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Artwork => Anim8or Challenges => Topic started by: floyd86 on April 23, 2009, 03:27:11 pm

Title: [ COMPLETE ] Challenge #3: Red and Moving
Post by: floyd86 on April 23, 2009, 03:27:11 pm
Challenge #3: Red and Moving

(http://img258.imageshack.us/img258/1450/redandmoving.jpg)

The third anim8or challenge: Red and Moving!



The challenge is to make a short animation with a  minimum of 5 and maximum of 30 seconds.
What kind of animation, you say? That's all up to you!

Just some small rules which you have to follow:



Ok! Go ahead a create something red and animate it. Be creative. Use your imagination!


You don't know how to make an animation? Then is this a good challenge for you to learn!
Try reading through the scene section of the manual: http://anim8or.com/manual/7_scene_editor.html.
It will explain the basics of animating in anim8or.


Have fun, keep in mind the challenge rules (http://www.anim8or.com/smf/index.php?topic=2096.0) and post your progress, c&c, and/or final renders in this topic.

Deadline: 2 weeks (May 7th)

NEW DEADLINE: May 14th!!

What will be judged:
This challenge will have a public poll. Vote for the best animation, which followed the rules.
If you animation doesn't follow the rules it cannot be judged!
 

Title: Re: Challenge #3: Red and Moving
Post by: Kubajzz on April 23, 2009, 03:31:46 pm
Cool idea Floyd!

I have to find some time for this one!
Title: Re: Challenge #3: Red and Moving
Post by: 3D Joe Wiltshire on April 23, 2009, 05:37:07 pm
hmm.... I have some ideas for this...
Can anyone give me a good scale for fps?
At the moment I have trouble getting even the longest of my videos up to more than 7 seconds.
Currently on 24 fps
Title: Re: Challenge #3: Red and Moving
Post by: floyd86 on April 23, 2009, 06:12:33 pm
24fps is a pretty good frame rate, although 30 (29,97) fps is getting the standard.
Title: Re: Challenge #3: Red and Moving
Post by: ENSONIQ5 on April 23, 2009, 10:34:57 pm
3D Joe Wiltshire:  What is the cause of the 7 seconds limit at 24 fps (168 frames)?  You should be able to animate with many more frames than that.  I have run animation renders exceeding 1000 frames at 720x576dpi and 24fps (DVD PAL standard) on a pretty ordinary platform.  Anyway, if you are facing a limitation that cannot be avoided one workaround would be to create 2 or 3 short scenes and edit them together in a video editor.
Title: Re: Challenge #3: Red and Moving
Post by: headwax on April 24, 2009, 04:09:55 am
Hah nice idea



Here's mine, rough and ready cause I am computer downtimed for the next few weeks, but I thought I'd get the rall bowling... err ball rolling.



Looking forward to seeing everybody's work when I get my computer back.

cheese

headwax

edit here's the an8 file if anyone wants a peep, nothing serious.....

Title: Re: Challenge #3: Red and Moving
Post by: Tanzim on April 24, 2009, 05:18:14 am
haha nice use of morphs headwax, too bad you don't have more time, the ball could've been more complex.
Title: Re: Challenge #3: Red and Moving
Post by: floyd86 on April 24, 2009, 05:28:31 am
Nice entry headwax and a quick one!

Can't wait to see the next entries!!


@kreator: mods can't do this but i can talk with steve about it. Could you give some more information about this, maybe a link or something? PM me or post it on the forum. ;)
Title: Re: Challenge #3: Red and Moving
Post by: headwax on April 24, 2009, 06:53:05 am
:) Thanks gentlemen.

I fiddled with the avi and reposted it (changed link in original post) , no aa so it's pretty atrocious! Should make it a speed challenge :) Ho ho.

Cheers
Title: Re: Challenge #3: Red and Moving
Post by: Dreadkb on April 25, 2009, 10:04:47 pm
My entry in rendering atm. Each frame was taking 4 hours to render (1 down, 188 to go) so I'll be changing from 800x600 to 400x300. Even if this cuts it down to 1 hour per frame, it will still take a week to render. I only rendered 1 frame at 800x600, and here it is.

Edit: I tweaked a few things when I restarted it.
Title: Re: Challenge #3: Red and Moving
Post by: floyd86 on April 26, 2009, 06:15:16 am
@Dreadkb: One hour every frame!  :o  Maybe you can lower the soft shadows a bit. This is probably what costs the most time to render. Nice work so far: can't wait to see a final ;)

Good start there kreator, when you add some nice background and stuff this could become real nice.

Quote from: kreator on April 26, 2009, 04:24:48 am
Embedded movies would be much better with this kind of comp.

We're working on it ;) thanks for the link to provided.
Title: Re: Challenge #3: Red and Moving
Post by: Dreadkb on April 26, 2009, 11:32:39 am
It's not soft shadow, it's AO with dielectric of 1.05. At this point, I might need to stop and rework it again. I definitely want to keep the dielectric and I need some sort of shadows. I might have to give up AO and just go to with traditional lights. From 11 last night to 10 this morning, I've only rendered 2.5 frames. Reworking it again, ugh.
Title: Re: Challenge #3: Red and Moving
Post by: floyd86 on April 26, 2009, 12:16:15 pm
@dreadkb: AO....ah that explains the render times. You can better use some shadow casting lights then rendering with AO on. It will probably speed up the render alot. And instead of using dielectric you could use IOR and specular reflection. It gives pretty similar effects and is some what faster.
Title: Re: Challenge #3: Red and Moving
Post by: 3Dgeek11 on April 26, 2009, 02:29:14 pm
Yes! This is something I'm good at! I have a great idea, I'll get to work later today, the model I'll be using is already made. :)
Icyguy ][_, {()} ][_ I just can't stop laughing that I used an account name from another forum on here! Hehee..
Title: Re: Challenge #3: Red and Moving
Post by: ENSONIQ5 on April 28, 2009, 04:45:11 pm
It's unlikely I'll get this finished on time (too many concurrent projects!) but if I can finish the modelling (valve gear, driver seat & controls, steering gear, etc.) and work out some motion scripts I'll enter this... um... thing!
Title: Re: Challenge #3: Red and Moving
Post by: 3D Joe Wiltshire on April 28, 2009, 05:16:33 pm
Oh god, I might aswell throw in the white towell now!
lol, kidding, I havn't even been able to come up with an idea yet!
Title: Re: Challenge #3: Red and Moving
Post by: captaindrewi on April 28, 2009, 10:42:17 pm
here's my work in progress...
150  bones... hope to make improovements if i find time.
http://www.vimeo.com/4386339 (http://www.vimeo.com/4386339)
Title: Re: Challenge #3: Red and Moving
Post by: ENSONIQ5 on April 28, 2009, 10:46:33 pm
Kreator: The front axle steering pivots and drag link are in place on the front wheels (the wooden ones), but the actual steering gear and wheel (or tiller) are not in place yet.  It is not based on a particular design, purely fantasy!

3D Joe Wiltshire: Don't be daft mate, like I said I doubt I will have time to rig this for motion and have it rendered before the deadline, and this comp is all about MOVEMENT, not modelling.  I know that when it comes time to judge I will be looking for fluidity and realism of motion, not fancy models.
Title: Re: Challenge #3: Red and Moving
Post by: Dreadkb on April 28, 2009, 11:35:30 pm
@ drewi Nice entry. I think we have similar inspirations.

Update on my entry. I reworked everything, textures, shadows, AA, and lighting rig. Current ETA on completing rendering is, Sunday 3 May 17:15:05. It's still gonna need a bit of post production work after that, but I do expect to complete my entry.
Title: Re: Challenge #3: Red and Moving
Post by: dwsel on April 29, 2009, 07:14:50 pm
My WIP - still from planned animation. I hope to finish it on time.
Title: Re: Challenge #3: Red and Moving
Post by: ncl32 on May 02, 2009, 03:07:25 am
Kind of a late start, but I'll put my name in this. lol I will post pics of what I have going on. My concept is just a mechanical looking ball thing that turns into a mechanical looking fish type thing. Something simple since I don't have my Mac Pro for a while...lol
Title: Re: Challenge #3: Red and Moving
Post by: onespirit5777 on May 03, 2009, 08:54:40 pm
I will have to pass this one - Just don't have the time - Maybe if you do animation again sometime - Then hopefully I'll get to have some fun.

I'm still gonna try to do something and hope I have it in time.
Title: Re: Challenge #3: Red and Moving
Post by: floyd86 on May 04, 2009, 01:25:04 pm
Hmm.. since most people seems to have trouble finishing or entering this contest I will have the deadline moved.
Everyone will have one more week to complete it's entry.

New deadline: 14th of May

This is the final deadline, so do your best!
Title: Re: Challenge #3: Red and Moving
Post by: dwsel on May 04, 2009, 07:46:13 pm
Here's my entry (zipped in attachment). If I won't post anything new this will be my final.

Starting base for leaf textures:
http://www.cgtextures.com/texview.php?id=12714

Sounds:
http://www.freesound.org/samplesViewSingle.php?id=70190
http://www.freesound.org/samplesViewSingle.php?id=69356
Title: Re: Challenge #3: Red and Moving
Post by: captaindrewi on May 04, 2009, 09:43:02 pm
great piece Dwsel a splendid sense of atmos. and movement

An update with smoother action
red and moving (http://www.animanon.com/Forum/index.php?action=mgallery;sa=item;id=142)

and for added fun....
below an ART version, specular reflection on the red material which i havent changed from the above example.
the blue background is a rectangular plane which has made everything change from red to a pinky blue
except for the tendrils that extend beyond the reflection distance  of the rectangular plane.At least thats what i think is happening.
have a look here (http://www.animanon.com/Forum/index.php?action=mgallery;sa=item;id=143).
update.... On second thoughts it must be the background settings that i set to a blue colour that made it all pinky/blue.
heres a pic of the rectangle and background coloured red.


Title: Re: Challenge #3: Red and Moving
Post by: hihosilver on May 04, 2009, 11:26:37 pm
Great entry there dwsel.  The leaves appear to be waving in the wind very naturally.  The ladybug does appear a bit too big for the leaf, but that's alright.
As a side note as well, it would be nice if you showed some slight blur of the wings as they flapped, though it still worked out well.  Also, when the bug lands, if the leaf had bowed slightly under the weight it could be slightly more realistic.

I know you're done, and the render looks great, I just felt like giving a bit of extra advice!
I look forward to other entries.
Title: Re: Challenge #3: Red and Moving
Post by: Indian8or on May 05, 2009, 12:55:37 am
Dwsl can you post your vid on youtube.  I downloaded you zip, but what I could see was just black screen from beginning to end.  I could hear only background music.
Title: Re: Challenge #3: Red and Moving
Post by: ncl32 on May 05, 2009, 02:21:26 am
Well guys Im here to submit my little red and moving thing... But I will say that since I have been back using my Old Gateway Laptop from 2001 with its Intel Celeron 2.2GHz processor and 768mb of RAM, It has taken me quite literately 3 days! to render this mere 6 second clip on... Not to mention, for what ever reason I was thinking, I used a old free edition of the Divx Codec and it turned out horrible... I mean the worst part is it went from being rendered with ART with 64 samples of AA to looking like I rendered it at 150x230 and blew it up... uhg. Any way enough of my rambling... Heres the video and pic to what I have to contribute...



And yes that is the laptop I was using... And yes i have they keyboard off with plastic ice cubes resting on top of the heat sink... lol and the screen is also very broken... and it over heats sooo... It ran at 100% processor speed for a solid 3 days straight... Im so disapointed in the vid quality since i could have achieved the same thing rendering that with AA turned off... well hope you like it! ... ;D
Title: Re: Challenge #3: Red and Moving
Post by: dwsel on May 05, 2009, 06:08:17 am
captaindrewi:
Thank you! Your entry is quite scary... I'll be looking forward to see it in finished form :)

hihosilver:
I've been thinking about modelling wings under the red shell, but I dropped idea, because they would be a problem for some reasons.
- Wings are very transparent - unability to set transparency level of shadows for each material would be a problem here, because shadows of wings would appear very solid and dark (ART as well as scanline)
- Wings are moving very fast - we're seeing them in blurred (motion blur) form. As Anim8tor does not have motion blur (or I didn't figure it out yet ;) ) I couldn't get them look properly and the way we naturally see them.
- Wings are longer than the shell as they spread - technically that would require animating loop of their fast motion as well as morphing them when they're hiding behind the shell so it would be quite complicated technically.
As for bending leaf - I changed leaf's angle slightly as ladybug started to seat ;) Probably effect isn't noticeable and somehow got hidden somewhere in between random moves :)

Indian8or:
Video is coded in DivX. You probably need to install some codecs like DivX, Xvid or simple and lightweight FFDShow (one of latest versions) which support different formats. Creating account on youtube to post one short animation would be a bit troublesome for me at the moment as I lack of free time. Installing codecs should help you. Write is you'll still have problems.
Title: Re: Challenge #3: Red and Moving
Post by: dwsel on May 06, 2009, 01:36:47 am
Thanks kreator!
Title: Re: Challenge #3: Red and Moving
Post by: onespirit5777 on May 06, 2009, 07:28:30 pm
Not done yet and I hope I get to.

Title: Re: Challenge #3: Red and Moving
Post by: Dreadkb on May 06, 2009, 11:38:32 pm
My entry so far. All I need to do is add sound and I'll be completely done.

Title: Re: Challenge #3: Red and Moving
Post by: floyd86 on May 07, 2009, 05:53:39 am
Nice entries everyone. I want to see some more!!!
I will post mine soon, probably this weekend.
Title: Re: Challenge #3: Red and Moving
Post by: lynn22 on May 07, 2009, 11:17:59 am
I'll have to pass on this one. I'm working on a massive project - already put in some 100 hrs and I have barely started. So better count me out  :)
Title: Re: Challenge #3: Red and Moving
Post by: hihosilver on May 07, 2009, 03:22:46 pm
hehe especially for all the criticism I put out there huh?
Well luckily school is out in a month or so, and I should have free time enough to get some done! :D
Title: Re: Challenge #3: Red and Moving
Post by: 3Dgeek11 on May 08, 2009, 04:29:23 am
Isn't this challenge over? It's past May 7th.

But as long as it's not over, I better do some rendering. I already have the animation. Just been holding off on rendering because of my Star Fox obsession. Been writing fanfics.

But I will try to enter this one, guys. :)
3DGeek
Title: Re: Challenge #3: Red and Moving
Post by: $imon on May 08, 2009, 08:13:27 am
3dgeek: floyd pushed the deadline back a bit:

Quote from: floyd86 on May 04, 2009, 01:25:04 pm
Hmm.. since most people seems to have trouble finishing or entering this contest I will have the deadline moved.
Everyone will have one more week to complete it's entry.

New deadline: 14th of May

This is the final deadline, so do your best!

So enough time to come with something still :)
Title: Re: Challenge #3: Red and Moving
Post by: ENSONIQ5 on May 09, 2009, 05:15:37 am
Work in progress - articulation test.  Still quite a bit of modelling to do, particularly up front.  Rendered with ART at 400x300, hence the lowish quality.

Title: Re: Challenge #3: Red and Moving
Post by: 3D Joe Wiltshire on May 09, 2009, 09:16:44 am
I love steampunk... don't think i'll be able to come up with anything by the end of this challenge though.
Title: Re: Challenge #3: Red and Moving
Post by: floyd86 on May 10, 2009, 07:05:42 am
Ok, I'm finally done. I was pretty busy lately, so it toke more time than I thought.

http://vimeo.com/4572328

It's made out of two layers: one with reflections and no AA, or shadows in ART. One with scanline with AA and shadows.
The layers where merged and added with after effects. The intro is after effects too.
Physics where done with cre8or.
Title: Re: Challenge #3: Red and Moving
Post by: 3D Joe Wiltshire on May 10, 2009, 04:54:09 pm
Awesome idea floyd! hadn't thought of pool...
Looks brilliant, great use of art and the cre8or physics!
Title: Re: Challenge #3: Red and Moving
Post by: ENSONIQ5 on May 12, 2009, 10:44:14 am
Update on the steam thing.  I realised that, with the valve gear the machine had, reversing would be a bit of a problem.  Also, I felt the drive gears did not reduce the revs of the crankshafts sufficiently for the machine to have much torque.  Therefore, a major redesign of the valve system and power transfer gears has taken place, as per the still below.

The reversing system lacks a link rod to the (as yet unmodelled) lever in the control cabin, and the control cabin itself remains almost entirely unmodelled.  I have scripted the motion of the rotating things, including a decelerate/direction change/accelerate routine, but the motion of the valve and piston links will have to be keyframed.  Subsequently I doubt this will be ready before the deadline, in which case the earlier YouTube link will stand as the entry.  I do plan to finish this project, however, irrespective of the contest deadline.
Title: Re: Challenge #3: Red and Moving
Post by: lynn22 on May 12, 2009, 12:37:39 pm
ENSONIQ5,  I have no knowledge of the construction of steam engines or any engine for that matter but this is one fabulous piece of modeling.
James Watt would be proud ;)
Title: Re: Challenge #3: Red and Moving
Post by: falloffalot on May 12, 2009, 01:20:38 pm
Great detail as usual ENSONIQ.
Title: Re: Challenge #3: Red and Moving
Post by: hihosilver on May 12, 2009, 02:16:41 pm
Very impressive!  And you scripted all the movement?  Wonderful job.
It appears to be a very complicated piece of machinery, and seeing your last animation it appears you're pulling it off wonderfully.  Keep it up!
Title: Re: Challenge #3: Red and Moving
Post by: ENSONIQ5 on May 12, 2009, 05:37:07 pm
Thanks for the comments.  Yep, kreator it's ART.  This shot took about 30 minutes to render, so a full animation at this resolution should take somewhere between 100 and 1000 years I reckon!  The earlier render was also ART, but at 400x300, and it took about 24 hours I think.  Finishing it for this comp is out of the question anyway, but I may well sling it into Carrara for the final animation render, though it would mean a full re-rig (NOOOOOO!).

I should thank the gods of Wikipedia for their invaluable asistance with explaining, through the device of a simple GIF animation, the workings of the Walschaerts Valve Gear, without which this machine would have remained unreversable.
Title: Re: Challenge #3: Red and Moving
Post by: ENSONIQ5 on May 12, 2009, 10:46:45 pm
Now you tell me...!!

Nah, it's cool.  Understanding all those linkages on steam trains has always been one of the things that I wanted to know but could never be bothered actually finding out.  I have always been fascinated by the elegant mechanical solutions early engineers came up with to allow the construction of machines like the steam engine and other early industrial machines like flying-shuttle weaving machines.  True ingenuity.
Title: Re: Challenge #3: Red and Moving
Post by: floyd86 on May 13, 2009, 05:06:47 am
Nice work Ensoniq5! You always surprise me.




For all other participants: remember you have one day to finish your entry. The challenge will close tomorrow!!
Title: Re: Challenge #3: Red and Moving
Post by: $imon on May 14, 2009, 01:08:05 pm
Alright, I made a very quick entry just to have something entered haha!

Here is the link:


Title: Re: Challenge #3: Red and Moving
Post by: floyd86 on May 14, 2009, 01:45:44 pm
Challenge Closed!

The ones you can vote for are:

  • headwax -
  • Dreadkb -
  • kreator - http://www.animanon.com/Forum/index.php?article=22.0
  • dwsel - http://www.animanon.com/Forum/index.php?article=24.0
  • captaindrewi - http://www.animanon.com/Forum/index.php?action=mgallery;sa=item;id=142
  • ncl32 -
  • onespirit5777 -
  • ENSONIQ5 -
  • floyd86 - http://vimeo.com/4572328
  • $imon -


Vote with the rules in mind! You can vote two times!

Quote from: floyd86 on April 23, 2009, 03:27:11 pm

Just some small rules which you have to follow:

  • Your main object in your animation must be red. So a red material or a red texture.
  • The red object can be anything: a ball, your grandma or something never seen before. Use your imagination!
  • The red object must be on screen a majority of the time.
  • Intro's or credits do not count in the video length. Only the animation counts.

What will be judged:
This challenge will have a public poll. Vote for the best animation, which followed the rules.
If you animation doesn't follow the rules it cannot be judged!



Did i forget your entry? or did i posted the wrong link? Tell me.

Votes will end in 3 days.
Title: Re: [VOTING STARTED]Challenge #3: Red and Moving
Post by: captaindrewi on May 16, 2009, 08:22:07 am
my link seems to be useless[did work initially].also those hosted on animanon have reduced access for non members it seems.which leaves them at a disadvantage.
never mind.all good fun.
Title: Re: [VOTING STARTED]Challenge #3: Red and Moving
Post by: ENSONIQ5 on May 16, 2009, 10:45:56 am
Your link seems to work ok for me captaindrewi.  I wasn't aware about the non-member restricted thing, I guess the simplest solution for the moment would be to either upload your animation to YouTube or Vimeo and provide a link.  Also, signing up to Animanon is free (and well worth while) so if anybody is having trouble seeing videos hosted there I guess signing up would be a good solution!
Title: Re: [VOTING STARTED]Challenge #3: Red and Moving
Post by: onespirit5777 on May 16, 2009, 12:01:08 pm
sorry everyone I didn't have time to finish and if i did, my internet was down anyway. I was in a lose lose situation.
Title: Re: [VOTING STARTED]Challenge #3: Red and Moving
Post by: captaindrewi on May 16, 2009, 08:43:59 pm
head scratching!! my link is working again now, sorry for the fuss.
visited the site on another computer today and hit the 3 pages per day buffer before i could get to the gallery.
so incorrectly assumed that might hamper the voting.]
massive applause to all entries.
Title: Re: [VOTING STARTED]Challenge #3: Red and Moving
Post by: dwsel on May 17, 2009, 03:43:08 pm
Congrats! :)
Title: Re: [VOTING STARTED]Challenge #3: Red and Moving
Post by: headwax on May 17, 2009, 07:37:11 pm
yes grande work everyone

I particularly liked floyd's entry

and one of the ones on animanon (can't play it at the moment on this machine and can't remember :(   which one it was ..... )
Title: Re: [VOTING STARTED]Challenge #3: Red and Moving
Post by: ENSONIQ5 on May 17, 2009, 11:19:33 pm
Thanks to the voters, much appreciated, but undeserved IMO.  I suspect the ability to vote for two entries could be cheating more deserving entries out of first place, as an entry that is universally considered second best will achieve more votes than a pair of superior entries, if opinion on the superior pair is divided.  I do like the ability to select a pair of favorites, and I am aware of how difficult it would be to create a poll that allowed voters to select a winner (2 points) and a runner up (1 point), but I think with the current setup we have to accept that the results will be a little bit skewed.

I feel it's important to make the above point, to hopefully prevent contestants who might feel that they were under-represented in the polls from feeling a bit disappointed.  Obviously we will never all agree on whose entry is best (my own favorite did not make the top three) but it must be remembered that the great benefit of these comps is experience and knowledge, not accolades.
Title: Re: [VOTING STARTED]Challenge #3: Red and Moving
Post by: captaindrewi on May 18, 2009, 01:17:27 am
i'm not complaining i had  a massive 2.6% of the vote.
the stats are good fun.
Title: Re: [VOTING STARTED]Challenge #3: Red and Moving
Post by: floyd86 on May 18, 2009, 07:53:15 am
Challenge Closed!


The voting is done and we have a tie! Congratulations to all and thanks for entering this challenge.

Winners:



Title: Re: [ COMPLETE ] Challenge #3: Red and Moving
Post by: Dreadkb on May 18, 2009, 12:02:05 pm
Thanks everyone. Really liked this contest. Can't wait for the next one.

For everyone that entered, here is a little cheery thought for you. You may not have won, but take a look around you. How many people do you know in your life who would even have the slightest idea how to do what you did? 0? 1? Just entering any qualifying video is an achievement in itself. Regardless of age, gender, experience, nationality, or race, we are the true cream of the crop. We always have the right to be very proud of our work, even if it seems no one is noticing how awesome we are. You will win a contest someday, but you'll never be able to win if you never enter, and you'll never get better if you don't push yourself.

Keep trying, keep working, keep pushing yourself, and always hold your head up high. We are Anim8ors!

OK, I'm getting off my soap box now.
Title: Re: [ COMPLETE ] Challenge #3: Red and Moving
Post by: hihosilver on May 18, 2009, 10:28:05 pm
Words of wisdom Dreadkb!
Congratulations everyone that entered, I'm loving the turnout and the hard work that's springing up in this forum!
Title: Re: [ COMPLETE ] Challenge #3: Red and Moving
Post by: Dreadkb on May 19, 2009, 12:52:06 am
Quote from: hihosilver on May 18, 2009, 10:28:05 pm
Words of wisdom Dreadkb!

Thanks. I have my moments.
Title: Re: [ COMPLETE ] Challenge #3: Red and Moving
Post by: onespirit5777 on May 21, 2009, 04:36:06 pm
Congrats to the winners  :o - Hope I have more time for the next one