Some help from the pros please...

[JoShuA]

Hey, well here's an eagle with a saddle, I was sort of inspired by the beast and rider thread. I just need some advice from you pros out there. as you can see the wings suck...what would you guys do? I did several layers of wingfeathers but it gets all f'd up when the wing folds. Im thinking about just lopping of the wings and making it a running chocobo style bird. So some advice is very much needed and appriciated.
Also, I know it's sort of off the subject but does anyone out there know how to make a cool muzzle flare for a machine gun? thanks guys.


http://images.customize.org/category/dashboard/eagleside1-0_full.gif


http://images.customize.org/category/dashboard/eaglepersp11-0_full.gif


http://images.customize.org/category/dashboard/eaglepersp21-0_full.gif


http://images.customize.org/category/dashboard/eagletop1-0_full.gif

[mephisto]

Id say dont cut the wings off, I like em. Id just recommend looking at some photo ref for the wings so you can get the feather and wing shape right. The wings are already lookin cool though.. I cant help with the deformation problems unless I see a wireframe.

[cucaracha]

maybe you could model very simple wings and create the feathers via alphatextures.

cu

[poopinmymouth]

when i did a bird before, i found i had to hand place the geometry in the fully open, halfway, and fully closed positions, and make the program interpolate between those 3. it was the only way to get it to look right.