected to the rig' method (what a mouthful). It's also how I achieved Jeanie's eyes!
I do however need to add more faces to Zoe in the future. (although the current ones may be the exact same faces from her original model?)
Now we have the BAND PHOTOSHOOT!!!!!!!!
Something I did not expect from this project was how much I enjoyed using the camera and setting up shots... now that I actually have a better idea of what to do with it.
And also making these guys interact with each other is SO MUCH FUN. Probably my favorite thing to do after the modeling.
If I do any other big projects expect to see more photo shoots in the future.....
As much as I enjoyed working with these models, though, I also ran into problems. Quite a few problems. Though they (THANKFULLY) didn't have to do with the modeling process itself nor with anything major.
For one, the scale was a bit off between the models- particularly with Zoe. While it isn't to the point where it's unrealistic she does look a bit off in some scenes (I actually had to scale her up and Danny down in some shots lol).
Additionally! Mirroring auto IK does not work at ALL for these models!! Which makes certain poses take forever to do!!!!! but i mean auto IK kinda sucked beforehand so
I also had a weird issue where moving specific bones and going in and out of edit mode would move it WAY off (though manually adding keyframes beforehand did fix this).
That's about all I have to say about the models themselves!!! Now onto the sappier stuff.
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If you recall, this is not actually my first time modeling the Record Deal gang. They actually used to look like this:
Back in September 2025... Almost 6 months ago.
(there's a version of this where Zoe's eyes are slightly too close together. creepy.)
There are a few differences between this and the new ones. These ones were low poly and also not rigged at all besides the faces. Though this older Danny actually had separate eyebrows since I didn't feel like doing it for the new one lol
Additionally: Jeanie is NOT in this version. I decided to revamp him specifically for the new showcase!!!
And these were my first SERIOUS human models!!! (there's Wendell but that one was more of a test) I ACTUALLY USED A TUTORIAL FOR THEM!!!!
But the weirdest part? When I first made these, they took about a week each.
With the new showcase I managed to make FOUR models (and a couch) in that same amount of time. It's insane what a few months of practicing actually does.
I've also involved into my own unique (and higher poly) style since which I prefer a lot more.
I also can't believe I'm saying this but... I actually kinda love Blender now. Despite it's very very large amount of issues it actually IS a learning curve. And I think I've managed to cross the hardest part.
For now.
Because there's a million more things to learn about Blender -and 3D modeling itself- that I haven't even come close to. And then my models may take a while again.
But if I do choose to stick with it I'll eventually get better. Stuff may be more "time-consuming" but it's better that than not knowing what I'm doing.
And y'know why?
Practice. I said it before but practice helps. A LOT.
Figuring out the basics and running with them pays off a lot in the long run. And applying this stuff to things you enjoy (say, making characters) can be super fun too!!! unlike making a donut
If I would've told myself in March 2024 that I would get to making actually decent models -fully rigged, no less- back when I couldn't even sculpt right, I would probably say... "How did you travel back in time".
I also probably wouldn't believe that.
But here I am! Two years on and off (and a concerning amount of tears) later, and I can actually do something kind of cool.
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That's all I have to say about the models!!! My WORD that's a lot of text
To sum up the emotional parts I am SO happy I've made it this far. I guess this showcase can be considered a milestone!!! Almost two years of 3d modeling and half a year of sitting down to learn it... crazy.
So what am I going to do now...?
probably not work on any big projects for a minute I am SO tired
((On a serious note: if you read ALL of this and enjoyed it even a little: a reblog or comment would help A TON. I've been working on this for about 40-50 hours over the past five days... plus the hours spent on this post itself. It's been a LOT of effort... even for me.
This is also way bigger than my projects so knowing you enjoyed it would make me very grateful!!!))
((too serious of a note. uh. RECORD DEAL THIRD BIRTHDAY IN LESS THAN TWO MONTHS YAY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!)
Two small character commissions from the super kind @888bugsnotdrugs888 who asked for artistic liberty pieces 💚💚 so here’s my babies Kat & Ruben ! Haven’t drawn either of them in a hot minute
Want to commission me to? You can! All support means the world to me right now!
💬 0 🔁 50 ❤️ 15 · Hi hey hello ! I desperately need help to not get completely screwed over by my student loans next week! As well as paddi
Digitalized a drawing of Kat as Ichigo from Tokyo Mew Mew I did a while ago
I felt like Kat would absolutely adore magical girl animes. From the cute outfits, to the even cuter animal sidekicks and the sparkling transformations! And how hopeful, MOST, of them are (I still have zero clue how she’d handle Madoka Magica)
She’d definitely fancy herself Tokyo Mew Mew (Obviously). And from the very few things I’ve seen of Precure she’d love that too! And of course Sailor Moon!
I’m planning to make like a fake anime for her to enjoy in universe (Like a Sailor Moon and Tokyo Mew Mew mashup with also a dash of One Piece)
Already did that for two of my male characters, they have like their own Star Trek parody series which was originally a comic series which turned into a novel, which turned into a tv series (Both live action and animated), which got rebooted into a live action trilogy which everyone agreed was absolutely terrible.
Anyways I’m talking too much have a good day everyone!
Hey! Can you do some headcanons of a (probably greek) daughter of Ares than is younger than Clarisse by 3 years (so she is Percy's age (I'm pretty sure Clarisse is 3 years older than Percy, if not let me know) and what her relationship with her siblings would look like. Maybe she is a little rough around the edges bc she had to raise some of her younger siblings at home and she never got along with people her age bc she is so mature. even though shw would be rough around the edges, she would still be really kind and caring and goofy (she would just have her days and doubts). Can you alao add in what her relatioship would be with the seven and Nico, Will, and Reyna. Could you also add in what cabin you think her gf would be in? Thanks in advance!
Love the idea, here is what I came up with:
Her name's Kat and she arrives in camp when she's 13 thus a year after Percy's arrival.
She's from Texas where she lived with her sisters, twins Rosie and Penelope. She had a rough childhood because their mom has been in jail since she was ten and her sisters were eight. Since then, they had been living with their maternal grandparents who take really good care of her and the girls, but despite that and having lived through rough things before their mom got arrested – the mom was abusive among other things –, Kat is very protective of the twins and cares for them a lot.
Her first couple of days at camp, she stays alone for the most part and doesn't talk much. She is incredibly good at sword fighting though, which makes Ares claim her pretty quick. She takes some time warming up to her new siblings. They quickly understand she's already been through so much shit for a kid her age who's barely arrived in camp so they don't ask questions she isn't comfortable answering. Kat is grateful for that and she does feel good in the Ares cabin, despite other people warning her they were mean brutes before she was claimed (not that she was afraid of them anyway, she's got some temper as well; Mark nicknames her "Little Miss Insolent".) but sometimes it really surprises her is how much they care. Like how Sherman always wakes her up at night when she's in the middle of a nightmare and stays with her until she falls asleep again, how Ellis and Aria always makes sure she ate and Mark is definitely one of her favorite brothers who always makes her laugh.
Kat didn't meet Clarisse right after she was claimed since Clarisse was in her SoM quest at the time. The first time she sees Clarisse, the whole cabin runs to her to congratulate her on her quest and carries her victoriously on their shoulders, and she's so intimidated and impressed by her at first. Then they get to know each other and even though Clarisse sounds like a tough hellhound at first, she's the worst mother den you could ever meet and she is extremely protective of Kat, like for all her sisters. Clarisse was the one who was there when Kat got her first period and had no idea what to do (her mom obviously never took the time to have that talk with her).
Even though she really misses her sisters at home and IMs them everyday, she loves being in camp because she can finally be herself there and not just the older sister who has to care and provide for the youngest.
She became friends with Nico based on one detail: she loves Mythomagic. They play very often. She's also very good friends with Leo and Will and since they're all from Texas, they love to say they're the 'Southern Squad' and always speak with the biggest Texan accent ever when they're in the same room. People are so annoyed when they talk like that which makes them laugh even more.
Since Clarisse loves to talk shit about Percy once in a while, Kat kinda imitated her big sister in this regard and did like she didn't like him at the beginning. Like she'd just glare at him for the sake of it and Percy didn't know why, which was hilarious. Eventually, she gets to know him better and they start to get along.
Kat's favorite thing to do is napping so I think it'd be cute if she dated a girl from the Hypnos cabin, and they would take naps together all the time.
