Phaser

Star Trek Canon Authority
Admiral





Joined: 21 Mar 2005
Posts: 3166
Location: Mourning the loss of my best friend, Curly.

Hello! Phaser, here. I've been watching people create starship models here on the BCU forums for quite some time now. It looked like a fun challenge, so I thought I would give it a try. Since it would be my first model, I knew I should go with something relatively simple. The original series' Constitution Class was the obvious choice.

I don't have 3D Max Studio or Milkshape 3D. Instead, I'm using a modeling program called Pro/E, which is short for Pro/ENGINEER. It's a CAD program used by engineers for design purposes.

I haven't yet played around with saving the model as different file types, so I don't know if it will be compatible with Star Trek Bridge Commander (i.e., I don't know if I can get in .nif format). It's WAY too detailed for the BC game engine to handle, anyway. I'm trying to make this model as accurate as the actual Smithsonian model--the one used in the show back in the 60's! I'll have to tone down the detail if I put it in BC. Whether or not I do so depends on what you guys think of it!

Lastly, please give constructive criticism only. If you don't like it, that's fine with me as long as you don't just type "It sucks." Tell me in detail what sucks, and I'll try to fix it. Also, while it's okay with me if you post comments such as "Looks good!" I'd prefer more detail: What do you like best about it? Do you have any suggestions for improvement? I'd really appreciate it. Thanks a lot!

Now for the pictures!

Phaser

Star Trek Canon Authority
Admiral





Joined: 21 Mar 2005
Posts: 3166
Location: Mourning the loss of my best friend, Curly.

Here's a few more pictures. Notice the subtle curve on the spine in the first picture. I'm going for that level of the detail!

Nebula

CA/KM/BCS:TC Mod Team Member
Moderator



Age: 22
Zodiac:
Joined: 04 Oct 2002
Posts: 21131
Location: Michigan

umm your topic was moved so this is kinda redundant

_________________
Canon is what people argue exists on ships that don't exist.

Sim Rex

Moderator



Age: 26
Zodiac:
Joined: 11 Apr 2002
Posts: 1714

The optimal solution, if the thread author agrees, would be for this one to become a poll for the modding forum asking people about whether they want this ship in game.

The other thread should go back to the Art forum, where it belongs. Phaser is asking for feedback on a CGI level model of a ship, not a ship for a mod.

This is not my forum, but if Phaser asks me, I can make that happen...

_________________
"Could it be it's the end of our world? All the things that we cherish and love
Nothing left but to face this all on my own, cause I am the chosen one!"
-- The Fallen Angel - Iron Maiden(Smith/Harris)

For beginner scripters - The BCU Mission Scripting Lessons

Phaser

Star Trek Canon Authority
Admiral





Joined: 21 Mar 2005
Posts: 3166
Location: Mourning the loss of my best friend, Curly.

Nebula wrote:

umm your topic was moved so this is kinda redundant

I specifically told the administrators to delete the other one, not to move it, so "umm" this isn't redundant. The administrators simply need to read more carefully.

Sim Rex wrote:

The optimal solution, if the thread author agrees, would be for this one to become a poll for the modding forum asking people about whether they want this ship in game. The other thread should go back to the Art forum, where it belongs. Phaser is asking for feedback on a CGI level model of a ship, not a ship for a mod. This is not my forum, but if Phaser asks me, I can make that happen...

Thanks for the suggestion, Sim Rex. If it's all right with you, however, I'd like to keep it in this forum (Bridge Commander Modding), primarily because more people seem to visit this forum than the Art forum.

By the way, it was never in the Art forum. It was in the Mods and Downloads for BC forum.

starforce2

BCU Intersite Relations Director
Moderator



Age: 28
Zodiac:
Joined: 06 Mar 2002
Posts: 7505
Location: Minnesota

Forum rules dictate only raven is allowed to delete threads. However I tossed the other in the forum trashcan.

_________________
Skype me: pikachu764

Guest

Phaser wrote:

Thanks for the suggestion, Sim Rex. If it's all right with you, however, I'd like to keep it in this forum (Bridge Commander Modding), primarily because more people seem to visit this forum than the Art forum.

I agree with Sim, this belongs to the CGI forum, not because you want or because more people visit this or that forums, but because your model is way too hot for bc.
It looks very nice, but the polycount for it is over the edge by some thousands, and i don't need a counter to see that.
Keep the model coming, as it looks nice, but as a said, it's closer to CGI than to a ingame model.

LC

RCgothic

Assistant Site and Operations Director
Assistant Administrator



Age: 23
Zodiac:
Joined: 19 Sep 2001
Posts: 5445
Location: Oxford University, England.

It is very nice what you've got so far. it would make some amazing art if you got some decent textures on it. I wont repeat what the others have said about it being a mod for BC though.

_________________

captain_obvious

the ultimate n00b.
Vice Admiral



Age: 20
Zodiac:
Joined: 29 Jun 2004
Posts: 1873
Location: Supplying, as a supplier shoud supply

how about giving this beauty to LC so he can make it suitable for BC then eh? it'd be a right stonker! the CG Sov of the TOS..........erm, universe.

_________________
Your Brain's Pattern



Your mind is an incubator for good ideas, it just takes a while for them to develop.
But when you think of something, watch out!
Your thoughts tend to be huge, and they come on quickly - like an explosion.
You tend to be quiet around others, unless you're inspired by your next big idea.

What Pattern Is Your Brain?

http://www.blogthings.com/whatpatternisyourbrainquiz/

Guest

captain_obvious wrote:

how about giving this beauty to LC so he can make it suitable for BC then eh? it'd be a right stonker! the CG Sov of the TOS..........erm, universe.

Funny joke.

LC

starforce2

BCU Intersite Relations Director
Moderator



Age: 28
Zodiac:
Joined: 06 Mar 2002
Posts: 7505
Location: Minnesota

yea really...we got enough connies.

_________________
Skype me: pikachu764

DaAan Designs

Lieutenant-Colonel



Age: 24
Zodiac:
Joined: 06 Mar 2002
Posts: 884

its a nice enough mesh to be sure.. very accurate to the images supplied.. however as LC and Sim have said its clearly a CGI mesh and not an ingame model WIP for BC so it should be moved into the graphics arts forums

_________________
User Number 422


Here[/url]
"I don't mind being ogled, ridiculed
Made to feel miniscule
If you consider the source, it's kinda pitiful " Slipknot - My Plague

Phaser

Star Trek Canon Authority
Admiral





Joined: 21 Mar 2005
Posts: 3166
Location: Mourning the loss of my best friend, Curly.

DaAan Designs wrote:

its a nice enough mesh to be sure.. very accurate to the images supplied.. however as LC and Sim have said its clearly a CGI mesh and not an ingame model WIP for BC so it should be moved into the graphics arts forums

Very well. Administrators, please move this to the Graphics Art forum.

Guest

well, i think it looks pretty good. attention to detail is always apprecitated, since I am always far too lazy to do so in mine.

Guest

Don't take it down Phaser, everyone says it's a good model (i included), it's just not a bc modding wip.

LC

Kori Barnes

Cadet 4th Class



Age: 18
Zodiac:
Joined: 14 Mar 2005
Posts: 422
Location: Cube 1138

Nice i like your idea from a really canon Connie

_________________
LCARS (Library Computer Access & Retrieval Sysrem)
Lieutenant Commander Kori Barnes
Chief of Security USS Minnesota NCC-23630-A

Phaser

Star Trek Canon Authority
Admiral





Joined: 21 Mar 2005
Posts: 3166
Location: Mourning the loss of my best friend, Curly.

LC Amaral wrote:

Don't take it down Phaser, everyone says it's a good model (i included), it's just not a bc modding wip. LC

I never planned on taking it down. It's fine with me that it has been moved.

Thanks for the compliment, by the way!

Phaser

Star Trek Canon Authority
Admiral





Joined: 21 Mar 2005
Posts: 3166
Location: Mourning the loss of my best friend, Curly.

Okay, time for an update:

I finished the neck a couple day ago, but I've been to lazy to take and post pictures of it until now. I've also been busy with the secondary hull (it is looking good!). I'll post pictures of my progress with that soon; maybe tomorrow.

Before the comments start flying, I thought I'd let you know that the neck is intentionally too long. I did that because I wanted to make sure that it would completely intersect the secondary hull. So, to reiterate, the neck won't appear this long once the secondary hull is finished (because some of it will be "buried" inside the secondary hull).

Phaser

Star Trek Canon Authority
Admiral





Joined: 21 Mar 2005
Posts: 3166
Location: Mourning the loss of my best friend, Curly.

Okay, here's how the secondary hull currently looks.

RCgothic

Assistant Site and Operations Director
Assistant Administrator



Age: 23
Zodiac:
Joined: 19 Sep 2001
Posts: 5445
Location: Oxford University, England.

That's looking really good. Are you editing disks of side 48 polygons to get that detail?

_________________

Phaser

Star Trek Canon Authority
Admiral





Joined: 21 Mar 2005
Posts: 3166
Location: Mourning the loss of my best friend, Curly.

Quote:

That's looking really good. Are you editing disks of side 48 polygons to get that detail?

Thanks for the compliment!

Honestly, I have no idea how many polygons it uses. I don't even know if the program uses polygons (in the usual sense, that is)! It might be based on a 'circular mesh program' (I don't recall what that type of program is actually called, but the idea is that its code makes it extremely simple to make elliptical objects). Read my first post to see what program I'm using.

I'll look around to see if I can find the answer to your question.

Armondikov

Tan tan ta ra, tzing boom!
Moderator



Age: 23
Zodiac:
Joined: 09 May 2002
Posts: 12005
Location: York.

I like how you've put your shots side by side with reference pictures.

_________________

Phaser

Star Trek Canon Authority
Admiral





Joined: 21 Mar 2005
Posts: 3166
Location: Mourning the loss of my best friend, Curly.

Armondikov wrote:

I like how you've put your shots side by side with reference pictures.

Thanks! I thought that that would be a clever idea, so people could see for themselves just how canon this model is!

I've finished the shuttle bay, and I'm currently working on the rectangular protrusions/cuts on the sides of the secondary hull, near the deflector. I'll post screenshots sometime (Probably after I get more reactions/responses to this thread--it almost looks like I'm talking to myself!).

ChiefBrex

Commodore



Age: 28
Zodiac:
Joined: 10 Dec 2003
Posts: 1258
Location: USS Poseidon NCC-78010

Looks good. A lot of attention to detail. Too bad BC can't handle something this detailed ingame.

_________________

RCgothic

Assistant Site and Operations Director
Assistant Administrator



Age: 23
Zodiac:
Joined: 19 Sep 2001
Posts: 5445
Location: Oxford University, England.

A small comment, but your impulse engines seem to protrued slightly further than those of the reference model.

_________________

Phaser

Star Trek Canon Authority
Admiral





Joined: 21 Mar 2005
Posts: 3166
Location: Mourning the loss of my best friend, Curly.

RCgothic wrote:

A small comment, but your impulse engines seem to protrued slightly further than those of the reference model.

Hm. They do seem to protrude more than they should, don't they? Thanks for the comment. I'll take a look at it.

EDIT: Okay. I've moved the impulse engines a little more into the saucer. I've also increased the angle at which the engines taper into the saucer. I've also shortened the height of the "spine" where it connects to the impulse engines. That has been bugging me for a while. It looks much better now. The differences are subtle, however. It's easiest to make a comparison by opening this page in two windows and lining up the earlier picture of the engine with this one. Then just click between the windows.

Also, I've finished the secondary hull. The second picture is a small teaser.

RCgothic

Assistant Site and Operations Director
Assistant Administrator



Age: 23
Zodiac:
Joined: 19 Sep 2001
Posts: 5445
Location: Oxford University, England.

the impulse engines look much better now. Oy, stop your teasing if it's done.

_________________

Phaser

Star Trek Canon Authority
Admiral





Joined: 21 Mar 2005
Posts: 3166
Location: Mourning the loss of my best friend, Curly.

I've finally realized that I can't compare the mesh itself with schematics. The perspective screws everything up. So I finally decided to use a function in the program that makes a schematic of the model. Comparing it to some really accurate schematics that I've found, I've realized that there were quite a few things that were out of proportion: The saucer was too thick, while the dorsal 'bulge' in the saucer wasn't large enough; the bridge module was too small (I've known about that for a while, though); the neck was way off; the 'spine' was too big; the secondary hull was too long, and it wasn't placed correctly relative to the saucer.

I've already remodeled the saucer and replaced the secondary hull relative to it. I'm now working on the neck and spine. The secondary hull is going to be the biggest pain, though, because I've already modeled the shuttle bay (quite well, if I say so myself). I'll figure something out, though.

Everything that I'm redoing really isn't that noticeable (except the shortening of the secondary hull), but as I said at the beginning of this thread, I'm aiming for an extremely accurate model, so I can't let these little things slip by. I might have an update in a couple of days. In the mean time, please feel free to comment, criticize (constructive only, of course), or give me some suggestions.

Adm_Ross

Ensign



Age: 31
Zodiac:
Joined: 20 May 2005
Posts: 111
Location: Edinburgh, United Kingdom, Earth, Sol System Sector 001

Looking good so far Is that official schematics or fan ones?

_________________
"The art of war is simple enough. Find out where your enemy is. Get at him as soon as you can. Strike him as hard as you can, and keep moving." ~ Ulysses S. Grant (1822 - 1885)



We Survive! Long Live the Terran Empire

Phaser

Star Trek Canon Authority
Admiral





Joined: 21 Mar 2005
Posts: 3166
Location: Mourning the loss of my best friend, Curly.

Adm_Ross wrote:

Looking good so far Is that official schematics or fan ones?

I don't know. There's no copyright logo or company logo anywhere.

Even official schematics shouldn't always be trusted. Usually, "official" schematics are made by some outsiders and 'okay'ed by the producers, rather than the designers and manufacturers of the studio model (which would be much more reliable).

I'm inclined to believe that the schematics I'm using were actually made from a mosaic of images of the actual studio model. Though this is highly unlikely, I feel that it's possible because the images are so accurate! Sometime, I'll probably post a portion of the schematics overlaying a shot of my model. I've been meaning to do something like that.

Here's a progress report:
Reshaping everything isn't turning out to be quite as difficult as I had imagined. I've already reshaped everything except the secondary hull! Woohoo! The secondary hull, on the other hand, is being quite stubborn. I'll get it, though.