How do you get that much detail? (I'm talking about the labels, knobs, and switches)
I take the time to make them as accuratly as possible in a scaled-up size, once finished, I scale the item back to 1:1, insert it into the the next higher assembly, and so on, and viola a few things become many things, and then you have a VC, or a module, or some other major assembly. It took several weeks to complete the CBM endcap, and hatch.
Alot of things need thier own textures, a button for example, may have text on it. If it's a MFD then text goes on the screen, but on the HTV HCP, you have to make a texture for each different button. I make these in Adobe Illustrator at full scale. Save them in 300-600 DPI format no larger than 2048 x 2048.
I start with the flatest thing, (the control surface) and build a texture that lacks detail(3D objects) make sure it's 2048 x 2048 in size to start with and detail becomes inherent, then add each 3D item to increase the detail. Buttons, guards, dial knobs, indicator lamps... then you get what Donamy, myself and many others have completed on a massive scale. A complete full up 3D object.
The biggest problem is frame rate, it tends to deteriorate with each increase in detail level. Welding, optimizing, singularizing and the like bring it back into a resonable rate, but it's time consuming work. Not everything will be at this detail level, it just becomes impractical. But I have Hi-Res models of everything, and it all needs to be optimized for performance in orbiter. However right now it works very well in 3DS MAX, for making Hi-Res renders like those you see me post.
One resource is to use 3D Warehouse and get some of the parts pre-made. Like the cannon plugs I used on the Express racks. It saves time. The cannon plugs, screws, springs, and some of the display flat panels all come from free resources like "Parts Warehouse" I also e-mailed a parts company, and they sent me ACad and 3DS drawings on a CD. I compiled a list of sites that I use here
LIST
Thanks for asking.
