Zeus Class Cruiser

[Huntaer]

Another model for my nationstate's nation "Huntarian Alliance," the Zeus class Cruiser is designed with the question "what if the Defiant class was just the saucer section?" in mind. I decided to mesh the Intrepid class's hull, Sovereign class's saucer section and torpedo bays, the Warp Nacelles from the Excalibur class (the green and orange part) and finally, the Pulse Phaser Cannons from the Defiant class. This is the first model I've worked with to have "realistic" texturing on it. It's still got problems, but with my limited knowledge of Maya I'm calling it finished for now until I have my independent study class next semester which case I'll most likely be making a much more realistic model.

DESIGNER NOTES:

1) Textures were used from scifi-art.com's Thunderchild, an Akira class starship. I edited the typical federation symbols in Photoshop to match the Alliance. To be specific, the Alliance's symbol replaced the Federation's, "USS" is replaced with "R.S.S." for "Republic Star Ship," and "United Federation of Planets" is replaced with "Huntarian Republic Navy."

2) One of my biggest problems with this model is the fact that you can tell that the hull is composed of 2-3 different sections. For some reason, I can't seem to be able to smooth that area out so that it looks like one giant piece. If anyone here who has enough experience with maya can give me some advice for this, it'd be greatly appreciated. Otherwise, I'll just wait 'till next semester. The other is the lack of effective lighting due to my noobish knowledge of Maya. I know how to apply basic lighting, but to get it to be as realistic as possible seems to be beyond me.

3) Erm... I kinda just noticed this now, but it would appear that the bottom registry number is sorta... umm... "off." I'm trying to work it out, but so far as I can tell on Photoshop, I aligned it properly to the texture I was using for guideline positioning. I could be missing something when I apply it to the model, but I can't figure out

[Animaniac]

Very Basic, but nice for a beginner.

[Huntaer]

Thanks. If anyone is actually brave enough, I could save the model and upload it so that anyone working with maya (I'm not sure as to how to save it as anything other than a .ma or .mb, since nothing else shows up...), I'd like to encourage it. I could use it as a guide to work towards by the end of next semester.

[spudmonkey]

You need to put credits on the images...

Nag over...!

The Defiant is definitely fun to play with. I used a heavily modified version of the hull as a weapon pod and deflector array on the Mordant as follows





I can't offer you Maya specific assistance unfortunately, but there should be a smoothing groups option in there somewhere. For general modeling, now you have managed to get this far, try rebuilding some of the parts using different methods and see how you get on. You should notice an improvement based on what you learned creating this model

[Huntaer]

Originally Posted by spudmonkey

You need to put credits on the images...

Nag over...!

Giving credit in the post isn't good enough? Oh well... I'll photoshop it in later on.

The Defiant is definitely fun to play with. I used a heavily modified version of the hull as a weapon pod and deflector array on the Mordant as follows

It actually looks more like another heavily modified Miranda Class refit (the saucer and weapons pod at least). In any case, me likes. I've actually been thinking of designing something like that for the Alliance (again, my good guy faction) as well.

I can't offer you Maya specific assistance unfortunately, but there should be a smoothing groups option in there somewhere. For general modeling, now you have managed to get this far, try rebuilding some of the parts using different methods and see how you get on. You should notice an improvement based on what you learned creating this model

There is a smoothing option. I believe I used the most basic method of smoothing to get it where it is, and I don't dare go further. Maya started to go jumpy when I finished the project as it is. Dad says it's 'cuz I need a higher RAM for my compy (2 gigs just doesn't seem to cut it) or a video graphics card... Or both. At any rate, I'll do what you suggest about rebuilding parts of the ship. Thanks for the info.

[Hellsgate]

There was also the Daikyu-Class, (mesh by erik tomlinson.) Using the Rapier-Class by Tachy Lefevre and Ed Giddings' Sovereign-Class.

U.S.S. Buckingham

[Huntaer]

I like that design... Makes me wanna do some more meshes when I get my computer back from the repair store.