Immense Class Starbase - Retrofit!

[Don't Shoot]

Hi,

Anybody who's been here (Not actually here but at Scifi-Art's forums) during their "golden age" when this site and forums weren't even planned, will probably also remember this piece of ancient model.

The Immense Class Starbase - My first experiment in modeling something worthy of publishing out for downloading.

The model itself made quite an impression at the time and got me a place at Scifi-Art moderators team but then the site got closed and all of the planes for this model with it.

Anyway, that was 7 years ago and the model itself got quite lousy as technology and my modeling skills evolved.
Now in celebration of the time past and because of the fact I have some free time, now that I've finished the Mek'hlar Class Destroyer, I decided to retrofit this baby with all the arsenal of new modeling techniques I have aquiered in these past 7 years.

Attached are two pictures:
The first is an original rendering of the original model.
The second is the original model in Clay form.

You can notice by these that what really turned this model into a success is not the model itself but the texture overlay and lighting (made with the personal assistance of Tachy).

Before I get to work I would like to hear some ideas of what do you think I should do with it and where to put the major changes.
Thanks.

[Somerset]

I personally loved the old design but I always had an issue with the frail struts that connect the main base with the two satellite bases. It makes the design look like someone just stuck them there instead of being an intergal part of the structure. THe same goes with the four struts connecting the power core. I think making the center beam thicker and removing the struts all together would be better.

[Wilson359]

I always found this design intriguing, I'll be definitely watching this one.

[Deks]

I definitely agree with the suggestion that the connecting 4 pylons on the lower area of the station could use some kind of modeled 'ends' so they look more integrated with the lower section. Aside from that ... much higher resolution textures (for both the hull and windows), and possibly some decent lighting rig for the 2 drydocks. Also try to make sure that the windows texture doesn't overlap with the connecting pylon areas. Some long lines (facing down) could be placed on the structure's hull so it resembles the design of the Mushroom type starbase. Then again I have no idea what you had in mind for a retrofit of this station. Oh right ... maybe a few more doors on the upper mid section so you could place more ships inside. Right now it seems as though it could hold about 2 Galaxy class vessels in each of those 'cones' (if they were meant to be large enough for the Galaxies). The drydocks themselves ... Perhaps retrofit them into the 'Nemesis' version if you want (but I don't see it as overly necessary). In regards to the hull textures ... some Sovereign type darker panels would be good perhaps? Don't know really ... it depends on how far you really want to go.

[Don't Shoot]

Thanks for the suggestions so far...

I've thought that if I'm gonna do this I might as well do it right - Meaning, I'm modeling everything back from scratch and reimagining all the parts and bits to fit with the original design concept I had when I started this (with a few additions coming to me now).

You need to understand that back then when I first started working on this station many things I wanted it to have could not be done because of my limited skill at the time so I kinda built the model ressembling what I wanted based on what I could do with the program.
Now, I am limitless so I better make this right this time

Started working on the "side cones" - I wanted them to ressemble as much as possible the upper section of the Mushroom Spacedock so here it is...

[Don't Shoot]

Further more, I want it now to have everything from the inside as well so you'll be able to make scenes like the one from STAR-TREK III.

BTW, don't expect it to come out fast - I've always taken my time making models

[Deks]

Don't worry.
I also resumed my work on my old Nightfire mesh.
I liked the amount of details I placed on that thing back in the day but thought the poly count was a killer.
And I wanted to use it for closeups ... which was good, but not terribly suitable if you remember the fact that my windows had sharp edges.

I have restarted my work on it and remodeled the saucer section along with the secondary hull.
I still have things to iron out before I move on to making the hull grids and windows (it will mostly resemble the old thing but with better optimization ... however the new nacelles I made upped the poly count significantly ... will have to cut it down ).
Then again, I couldn't care less about the poly count if the quality will be on the level of my NX-01 (if not higher).

In any case, I like the fact you added some details that resemble the mushroom base :-)
And for the interiors ...
I would recommend you don't model a large structure inside the smaller cones mid section as it would only take up unnecessary space (unless you place something along it's internal walls, like extension arms that serve like slots for ships which could be placed in a circular manner when inside).
For the internal part of the central station area, an internal structure would be good because it would remind us it has a very large power core and turbo/shafts.
It's immense either way so you should have more than enough room for it in that part of the station).

[Lonewriter]

I love this mesh. I've used the original before and can't wait to see the upgrade. What about changing the docking bays into a more Nemesis looking ones. I would also like to see some weapons pods or phasers strips on the hull. How about some external docking ports like DS9?

[Don't Shoot]

After the mess I had with the Mek'hlar polycount I'll be sure to keep an eye from getting too crazy with the details

Spacedoors:

[Deks]

One more suggestion.
The doors edges could use some light smoothing so they don't appear to be razor sharp on potential close-up shots.