|
|
version 1
About Truespace Archives
These pages are a copy of the official truespace forums prior to their removal somewhere around 2011.
They are retained here for archive purposes only.
version 1 // Work in Progress
Post by rjeff // Dec 28, 2006, 5:29pm
|
rjeff
Total Posts: 1260
|
Ok this is the build so far. I want your comments..nice or not. I will not get mad..if you don't like its' cool. Also any ideas on the cabin would be apprecited I have some ideas but I am just one small brain. Ships are my favorite thing to build |
Post by Jack Edwards // Dec 29, 2006, 2:16am
|
Jack Edwards
Total Posts: 4062
|
Hi Jeff,
What style (level of detail, etc.) are you going for and will this model be seen up close in a render or in a realtime engine? If it's going to be scene from far away then you probably don't need a lot of detail and just modeling the basic shapes will work well.
My critique on the styling of the model, I think the engine tubes are very blah. It's useful to avoid complete symmetry when modeling things because it adds interest. Have you sketched out what you want the finished project to look like? Sketches can be very useful (if not essential) and can be turned into 2D blueprints to use as guides in the 3D modeling space so you can more readily sculpt your model. Also helpful is to think about what each of the components of the model do. Is the wing for holding bombs or missles? Maybe it should have mounts for hooking those up. What about communication? Antennas? Dishes? Does it need air intakes, or does it combine stored fuel to create thrust? How does it decelerate or maneuver? If it's a space faring craft, does it need maneuvering jets/nozzles strategically placed on the craft or ducting for the rear of the engine? Does it have a docking mount?
These type of questions can also help you with doing your textures. Should there be scorch marks near the maneuvering thrusters? Scratches on the weapon mounts? Does a crane pick up the craft to move it when it is landed making scratches on the side of the fuselage? What about micro-meteor impacts on the leading surfaces? Keep in mind depending on the use for the model textures can make all the difference. Even simple shapes can look really awesome in realtime engine situations with good texturing, so you'll want to keep in mind how you plan to texture the model and what details would be better represented in a texture or actual geometry.
If you need help with UV mapping so you can paint awesome textures, there are several here that can help you out, just post away. :)
Also avoid using booleans unless they are the only feasible way to achieve the geometry you need (for example putting hundreds of holes in say the disk for a vented disk brake system). You'll further your modeling skills much more by working with extrudes, drawing edges, and vertex welding.
I think the simplest way to create a cockpit shape from the top of the fuselage shape you have is to do an inset, scale and move it to the shape you need then extrude up the cockpit shape. You can add the windows by doing insets on the resulting faces and extruding them inward for added detail.
Best of luck with this. It's got some potential, but the hollowed out cylinders for engines just aren't gonna cut it. ;)
Hope that wasn't too harsh! :D Keep posting!
-Jack. |
Post by rjeff // Dec 29, 2006, 3:11am
|
rjeff
Total Posts: 1260
|
Not to harsh at all. I value any inuput somebody may give. I have though of all thoes things you mentioned and I am working on them. I have put more detail in the engine, but I may work on a different verison. The wings are actually vertical shields to help protect it. Like I said this is the first version or the base of the build. I will be addind more detail along the way and you may get more of a idea of where I am giong. |
Post by prodigy // Dec 30, 2006, 5:45am
|
prodigy
Total Posts: 3029
|
Hi, well i have some free time, and i work in the wings.. maybe you like.. i send up the cob, use freely if you want.... :cool:
3530
3531
Seeya.. |
Post by rjeff // Jan 5, 2007, 9:18am
|
rjeff
Total Posts: 1260
|
the wings are nice. I have done some redesign of my wings and motor. I will upload them Sunday. My issue now is what to attach them to. |
Post by ProfessorKhaos // Jan 5, 2007, 3:08pm
|
ProfessorKhaos
Total Posts: 622
|
I was going to give a couple of comments and noticed as I read that prodigy captured them fairly well in his pic as did j_edwards with regard to maneuvering thrusters (and/or ducting).
First, I'd suggest the area between the engine and the root of each wing be "beefed up" a bit since it would carry the weight of the engine (under gravity) or have the most stress on it when performing wild maneuvers. Wider closer to the root... personal bias is that engines should be about 1/3 of the wing out from the body and if further out you really need to have a sturdier structure to support them. Splitting the wing into two pieces through the engine gives the impression that the structure is weaker or that the wing passes through/interferes with the internal mechanism of the engine. You could put some heavy structure surrounding the engine to give the impression that this was reinforced or do what prodigy did by moving the engine above or below the wing.
Next suggestion had to do with the engines themselves. Right now yours do appear to be placeholders for future detail (toilet paper rolls for lack of a better example). Might I suggest that you make the front edge rounded a bit and change the diameter to a little bit larger as you go back to the middle then smaller as you reach the tailpipe. I'm thinking about what you might see under an old 737 (not the fanjet kind).
Might be interesting to put some sort of "thrust vectoring mechanism on the engine outlets. Kinda like the clamshell reverse thrusters on larger jets. This could add detail to the engines and also provide a way to reverse and maneuver in yaw pitch or roll. |
Post by rjeff // Jan 6, 2007, 7:20pm
|
rjeff
Total Posts: 1260
|
Ok here is version 2..leeme know what you think about the body..this is the first verison of the body. 2nd for the motors..which are not motors now. I think I am gonna put them on the back. on the wings now is a weapons system. |
Post by ProfessorKhaos // Jan 6, 2007, 9:14pm
|
ProfessorKhaos
Total Posts: 622
|
Looking better and better! It's definitely a fighter (and a mean lookin one too!)
Will be fun to see how this one develops! :) |
Post by Jack Edwards // Jan 7, 2007, 6:18am
|
Jack Edwards
Total Posts: 4062
|
Huge improvement rjeff!
Looking forward to seeing where this one goes. :D
Those pods could be fuel storage or since it's sci-fi: some kind of gravity or warp drive. No intake or exhaust needed for those. ;)
@prodigy: you're just churning out cool stuff these days! :D :D
-Jack. |
Post by rjeff // Jan 7, 2007, 11:10am
|
rjeff
Total Posts: 1260
|
Ok here is version 3. I have included a front and a rear. It will be a bit before I can v4 done. I do not have much time in the week. If I can though I will work on it some more. |
|
