2022 Flying Cars Contest - Project "Afterburner"

Did some tests on rendering, mist and lights etc.

Tested light inside the cockpit too.

Created some simple starting-point textures on the background city, and added some other details and shapes there.

Fiddled with the volume fog, background image sky is now in the composition, adjusted colors etc.

Still a lot to do, I need a pilot, the livery is not working at all, light beams are crazy, camera depth of field and color balance need work, tires and most details lack textures...

Might get very very tight with the deadline.

Worked more on all aspects, trying to get more contrast and color everywhere.

Created our brave pilot too, say hello to Carlos!

He's a legless meat-bag really, you just see the helmet from this angle anyway. A lovely chap, he still needs some materials and textures.

I think I will make a Bonneville-hotrod style livery. Kind of that paint would not stay in good shape with the high speeds and temperatures, so they didn't bother painting it. Only simple stripes or such, and stickers which are easy to replace after a race or two when they've been ripped off by the air.

Small steps, but going forward. Few days left!

Another sky, more materials and textures, some re-arranging on the background city, boosting colors and other small things.

I think it's looking better, this is most likely the lighting I'll keep.

Trying to boost contrast, and add more details and improve materials further.

Some steps forward again. Added more details, Carlos has now simple materials, replaced point light inside the cockpit with actual bright displays, worked with reflections and background and added some color boost and lens dirt in post-production.

It's getting better again but time is running low.

Since the time is almost out, and I have no opportunity to do any more work tomorrow, here's my final submission.

I worked with the materials, textures and changed the overlay lens dirt effect for the final tweaks.

Here's few more renders on different angles - I used the "standard" studio environment I've done many cars with for rendering.
I'll be creating a set of renders later on for Artstation too.