Scrapping My Battlestar Galactica project ????

[Merlin]

This is a bit of a heartbreaker for me ..

I'm debating about scrapping my Battlestar Galactica project ...And really need some opinions ..

My original idea was to do my own version of the original 1978 Battlestar Galactica
I'm not a writer so I thought I would make a web site that would be used to explain my version.
In the site would be excerpts of the story along with images and fan films , all combined to help tell my version ...

Creating this is the main reason I've been learning lightwave.... Even though it may not look like I've produced much, I've spent countless man hours on this .. developing the story working on the concepts, and building some of the models ...

I'm debating now .. if I should scrap the Battlestar Galactica elements and just make it an original story ...

I would have to drop some of designs all together, The Battlestar and the Super Viper ..
However I think I could get away with using some of the other models ..

The story would have to altered, but quite a bit of the elements could remain ...

The bummer in this is my heart is in this and I would be, not only, scrapping some of my favorite designs but some of my dreams too ...

Some feed back would be great .. I've attached images of the work I've done so far ...

Also see .. http://www.colonialfleets.com/forums/showthread.php?t=14745

[Andromeda]

Don't do it, hang in there. the designs of your ships have got there own
uniqueness. I like that heavy lifter there's something familiar about it.
Take a break from the project rather than dump it. come back to it later.
maybe a little time off might help with ideas from a fresh angle.

[Merlin]

Thank you for your comment ... This is a bit hard to explain .. but I will do my best ...

What I would be doing is converting it into an original story ... and dropping the Battlestar Galactica parts ..

While the Battlestar Galactica premise would be dropped .. many of the details that I've envisioned would remain ..

It's not a lack of Idea thing ...

I know this is going to sound really really dumb .. but the problem is, the dream or the fantasy of it is gone ... As things stand right now, Battlestar Galactica is going to be made into a feature film .. Once that was established ... know matter how cool or amazing my Ideas or concepts could turn out to be .. they can't be looked at or even listened too .. even if anyone associated with that project wanted to .. they can't ..

So .. with that .. and I know it's dumb .. The fantasy or the dream part of my project is gone !!!



Please understand : I know this sounds really dumb and I know it's a pipe dream .. but .. it was my dream .. and dreams are what get me through life ...

And today I'm losing a dream I've had ever since the 1978 Battlestar Galactica was canceled ... :( :(

[starbucko]

You could make it into an original if you wanted. But don't scrap the BSG parts simply because there's a new movie planned. Good grief, fanfic writers don's stop writing because there's a new show or a movie or a remake or a book or - well, you get the point. So go ahead with your dream - give credit where credit is due to the originals involved and just enjoy it, along with others who'll take a gander along the way. :D

[Merlin]

Starbucko .. what you wrote is very true and this is the debate I'm having...

Should I just continue .. Knowing that it will never be more than a fan project .. which essentially ends my dream or fantasy

Or .. save as much of it as I can in a story conversion .. and still sustain my dream/fantasy ????

I know this all sounds weird .. But , giving up on a dream I've had since the 1978 series was canceled .. is devastating .. I'm really crushed ...

[maudib]

Merlin, you have set your sights very high indeed. What you are describing is a huge undertaking even for an entire team of professionals, let alone a single amateur CGI artist. I am also doing something along the same lines as you on a much smaller scale... creating a BSG-style storyline. I've had this project of mine outlined for 12 years, and it has not changed with time. My advice to you is to put on blinders, forget about what everyone else is doing in the world, and follow YOUR creative vision, that is what being an artist is all about. There is no time limit to dreams, no rush, no deadlines to meet. The job get done in good time, when YOU and your inner muse decide it's done.

[Andromeda]

Maudib, well put. :salute:

There have been a few times I have wanted to dump my project, because of
the flak I've copped over my website, sometimes also a lack of time, aging
hardware and how much i have spent in $ doing it, it has at times been very
disheartening.

I'll watch what someone has done with there fan films then get a rush of
inspiration then tackle my project again. I've had my idea for eons too
and the idea of a new movie being planned, makes me want to try and get
my next little fan flick out there.

I still think keep at it, hang in there, keep those ideas rolling, perhaps you
could do both, keep as much of your ideas and story as possible and develop
a BSG story arc. Something that ties in closely with BSG before during or after
or maybe even parralell.

[Merlin]

I've posted all this on 2 other sites seeking feed back ... I wrote this as a response to comments I received about the dilemma I'm having ...

Posting it on here may help explain my problem ...



" Has anyone ever had a lifelong dream about writing a novel .. Over the years, it's always in your head .. you work on it, refine it -- re-think it .. and get to the point were you have worked out most of the problems and details.. you love what your ideas are. The only problem is your not a writer .. you have notes every where , sketches, drawing ... it's all there in your head ...but because your not a writer .. you struggle to get it down on paper .. it's all there .. just not yet on paper.

Then your told that the book you have in your head can never be looked at by the publishers .. never ... even if they were fans of the subject you wrote about and they wanted to see it .. they can't ..

These publishers turned out to be very nice, understanding and thoughtful people .. thoughtful enough to actually .. make you that one in a million person and return a phone call you made to them ...

They explain the problems and all the issues of doing something based on a pre-existing piece .. know matter how good it turned out .. they can't see it !!!!

The encourage you to continue... but make you aware.. that although getting published is a one and a million chance .. your project could never ever get that one in a million chance ... not because it's content wasn't worth considering .. but because it's based on a pre-existing piece ...

Now... if it's something original .. than that is a whole different story .. that new original project .. can be looked at ...

It may never make it (getting looked at) .. because, it's a one in a million chance .. but that hope and dream is possible ...

Now the big question .. would you keep working on the book based on the pre-existing thing .. or take the best parts of your story and re-work them into something original ???

This happened to me yesterday .. and it wasn't publishers that returned my call ..
In a way I'm overwhelmed that I actually got this call ..
I was amazed at how nice and understanding these people were .. they understood my dream .. they understood it enough to make that one and a million phone call ... and explain the reality of the situation ..."

[Merlin]

maudib, your reply is great .. Thank you .. I can't tell you how nice it is to find someone who is trying to do something similar ..

Your comments about the work involved are right on .. please read my last post .. It may help you understand my problem ..


The work ahead is huge .. Do I continue knowing it . knowing what I know now .. or change it ???

That's what i'm stuck on ..

Believe me removing the Battlestar Galactica element is a huge heartbreaker .. but it's very hard doing all the work I have to do and knowing what I know now ..



Also everyone else who has commented ... thank you ... if you read more of this and have some more thoughts please post them ...

Figuring out what to do is pretty tough !!!

[mikala]

I would make the changes as it has been made clear the chances have been greatly reduced if you continue on this course.
What is greater, the chance to write and get a book published or writing something that won't see the light of day on all but a few peoples computer screens?
Once published the chances of getting something else published rise dramatically based on book sales. Who says that you won't at some point be able to make your dream come true but a little further down the road than you would like.

[Andromeda]

Merlin, had no idea of the scope of your situation, after reading your post
(#8) now it is more clear. Getting a phone call and knowing the odds must
have been a big thrill and sounds like you've got your foot in the door and a
chance to seize the opportunity.

Mikala has already written what i wanted to write.


Once published the chances of getting something else published rise
dramatically based on book sales. Who says that you won't at some point be
able to make your dream come true but a little further down the road than
you would like.


Maybe its a blessing in disguise, at the same time tantalizing. I think you should go for it. best of luck :salute:

[Merlin]

The writing a book reference is an analogy .. It wasn't a publisher who called me .. it was something else ..
I really wish I could say who called, but I can't ... That's the reason I needed to use an analogy .. I can not say who called ..
The very fact that I received the call .. itself is amazing .. and I will never forget how nice those people were for actually taking the time to do it ...

I have very little written .. .. It's tons of notes and pages, sketches, drawings , some CGI models .. all brought together in my head .. It's been refined to the point that .. for me it's all there .. I just need to figure out .. how to get it out there for people to see ... i'm not a writer .. I've tried .. really tried .. but .. i'm not ...

So, I thought the best way that I could get my story out there was by trying to illustrate as much of it as I could ... through CGI images and hopefully a fan film or two of key scenes ... then fill it all in with excerpts of the story ... Then putting it all on a web site , for people see .. progress was very slow .. but I kept plugging away ...


The CGI models are just a small bit .. but it seems quite a few people (I've posted this all on two other sites) seem to focus on those, which just shows the power of an image, The work .. the love .. my heart .. are all in the story .. the Models ... drawing .. etc are just a means of getting that story out ...

[TwoBrainedCylon]

My suggestion is to take your material and rework it to be something totally original and pitch the concept.

You got these folks to contact you and they told you they might be interested.

THAT IS HUGE!!!!

Writers all over the planet beg for a chance like this.

If the material is good (and it seems to be enough that someone is at least willing to take a look at it) then it will be good whether its linked to an existing property or not.

I say do your best with it, make it original, and blow their socks off!


Russell

[Merlin]

You got these folks to contact you and they told you they might be interested.


It wasn't like that ... The sad part is they couldn't hear anything about my work ... It was all Battlestar Galactica based stuff ..

What they explained to me was the problems associated with pre-exisisting stuff ( franchises ) .. And explained the huge difference in trying to do something thats an original piece of work ..

I think they responded to me .. because I think they understood the passion I have ... It's a passion I think we all have here !!! And I just got lucky enough to get through and explain that passion ... I think that's why they called me back ...

They did try help out with suggestions ...

[ernie90125]

Merlin,

I'm sorry you're feeling down about the project.....but at times I'm sure George Lucas, Gene Roddenberry, JRR Tolkien (etc) and your fellow BSG fans have all felt down mid-way through a project. Its when you break through the other side that makes it all worthwhile.

Don't scrap the BSG parts altogether. Perhaps turn the scenes you have into a project of its own right ? Even if its just a 1 minute BSG space battle scene, get something out there.....

In the music industry, I've seen young kids be given advice by big rock names to join any band, get on stage and play, not matter how bad it sounds, get up there and play.

That's my advice to you, don't give up, get something out there....

[gmd3d]

do your own thing Merlin ... the original and see where it takes you .. and I wish you all the success in the world ,,

if its a new idea go for it .. we need some new ideas out there ,,

BSG in your dreams will still be there if you succeed or not ..

the BSG one will be appreciated by all fans every were but if your original one goes well as you would like it to be. it could have fans of its own and a following of its own.

do you own thing ..... BSG will still be here

[monolith21]

Ya know, at first I wanted to say stick with the Galactica elements but I have to say that bringing something new to science fiction is always great. Its not like you can't do something Galactica releated and an original both.

If you're feeling the pull toward an original concept...go for it! Creativity is needed in the world! Heck, you could always pull a "Soldier" and do a sort of unofficially related story. I always loved that it was supposed to somehow related to Blade Runner.

[Merlin]

I decided to return to this .. here is an update on My Battlestar, plus My Heavy Cruiser.

[mikala]

Rock on!
Great to see you building again.

[gmd3d]

What Mikala said...... looking forward to seen more.....

[Matador]

Nice job... Keep going. Looks really good.

[Titon]

Looks pretty cool....

Do not know if it was intentional but you left a "C" out of your Galactica nameplate...

:)

[peter noble]

That's really cool, it's like a step from the original Enterprise to the one in the motion picture.

Yeah, and has Titon said, Galactica is missing a 'C'.

[gmd3d]

he is testing you all.. muha ha ha

[Merlin]

That's really cool, it's like a step from the original Enterprise to the one in the motion picture.

Yeah, and has Titon said, Galactica is missing a 'C'.

Thank you, to me that's quite a compliment ! And, yes I spelled Galactica wrong. I noticed it just after I posted the images. I was working all day on it, and was a bit burned out.

[Senmut]

Keep 'er flying.

[Dawg]

Always good to see more of the old girl. You're doing good.

I am
Dawg
:warrior:

[David Kerin]

I really like that take on the Galactica... even the round engines in back! It has that heavy machine look of a battlestar, as it should.

Please share more as it goes!!!

[Merlin]

A bit of an update.

[Senmut]

Thruster bells.......an earlier version of the design? Earlier in the war?

[Merlin]

I had to make some changes in the detail. I cut back on some of the detail on the top part of the Landing Bays and replaced it with sort of an antenna / radar looking things that use less memory + "I always drink coffee when I watch radar ! " So I needed more radar ..

Also .. I attached some close up images showing some of the weaponry, guns / missile launchers / torpedo launchers and lot's of launch tubes for Vipers and other smaller attack craft!

[Matador]

Looks sweet. Love where you placed the cannons.

"they've gone to plad!"

[Merlin]

Progress update, I've added some plating and worked on some detail for the Landing Bay Arms.

[Matador]

wow man... That looks good. I love the hull plating. I struggle with that so much. I never know how to cut or create those cool angles in the plating. Maybe it's because I am over thinking it.

Anyhew, great work!:/:

[martok2112]

WOW! I am really liking the look of this Galactica! Well done, and keep it up! :)

[Merlin]

I love the hull plating. I struggle with that so much. I never know how to cut or create those cool angles in the plating. Maybe it's because I am over thinking it.


Doing the plating is pretty simple, I'm wondering, how are you going about doing it ?

[Matador]

Doing the plating is pretty simple, I'm wondering, how are you going about doing it ?


Well, in lightwave... I select the polygon/golygons that I want to use... Copy them to a new layer and then start slicing and dicing... I then bevel them...

That's about it.

I guess I just don't know when to use angles to make the cut, or just make them straight.

Do you have any tips or suggestions?
:nervous:

[Merlin]

Well, in lightwave... I select the polygon/golygons that I want to use... Copy them to a new layer and then start slicing and dicing... I then bevel them...:

One way is to select a polygon, put it on a new layer, then create another layer, make some shapes, boxes, rectangles , take some of those shapes and select a point , use rounder and keep it at one point, and add like a 45 degree to a corner .. then go back to the original polygon layer and just cut through the polygon, then bevel the polygon a short distance creating a small gap between the shapes, while keeping it flat ! Then just extrude the new shapes to a depth that works for your model ... And you now have plates !!!

[maudib]

It's great to see original battlestars being modelled! I really like this type. Keep up the good work!

[Merlin]

Been plugging away on this,

[David Kerin]

I'm not always big into Galactica redesigns, but I really like this! It holds that look of the original that I love, yet gives a different, maybe more aggressive style. A nice alternate universe Galactica.

Cool Cool Cool!

[Senmut]

An earlier version, perhaps. Over her 500-yahren of service, the old girl has doubtless undergone many a refit.

[Punisher454]

to me it looks like an earlier model. Reminds me of looking at US aircraft carriers. when you look at something like a kittyhawk type carrier, then a nimitz class and even the newer types , they retain the same basic configuration, but the details change.

[Merlin]

It holds that look of the original that I love, yet gives a different, maybe more aggressive style.

Thanks Dave, It's a re-take on the original, your comment on being a more aggressive style, is right on, or it's something I've been hoping to achieve, anyway.

What Peter wrote was right on too, it's how I approached this "it's like a step from the original Enterprise to the one in the motion picture.".

I wanted to make it feel like the GALACTICA from the original series, but be a bit different. My goals: Sleeker and Faster looking, More ominous and imposing. I wanted it to feel like a warship that's built for a fight.



The Design, it's much more than a ship that carries Vipers. I thought of a strategy on how it fights, It works by creating a kill box, flying around at light speed deploying Vipers and other Craft , in a radius around the Battlestar .. extending it's range .. The Vipers sort of drive the Cylons into a position where the Battlestar Blasts them .. I'll use the quote from THE HUNT FOR RED OCTOBER, "The hounds to the hunters" .. There is more to this and other strategies .. but that's the basic one.


It will also have another capability that I've yet to add.. It's already loaded with Missile launchers, Those are the rectangular tubes seen on top at the mid section, plus it has lots of Big Guns and Torpedo launchers which can be seen, on the side of the ship between the front two landing legs.


The part I have yet to add, are Missiles Tubes, that are like todays ICBM's only much more powerful, they are for destroying fixed targets, including entire planet surfaces .. They launch 3 or 4 of the missiles at different points around a planet and detonate at the same time , destroying the planet surface...


So the Idea is, and there is a method to my madness, it's part of the story I have in my head, (This is the backstory/ history) The Battlestars are these SUPER WARSHIPS that evolved over time, that are made to do everything. In my story the Colonies are all independent, and at times have fought against each other. To prevent one Colony from dominating another, a treaty was made limiting One Battlestar to each Colony. So although there are other types of warships The Battlestars are the top dogs .. And Because Each Colony can only have one and because of the extreme cost and time to build them, they have evolved into ships that are all encompassing! They are truly SUPER WARSHIPS ...


The number on the Galactica the #2 , Is because it's the 2nd fleet , made up of a Battlestar, Battlecruisers, and Various other ships .. Each Colony's Fleet is given a number or designation from the order that each Colony was settled, in my story, Caprica was the 2nd Colony settled and so it's fleet is designated the 2nd fleet.

In the original series the Pegasus was supposedly destroyed, along with the rest of the 5th fleet, trying to save Molokai.

So in my story I wanted to explain why the Pegasus was the 5th fleet. So I came up with this to explain it. The Pegasus is from the 5th Colony settled and intern the 5th Fleet.



The Colonial fleet is, The Combined Fleet, of all the Colonies .. Although the Colonies have fought amongst themselves, they are allied! If any outside force at all, challenges any of the 12 Colonies, All the Colonies respond.

In My story The Cylons have been more of nuisance, not much is known about them, but over the years there threat has been growing. causing the Colonies to rethink the idea of limiting themselves to one Battlestar each. Some new ones are under construction, but it becomes to late: as the Cylon's emerge and eventually attack the Colonies.



My story begins with the news of the Pegasus and the 5th fleet being, presumably destroyed.





On another note: A few have commented about My Battlestar being an Earlier Model . My timeframe is based on a retelling of the original series, not the 2003 re-make. Some elements of the 2003 series might become integrated, but for the most part it's based on the original series.

[Merlin]

I was playing around with some scene Ideas .. The renderings suck .. but it was fun playing around.

[Merlin]

I tried animating my Battlestar, It's my first attempt to animate anything, Still have a lot to figure out, but it's a small start.


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_tQO0kOc37k&feature=player_embedded

[gmd3d]

I think it good for a first animation..

how long to render..

and I know the music. but cannot remember from where ?

[David Kerin]

I still really like your design on the Battlestar. Such a nice mix of the film version, with McQuarrie influences. Love the arms at the end of the landing bay... remember that in pre-production paintings of McQuarrie and just wondered how they would be used. Looks awesome!

[Merlin]

Taranis, It took about 30 minutes to render, The first try took 5 Days, and half way through, ran out of memory ... Changed the camera !

The music is Vangelis, from the movie The Bounty.

Dave, the McQuarrie Arms, as you noted, are from the pre-production drawings, I've tried to put in some McQuarrie look into the model, He was such a great Artist! My favorite in fact !

As far as a use, I have no idea what his thinking was for the use, it just looked so cool, I had to add it ?

For me, It's for, when other large ships, re-supply, as an example, dock with the Galactica. To avoid a potential collision or hard docking, the arms, which can also rotate, grab on to the docking ship when it's close, lock on and then gently guide it into place. ( it's the only thing I could think of, that might make some sense ? )

Last thing, Both of you, I've followed your works, you both do outstanding work, consider me a fan ! : )

[maudib]

I really like this design. Nice to see variations of BSG universe capital ships. The 12 colonies of man had unique cultures, so each would produce ship designs reflecting that uniqueness. Makes sense. I am eyeing your design!

[gmd3d]

Taranis, It took about 30 minutes to render, The first try took 5 Days, and half way through, ran out of memory ... Changed the camera !

The music is Vangelis, from the movie The Bounty.

Dave, the McQuarrie Arms, as you noted, are from the pre-production drawings, I've tried to put in some McQuarrie look into the model, He was such a great Artist! My favorite in fact !

As far as a use, I have no idea what his thinking was for the use, it just looked so cool, I had to add it ?

For me, It's for, when other large ships, re-supply, as an example, dock with the Galactica. To avoid a potential collision or hard docking, the arms, which can also rotate, grab on to the docking ship when it's close, lock on and then gently guide it into place. ( it's the only thing I could think of, that might make some sense ? )

Last thing, Both of you, I've followed your works, you both do outstanding work, consider me a fan ! : )

The music is Vangelis, from the movie The Bounty.

Slaps head.. of course,. I have the cd.. thanks boy is my face red..

Thanks for the compliment..
I am astounded at the level of detail your putting into your model.

what I also like is giving your own spin on the design approach :salute:

[Merlin]

I added some Guns to the side of the landing bay and worked on some detailing inside the landing bay.

Opinions needed !!! Should I keep the Landing Bay side guns ?

[martok2112]

I like the landing bay guns, as they certainly seem tactically sound, but, it seems that they cut down the approach width for Vipers and especially shuttles. :)

I have guns on my battlestar landing bays, but they're mounted just above the entrances. :)

[Matador]

Nice... Your ship looks hard core! :cool:

[mikala]

Having the guns just below the bay doors perhaps?
Looks like the approach is a bit like threading a needle with them there.

[David Kerin]

The guns are a good idea for stopping Raiders on ramming missions. Like the antenna along the thrusters too. Reminds me a bit of the Cygnus from The Black Hole.

I agree that the bay entrance looks a bit tough to do... I'd be a nervous pilot approaching that.

[maudib]

Your landing bay entrances remind me of the B5 Universe Earth Alliance capital ship designs. The Omega Class destroyer is my favorite.

[Merlin]

I posted some pretty crappy renders, with two vipers to show the scale.


Those rear type of Main batteries are for blasting bigger ships and smaller batteries will go after smaller ships including Raiders .

The Scale of this ship is big, so there would be even more guns there, that would actually defend against Raiders and Missiles, but for this Model, it wouldn't make sense to put them in there, you wouldn't see them.


The thing about Battlestar Galactica, it always comes down to scale. what is the size ? Or, how big is it ? I approach it from the launch tubes and the distance a Viper travels down a launch tube, to me the length of the launch tube + the hanger, a Battlestar would be huge .. really huge, So that's the approach I took .. in fact the vipers I used for scale are even a bit large ..


The other thing too! On my previous post, I'm debating if I should keep the Guns on the side of the landing bay, those along with the Arm thing, are based on Ralph McQuarrie's landing bay painting ?

[Merlin]

Nice... Your ship looks hard core! :cool:

Thank you, I'm hoping to make it a monster !!!

[Matador]

I approach it from the launch tubes and the distance a Viper travels down a launch tube, to me the length of the launch tube + the hanger, a Battlestar would be huge



Your ship is a monster! :eek:

Yeah, that has always been a big stickler to me as well. The Launch tubes. I have gone back and fourth about that myself... I sort of tinkered with the idea of the Vipers being loaded into the launch tubes backwards, then elevator lower to launch tubes, then launch forward.
I think they did something similar in the "Blood and Chrome" series.
I've attached a diagram so you can see what I'm talking about. This was just one of my ideas.

I've modeled everything based on the scale of my Vipers. Your ship is much much bigger than mine...

[maudib]

Merlin, your G appears to be 10+ miles long in scale!

[ivanhoejones]

looks good... I've seen many re-imagined designs of this and that... but it's a Battlestar right? so yes I think its cool to add more guns:thumbsup:

[Merlin]

More of my Colonial fleet, I've posted them before and these are updates, all are works in progress...


Anyway .. The Battlestar should be recognizable, The bigger ship is what I call, an Assault ship, and the single ship that has one image is a Colonial Cruiser.

The Assault ships, are for attacking or re-taking planets, they are the Sci-Fi equivalent of Assault ships today in the US Navy. The size of these are huge, because they have to carry everything needed to take a planet, including the Army needed to do it, plus all the equipment and so on... They can protect themselves and barrage a planet, but they are not capital ships, they are not made to defeat other ships, like Battlestars or the Cruisers.

In My story, there are 3 Assault ships, GIANT, TITAN and GOLIATH and a variant, named PROVIDER, PROVIDER is an extended version of the Assault ship, but is more of a transport, it carries everything to resupply the fleet and assault force, it doesn't carry troops or any other assault ships, needles to say it is by far the largest ship in the fleet.

Anyway, these are some of the larger ships, along with un-manned autonomous capital ships (not shown), used for deep space, these... if you can guess, play a huge role in the evolution of the Cylons. And I have other ships as part of the Colonial fleet yet to build.