VLODKOS 

Everything is mapped.

(As always, there are many pictures ahead)

Some time ago I started working on a lightbar for the Tahoe project. I checked, if not all, then most of the available models and none of them suited me, so I decided to make one completely from scratch.
I already made some simple models, but the lightbar turned out to be more difficult than I thought, but in the end I managed it and I think it turned out very well.
The model really looks very similar to the IRL counterpart. At a minimum, the general dimensions are accurate, but if you delve into the details, you can see that this is not a 1-to-1 copy. But it's still a very decent model and I really like it.

Base shape was made in Blender, the rest of it in ZModeler 2, haha! It's very stupid of me, I know.

~16500 tris
 ~18400 vertices

Next is mapping, drawing textures, baking, LODs.

LOD0 ~4100 triangles / ~3770 vertices

LOD1 ~1800 triangles / ~1980 vertices

LOD2 162 triangles / 204 vertices

So, it's been a while, feel like I should write something, even if no one reads it.

First of all, LODs are done. Long time ago. The interior LOD model has long been completed, as well as lowpoly LOD.

The numbers:

LOD0 ~201900 triangles / ~159500 vertices

LOD1 ~27800 triangles / ~28300 vertices

LOD2 ~2670 triangles / ~2700 vertices

⠀
LOD0 is heavy because of extras (some clutter bags in the trunk and some other stuff) and also because of new front grille. Old was not suit me at all, especially after I saw some Tahoes IRL at arm's length. So I tried to model a new one, but it was kinda tricky because all the curves and I asked Trall to help me with it and he modeled a new one (polycount was about the same as mine). It is heavy. I know that, I don't care. It looks awesome and serves the purpose.

LOD1 is much lighter, obviously, and transition is not really visible in game, so I'm pretty happy about it.

LOD2 is LOD2, there is not much to talk about, it exists, it's baked, it works.

⠀
So civil version is done. More than a year ago, I guess. But it wont be released until police versions is done. And this is a looot of work.

There is too much stuff to do. Plus I want to do several different versions. They all require different equipment. Some models are ready to use almost immediately and require amost no edits, while others (most of it) require a complete redone, essentially starting from scratch. And some models truly do need to be built from scratch.

This all takes hella lot of time and even more nerves. Most of the time I was slacking off and doing nothing, constantly procrastinating. But sometimes I would return to the project and slowly continue working. Bit by bit I've managed to finish I'd say a half of needed equipment, but this was the hardest part of it, the rest must be easier.

But the longer I work on the police versions, the more I realize that the model won't be adapted for GTA 4. And it's not even that the model has a lot of polygons, it's that there are a lot, a lot of textures here. Most likely, the model will kill the game quite quickly, causing problems with texture streaming, etc.

Police lightbar, used primary by the NYPD.

Model also has a different mount, but it is not shown in the screenshots.

Tris: 14718

Verts: 12197

Tris: 4109

Verts: 4354

Tris: 606

Verts: 1091

w/textures

So, exterior is done, only interior remains. 

In progress. 

So, I guess it's almost done.
 

The model got some new things in the interior. Was partially taken from another model, but it was greatly redone by me, partly made from scratch. 

Also Shady311 kindly agreed to make new correct badges, now they look neat!