Alamo 1836 in 3D

[jrboddie]

I have uploaded a draft model of the church of the Alamo as it may have appeared in 1836 to Microsoft Virtual Earth 3D. I need to improve the texture of the top of the wall while reducing the complexity. As it is, you will need a high speed internet connection and modern computer/graphics card to view it.

To find it, you will need to follow this link:

maps.live.com/?v=2&encType=1&cid=9800A773ECA5A798!432


Zoom in and click on '3D' in the menu. (You will have to install the VE 3D application if you haven't already.)

If you see something that looks like the Alamo today, you are not seeing my model but the default 3D image. You have to go through the link above to see my collection.

As this application is a Beta, the model is pretty complex and I am new at this, I have no idea how this will work out. But I would appreciate your feedback. My goal is to model the rest of the compound.

Thanks to Mark Lemon, whose book provided me with so much information.

Here is a snapshot of the model:

[elcolorado]

I like it! Any possibility of incorporating defenders into the images?

Glenn

[jrboddie]

It is possible. I am concerned about download time for more complexity in the Virtual Earth environment.

Another thing that I am considering is using a game engine like XNA. Then you could download an application and navigate through the scene on an XBox or a PC.

[bobdurham]

This is excellent! I hope you're planning on doing the whole mission. An impressive piece of work.

[texast]

Love the snapshot, hope to see more. Unfortunately the maps.live.com site doesn't like my OS as it is biased to M$ so I can't veiw the work there.

[TRK]

jrboddie, echoing texast, would it be possible for you to post some more screen-saves of your 3-D model here, for those of us who don't have access to Virtual Earth?

[jrboddie]

I will post more pictures next week. I am making good progress on the Long Barrack, Convento, Hospital, Arsenal, and Porteria sections.

[jrboddie]

I have added the Long Barrack to the model in Virtual Earth.

[elcolorado]

Man, that looks good! One suggestion I would make would be to eliminate the arched opening in the connecting wall between the church and the convento. I believe it has been (convincingly) shown not to have existed in 1836.

Can't wait to see more!

Glenn

[marklemon]

jrboddie

The curved archway you show in the church-to-convento connecting wall need not be eliminated altogether, but I notice that you show it in a dark brown color, I assume to suggest, as on other openings, a door of some kind. In reality, that arch was only a recessed feature, perhaps 8 inches deep inside of which there once had been a smaller arched opening, closed at the time of battle. So I would keep the arch, but take out the brown coloring..just make its interior gray, as the surrounding wall appears. Great work.....
Mark

[jrboddie]

Thanks, Mark and Glenn for your feedback. I will fix this in the next iteration.

Mark, I could never put so much detail in my model without your terrific book.

Working on the North Wall now.

[jrboddie]

I have added the North Wall.

It appears that the model is getting too large for Virtual Earth now since sometimes it takes a while for the image to render. I will have to work on this.

[elcolorado]

jrboddie,

The North Wall looks awesome - nice work. ;D

Glenn

[Wade Dillon]

Okay! Time for an Alamo video game! ;D

Nice work, jrboddie!

[jrboddie]

Well, I've managed to get the whole compound into Virtual Earth 3D today. I still have some work to do on some textures but I thought I would give you an update.

Here are some screen captures of the compound in the Virtual Earth environment (superimposed on the current buildings).