Quite complex hard surface modeling : I'm lost

[robin.isola]

Hello !

So long story short, I started toying with the idea of modeling Barad Dur (the tower of Sauron in LOTR) within Maya. I gathered some reference and started a rough blocking earlier and I keep running into unexpected issues. 

Mostly, I don't have precise references. No face/front and so on to put on those lovely orthographic views and just go along for the ride. I have to guess pretty much 90% of how things are and for such a complex architectural endeavor, I realize it's just going to take me years that way.

So I wanted to ask some of you way more experienced in such things, how would you go about this ?

Would you try to find better references or make your own if you can't ? Any other way ?

Anything is good to hear, I'll take it all ! 🙂

PS : Oh and happy new year-to be.

[dangertaz1]

I think it's OK to guess for 90% of the model.  It's very complex, and (from what I recall) always shown at night.  The average viewer won't notice inaccuracies.  I think it's more important to get the silhouette right.  As long as the top of the central tower looks good, the viewer will believe in the entire structure.  The lighting and coloring will be critical too.  I would use the same strategies as the films.    

Good luck!