My latest animation with Konami Galactica

[martok2112]

This one is still slightly choppy, but nowhere near as bad as the first...and it is actually much more ambitious.

I hope you like.

http://battlestargalactica-forum.com...chViperPOV.mov

Respectfully,
Martok2112

[ernie90125]

well done on making another attempt....

A few constructive critisms if you don't mind ?

Your viper cockpit window is great...but off centre...

And the Galatica bouncing about....whilst perhaps lessened....is still the major sticking point in your production ...and may prevent you from progressing to the next level even if you do complex shots....because its the first thing people will notice, and what they will remember.

Your skills are improving....its really interesting to see....especially as you're the only one using models for fanfilms....but you have a major hurdle to overcome, and I think this should be your first priority.....

Also Respectfully,
Ernie90125

[martok2112]

Originally Posted by ernie90125

well done on making another attempt....

A few constructive critisms if you don't mind ?

Your viper cockpit window is great...but off centre...

And the Galatica bouncing about....whilst perhaps lessened....is still the major sticking point in your production ...and may prevent you from progressing to the next level even if you do complex shots....because its the first thing people will notice, and what they will remember.

Your skills are improving....its really interesting to see....especially as you're the only one using models for fanfilms....but you have a major hurdle to overcome, and I think this should be your first priority.....



Also Respectfully,
Ernie90125

Thanks, Ernie. Well taken criticism, and you're absolutely right.

I think my biggest asset would be to find green colored stands that I could prop the ships on, or hang them by string...and film around them, as opposed to using one hand to hold and maneuver the ship.

Once I get that licked..I think they'll turn out much better.

As for the Viper cockpit, believe it or not, that was as-is. A screencap from the series (where I punched out the actual glass parts) that was perfectly fitted into the screensize as an overlay on the animation. So, as you see it in the animation, is the way you would've seen it in the TV show.

Thank you for your obersvations, and again, they are well taken.

Respectfully and Appreciatively,
Martok2112

[julix]

very cool my friend!

[ernie90125]

Martok.......pleased you've appreciated the comments.

Re the Viper cockpit. Maybe that's the way it was on the show.....but in your movie it doesn't look right. I realise you're trying to make it look authentic...however, two wrongs don't make a right...and for use in your fanfilms I would suggest centralising it. I hadn't noticed its off centre in the series....but I noticed it straight away on your fanfilm.

Keep up the good work !

[martok2112]

Originally Posted by ernie90125

Martok.......pleased you've appreciated the comments.

Re the Viper cockpit. Maybe that's the way it was on the show.....but in your movie it doesn't look right. I realise you're trying to make it look authentic...however, two wrongs don't make a right...and for use in your fanfilms I would suggest centralising it. I hadn't noticed its off centre in the series....but I noticed it straight away on your fanfilm.

Keep up the good work !

Will do. Thanks. In fact....I will try to see if I can straighten it out, and rerelease the animation.

Respectfully and appreciatively,
Martok2112

[martok2112]

Soon I shall have the Revell version of the larger Galactica model. This will come in handy for overhead beauty pass shots, and the like. I've heard that one version of the model is not quite as detailed. Is it the Monogram or Revell versions? I noticed the Monogram seems rather lacking. If anyone has a Revell version, can you tell me if this Galactica is rather nicely modeled?

It cost me a slight fortune. (About 80 bucks), but rather I would get the thing for sure than have to go through the heartache of bidding for it on ebay. I shall have to get the basestar next.

Heh....my model FX department grows, slowly but surely.

Martok2112

[Griffworks]

The "Revell" and "Monogram" kits are one and the same, actually. Back in 1978 or 79 is when Monogram released the first run of these kits, along w/the Viper, Raider and Basestar. Then in 1996 Revell-Monogram - the amalgamation of Revell and Monogram - "re-popped" the kits from their molds. Allegedly, BSG kit sales tanked pretty much everywhere, tho I could tell you that everywhere I went looking for them in New Mexico and El Paso, Texas, either never received them or sold out - of which it was the latter whenever I asked the various businesses about the kits.

That being said....

Both versions are exactly the same, so pretty much suck for detail. You can do a couple of things to fix this: get all the greeblies you can and super accurize the kit yourself or buy one of the "Details" sets that Timeslip Creations is selling. See this thread at Starship Modeler's Trading post forum: Galactica detail/decals!! I've purchased two of the basic set (sans decals) from him in the past and highly recommend them. They're much nicer than the SMT Details Sets that I picked up a while back as the castings are much cleaner. Plus, for $35 plus shipping it includes not only the details set but accurate decals, as well!

Biggest thing to think about, tho, is just how accurate do you want your model? I've got 8 battlestars here that I plan to get to one of these days. At least two of them will be as accurately detailed as I can get them as I want to have a Galactica and Pegasus to display next to each other on the shelf. I'm not so anal about the others, tho, so have purchased those details sets to spruce them up a bit. They look 100 times better with the details added than without!

They're resin pieces, so if you've never worked with them, you'll have a minor bit of learning curve to deal with. Resin isn't all that hard to deal with, tho. You'll want a Dremel tool w/a sanding/grinding bit, tho. You've got to remove all that raised detail on the sides of the main hull areas so that you've got a smooth surface to which to glue the panels. That or hours of sanding by hand....

Dremel's are pretty cheap these days, tho. That or find someone who has one you can borrow. I just purchased a cordless Dremel at the local Lowe's for $45, and it came w/a kewel carry/storage bag and a bunch of attachments pieces. They have a variety of modeling uses, too, as well as tons of home application.

Err... Anyhow, sorry to run on so much. I just get sort of excited talking about models. See, my nipples are hard....

Hope that helps.

[Fragmentary]

Cool test film Steve! I love all the little extra effects in this one, like the lights in the bay and the POV from the viper. This one was clearly a ton more ambitious and that makes me excited to where you go from here.

Good luck solving some of your technical issues. But don't sweat them too much. As long as you're having fun, that's all that really matters.

[martok2112]

Thank you, Griffworks for all your information on the model itself, and thank you, Fragmentary, for your enthusiasm about my work.

I am getting more and more excited about doing this kind of FX work.

Appreciatively,
martok2112

[eric7156]

nice