Chateau d'Hougoumont was the defensive location of intense fighting during the Battle of Waterloo. Defended by the Anglo-allied troops against Napolean's force, its layout and structure played a key role in forming the shape of the battle.
Attempting to recreate the buildings and site as accurately as possible required quite extensive research, trawling the web for images, maps and particularly prints or paintings of the chateau prior to its current damaged state. Google maps was also an invaluable source in order to get familiar with the position of each building in the complex.
The initial modelling was carried out in Cinema4D. Basic blocks were used represent the buildings in order to position them in relation to each other and to capture the scale. A standard 3d figure is included to help get a sense of distances and dimensions.
Blocking out the buildings (left) and the model taking shape in Cinema4d
Once the scene was 'blocked out', each building was modelled, using multiple images as reference. The models were exported as fbx files and then brought into Substance Painter for texturing. The textures were exported in a format compatible with Unreal Engine.
Each building is modelled in Cinema4d, exported as an fbx file and textured in Substance Painter
The model buildings were then brought back into Cinema4D, each block replaced as completed to check the positioning and to see how they worked together.
The models were imported into Unreal Engine, along with their textures and were positioned again on the landscape. The landscape was sculpted to try and suggest pathways, tracks and the layout of the landscaped gardens.
Starting to build the track to the side of the complex in Unreal Engine
Unreal Engine's foliage tool was fully utilised to lay grass, verges and to hint at the formal gardens that existed at the Chateau at the time. Quixel assets were leveraged, supplying trees and shrubs to further create the environment the troops might have encountered.
Views around the complex
With the scene set, Unreal Engine's cine camera and sequencer tools were utilised to gather shots, moving around the scene to show the various angles and layout of the site. A work in progress movie can be viewed on YouTube (linked below).
Basic model to scene
More work is to be done to improve the accuracy of the surrounding landscape.
The full documentary about the battle the model is featured in, can be viewed at Battle Guide's YouTube channel.