Re: Yet Another TOS Battlestar WIP
 

So beautiful. Nice work... I'm jealous.

Re: Yet Another TOS Battlestar WIP
 

Update 12-11-10

This module greeble is complete. Next are the details in the cove area. Cheers...

http://thethirteenthcolony.com/yahoo...4603_large.jpg
http://thethirteenthcolony.com/yahoo...4615_large.jpg

Re: Yet Another TOS Battlestar WIP
 

Awesome work... Is this what the one on the original looked like or did you come up with just putting stuff in the greeble?

I've always had a hard time trying to figure out were I should put things like you have in your greeble. I think it's because I'm used to working on engines and I'm always trying to place things in a way that it looks functional, but then I think I'm spending way too much time on that.

I suppose I should just start looking at pictures from oil factories or jet engines... That will probably be a better Idea.

:salute:

Re: Yet Another TOS Battlestar WIP
 

Thanks for the compliments. Here's a comparison photo showing the real model on top and my render on the bottom. I picture explains my modeling approach better than I could in words...

http://thethirteenthcolony.com/yahoo...1251_large.jpg

The overall shape and large greebles are modeled faithfully from the original to keep the part visually familiar, but the little "filler" details are just added by me to create lots of light and dark shadows and shapes to add complexity. This fools your mind into thinking the image is more interesting because it's more complex.

Notice the size of the pipes... the original is much larger in diameter than my model. I chose to make it smaller because it looks less cumbersome and awkward to me when added to the overall model. The original is much larger because of the physical limitations in working/gluing on tiny plastic piping by hand on the studio model. The larger pipe size also distracts your eye from focusing too much on any smaller area in particular, so the builder can get away with adding less detail, which is much harder on a physical model than with CGI meshes. I have to add in more detail than the original to compensate for the smaller pipes, or the whole greeble looks rather "empty".

So that in a nut shell is my approach to doing BSG models. Doing something like the Serenity firefly ship, or Trek models is a very different "look".

Re: Yet Another TOS Battlestar WIP
 

good idea ..... nice work :)

Re: Yet Another TOS Battlestar WIP
 

I think its its a great idea to deviate from the physical model on these small details. The problem with the studio model is that if you zoom in close enough it looks like its
*made out of plastic model kit parts*. Your 3d model does not suffer from that limitation.

Re: Yet Another TOS Battlestar WIP
 

I agree ..... give parts reasons and design functions if possible. the Big G is in my top 5 designs from scifi.

Re: Yet Another TOS Battlestar WIP
 

Wow, your model is absolutely stunning!

I love your attention to detail, and the renders are so good they make me want to cry. I can't wait to see more.
Amazing work! :salute:

It looks as if I could reach out and touch it.

Re: Yet Another TOS Battlestar WIP
 

Arkadios first let me welcome you aboard and second your absolutely right. it is good.

there is another one by Folkrm that is really worth the look too.. but this is unique as its been built with a different intent not coping the original one exactly

Re: Yet Another TOS Battlestar WIP
 

Update 12-23-2010

A good, fun day's work. Coming along nicely!

http://thethirteenthcolony.com/yahoo...2813_large.jpg

http://thethirteenthcolony.com/yahoo...2804_large.jpg

http://thethirteenthcolony.com/yahoo...3421_large.jpg

Re: Yet Another TOS Battlestar WIP
 

Very Impressive.

For large detailed parts of the model that are curved to the hull, do you model them on a flat surface and then curve them to fit?

Re: Yet Another TOS Battlestar WIP
 

Awesome Work.

Re: Yet Another TOS Battlestar WIP
 

Hello,

The parts needing to be fitted to the hull surface are modeled by cutting out the portion of the hull surface where the greeble will sit. Then a basic block is extruded upwards at right angles to provide the starting shape to create the greeble.

For pipes, I use Lightwave's "spline draw" function by precisely placing points above the hull surface. The function then creates an accurately drawn spline curve defined by those points. Then I create a disc in another layer and position it at the end of the line. Finally, I use the "rail extrude" function to extrude the disc into a pipe defined by the path of the spline curve. The result is a perfectly fitted pipe.

Fitting a mesh to another mesh is far more difficult and time consuming, resulting in distortions of the original mesh. Some greebles are fitted manually in areas where the bends are very small and not noticeable.

[Edit] 12-24-10: 1 more greeble added today!

http://thethirteenthcolony.com/yahoo...1549_large.jpg

I hope all this helps. Cheers...

Re: Yet Another TOS Battlestar WIP
 

Update 12-25-10

I Wasn't happy with the triangle greeble on top, it looked too plain. So I added more details than the original had. Now it looks much better! A second smaller greeble at lower left finally connects with the older top one done last year.

http://thethirteenthcolony.com/yahoo...4237_large.jpg

Re: Yet Another TOS Battlestar WIP
 

Update 12-26-10

Several pipes and 3 more greebles added today. Lightwave crashed ruining 2 hour of work :thumbdown Nvidia's 64 bit Open GL drivers doesn't work very well with my video card and crashes constantly. I usually save my work with every step, but forgot this time.

http://thethirteenthcolony.com/yahoo...1041_large.jpg

http://thethirteenthcolony.com/yahoo...1016_large.jpg

Re: Yet Another TOS Battlestar WIP
 

To use a phrase from DUNE: Kull Wahad! (I am profoundly stirred.)
Muad'dib, that is an awesome looking model. Incredible detail and greebling! I hope to get THAT good someday. :) Keep it up!

Re: Yet Another TOS Battlestar WIP
 

I feel your pain... I started having similar issue with Max... I had to cut down on my greebles because my system was starting to do the same thing.

Awesome work.

Re: Yet Another TOS Battlestar WIP
 

Its not just your system, I think they mostly all do it. Most of us use our computers for a lot of stuff and have a lot of programs installed. I try to wipe my system at least once a year and re-format and install everything. Once I get a clean system running again I find I have a lot fewer crashes for a while.
I have learned to enable the autosave feature and have it set at 10 minutes with a 10 save pipeline. Frequently in a bad crash the last autosave may be corrupt, but I dont get much done in 20 minutes, so its usually not much of a loss.
I use Max but surely LW has a similar autosave feature?

Re: Yet Another TOS Battlestar WIP
 

Yes, the autosave feature is very nice... I'm a max user myself and that has come in very handy.

Re: Yet Another TOS Battlestar WIP
 

Thanks, I did activate the autosave feature after I posted. It was bothering me by making Lightwave sluggish while I was trying to work. Not anymore! It's not Lightwave that is crashing, but Open GL as it tries to draw millions of polys in real time as I manipulate the mesh in 3D as I model. when I make too many clicks and movements too fast, the app crashes. I think I need more graphics memory than my current card ( and old EVGA GX2 with 1024mb) to handle manipulating the increasing number of polys on screen as my build progresses.

I should start to break up the mesh into much smaller modules by now as I intended, but I am just too lazy! Also, I like to see how the new greebles "look" against the background of the surrounding structure while working. It helps me to decide on the overall size and detail to add.

Well, it's been a nice 5 day holiday, back to work :cry: