It was mentioned that I should show some of my 3d modeling work here. Since I've started a new project at my Dad's, I thought I'd post it.
This is based on the Niagara Class so far, though the saucer is completely round, not elliptical.
Posted by Captain Boh (Member # 1282) on :
A test grid line (the inside one)
Does it look right? Too deep? Not deep enough? Width good?
Posted by Topher (Member # 71) on :
Looks pretty good.
Posted by Captain Boh (Member # 1282) on :
Thanks
I went forward with the grids:
Good? Bad? Other?
Posted by deadcujo (Member # 13) on :
Groovy.
Posted by Captain Boh (Member # 1282) on :
Ambassidor style paint job: Posted by Jason Abbadon (Member # 882) on :
Niiiice! I know this is just starting out but I'd tone down the contrast in colors though: a more subtle paint scheme adds to the illusion of scale.
You placing the phasers in the same positions as the Niagra?
Posted by Captain Boh (Member # 1282) on :
Thanks, as for the colours, I've got new RGP values provided to me by someone who is doing a model of the Enterprise-C:
I haven't set anything in stone yet with reguard to the phasers, but I will do something with a few smaller strips rather than a single large one, likely simmilar to the Niagara
Posted by Cpt. Kyle Amasov (Member # 742) on :
I like those Ambassador-era ships with those weird reversed bridge domes like the Freedom or the Niagara. And I have to agree, the new color is way better than the bright blue. A minor note: the Niagara saucer has a larger grid; eight lines across the hull, separating it into 16 triangles, and (not counting the outer rim circle) 3 circles.
How do you want to proceed? Does it get a secondary hull? (And, since it was obviously cool in the early to mid-24th century to built ships with uneven numbers of nacelles, how many does it get? )
Posted by Aban Rune (Member # 226) on :
Unless the ship is really small, I'd shrink the name and registry a bit. It looks quite large.
Posted by Jason Abbadon (Member # 882) on :
I agree with Aban- shrink it by to about 75%. That'll give you more room to work with the lifeboats and phasers as well.
As to panel lines. I think it looks good as it is- the Amby has twice that many and the Niagra only half, so this is a nice mid-range.
Small random panels with only a slight color shading diffrence would add to the scle as well: mabye only a 2% darker rectangle placed randomly.
quote:Thanks, as for the colours, I've got new RGP values provided to me by someone who is doing a model of the Enterprise-C:
Those are studio model colors: the onscreen look is very subdued and Enterprise C actually looked more of a gray color onscreen than blue. THe studio models look pretty garish in person (Enterprise D looking almost aqua-green) but the blue tones are to offset the studio lights so the ship looks gray onscreen.
Somehow I think this might end up looking like what I believe the Niagara class originally looked like back with numbers in the 20000's. A round saucer instead of an ellipse and Ambassador class nacelles instead of Galaxy class nacelles.
Posted by Captain Boh (Member # 1282) on :
Yikes, that text IS huge isn't it. I'm used to working with smaller ships.
Posted by Captain Boh (Member # 1282) on :
better?
Posted by Dat (Member # 302) on :
Now it looks too small making the bridge/shuttlebay superstructure look way too large.
Posted by Captain Boh (Member # 1282) on :
Size of the saucer next to an Excelsior scaled saucer:
My saucer is as long as the Niagara saucer is supposed to be according to EAS. If the font is off again... well oops.
Posted by Captain Boh (Member # 1282) on :
idea for the neck:
I'm currently working at my Dad's, and his system can't handle very much in Max (and its running Windows 98) so I'm using low poly placeholders for the saucer stuff, also the neck is rather underdone at this point, but its just concept modeling.
Posted by Jason Abbadon (Member # 882) on :
Mabye you could put a small secondary impulse engine at the back of the B-C deck for emergency saucer seperation?
Or the much-needed aft torpedo launcher (coverage in the aft quarters of the Amby and Niagria is lacking).
Posted by Captain Boh (Member # 1282) on :
I don't know about torpedoes up there... armed torpedoes or not I don't like the idea of explosives near the bridge. One target up there is quite enough Posted by Jason Abbadon (Member # 882) on :
I tend to agree but the ship's really undefended along her dorsal aft (unless you stick phaser strips on the top of the nacelles like the Venture has).
Posted by Captain Boh (Member # 1282) on :
I may put an aft launcher in the secondary hull
Posted by Jason Abbadon (Member # 882) on :
Mabye in the undercut (asuming you're planning one).
Posted by Captain Boh (Member # 1282) on :
Well, I've read they're good for warp field efficiency Posted by Captain Boh (Member # 1282) on :
Took out the neck, wasn't likeing it.
Here is an idea for the begining of the secondary hull Posted by Captain Boh (Member # 1282) on :
New Neck:
Bottom Pannels Done: Posted by Jason Abbadon (Member # 882) on :
If you plan on using more of a Ambassador secondary hull, the rear of the saucer would rest directly on the "spine" of the secondary hull while the deflector would slope downward- nessitating a neckpiece about a third as long as an Amby's to connect the hulls.
Well, as I've said, its not exactly the same ship remember
I've also never got the downfaceing deflector, since most of the ship is above it.
Posted by Jason Abbadon (Member # 882) on :
Yeah, I know....have you cnsidered using the secondary hul from Probert's "Ambassador" painting? The one the wall sculpture in the lounge on Enterprise D was based on.
Posted by Captain Boh (Member # 1282) on :
I've considdered a more modern secondary hull style, but I'm not certan my modeling abilities would be able to produce one of quality, getting a cylindrical hull is easy with the Lathe, but I'd have to put alot more work into something more complicated. Don't count the idea out, but I'm not sure I can do it yet.
On another note, Lower Saucer Painted: Posted by Aban Rune (Member # 226) on :
The Ambassador's deflector doesn't point downward, the dish is simply angled. The machinery behind the deflector dish is actually pointed straight ahead. Look at the MSD of the Ent-D or Voyager. They too have a downward sloping dish, but the deflector is still pointing straight forward.
Posted by Jason Abbadon (Member # 882) on :
I know: it's just the modeling angle I was referring to- the secondary hull slopes downward to meet the deflector.
![[Smile]](smile.gif)
![[Wink]](wink.gif)
![[Big Grin]](biggrin.gif)
