My CGI model pics

[Westy]

Mine are the pics of the Galactica, not the nebula thingy.

Galactica (http://groups.msn.com/BattlestarGalactica/fanart.msnw?albumlist=2)

[thomas7g]

AWESOME!!!!!!!!! I was hoping you would post these here!!!!

[Titon]

Nice Work.

What app are you using to create with? Lightwave? Max? Ect?

One word of advice, the front of the Galactica's landing bay's are not open to space. Just a little hint.

Hope to see more.

;)

[Stevew]

Nice meshe Westy did you do it? Titon beat me to it about the bays LOL
Be sure and post more. We have a ton more new meshes for DL here
http://www.battlestargalactica.com/downloads/
Steve:thumbsup:

[Westy]

Yeah I know about the landing bays, I haven't gotten to that particular part yet, but seriously, thanks for pointing it out...in fact, if you find ANYTHING wrong from the actual Galactica, please, don't hesitate to yell at me....I want it as perfect as it can be. It's still less than 1/2 done, I haven't even touched the underneath part at all yet. The head section needs tons and tons of work as well, lately I've been finishing up the bays and the struts to them. I spend probably 2 or 3 hours now a day just doing basic modeling on it...this has been going on for about a year now. It's recently been completed enough to show it to people though. I haven't used any textures on this, what you see it actual structure....There's only 3 materials, a red for the redish parts, the yellow for all the windows, and the gray metal one for the hull and the details. As far as the details go, I researched the kits used in the construction of the original studio miniature and went and collected tons of pics and drawings of alot of them (there's dozens and dozens of different kits used). I then modeled the parts from those kits I needed and proceeded to place them at the correct position on the 3D model.

I'm using AutoCAD 2000 to do this. AutoCAD's greatest strength is the easy with which you can handle and manage huge projects, which is what this has turned into. I figure after the actual modeling is done...in a few months probably, I'll turn to 3D Studio Max, I'd like to import into Max and make it beautiful.

I asked for help on this on another board (Galactica Club)...a few of them suggested I come here and do the same....so here goes:

Does anyone want to help out on this? I really have no clue at this point about setting up scenes, lights, etc etc. Just accurately modeling it was my goal, and frankly, it's probably all I have time for (at least for now), but the old Gal deserves more IMHO. The model is about 50 MB's at this point, and it looks like it'll end up being about 90 or 100 when it's done (just the modeling), it's VERY detailed, I'm constantly redesigning sections, and parts as I discover new things about the Galactica. Another thing I must do is finish up the asymetrical sides (the details on the top and sides of the Galactica are VERY asymetrical...as of now, I have simply mirrored the sides (although I did the asymetrical top stuff)). You'll probably need lots of memory and a nice fast processor for this baby.

[Stevew]

Have you been here
http://www.starshipbuilder.com/cgi-bin/forumdisplay.cgi?action=topics&forum=Jim+Creveling&number=13&DaysPrune=1000&LastLogin=
These are the piks I used. Have you ever used Solidworks? I did most of my model in SW and a few parts I had in Truespace, it is fairly accurate in places and not so in others but a lot of the detail is close. You can
DL the meshe for reference use
http://www.battlestargalactica.com/downloads/index.php?subcat=1&PHPSESSID=2c0e2228c0c2c95a73c771a17b4d3a44
Steve:D

[Westy]

It's funny, because when I first started doing this, I used Creveling's replica almost exclusively, after a few months I discovered the head's upper shape was all wrong....I was all bummed out heh...placing details on the forward slope correctly can be a bit tedious.

I used his model as a great reference, unfortunately, like I said, his head section isn't accurate, the overall shape is wrong (the top part, down the center), so I made my own that's pretty close, however, his detailing and the placement of those details are great, so for those parts, his model was great.

Other areas of the ship were fine though, so that was good.

My sources for the model are, and in this order:

1. Pictures and other multimedia of the original Galactica

2. An obscure BSG modeling forum where about 5 or 6 other replica builders have an AWESOME database of the kit bashing data used in the studio miniature

3. Jim Creveling's replica

4. And as of today, feedback from this forum :-)

[Stevew]

I had the same problem but at the time there was a 100% accurate model being done at FI so I just figured I would do the best I could do with what I had
Good Luck and keep the piks comeing
S:D

[Westy]

No, I haven't used those at all. I've used Max a little bit...just basically played with it a little. I've used Bryce even less than that....that's about it for my experience with 3D modeling. I did attempt to import from ACAD to 3DS, but it turned into a nightmare, and I figured I wouldn't waste my time with it for now...since it's not done anyways. What are they like? Any info or suggestions are most welcome. How the rendering times in them? AutoCAD isn't the most full featured rendering system by any stretch, it's ok...merely ok though. You can set up scenes, lights (distant, point, and directional), cameras, and it supports materials, but that's about it...forget about animating though.

[Westy]

And where is the 100% accurate model? heheheh did I waste my time?

[Stevew]

Don't know, FI went out of business and I never bothered to go back, I will just let mine stand as is
S

[Westy]

nt

[AlphaAce]

Those are nice pictures. :)

[Westy]

did some more work, made a few new pics.

[Stevew]

Shaping up nice. Are you going to add any fillet's?
Steve

[kingfish]

That is an excellent site Westy.

[Westy]

What is it? Hopefully some cool detail I haven't added yet.

[thomas7g]

Steve probably means that some of your larger shapes could use a beveled edge. I think that would help too. On larger shapes I include a bevel to catch light on the edge. It maked the model abel to handle close ups better.

OOps... I take it back. Your Galactica 5 image has way too few sides to your curved surfaces. The cylinders and cones look like they need more sides. :D

[Westy]

Yeah....those are from the Saturn V kit...before I knew what they were. I actually already made some better ones, I just haven't replaced all the old ones yet, I'll put that on my list. Yup...they look crappy don't they. Thanks Conundrum.

[Westy]

It's pretty superficial right now. I agree...the edges need toning down a bit. Actually all those long angular raised platforms on the body section need to be less high I think. Maybe half or 1/3 the height....beveled would look nice too I bet.

[thomas7g]

it really is looking nice!

[Stevew]

Actually Tom fillets are a slightly rounded and bevel in called champhfer
S:D :D :D

[thomas7g]

I thought fillets were the little panels in a champher?

And a chamfer with 1 fillet was a bevel?

[Stevew]

Nope Fillets and rounds to be accurate are external and internat radii along an edge. Chanphers usually are smaller bevels

[jeditemple]

Great stuff! And a lot of hard work, I imagine.

I'd love to see someone do a CGI film where the old Galactica and Vipers fly in and destroy the new BSG2003 Galactica.

And while they're at it, have the REAL Starbuck fly in and blow Kara Thrace to smitherines. It'd be a short fight.

[Westy]

The overly raised platform things on the main part of the body are much better, I tappered the edges a little too, so there's no 90 degree corners.

The problem with the nozzle things was actually 2 things.
One was a performance setting. It was set low (less tesselation) for speed...when I do quick renders and I have lots of time, I'll set it to maximum so it'll look good. So if you see crappy curves, it's probably cuz I was impatient. while I was at it, I replaced them with better and more precise ACIS solids.

[Westy]

What's good to use to animate these days?