construction on new Galactica begins

[gpdesigner]

Ok well I got all of the materials I need for the constuction of the new BattleStar.
assembly began yesturday and will continue until completed. I will post updates to the project here from time to time, any ideas you all have hoist them up.
I predict 1 million poly's on this project, tho most of them will come from the ships support objects . . ie: conduits, guns and the sort. anyway wish me luck . .
3d
http://images.graphicproduction.org/forum_images/galactica/galactica_1.jpg

[gmd3d]

I am looking forward to your updates 3d .. I am about to get into the modeling side of thing myself .. good luck with the model .. any future plans of doing the first out of intrest ??

[Gemini1999]

3d -

A nice start on the newer version of the Galactica! I had a thought..... what if someone (and this is just an idea) took the design of the original series Galactica and re-make it with the new series look (ribbed structure, darker appearance)? I always wondered how the "old girl" would look with a new set of clothes....

Keep up the good work!

Bryan

[Titon]

Good luck sir!

I worked on the original design adding detail to her head section. The original innitially came in over 4 million so you have your work cut out for you.

Thanks for posting and keep us updated!

;)

[gpdesigner]

I may do something with an update to the first battlestar, That ship is very boxy so tweaking may turn out to be a good modeling excersize. realistically I may not get to building it at all, but never say never . . . .

Good luck sir!

I worked on the original design adding detail to her head section. The original innitially came in over 4 million so you have your work cut out for you.

Thanks for posting and keep us updated!

;)

You are the man . . . My hats off to you and your fellow modelers, This is an amazing piece of work here. I have been looking at this ship for days trying to figure out " how they did this, and that" . . . most of all I was thinking How long it took to build the thing . . .
oh I am quite sure the mesh I build will not come close to the same level of detail or perfection as in the production model they are useing . . . don't know if I have that kind of patience or skill level.
I will cut corners as much as possible and will try not to drop anything out. the quality of images I have will force me to be unable to model things as some items are just too small to make out. My only uncertanty now after looking at the ship for some time is the ribbed frame. If all of those were modeled individually then I will have to come up with a plan to get around that . . .However I am definatly going to give it the old college try . . . . :D
if you say they count went up to 4 million then I may have to adjust my plans and build the ship in sections . .
Well thanks for the support . . Will try to do a good job . . .
3d

[gmd3d]

I not sure of my info here but I read that to animate the G they do it in sections because its so big.. of some thing along those lines .. I will try and find the that link again....

[Sept17th]

From what I see and have read there is an original series looking battlestar beneath the ribbing and attached nacelles. I’d like to see the model before the all the extra add ons.

[gpdesigner]

I not sure of my info here but I read that to animate the G they do it in sections because its so big.. of some thing along those lines .. I will try and find the that link again....

Taranis I am not sure about that, but that sounds like an idea, however if you think about it, If they are animating separate sections in the same time line, it all comes out to the same thing. you are still moving the same amount of poly's in the scene. But if the make separate animations and composite them together that may work tho it seems like a lot to do.
Then again on my little Mac G4 it would be a lot, but in a studio setting they might have better machines to work with . . .

From what I see and have read there is an original series looking battlestar beneath the ribbing and attached nacelles. I’d like to see the model before the all the extra add ons.

This could be as well but I think it may seem that way because the shapes are similar I have been looking at the ship for the last few days with this idea also but truthfully, I don't see it. The original ship was very obtuse (sp) it was very square . . . the new one is more organic, and larger, plus there is this entire section that is cut out in the center of the ship set to house the hanger decks as they retracked for a hyper jump. I could see what you are saying but I think they just kept the flow of the original concept and more organic . . Titon would be the one to ask for sure
3d

[gmd3d]

Follow this link .. Intresting stuff

http://www.newtek-europe.com/uk/community/lightwave/smith/1.html


How many polygons did the Galactica model consist of?

If the whole base assembly was loaded up, it was about 3.5 million polygons. We never used all of it at one time though. It was built in groupings that were easy to strip off if not seen. Render times were too high if we tried to render the whole thing! We basically had different versions of the ships with differing polygon counts and texture maps for all the ships. Depending on how close the camera was we would load the appropriate ship. The Galactica herself was the monster and we had her in multiple sections we could drop off by deleting pre-arranged groupings of objects depending on the shot.

[gmd3d]

there is a intresting picture of the Galactica that goes in a wireframe mode when passing your mouse over it.

[rjandron]

Cool! Another Mac User!

:salute:

Seriously though, I'll look forward to seeing the development of this model. Keep us posted!

[Titon]

You are the man . . . My hats off to you and your fellow modelers

You'll give me a big head if you keep talkin that way!

Seriously though the ship was definately rendered in sections. When i worked on the head detailing i used some of the older G's model details to add a flare to it. First and foremost it's always fun to add your own flare to a model no matter how accurately you try to match the original.

Good luck and i look forward to seeing your progress! Especially since your a lightwave user.

;)

[gpdesigner]

First and foremost it's always fun to add your own flare to a model no matter how accurately you try to match the original.

I am totally glad to hear you say that, I think that is part of my problem when i do a model of an existing object, I try to duplicate it. However I will add a few touches to this ship to make it "mine" so to speak . . thanks for the advice Titon.

Also I discovered something that I feared would add to the time for completion of the Galactica . . . All 84 of those ribbed frames are going to have to be inserted individually . . . . :wtf: I tried to take some of LW's short-cuts like cloneing and the arrays but nothing will set the ribs in like I need them to be . . . .
sooooo . . it looks like it is going to have to be One by One
I think for each section of the ship I will build a template rib and the duplicate it and manipulate it to fit, but still . . . 1 by 1
the funny thing is, this was my only nightmare about building this model, and now that my worst fears have been realized and I am set for dealing with it, The pressure is somehow releived.
3d

[wjaspers]

For the ribs, do not know if this modifier exist in LW, but in MAX it is called boolean.

[gpdesigner]

For the ribs, do not know if this modifier exist in LW, but in MAX it is called boolean.

I am not really sure if the meanings are the same but LW has a boolean action which is used to "bore" poly objects with another, either subtraction or add, intersect. cool feature . . .
3d

[wjaspers]

Yes that is what I mean. Make a copy of the basic shape you made (first pic you posted) and scale it to the proportions the ribs should be. Create some boxes and slice(boolean) these with the shape, either intersect if the boxes are as the ribs, or subtraction if they are as big as the space between the ribs.

[gpdesigner]

already tried that . . . it tanked :(
actually that was my first approach . . the second idea was to clone, path clone, point clone . . . . all failed. I am sure there must be an easier way, however I have already started to build the template of the first rib . . it looks more like I need it to be. Time consuming yes, but this is where the fun and the practice come in . .

Ohhh !!!! and just so I make sure I have no spare time, I started construction on a Mark II Viper . . . :Nsalute:
figured I would do both at the same time . . .
I think I will start a Viper thread later when I have a lot more of it done . .
thanks for the help wjaspers
peace

[rjandron]

One technique that you may want to try is as follows.

On a separate layer, draw out a series of rectangles corresponding to where you want the ribs to be. These will "cut" your hull mesh. Put this layer into the background, and bring your nose mesh into the foreground.

http://img.villagephotos.com/p/2005-7/1044740/Setup.jpg

Use the Solid Drill -> Slice command.

http://img.villagephotos.com/p/2005-7/1044740/Soliddrilled.jpg

On the foreground layer, select the newly cut polygons, and use the Smooth Shift command to move these selected polygons inwards or outwards along the polygon normals.

http://img.villagephotos.com/p/2005-7/1044740/Smoothshift.jpg

I have found that the Boolean command really likes to work with solid objects/fully enclosed meshes, rather than simple surfaces. The Solid Drill command reallw works well with surfaces, and this technique is especially useful in creating raised hull panels and other nurnies.

I'm not sure how well it will work with Sub-D objects--as with all Sub-D objects, you really have to watch how your mesh is laid out.

[gpdesigner]

That is awesome . . just when you think you tried it all . . . bammm . . . :erk:
I will give that a go on the rest of the ship as I think it is more uniform in its curved surfaces. The bow (head) is already done now. I duplicated all the ribs for the upper portion and am going to shape them the hard way I could use the practice.
But rest asured for the rest of the model I will try this technique for sure.
Thanks rj . . .
yes and by the by the ship is going to be sub_d all the way, I find that it is now or can be very very organic looking if pushed a bit more. It seems like it wants to be more rounded, so I am going to give it help.
3d

[gpdesigner]

Ok . . there is progress it is slow but it is coming, I have all of the ribs for the upper section laid in now I am just going through and shaping each one to fit the Hull. . . . .
http://images.graphicproduction.org/forum_images/galactica/galactica_2.jpg

for the rest of the ship I will try to use the technique rj illustrated above, hopefully this will be faster. Anyway at least this way I know I am putting the ribs in exactly where I want them and I can keep the look of the ship from being too symetrical.... randomness gives a model life.
3d

[gpdesigner]

AAAAAArrrrrrrrrrr !!! :Nsalute:
I feel like the "KING" . . not bad if I do say so myself . . .
I am going to go in now and add all of the details on these upper ribs while I have them done . . that is before I start on anything else . .

http://images.graphicproduction.org/forum_images/galactica/galactica_3.jpg


But first the wife is here and I am going introduce her to Battlestar Galactica The New Series on DVD the 4 hr starter . . this will be a good begining for her . . . When the first season DVD come out, she can catch up with that. . . . Right now the second season hasn't started yet here in Canada so by the time it does maybe she will be caught up . . .
see ya'
peace
3d

[Titon]

Looks like your progressing nicely 3d.

As well as the solid tool you can also use the stencil tool as well. Which ever works the best for ya.

;)

[gmd3d]

great progress 3d . look fantastic

[gpdesigner]

great progress 3d . look fantastic

Thanks Taranis just doin' my thing . . . tryign to get the best possible mesh I can produce.

As well as the solid tool you can also use the stencil tool as well. Which ever works the best for ya.

I think I am going to give them both a shot, now that I am finished blocking the lower bow structure, the keel of the bow is going to be the test section for the solid or the stencil tool . . .
So far I am only at 4500 poly's . . . I think that should be about right. We'll see what happens as I start to add detail later on.
3d
http://images.graphicproduction.org/forum_images/galactica/galactica_4.jpg

[gpdesigner]

Excellent advice RJ that was awesome . . . Titon I used the slice feature to get the bottom section, wow did it go fast !!! 2 days as oppose to 4 days . . .
I think this ship will be done faster than I had thought.
Thanks a lot for the help
T

http://images.graphicproduction.org/forum_images/galactica/galactica_5.jpg

[doomer]

wow I cant wait for it :thumbsup:

[gmd3d]

wow really taking shape 3d.

[gpdesigner]

wow really taking shape 3d.

Thanks Taranis, Spending a lot of time on this project and letting other fall by the way side . . I have two websites to build, my new company has it's first gig in a week or so and I haven't been getting ready for that. Plus I haven't touched that viper in 3 days . . . I am bound to the computer tho . . .
But I had time to play doctor with my wife this afternoon . . . :beaver:
so I guess things aren't that bad . . . .

I started on the mid section this morning . . . just blocking out a basic shape then I will try to mold it. The images I have don't cover every angle of the ship so a lot of the shape I am guessing as I go so far it is close and I am pleased with the progress . . . Peace

Thttp://images.graphicproduction.org/forum_images/galactica/galactica5.jpg

[gpdesigner]

I hope you guys don't mind if keep posting these images . . . I said I would post the build of the model and I am going to keep at it. I know the way I model and if I take a long time off of it it will not get finished . .
So with that being said I am just going to keep at it until it is done . . .

Todays battle was with the lower portion of the mid section. I am in the process of merging the hull and mid sections together. The model itself is in 3 pieces. the ribs, the forward hull and the mid section. the total count of poly's so far is 5,500 or so.
I am trying my best to keep the larger sections low poly and save the builk for the detail . . . that is were the mesh will show it's quality I think . .
anyway here is a shot up to date minus the ribs.

T

http://images.graphicproduction.org/forum_images/galactica/galactica6.jpg

[gpdesigner]

ok model update:
I did a lot of remodeling on all of the sections. Seems trying to make all of the separate eliments fit is harder than I thought. Because I don't have images of certain angles I am extrapolating (sp) a lot of design flow from what pictures I have. I wanted to work on the tail end of the middle section and finish it off but I found that withought having the sub-light engines modeled and in place. Exact measurememnts of the rear section would be hard to get and impossible to finish so . . . here comes the sub-light engines . . . .

I am starting to think about how to lay in all of the details to the ship, If I give it some thought now it will be easier to do when the time comes. I got some help from the LW heavywieghts over on the newtek forum, and with their help, I have come up with a plan of attack for the sure to be in the millions of poly's it will take to make up the details . . . :bg04:

Thttp://images.graphicproduction.org/forum_images/galactica/galactica7.jpg

[gpdesigner]

I got a lot done today, I just hunkered down and modeled like mad . . .
now that the sublight engines are done I am going to start on the hyperlight engines . . . yeah buddy . . !
I also found a few seconds in there to do the landing bays . . . wonder how that happened. Anyway I figure I am about 1/5 of the way through, still tons more modeling to come, then there is the tweaking, then test renders, then comes the details, tons and tons of details, then after that, I get to surface and experiment with textures and color. I am going to try a steel blue color for the ship instead of the grey they are using now. Steel Blue is more stealthy, more cold and deadly.

I haven't decided on a name for her yet, I don't want to call her Galactica, thats aleady taken ;) . I was leaning twards the name Achilles ?
it has a ring to it, what do you think . .
I want to thank you all for stopping by and checking out the progress, more to come for sure. :Nsalute:
T

http://images.graphicproduction.org/forum_images/galactica/galactica8.jpg

http://images.graphicproduction.org/forum_images/galactica/galactica9.jpg

http://images.graphicproduction.org/forum_images/galactica/galactica10.jpg

[Gemini1999]

Santee -

I have to say that this is quite a treat for those of us that aren't savvy with the CGI thing. I love seeing all the stages of the work in progress and talking about how you managed to do this bit or that bit...

This is most definitely not like drawing on paper - it's more like building the damn thing as you're creating something that's treated like a 3D object.

Most impressive (and impressed)... I'm truely in awe!

Keep up the fantastic work!

Regards,
Bryan

[gpdesigner]

gemini1999,
Thanks my friend it is good to hear you say that, you know it just dawned on me reciently that not everyone here on this board is a cgi geek or 3d modeler, And reading what you just said rang that bell for me. I came here via 3d Gladitors so I assumed this board was thick with 3d'ers. There are a few and some really awesome modelers at that, but I also see there are other sorts of Artists here as well so I know I am not alone. :D

I belong to a few Lightwave 3d forums and posting work in progress like this is common place. People usually jump in and C&C progress by giving some tips or advice about some design issue or poly they saw out of place. And even though there haven't been a lot of people posting in this thread, I do see that the thread views are going up so I feel good that people though they may not have any C&C, are stopping by to view the progress.

I figured I would just post the building of this ship here and not on any other forum because I feel the work belongs here. So as long as people come by to check out the progress I will keep posting it. :bg04:
Thanks again Bryan

T

[gmd3d]

I am stunned at at the progress on the model .. WOW

[julix]

Looks great Santee! :salute:

[gpdesigner]

Looks great Santee! :salute:

thanx julix, I appreciate that I am pretty impressed at this model myself . . .
what do you think about the name " BattleStar Achilles" ?


I am stunned at at the progress on the model .. WOW

glad you like it Taranis, yeah it is comming along ok, right now it is very round, very organic. Once I get the body finished I will fit it together and shape it better.

Hey I remember seeing a render of the new battlestar you did, where is it?

T

[julix]

I really like that Name Ralph!!! :salute:

[repcisg]

I am amazed at the speed with which you are progressing and the detail already worked out.

I had a thought, as a variation on the theme, suppose you stretched the head back a bit. Leave the lower corners where they are but pull back from the center, like a cobra’s hood, covering the front part of the landing bays.

I have noticed Battlestars present their armored backs to the enemy. The cobra’s hood would add protection to at least the forward part of the landing bays, especially when retracted.

[Titon]

Great work Santee!

:)

Looks like you got very close to the original.

[gpdesigner]

I had a thought, as a variation on the theme, suppose you stretched the head back a bit. Leave the lower corners where they are but pull back from the center, like a cobra’s hood, covering the front part of the landing bays.

This sounds interesting . . . I am going to give this a shot today repcisg, but unless I flare out the hood in some fashion or another just pulling back from the center won't cover the landing bays . . but I am going to try this in a few moments . . as I am just getting ready to settle into my morning coffee . . . :D


Looks like you got very close to the original.

I am making a serious go of it. But you would be surprised at how much of the ship I can't see. I have about 22 images of the Galactica but the majority of them are at the same angles, so there are plenty of blind spot I have to fit together as I think it should go. Like the aft section of the mid ship, where the landing bays retract into. that section of the hull just before the engine section starts . . .
I have no idea how that is organized there are no sharp images of this part of the ship so I have to let the pieces flow to that point and fit them together organically as to match the theme and layout of the rest of the ship.
Also there is no square dead on shots of the rear end of the ship like there is of the front end, so all of the angles and measurements of the tail section are theoretical.
I would have to say this is an interesting project, and I am haveing a blast.
Glad you like the mesh :Nsalute:

T

[gmd3d]

I did this one .. The other I need to find again

http://img249.imageshack.us/img249/49/tngbsg6wm.th.jpg (http://img249.imageshack.us/my.php?image=tngbsg6wm.jpg)

[gpdesigner]

I did this one .. The other I need to find again

http://img249.imageshack.us/img249/49/tngbsg6wm.th.jpg (http://img249.imageshack.us/my.php?image=tngbsg6wm.jpg)

nice image, I thought I saw this a few days ago but my swiss cheese memory got it all turned around . . . nice image, cool render. Is that a full detailed battlestar ?

T

[gmd3d]

It done by Wil Jaspers and converted by Warrior .. and can be found in the downloads if you want to take a look,:)

[Titon]

Santee i probably can help you out with some renders to show your missing areas.


:)

[gpdesigner]

Santee i probably can help you out with some renders to show your missing areas.

It must be Christmas . . . :D
yeah sure Titon that would be awesome, basically it is just the aft section of the mid ship right were the mid section meets the engines and a square shot of the rear. but I really don't need it anymore I am going to go with what I did for the rear so probably just an idea of what the tail section looks like would be awesome.

It done by Wil Jaspers and converted by Warrior .. and can be found in the downloads if you want to take a look,

Thanx Taranis I will peek at it later, I am just curious of how he did that ship . .

@ repcisg : I tried a mock up of that hood you were talking about this morning. I took the theme you suggested and went with it, what I came up with wasn't what you had in mind, in fact what I came up with is completely horrible, however I can see possibility of something cool, I will have to work on the concept in order to bring something nice looking out of it. unfortunately I am going to have to experiment on it after I get to a point were I am comfortable with the progress of the current ship . . . .
here is the work just so you will have something to laugh at . . . BTW i don't have to tell you what it looks like from the top . . . :LOL: :LOL:

T
http://images.graphicproduction.org/forum_images/galactica/galactica11.jpg
http://images.graphicproduction.org/forum_images/galactica/galactica12.jpg

[repcisg]

Ya

[gpdesigner]

I started to do spot test renders of parts of the ship tonight. I was looking for polygon irregularities and surface errors. I found so many on the lower hull of the ship that I decided to trash it and build another. The original lower hull section was done by extruding a single polygon along a pre-determined path I had made by drawing a line in cyber space from point a to point b (rail extruding). This method is fine but it isn't quite working for me in this particular situation as certain areas of the mesh were mis-shapen and irregular.

So the next best method of modeling this section is in fact the way I modeled the rest of the ship . . . poly by poly . . .

http://images.graphicproduction.org/forum_images/galactica/galactica13.jpg

Sometimes you just have to build it brick by brick . . . .
T

[wjaspers]

Also there is no square dead on shots of the rear end of the ship like there is of the front end, so all of the angles and measurements of the tail section are theoretical.
T

Try this one, from a scifi-meshes thread, this guy made a model in cgi and than made a real model from that using a laser cutter:

http://home.comcast.net/~cobywan/Images/Whats_new/Galactica2003.pdf


The thread, if interested:
http://www.scifi-meshes.com/forums/showthread.php?t=21661&page=1

[Fragmentary]

The thread, if interested:
http://www.scifi-meshes.com/forums/showthread.php?t=21661&page=1
Whoa!
The pics of finished real world model are awesome. If he could find a way to sell these on the down low, I'd love to pick one up.

[TwoBrainedCylon]

That is some nice work.

Compliments to the guy.



Sandy

[Westy]

.

[Westy]

From what I see and have read there is an original series looking battlestar beneath the ribbing and attached nacelles. I’d like to see the model before the all the extra add ons.

You're right Sept. The TNS BSG has tons of tons of TOS Galactica's parts all over it under the ribbing. When I did my own model of the TNS ship, I took a gazzilion screen shots of the ship...those parts are more of a texture though...not much depth to them, but they are there. I've noticed at least 60 TOS parts on the landing bays, the aft section, the head, the body....they're everywhere.

[gpdesigner]

Try this one, from a scifi-meshes thread, this guy made a model in cgi and than made a real model from that using a laser cutter:

Thanks wjaspers nice post . . . . ., I got the pdf and saw the images this gentelman made . . very informative to say the least. Tho the area I am most interested in is still a bit uncertain, from the material I am gleaning from here and there I think I can wip it together nicely. thanks again . . :Nsalute:

I haven't been modeling much the last week, I have been busy as heck with a new start up company I have been planning. This past weekend was my first gig so things were very hecktick. Well . . . the first job went off flawlessly and I passed out a few cards for potential new clients, so I think I am actually get a break . . . :D.

Anyway right now I am in the midst of finishing off the new website for this start up company once that is done I will jump back onto the Galactica again . . .
--- I just love being busy --- (sarcasm)

T

[gmd3d]

Good to hear Santee.. best of luck with the company

[gpdesigner]

** update **
I started back on the project yesturday by doing a slew of test renders. I found all sorts of surface errors and mistake all along the hull of the ship. I spent most of the day trying to repair and smoothen out the hull so that it can stand up under really close renders.
I fixed mostly all of the errors, but left a few as I don't think they will show up once all the detail and image maps are applied.
In remodeling most of the ship, I found that I may have to rebuild all of the Ribs that I have made previously :cry: . . . Oh Well . . such is life. However once I start to rebuild the ribs, I think i will use the technique that RJ showed me, as this seems to be a faster and more reliable method.

For the rear section update, I looked at the images and links that wjaspers supplied. The gentalman who did the rhino project had some interesting ideas about the rear section, but if you examine the details closely on the rhino mock up, you'll see that the tail section doesn't come close to the design of the LW model by Zoic.
Even tho' when building a model some changes are good to make and a modeler's interpretation is always a factor, still I want to get a little bit closer to the Zoic mesh.

Here is my idea of what the engine tail section looks like, . . or as close as I can get it . . . . :Nsalute: peace

T

http://images.graphicproduction.org/forum_images/galactica/galactica14.jpg

[wjaspers]

Looking good,

do not know if you have ever seen these pics, but I think you should take a look at them, maybe they can be helpfull because they are black and white, whitout shadows:

http://www.meshweaver.com/frames/Portfolio/htms/zoic.htm

[gmd3d]

I the TOS shuttle pics .. cool

[gpdesigner]

thanks wj. that was a good score . . . I had smaller versions of the black and whites, but these are priceless becuase they are much bigger . . . :thumbsup:
i can see a lot more details . . .
this is a huge ship I have to say, tons of off angles to work with. I don't know who came up with the original draft but they definately have an awesome 3d perspective. Some of the body details are really precise, no room for mistakes . .
I was just cutting the holes for the extending arms for the hanger decks, . . . :eek: wow, that was a job . . . there are absolutely no loose ends on those cuts, all headers and edges are rounded off. Thats like serious detail work.
Anyway . . back to it for me . . . :Nsalute:
see ya'

T

[Indy]

Santee,

Very cool. I'm definately a fan of this model. Can't wait to see her finished.

[Indy]

http://www.meshweaver.com/frames/Portfolio/htms/zoic.htm


Great link... is that the guy that did the new G orginally? Passaro?

[mikala]

Wow a Lightwave native Galactica! Coming along real nice. A must watch thread for me.

[gpdesigner]

Great link... is that the guy that did the new G orginally? Passaro?

I don't know for sure, T think that would probably be something that Titan would know. As he worked on the details for the bow section of the production model.


Wow a Lightwave native Galactica! Coming along real nice. A must watch thread for me.

Thanks for the kuddo's mikala, and welcome to the boards . . . :Nsalute:
I think you are right when you say the Galactica is a native of LW. I saw a clip of the mesh in the extra's of the mini series dvd and the screen shot was LW.
They may not have used LW to do the rendering but I am pretty sure the model was built there.

Right at the moment I am trying to fix the port openings for the arms holding the landing bays. On the Zoic model the header edges are rounded off . . . .

http://images.graphicproduction.org/forum_images/galactica/squareport.jpg


The one that I built is very square not at all like the original production model . .

http://images.graphicproduction.org/forum_images/galactica/squareport2.jpg


Now because I am twisted about trying to maintaining exact detail on "some things", I am working on this area to make it rounded. I tried to round off the edges buy building it that way but the surface edges were unstable and hard to manipulate. As you can see in the image above the hull section before the opening slopes down . . . . This is one of the symptoms of weight map correction.
So the next method is to actually cut the rounded hole out of the hull and rebuild the finishing touches by hand so to speak . . I will post that up later today when I am finished . .

first I need to mow the grass around my house as the little woman is on my case about it . . . and also the garden is full so I need to pull out the ripe tomatos and
cucumbers, veggies and beans . . . Then water the grass and paint the patio deck. . . . ;)

did I say I was going to post progress today . .??? :LOL:

T

[wjaspers]

Great link... is that the guy that did the new G orginally? Passaro?


No, he only did the engine. If you look closer at his site you will see he re-textured the Viper MVII, for season 2.

[gpdesigner]

No, he only did the engine. If you look closer at his site you will see he re-textured the Viper MVII, for season 2.


he did an awesome job on those textures I think, you can almost see the paint chipping and peeling off the hull . . . . :D
3d rocks . . . .

http://images.graphicproduction.org/forum_images/galactica/portale.jpg

I got the basic shape in, now I just need to tweak it a bit more and start on the retractable arms . . .
Dang this is a lot, and I haven't even started any of the actual fittings yet. The ship is still in peices. I will need to start joining them together before I can start to lay in any of the details . . .
This is going to be a long project, but I won't drop the ball . . . :Nsmilie:

T

[gpdesigner]

Totally like a kid at christmas time, when I finished the retractable arm mock-ups, I put the ship together and did a few renders just to see what it looked like. . . . I just couldn't waite.

So now that the arm sections are done, this completes the basic bulk building of all parts of the ship . . . . yeah . . !!
The easy stuff is done . . . D'oh !

Now I can start on molding and cutting all the sections of the ship. This is where I start putting in the base details that bring the ship to life, the ribs, cutting the landing bays, bulk details on the arms . . . .
Once this is complete I will start on the gross details . . . boy . . I am looking forward to that. In my opinion that is the best part :D

So this afternoon after I finished in the garden . . . I started fooling around with color schemes, trying to find the right steel-blue shade that the ship is going to be.
In photoShop, I found a really neat method of putting together the shaded patchwork design for the hull of the ship, hopefully when the time comes it will go togther as planned, but I will do a few test runs before hand so as to not waste too much time on it.
Anyway enough talking, here are the renders. . . . it's coming together I think.

T

http://images.graphicproduction.org/forum_images/galactica/frnt.jpg
http://images.graphicproduction.org/forum_images/galactica/top.jpg
http://images.graphicproduction.org/forum_images/galactica/rear.jpg
http://images.graphicproduction.org/forum_images/galactica/belly.jpg

[Gemini1999]

You know something....

It's interesting seeing the TNS Galactica without the ribs and the dark paint scheme. I know that what we're seeing is the "raw" version of the render, but it has a 1701-D sleekness to it. It'd be interesting to add some minor detailing and the ST:TNG "Aztek" paint treatment to it just to see what a sleeker version of the Galactica looks like....

Just a thought - you're the artist.... I'm looking forward to seeing the intended completed version of the TNS Galactica.

Keep up the good work!
Bryan

[gpdesigner]

It'd be interesting to add some minor detailing and the ST:TNG "Aztek" paint treatment to it just to see what a sleeker version of the Galactica looks like....

Thank a lot Bryan, you'll have to tell me tho, what is the Aztek paint treatment?
It sounds interesting, you must educate me on this.

T

[Fragmentary]

So that's what the Galactica would look like if it were a submarine ;)

Looking good.

[Cinnamon]

Coming together indeed. She's pretty *now* so I know she's gonna be spectacular when she's complete.

I'm curious too. What *is* an 'Aztek Paint Treatment'?

-jaime

[Gemini1999]

Thank a lot Bryan, you'll have to tell me tho, what is the Aztek paint treatment? It sounds interesting, you must educate me on this.

Santee -

Sorry I took so long getting back with an explanation, I had assumed everyone knew what I meant. The "Aztec Paint" treatment is basically the type of painting scheme that has been used on Federation starships since the 1701 refit in Star Trek: The Motion Picture. The term, "Aztec" is in reference to the pattern templates used, not the paint itself.

Here's a pic to illustrate:

http://www.starshipdecals.com/EntNX1.jpg

The look is accomplished with varying shades of paint to give the look of multiple panels being welded together to form the skin or hull of a ship. The one thing about the 1701 in TMP, is that it gave a very sleek hull design the look of "texturing" without actually scribing hull lines to create the effect.

http://www.leestringer.com/Images/MotionPicture/Enterprise_01.jpg

(Coincidentally, the pic above is a CGI render done by Lee Stringer (of Zoic) for the "Directors Cut" of ST:TMP)

When I saw Santee's sleek and shiny "raw" render, I saw what the modelmakers must have seen when painting the 1701-D for Next Generation.

Just one of my wacky suggestions....

Bryan

[neilfsmith]

Hey there. I'm new here. Been into 3D modeling for a couple of years. I like the smooth version of the Galactica. The comments about the Aztec pattters made me think it might be cool to try to do all the detailing with textures and not geometry. It would be a great low poly version for wide shots. :thumbsup:

[wjaspers]

Hey there. I'm new here. Been into 3D modeling for a couple of years. I like the smooth version of the Galactica. The comments about the Aztec pattters made me think it might be cool to try to do all the detailing with textures and not geometry. It would be a great low poly version for wide shots. :thumbsup:


NOOOOOOOOOOWAAAAAAAAAAY. Do not make a low poly version, I did that already, and many comments are, that they can not do any close ups. So please continue with the detailing. Also if possible the panels, try and model them, someone at scifi meshes started with them on my model, but I did not hear from him in a loooooong time.

So, sorry Neilsmith, my advice for santee would be keep on going.

BTW, yes it would be interesting how the sleek version would look like with startrek aztecs.

[neilfsmith]

NOOOOOOOOOOWAAAAAAAAAAY. Do not make a low poly version, I did that already, and many comments are, that they can not do any close ups. So please continue with the detailing. Also if possible the panels, try and model them, someone at scifi meshes started with them on my model, but I did not hear from him in a loooooong time.

So, sorry Neilsmith, my advice for santee would be keep on going.

BTW, yes it would be interesting how the sleek version would look like with startrek aztecs.


Please don't misunderstand me. My idea for a low poly version is only for wide shots. I usually develop a low res version of an object of I plan on shooting it from a long distance. There's no reason to load your processors with a highly detailed model for such a wide shot.

Obviously Santee should continue with the detailing of the ship - but it still would be nice to have a low poly for those specific reasons.

[gpdesigner]

The look is accomplished with varying shades of paint to give the look of multiple panels being welded together to form the skin or hull of a ship. The one thing about the 1701 in TMP, is that it gave a very sleek hull design the look of "texturing" without actually scribing hull lines to create the effect.

Thanks for the tutorial Bryan . . . :D I think I may try this on my ship, but use it as a painting solution to help with the plating. That "Aztec" design or versions like it are used on the new version of the Galactica now I think. In some of the close up shots you see the square break up pattern through out the plating. Visually it helps with the "idea" of welded panels, but it also serves as color texturing. I may be wrong but thats what it looks like to me.

Anyway I am going to give it a shot, thanks for helping me out on this . . .


Hey there. I'm new here. Been into 3D modeling for a couple of years. I like the smooth version of the Galactica. The comments about the Aztec pattters made me think it might be cool to try to do all the detailing with textures and not geometry. It would be a great low poly version for wide shots.


Welcome to Colonial Fleets neilfsmith, That smooth version of the Galactica is cool looking I think `Fragmentary` called it a submarine . . . ha ha I just got antsy and wanted to see the ship put together one time so I did a few quick renders . . . .
I will make use of that Aztec pattern but I won't stiff out on the full blown details.


NOOOOOOOOOOWAAAAAAAAAAY. Do not make a low poly version, I did that already, and many comments are, that they can not do any close ups. So please continue with the detailing. Also if possible the panels, try and model them, someone at scifi meshes started with them on my model, but I did not hear from him in a loooooong time.

:rotf: . . . . Don't worry wjaspers, I won't chince on the details, besides I don't think `Titon` would let me get away with it . . . . ;)
I tell you what I have been thinking in regards to the detail, I think I will do it like the T.V. production version, and have "Detail Packages". You know like level 1 details, level 2 details, and so on . . . just adding on these packages as needed. Like if I am doing close up front bow shots, then I won't need any of the engine details . . . and for far away shots I will have basic hull effect details . . .
If i keep the details as a separate lightwave model, then I won't have to build different versions of the ship. I think it will be less confusing that way.
Anyway these are just ideas . . . I will see when I get there.

I started on the details for the engine section . . . It took about 6 hours to get this much done but I had a ball doing it . . . I think adding the details are going to be the best part.
I am trying to stick as close to the orininal details but were I can't make out an object from the images I have, I replace it with something else, plus I am adding some of my own objects just to make it interesting . . .
I still have a long way to go on this engine section, but tell me what you think so far . . .

T

http://images.graphicproduction.org/forum_images/galactica/rearend.jpg

[TwoBrainedCylon]

Nice start.

If you do this across the whole model, rendering is gonna be a huge hassle but it should give you a basis for some really nice animations.

Good job so far.


Sandy

[gpdesigner]

If you do this across the whole model, rendering is gonna be a huge hassle

Soooo true . . . . and I am just running a G4 400 with only a gig of ram . . . .
But detail is where it is at, I try to do all of my models with as much detail as possible.
I have hit the render button before and come back 68 hours later . . . :LOL:
and that was on a still . . . D'oh !

I have a feeling it will be another Month before this model is done, lots of things still yet to do, and lots of learning in the process...

T

[TwoBrainedCylon]

You, my friend, seriously need to invest in some more RAM and a much faster processor.

You have some definite talent for this. You need the tools to explore that talent.


Sandy

[gpdesigner]

You, my friend, seriously need to invest in some more RAM and a much faster processor.

Sandy you got that right . . . .
what I want "my wish list" is a G5 Dual processor 2.7ghz . . . this machine friggin' rocks . . and ram . . :LOL: :LOL: you can load up to 8 gig of ram in this puppy . .
I shudder just thinking of the possibilities.
Tho' once I got that maching then I would be forced to go out and get Lightwave 9, you know, . . just because . . . .

So what are we talking here . . 5-6 thousand . . ? yeah! I got that :rotf: :(
no seriously though, I know I need a faster machine, I will get it one day but right now cash is a bit tight.

I started baging out some of the details on the engine section, I wasn't ready for task yet, but once I got started I just couldn't got out of it. I am 85% completed with just the back face plate. still a bit more detail to drop in. Once this is done I will just finish off the entire section of the model just to get the Engines done.

I am realizing that I may have to put a cap on the amount of detail I put into each section of the ship. I am going to try and keep the total number of poly's and point's in and around the 1 million mark as I would like to use the ship with my limited machine. I am going to try not to be cheap with the detail but I need to be realistic here. Already I am up to 88,128 points and 56,320 poly's on just what you see in that image below. and trust me I can just keep loading in the detail, that is the easiest part . . . I can see where you can go over-board.

Anyway from the image below you can get an idea of what type of detail I am headed for and know that close up shots are definately in order for the renders.

T

http://images.graphicproduction.org/forum_images/galactica/buttend_1.jpg
http://images.graphicproduction.org/forum_images/galactica/buttend_2.jpg

[TwoBrainedCylon]

Very nice job. Outstanding in fact.

I despise this ship design but I marvel at the work you're doing on it.

Check your PMs.


Sandy

[Titon]

Santee, just remember that poly count nowdays is becoming irrelevant. Well maybe not totally but you should render in layers. Make sure you render only what's needed to be seen. Load your model and render different sections at a time and composite together later.

That include shadows, objects, lights ect. ect. Gives you much more control over the entire scene in the end.

Great work though!

:)

[Sept17th]

I enjoy seeing the detail...there is an old time original series battlestar in there. Who is Curtis?

[gpdesigner]

Well maybe not totally but you should render in layers. Make sure you render only what's needed to be seen. Load your model and render different sections at a time and composite together later.

I have heard of this but never really looked into it, i will have to check and see if version 7 is capable of this. That would be great if I could load the entire model in and rernder it out. I do know that "Modeler" on my machine has issues with saving files larger than 100,000 points. I get up to 128,000 and the machine starts to freak out, error messages come back really fats at that point.
Thanks for the info Titon, I am going to check into this later today . . . .



I despise this ship design but I marvel at the work you're doing on it.

Thanks for the kuddo's TBC, don'y know why you hate the design tho' ?
I loved it the first time I saw it, it just has this organically stern feeling to it.
The idea of the retrackable landing bays is awesome. the ship is very round very bullet like, a lot more aero-dynamic than TOS galactica, Tho' I do like the old one still, the old galactica has the classic hard-nose hard edge feel to it . . .
I guess the new one is just different.

I enjoy seeing the detail...there is an old time original series battlestar in there. Who is Curtis?

I can see that a bit . . . "Curtis . . ?"
That's my last name . . of course I had to tag it somewhere,
Why not on the a _ _ end . . . . :D

T

[repcisg]

Your doing some realy first class work here, keep going!

[Cinnamon]

Oh, this is going to be one /gorgeous/ model when you're finished with it. The detail level is just beautiful.
I can't wait to see more of her.

Noticed that you use a Mac - I'm glad I'm not the only one. ^_-

-jaime
(who actually bought an evil PC to play with all this too)

[gpdesigner]

Noticed that you use a Mac - I'm glad I'm not the only one. ^_-
(who actually bought an evil PC to play with all this too)

Go Mac . . . . :D Don't fret about buying a PC, we all have moments of weakness, besides you need a machine to break into mainstream every once in a while . . .
I am thinking of getting one myself soon, of course it will have to be kick-butt as I don't want a weak link in my chain. ;)

Well I have been at it for 2 days straight, I am starting to get the thousand mile stare . . . my brain is fried, but I finally got the bulk of the top part of the engine section done . . :D

Count so far in just what you see:
Points = 222,161
Poly's = 184,230

I can see why the original rose to the 4 million mark, cause man it is easy to put detail in, you just have to know when to stop. I was toying with the idea of putting in some micro details on what I have already but with almost 1/4 of a million points already I think I will slow up a bit.

hope you like the progress . . .

Santee
http://images.graphicproduction.org/forum_images/galactica/tail1.jpg
http://images.graphicproduction.org/forum_images/galactica/tail2.jpg
http://images.graphicproduction.org/forum_images/galactica/tail3.jpg

[wjaspers]

What can I say, very very good, keep it up !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[gpdesigner]

What can I say, very very good, keep it up !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

You know I will . . .

I started on the bottom details this morning and am almost finished. Seems this section of the ship isn't that intense on the details as the reverse side. Which makes me want to go back into the top section and put in those micro details that I wanted to put in. True no one will ever see them unless I get extremely close to the engine section, but . . I will know they are there, and it will lend in my imagining scene senarios when I finally get to do some art renders.

I did some advanced speculation on the amount of points and poly's in this model. I figured out a guide-line for me to follow, so as not to be blindly building away. In a perfect world and on a better machine this would not pose a problem but with limited resourses I think it best if I had poly goals in mind.

What I figured is about 500,00 points in the tails section. ( am at 300,000 already )
About 1.5 million points in the mid section, this includes the body of the ship and both landing pods.
And about 750,000 points in the nose of the ship. I will try to keep it under 3 million when all is said and done . . . . . Hopefully . . . .

Santee

http://images.graphicproduction.org/forum_images/galactica/eng_bot.jpg

[mikala]

Are you going to go completely crazy and model all the guns in a separate layer and have them animatable as well? I'm just joking of course.
Wow 3 mill.....but she's worth it...:)

[wjaspers]

Are you going to go completely crazy and model all the guns in a separate layer and have them animatable as well? I'm just joking of course.


What do you mean with joking? Of course he will model all the guns :rotf: , or ....?

Anyway Santee, take a little advise and leave those engine details till the end, (of course you can do what you want, it is you who is modeling) believe me you are in for some surprises at other points of the ship.

But again, keep it up :salute:

[gpdesigner]

Are you going to go completely crazy and model all the guns in a separate layer and have them animatable as well?

I was thinking about that in the shower the other day . . . I think what I was going to do was Model just one of the different types of guns at 0 registration and then duplicate them in the scene so that they have their own rotation point of reference. I was going to do a test on this theory later but the truth is if I model the guns as part of the ship as a whole the center point for the guns will be incorrect for pivoting when animation time comes . .
I will tae class on this later . . . . . :D

Anyway Santee, take a little advise and leave those engine details till the end, (of course you can do what you want, it is you who is modeling) believe me you are in for some surprises at other points of the ship.


Ohhh . . . trust me wj . . I know, I have seen the ship all 8 points . . . .
The bow is intense I know, and i am going to do full details inside the hanger deck
but still I will try . . . (try being key word ) to keep it under 3 million poly's

he he he he . . .

Santee

[wjaspers]

I was thinking about that in the shower the other day . . .

Thought I was the only one going mad, thinking about modeling under the shower :rotf:


and i am going to do full details inside the hanger deck

Santee

I was afraid to ask :thumbsup:

[gpdesigner]

Thought I was the only one going mad, thinking about modeling under the shower :rotf:

All true 3d artists think about spinning quads in the shower . . .
your one of us wjaspers . . . Bwa ha ha ha ha

Santee

[mikala]

I think about "slip and fall" statistics!

[gpdesigner]

I think about "slip and fall" statistics!

Dude, you need to loosen up a bit . . . live life on the edge, throw caution to the wind and " run around the house with scissors . . . :LOL:

Santee

[Titon]

Seems this section of the ship isn't that intense on the details as the reverse side.

You are correct. When Fabio modeled the engine section he made quite a bit of details on that part.

Santee lightwave 8+ upped the limits when it comes to both poly's and points. Before a single poly could only have somewhere in the neighborhood of 1600 points. It used to be that way with poly's as well but a significant upgrade to that came with lightwave 8.3.

When it comes to rendering in layers that option has always been there. You can tell lightwave's layout to only render what you wish the camera to see. The render engine then ignores the layer's you have turned off.

Great work by the way.

;)

[Cinnamon]

Lord, this thing is bloody *gorgeous*

Just watching the progress here makes my paws itch. :)

Beautiful work, Santee!

-jaime
(who hopes to learn enough to make *intelligent* comments soon)

[gpdesigner]

Santee lightwave 8+ upped the limits when it comes to both poly's and points.

A friend of mine was talking about that the other day, he has LW8, and he says it is awesome . . . he is thinking of getting 9 in the near future. I on the other hand am locked into 7.0 until I get a G5 then it will be upgrade time . . .
I pm'ed Fabio over at LWG told I was appriciating both of you guys modeling skills alot . . . Also that I am learning a great deal working on this project. He said he would see if he could organize some detail renders of the engine section later on.


Lord, this thing is bloody *gorgeous*

Just watching the progress here makes my paws itch.

Thanks for the compliment and support Cinnamon, I am definately putting in way too much time on this project but at the moment I have tons of time to spare.

I started in on the sublight engines today, ribbed out the hull section and started to add the micro hull plating on the sides. adding this detail is going to be time- consuming at best, but I am sure it will be worth it . . .

The rear end is comming along nicely I think, the larger hull plates here need to be rounded out a bit better, but this I can do anytime. for those who don't know, this model is being built in halves. The thing about symetrical objects is you only need to do one side then mirror it into a complete object, so everything I am doing here is done once . . . . ( saves a lot of time )

Santee
http://images.graphicproduction.org/forum_images/galactica/top_eng.jpg
http://images.graphicproduction.org/forum_images/galactica/sid_eng.jpg
http://images.graphicproduction.org/forum_images/galactica/bot_eng.jpg

[mikala]

Set your WIP on stun next time okay? I just woke up with a bump on my head. Looking excellent!

[gpdesigner]

Set your WIP on stun next time okay? I just woke up with a bump on my head. Looking excellent!

:erk: . . . D'oh !

So I am back at it . . . I took apart the entire sub light cell today and rebuilt it.
I just didn't like the look of the last one. The main hull plating wasn't shaped to fit the ribs and the plating was as round as it should have been. if you look at the images prior you will see what I am talking about.
I deleted everything and started from scratch changing my methodology of how the construction should happen. The result is the images below . . . .

I was thinking hard about this BattleStar when I was doing the Viper and I decided to do something Titon mentioned earlier in this construction. he said "each model has to take on a life, a path of it's own" . . well not those exact words but that is the message I got from it.
Anyway I have decided to make changes to this ship as I go along. . . . :D
Mind you they won't be major changes (maybe . . well see ) but they will be different from what is expected. The reason for this is:
1. I can't replicate (accurately duplicate) all the details that make this ship, . .
2. I want to put a bit of me in it . . . It's the Achilles, not the Galactica.


Ok so with that said here are the new updates to the sub light cell, the gun inplacements will have to be adjusted as i am not used to that curved angle yet.
I think I am just going to align the base plates with the hull out cropping and call it a day . . .

Santee

http://images.graphicproduction.org/forum_images/galactica/sub_l.jpg

http://images.graphicproduction.org/forum_images/galactica/sub_2.jpg

[mikala]

Now thats a lot o guns!
Different is good too...:)

[neilfsmith]

Santee,

You are doing some incredible work here. Nice job.

neilfsmith

[TwoBrainedCylon]

Amazing job. Very, very nice work so far.

Sandy

[gpdesigner]

:mad: AAARRRRRGGGGGGG !!!

just thought I would chime in and let you know that I am embroiled in mortal combat with this ship at the moment. WE (lightwave and I ) have been at it for 2 days now trying to square away this tail section of the sub-light engines.

I have tried absolutely everything I could think of to build these (ridges) as efficiently as possible. I tried booleaning, rail extrusion, Cloning, Stenciling, even the stanby method of copy paste, but nothing worked.

SO . . . sometimes you just have to reach right in and do it by hand, piece by piece . . . the old fashion way . . . one by freakin' one: scale it to size then fit it into place.

What you see below is about 2 and a half hours of work and 4 cups of coffee.
not that it's difficult, just teadious . . . . .

and it can still go wrong . .

Santee

http://images.graphicproduction.org/forum_images/galactica/heatshield.jpg

[mikala]

I see what you mean....and I second the arghhh. But it does look very good. :) Gald you've stuck with it.
You've got more patience than I .

[neilfsmith]

:mad: AAARRRRRGGGGGGG !!!

just thought I would chime in and let you know that I am embroiled in mortal combat with this ship at the moment. WE (lightwave and I ) have been at it for 2 days now trying to square away this tail section of the sub-light engines.

I have tried absolutely everything I could think of to build these (ridges) as efficiently as possible. I tried booleaning, rail extrusion, Cloning, Stenciling, even the stanby method of copy paste, but nothing worked.

SO . . . sometimes you just have to reach right in and do it by hand, piece by piece . . . the old fashion way . . . one by freakin' one: scale it to size then fit it into place.

What you see below is about 2 and a half hours of work and 4 cups of coffee.
not that it's difficult, just teadious . . . . .

and it can still go wrong . .

Santee

Dude, take a breather. Rome wasn't built in a day you know. On the other hand, Rome didn't look anywhere as awesome as what you've built... Never mind. Don't listen to me. Go get some more coffee.
neilfsmith

[gpdesigner]

Thanks gentelmen, . . . I think the only reason I am at this constantly is if I let up for too long, I will drop the ball on this project. I have done it before. There are 3 massive projects out there I need to finish, One is the U.S. Capitol that I started 4 years ago, :eek: another is a landscape shot of Rivendel from LOTR, and the 3rd is a period piece of a medeveil castel . . . So with that track record in mind, I just need to stay fixed.

Anyway thanks for the support everybody . . . everyone here at CF has been extremely cool about this project and I appreciate that . . especially if you can put up with my spelling . . . . :rotf:

Santee

[gpdesigner]

Well . . today was an eventfull day, I rode out onto the field of battle, it me and Lightwave against the corrigated rear tail section of the sub-light engines . . . .
I am sorry to say, They won.

I regrouped and threw it all in the trash, I then went to reenergize and come up with some alternative ideas. While I was in my garden picking grapes . . . . :D
I decided to expose the core of the engines and show some detail inside.
I thought this may look cool as most of the ship looks this way anyway . . . why make the tail section any different. I came up with the renders below.
The concept is nice I think but I may hav to work on the way I am doing it . . . .
any sugestions feel free to post them . . .

Santee

http://images.graphicproduction.org/forum_images/galactica/sub_3.jpg

http://images.graphicproduction.org/forum_images/galactica/sub_5.jpg


Oh! . . and i worked on the spacing and layout of the 1st gun placements

http://images.graphicproduction.org/forum_images/galactica/sub_4.jpg

[rjandron]

Santee, on the issue of the ridges, since the design that you're doing is pretty much a rectangular ridge, why not try the following approach.

1. Create the substructure where the ridges will be placed. I'd personally use splines to loft a structure between the two profiles of the substructure, but pretty much any method to get a structure as is will work.

Splining it out:

http://img.villagephotos.com/p/2005-7/1044740/Ribs001.jpg


2. When you create the substructure, make sure that you have twice as many polygons as you will need ridges. Select every other polygon.

The Substructure lofted and every second polygon selected:

http://img.villagephotos.com/p/2005-7/1044740/Ribs002.jpg

3. Smooth shift the selected polygons to the height of the ridge.

http://img.villagephotos.com/p/2005-7/1044740/Ribs003.jpg

4. Mirror, if necessary...

http://img.villagephotos.com/p/2005-7/1044740/Ribs004.jpg

Hope this helps...

RJ

[gpdesigner]

Thanks rj that was an interesting method, never thought of doing it that way.
I actually finished a ridge section like that yesturday, but gave up on it because it didn't fit well, the ends didn't match up. I will revisit that section I made to see if I can salvage it, but maybe a new design is needed . . who nows I will give it a shot. I will also check this method you showed me and see if the ends match up any better, . . . . Thanks dude

Santee

[gpdesigner]

OK . . tired and weary I went back out into the field of battle, this time I was determind not to be defeated.
I locked and loaded my lightwave and met the "Tail Section" head on . . .
this time . . . I won . .

this is all i have . . it will have to look like this.

Santee

http://images.graphicproduction.org/forum_images/galactica/sub_6.jpg

http://images.graphicproduction.org/forum_images/galactica/sub_7.jpg

[gpdesigner]

Been working on trying to finish the sub_light engines . . I added some more details this week but I don't think I am happy with what came out . .
If I have to change certain things you know I will but for now I am going to let it be . .

Santee

http://images.graphicproduction.org/forum_images/galactica/sub_det_1.jpg

http://images.graphicproduction.org/forum_images/galactica/sub_det_2.jpg

[mikala]

Glad you went back into battle!
Hard to see that you are having trouble as this is looking better each post.

[gpdesigner]

Hard to see that you are having trouble as this is looking better each post.

thanks mikala . . . . but if you look at the image above, the inside hull. That section right after the rippled engine covering is curvy, so much so that the detail in the cut outs are not level . . I have to try and flatten that section out so that I can make those 2 detail pieces fit properly.

not a big deal, just something I have to plan an attack for.
hey . . . . how's the squid coming?

Santee

[infinityloop]

perfect work!

[Cinnamon]

The level of detail work you're doing on this is abslutely breathtaking.

I know you've been tearing your hair out over parts of this model - but from where I sit, you make it look so damned easy. Between this and your Viper, they just come to life. It's really a joy to watch.

Tell me, can you recommend any good references to lightwave, or to three dee modelling in general that would be appropriate for a rank beginner?

Watching you build this makes me want to play too! :)


Thanks!

-jaime

[gpdesigner]

Hi jamie, thanks for the kuddo's . . . :D
The galactica is quite a project no doubt, just trying to do it bit by bit. Don't know if I will be able to contribute as much time as I have for too much longer but i will keep at it until it is done.

3d Software:

I have a few links here for you to check out . . If you use a PC then you will be fine, as most of this 3d software is free. I can't say which prog is the best out of this bunch, they all seem to have their own strong points. However I am sure that you can use anyone of them to learn on and then judging wheather you like 3d or not it may be worth while to go out and perchase a good program.

Right now seeing how Lightwave just lowered it's prices dramatically, you can pick up their lastest version for about $800 or so dollars . . but here is the free stuff first. . . . in no particular order:

http://www.blender.org/cms/Home.2.0.html

http://www.anim8or.com/

http://www.povray.org/download/

http://www.wings3d.com/

These are just a few progs out there and they are free, if you want to drop a few dollars on some software you can try these

http://www.nevercenter.com/purchase/ (cheap)

http://www.caligari.com/store/trueSpace/default.asp?Cate=STtrueSpace

http://www.strata.com/default.asp

this is just a few things . . hope it helps you . .

"come Jamie . . come to the dark side . . . ) :D

Santee

[Titon]

Santee, may i suggest if you don't have it to check out this plugin.

http://www.skstudios.com/VertiBevel.htm

If you don't have it i suggest saving for it because i couldn't live without it. I used it constantly when i model. It would have save you a TON of time on those engines.

Great work still.

;)

[TwoBrainedCylon]

Santee, may i suggest if you don't have it to check out this plugin.

http://www.skstudios.com/VertiBevel.htm

If you don't have it i suggest saving for it because i couldn't live without it. I used it constantly when i model. It would have save you a TON of time on those engines.

Great work still.

;)

I second that. Its invaluable!

Sandy

[gmd3d]

awesome update´s Santee. its really getting there.

[gpdesigner]

Santee, may i suggest if you don't have it to check out this plugin.


Oh! Titon you don't know brother . . . . how I wish I could use that plug in.
Thanks for the heads up guys, but I am on OS 9.2 Vertibevel is for OSX and better. plus I don't think they made it for LW.7.0.

I found a tute a while back and the guy was using Vertibevel . . when I went to get the plug in, I was terribly disapointed.

I am going to get it one day . . . try to save up all my pennies and upgrade all the way round, but for now it's going to have to be "bevel by hand"

Santee

[Zinjo]

WOW!!, I'm so impressed, I'll say it backward..WOW!!

[gpdesigner]

No image this time but I just wanted to keep you all updated.
I am still working on the Achilles, the upper sub-light engine section is almost done. There are some major shape issues but nothing I can't fix by either re doing it or re designing it.

I am pleased with the over all progress of the model, it is actually turning out better than I anticipated, I think this is do to the progression of my modeling skills over the course of this project.

In the begining I had no idea of the time it would take to complete the Achilles, As it turns out modeling this ship is a tremendous undertaking, My hats off to Titon, Fabio, and all the others who did work on the Production Model. There must have been some serious time investment on all their parts.

anyway enough said, talk to ya later

Ralph

[Cinnamon]

Hi jamie, thanks for the kuddo's . . . :D
The galactica is quite a project no doubt, just trying to do it bit by bit. Don't know if I will be able to contribute as much time as I have for too much longer but i will keep at it until it is done.

Well I understand the time pressures... work of late for me has been unholy, but things are hopefully starting to slow down again - at least for the moment. You can rest assured, though, that I will be following this thread avidly, no matter when you update.



3d Software:

I have a few links here for you to check out . . If you use a PC then you will be fine, as most of this 3d software is free. I can't say which prog is the best out of this bunch, they all seem to have their own strong points. However I am sure that you can use anyone of them to learn on and then judging wheather you like 3d or not it may be worth while to go out and perchase a good program.

Right now seeing how Lightwave just lowered it's prices dramatically, you can pick up their lastest version for about $800 or so dollars . . but here is the free stuff first. . . . in no particular order:

<snip>

Thank you ever so much for the links! I'll be checking these out all this week, and playing with them as much as possible. I use both PC and Macintosh, so compatibility shouldn't be an issue with any of them. Just glancing at the pages while making sure I have them properly bookmarked I can see already that it's going to be a lot of fun.

You're not kidding about the radical drop in price for lightwave, either... last I had checked, it was over 4K a seat. At the price you're citing, even I can manage to afford it - given a little time.


this is just a few things . . hope it helps you . .

"come Jamie . . come to the dark side . . . ) :D

Santee

I'm coming! I'm coming!

Err... wait... that didn't sound /quite/ right... what I mean is, 'Yay, Darkside!' And yes, it helps tremendously. Thanks again!

-jaime

[okino]

Excellent work so far, looking forward to seeing it finished.

[Don Gaiser]

Beautiful job, I was thinking of building one myself. :)

[gpdesigner]

cool don,
that would be awesome, we could help each other out share techniques on sections of the ship . . . let me know

S

[gmd3d]

any updates Santee?

[Titon]

Santee i to want to see this sucker finished. It's a wonderful piece of work.

You should be very proud of it.

;)

[gpdesigner]

any updates Santee?

I did a little more detail on the sub engines but for the most part I just took a week or so off. I will get back on it in a few days, but right at the moment I am doing an art render with the Vipers.

Santee i to want to see this sucker finished. It's a wonderful piece of work.

You should be very proud of it.


Thanks Titon,
I am definately going to finish it, I want to see it too . . . I can't waite to start to do renders with it . . .

S

[Nays]

lookin really good man! love that ship :)

[Roguewing]

Wow! I can hardly wait to see it finished.

[Scutter_2]

looking real frackin' nice man. can't wait to see the completed thing

[gpdesigner]

Sorry no image update yet . . . but thanks everyone.
I did start on the model again yesturday, still working on the upper portion of the sub light engines. I put in all of the thruster ports and inside rib details. Now I am working on the support braces that hold the sub light and FTL engines together.

I took a break from the ship to live life again, plus I just started taking French Courses . . . . :wtf: 43 and I have to learn French . . .
Anyway, break is over, back to business . . .

Santee (gp)

[gmd3d]

ouch.. I have to learn Spanish.. good to see your still working on the Galactica

[gpdesigner]

ouch.. I have to learn Spanish.. good to see your still working on the Galactica

Spanish . . . . ola! :D

Still at it . . I can't drop this project, I am in it too deep . . . . :D
Santee

[Cinnamon]

Spanish . . . . ola! :D

Still at it . . I can't drop this project, I am in it too deep . . . . :D
Santee


Well, I thank the goddess for that!

This is gonna be one BEAUTIFUL ship!

tres bien, mon ami! :salute:

-jaime

[Lt. Merak]

WOW this coming out great!

[lommel]

Cool

[gpdesigner]

Thanks Everyone for the replies to the construction of the BattleStar, I am glad you all are following the progress, it makes it worth while.

Sorry I have been away for some time, I have been busy as heck with other projects, French classes, new Models and rebuilding the concrete patio in my backyard . . so things have been non stop lately.
Also to tell you the truth I have been procrastinating on starting this next section of the ship becuase it has proven to be difficult . . . plus not to mention it is bringing out all the design flaws in my modeling.

The section I am talking about is right below the sub light engines . . they are the struts that mount the upper engines to the FTL drive . . . :wtf:
because my design is off, the struts are really at odd angles to the ship and is giving me a problem to make them fit straight or even. I wish I could go back and fix the overall shape of the FTL drive housing but I am too far past that, so I will have to make it work someway.

Anyway enough of me whining . . . . :cry: here is what I am into:

Santee
http://images.graphicproduction.org/forum_images/galactica/struts1.jpg

[gpdesigner]

Update.... ok gang I finished modeling the engine section or the tail end of the ship . . . Now that didn't take long at all . . . . . . :wtf:

The count so far is 1,405,230 points and 1,291,894 poly's . . . :(
I believe Fabio put 3 million in the production version . . . I can see where it went.

Anyway not that this portion is done I am going to take a break from this for a couple of weeks and work on some other projects. When I come back to it i will start work on the landing bays . . . I want to get those out of the way.

here are the imags, see ya later

Santee

http://images.graphicproduction.org/forum_images/galactica/sub_lite_1.jpg

http://images.graphicproduction.org/forum_images/galactica/sub_lite_2.jpg

http://images.graphicproduction.org/forum_images/galactica/sub_lite_3.jpg

http://images.graphicproduction.org/forum_images/galactica/sub_lite_4.jpg

[rjandron]

Wow. Just...Wow.

Outstanding!

:salute:

[gpdesigner]

Thanks RJ . . .
now I can start on that cylon base . . . . :D

Santee

[gpdesigner]

# double posted #

Santee

[TwoBrainedCylon]

Absolutely amazing!

Sandy

[ernie90125]

Santee............those are amazing....the amount of detail is outstanding....keep up the excellent work...

[gmd3d]

awesome work Santee ... the detail is breath taking ..

[Titon]

Nice work sir.

Top notch.

:)

[wjaspers]

excellent!!!!!!!!!!

[Lt.Troy]

Wow. Amazing detail! :eek:

[dec2000]

very good job!!!

[thinkbank]

WOW! :thumbsup:

[Foomandoonian]

This work is hugely impressive. I hope your week off doesn't distract you too much :) You've gone too far to stop now!

[eric7156]

Keep it up

[lordsauronxx]

So how is the project going? Any news? It's awesome and and I'm anxious to see it finished.

[gpdesigner]

So how is the project going? Any news? It's awesome and and I'm anxious to see it finished.


Sorry lordsauronxx at the moment I am knee deep helping out on the 14th colony project. I am going to get into it really soon tho' . . . .
thanks for the post
gp

[chaotic_uk]

that's one of the best galactica mesh's i have seen :thumbsup:

[gpdesigner]

that's one of the best galactica mesh's i have seen :thumbsup:


Thanks . . I am trying to get back to it but there are so many things more important in the way it is getting tough. I did pull up the mesh 2 days ago and started a game plan for the landing pods, unfortunately that is all I have done for the moment.
The 14th Colony has my complete attention in 3D at the moment . . it's going to be a cool project go check it out Here (http://battlestarfanfilm.org/)
gp

[chaotic_uk]

no probs , are these fan films in .mov format ? i ask this cause my .mov player does not work atm :(

[RGUS]

This is gonna be fun

[Wºz™]

Veryu cool Santee

[gmd3d]

Welcome to CF. WoZ

[coloneltigh]

wow that detail is amazing, great work, i bet you could show up zoics model when you finish all this up. great work

[dglidden]

Great job!

[cylon private]

absolutely beautiful

[Smallworld]

Quite simply stunning!

[Aussie86]

Absolutely Damned Brilliant... just saw the part with the engine section, haven't seen any more. This has got to be the most detailed TNS BSG model i've ever seen... Great Job!

[viperboy]

dude...i have just joined to say..."i have never seen such great work in anything...so keep it up and if you havent already get a graphics design job because with that quality of work everyone will want you to design for them"

i salute you :salute:

and when it gets finished...well lets just say i cant wait till i get it on my computer

[Unimatrix]

What kind of Mac are you using because that still looks like OS 9...

As far as the model goes: it's looking extremely good so far.

[xodiaq]

From what I see and have read there is an original series looking battlestar beneath the ribbing and attached nacelles. I’d like to see the model before the all the extra add ons.


Actually if you look under the outer engines from behind (I hate the word nacelle, its so Trek to me, even if it is the correct word :D ) the base there is the original Galactica engine. I had heard the biggest change was the enlarging of the forward section and the roundinjg of the flight pods. Personally I always assumed if the ribs were built back UP it would look more like the original, but im probably wrong...

[Oovebei]

The model is looking superb, watching it is just plain enjoyable ;)

[gpdesigner]

Thanks for the comments everyone, sorry to leave this hanging for such a long time but I will get back to it . . . how can I not.
At the moment I am helping out on the 14th colony project so that is my main priority as far as 3d projects go, and to be honest, I haven't been working on that too much lately either, so I guess you could say I am just a slacker . . . . . . :blink:
I will keep yall posted tho . .. I promise . . .
but in the mean time, check out the 14th colony stuff Here (http://battlestarfanfilm.org/smf/index.php)
gp

[Staby]

looking forward to see the final version! :salute: :thumbsup: