Stealthstar Phoenix

[casivona]

Greetings!!
I'm new to this terrific site and thought I'd run with the building battlestar trend that seems to be happening amongst the threads.

This is the Battlestar Phoenix. I'm designing it to be the "sports car" of the Colonial fleet. It's sleek, fast, and decently armed. I'm wanting it have a somewhat angular yet "organic" look to it; kind of a mix between the Galactica and Pegasus. It's defiantly still a work in progress. Let me know what you think!

[Starship]

Welcome on board !
Nice modelling you have done. Cool greebles and plates. The engines are taking my attemption too. :)
Keep posting, I'm waiting for updates.

[Dallidas]

loosk sweet! what is its role?

[casivona]

Thanks! It's a strike carrier/destroyer. The structures on the top just above the engines are missile batteries.

[vf-1msx]

sweet!
I like it :thumb:

[punchface]

...and you have to design her to the best of your ability and with as much love as you can. So...although I'm about to issue a bit of criticism, I'm certainly not wanting to cast myself as someone who thinks he's better or more knowledgeable than you.

No...on to this "sports car of the Colonial Fleet" business:

I encourage you to take a look at the most current of the "best of the best" in sports car design. Especially the Italians who are probably the sentimental favorites of the world. Look at the works of Ferrari and Lamborghini. Look at the concept sports cars of the immediate future...cars that could see the end of an assembly line and commercial release by 2010 or 2012 or something like that.

Every one of those cars is a miracle of organic surfaces and elegantly sweeping curves. The only curves that turn my head faster are the curves of a woman's hips or her neck...or...well, you know. ;)

Your phoenix is most definitely not curved. But if you want her to be "sleek" and "fast" and you want the average guy to look at your ship and say to himself, "damn, that Phoenix looks sleek and fast!", then you gotta use the visual shorthand that we've been using on ourselves for the last generation.

Curve your lady with a woman's curves and watch the wannabe naval architects on this site (yours truly included) wag our tongues in your favor.

respectfully,

punchface

[casivona]

ah... punchface... point taken...

Perhaps I should rethink my original statement. I probably shouldn't compare her to a sports car.... maybe she's more of a muscle car(?)... hmmm..

Heck... maybe I shouldn't compare her to a car at all... this is a fraking battlestar! I'm trying to steer clear of making her look "star treky". Thank you for the insight though.

I'm running on the theory that its a much smaller variant of the Mercury class. And it's built for speed. Maybe I'll aim for a curved battlestar design on my next one.

[Infinity238]

Looks like a stealth battlestar to me, angular to deflect dradis. Reminds me of the apearance of the F117 Stealth Fighter, Even your engines look like they could be "stealthed".

[aben06]

Het Punch
I like it when there's a "different approach" to the usual .After all isn't varity the spice of life or some such.
Welcome to this site and for adding some of that varity.Will be watching those updates

aben06

[Cyba_storm]

Welcome to SFM, and the brotherhood of 'Galactica Universe' builders. The BSG threads are my favorite, so the more of them the better.
The missile batteries are an interesting feature, and I like the style of the engines. I look forward to future updates, and seeing how this mesh pans out.

[casivona]

Thanks again, everybody! keep letting me now what you think! I hope to post more updates this weekend.

Infinity - Thanks! I was kinda thinking it could be a stealth battlestar too, with a low profile and angular body, but I wasn't sure about giving it so many roles (light carrier, destroyer, strike craft, stealth ship), it would seem almost "over-powering", but maybe it's purpose could be truly multi-role.

The engines and their configuration have gone through several iterations, I was really trying to go for something not seen before. The two nozzles in the center of each engine pod are boosters.

Aben - I'm not sure Punch was taking issue with the design itself, I think it was more aimed at my associating the design with a sports car (correct me if I'm wrong, Punch). I could be a true geek and say something like: "curves and sleekness don't really matter in space" or "maybe in the Galactica universe; sports cars are not curvy" and still compare it to a "sports car", but I see were he's coming from. While the asthetics of the ships in the Galactica universe are meant to be unique, their designs are influenced by our real-world vehicle and ship designs.

[Larsen]

Looking good... I like the oldschoole style you have to it... maybe not on purpose, but she does have some of the lines and bloky look of the org BG... which is good if you ask me... the Peggy was way too fat and clumsy to look at:(

Now... only crit I have is that the struts conecting the pilons to the hull are so high... maybe cut the inside out or trim them in some way... but again this just 2 cents...

Welcome aboard, and good fun on building this poppy:D... your not a true BSG fan if you haven't had a BSG wip on SFM:D

[baptiste11]

Cool job, first pics are cool !

[punchface]

...regarding my crit. I do actually kinda like the blockiness of it when taken on its own and not with any sports car associations.

I also like the decision to angle the stern down and out dorsal-to-ventral the way that you have done. Very original and not something I would have thought would have looked good and yet, it looks like it has real potential.

peace,

punchface

[casivona]

I've started on the Phoenix launch tubes. They're not as lengthy as Galactica's but based off the same design...

[Talos]

I'm liking this design so far, keep up the good work.

[warduke]

carbon fiber armor plate :P

make it stealth!

[casivona]

Stealth Battlestar it is! I like that idea, and it fits with the design.

I'm starting to detail the engines. I've decided to nix the nozzle angle I had in my first renders, it just didn't seem right.

Keep suggestions coming!

[JustinDixon]

... dude... now I need to redesign my engines again. grrrrrr... However you did a good job ;)

[casivona]

here's a better render of the back, with the greebly-goodness of the engines... I'm having an odd issue with the glow almost coming through the mesh but I think I figured it out.

JustinDixon - thanks! your SS Sirius is amazing, I've been keeping up with it's progress.. It's one of the things that inspired me to build my own Battlestar.

[vf-1msx]

goood very good:thumb:

[JustinDixon]

Casivona, that's an honor. May we continue to inspire!

[Dallidas]

those engines are looking fantastic

[DocHarris]

Wow! Amazing amount of detail and a great merging of original BSG, new BSG and the Pegasus. This to me is a battlestar design that could please all fans of the show. The amount of detail in incredible, I thought it was at the early stages until I looked closely and saw all the little things.

[casivona]

again, thanks everybody! I'm really wanting to put lots of detail into this.

DocHarris - thanks! that's pretty much my intent; kind of a blend of several different designs. believe it or not, I beleive I'm still in the early stages of this model. I'm planning some pretty high quality animations for this ship!

[casivona]

So, I'm detailing my way around the Phoenix, each pass I hope to add more detail. In this render I'm starting on the back end of the flightpod, building the landing optics.

[bsg recon]

like your ship, but have several questions about landiing bays. Where are elevators and does it still use launch tubes ? Repair and maint facilities are on a lower deck?

[Nevets]

Sweet fighter bay. Very nice.

[Talos]

Excellent job on this so far, I'm loving the design and execution.

Stealth battlestar, I love it, it's the kind of ship that'd carry my Viper SR.Mk Is.

[vf-1msx]

Stealth battlestar U know That the Kind of ship that could survive the Cylon attack

[Ben of Oz]

Ya know, I've seen a lot of great Battlestar designs on SFM, but I think this one takes the cake. The lines man, the lines!

[bsg recon]

cant wait to see more, its great

[casivona]

I've done little on the interior of the launch bays but haven't been able to get around to much of the elevator platforms. It does have launch tubes, I haven't put a whole lot of effort into them yet...

[casivona]

Here's a view of the launch tubes on the flight pods in relation to the rest of the ship. I had to offset the direction of the launch tubes to give them any kind of length because the size of the ship is relatively small, I like it because it almost has a "torpedo" look... I plan on a lot more detail to these tubes

[warduke]

very pretty. i like how those two small plates overlap the lower plates. i hope you know what i am talking about as you had to of put a little thought into it. :P

[AldrikG]

This looks really great. I love the orientation on the launch tubes and all the plate-work.

[Dallidas]

looking great bro! i think it would do you some good if you beveled the edges on the panels though

[casivona]

Thanks, everyone! I'm reworking the hull plating a bit, especially on the "head", my plan is to go back in a do a little beveling

[Free-Lance]

I love it ,I love it, Did I say I love it yet?

[gpdesigner]

WOW . . . this is totaly cool . . . . :thumb:
it's always good to see a new Galactica design come out . . . . it make tonge hairs tingle . . . . :D
gp

[punchface]

When a guy takes the time to really model the inside of the landing bays, one knows that he loves his baby. :)

Nice work.

punchface

[Free-Lance]

Love the Lauch tubs dude, 45' angle awsome!!!

Keep up the good work.

If I may offer a suggestion a couple of landing pads on top of pods for quick deployment, something like a helipad on a destoyer.

Great work though!

[casivona]

Not much of a huge update, but I'm making slow progress on the hull plating. I think I might reposition the DRADIS dish now that I look at it.

Free-Lance: very good suggestion! I'll see if I can work that into the design.

[Adama]

It is looking pretty good so far

[casivona]

Still making small steps in the ways of detailing. I've started work on the turrets, building them from scratch. They aren't quite done yet.

I'm totally reworking the interior of the landing bays, I'll have renders of that sometime soon. Overall, I'm very pleased with how my first large-scale project is turning out!

[Infinity238]

Hmmm, Nice. I was woundering If your going to have any turrets like the Valk (i.e. Missile gunturrets) on her? The look of her just seems conducive to missiles to me, but I also like the look of her main batteries so far.

[casivona]

ah.. why, yes! While there won't be any Valkyrie style misslie turrets, this baby will be armed with plenty of missiles. There are missile batteries on the aft dorsal section of the ship. These are one of the few things leaft that I have yet to put much thought into. I've pretty much designed this whole ship on the fly, things would probably go a lot quicker (and look a lot better) if I drew this stuff out on paper before hand, but.... meh.. that's what rebuilds are for.

[bsg recon]

ANY IDEA of ship stats length, beam, height and pod stats?

[casivona]

hmm.. I'll have to get back to you on the whole stats thing :) maybe 8 ... 9 hundred meters (?) ...relatively smallish

[casivona]

I finished up the very front; the (what I assume to be) sensor palates of a battlestar... I hope to post pictures of my revamped landing bays soon.

keep suggestions coming!

[vf-1msx]

I finished up the very front; the (what I assume to be) sensor palates of a battlestar... I hope to post pictures of my revamped landing bays soon.

keep suggestions coming!

nice I like it:thumb:

[casivona]

It may not look much different, but I re-did the entire interior of the landing bay

[casivona]

So, I'm making progress with the front and I'm also trying to give the Phoenix more weaponry and I can't figure if these gatling style mini-turrets fit with the design... any ideas?

[bsg recon]

i like it great job

[1of33]

This is coming along nicely

[Talos]

I like those miniturrets, the way they are mounted really reminds me of old warships like the pre-dreadnought and the Arizona (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Image:USS_Arizona_%28BB-39%29_-_1920.jpg) and other warships.

[punchface]

The battlewagons built by various navies prior to say, oh, about 1925 or so, (before the significance of air power made itself clear) typically sporting a secondary level of armament where one would see single rifles protruding from cylindrical turrets inset or countersunk into the hull immediately below the first weather-deck. This is the sort of design that I THINK you're talking about when you ref Arizona and middle era dreadnaughts.

Those countersunk turrets were called "casemates" and Casinova's gattling style flak/point defense batteries for Phoenix do sorta kinda resemble casemated secondary armaments.

Glarg!,

punchface

[Talos]

Really, it was WWI and the realization that most casemate emplacements (except for the really high ones) were usually unable to operate in most weather conditions in addition to their inability to engage air targets that led to their demise. Most BBs had them removed and plated over (some US ones never had them installed but were too far in construction to have them faired into the hull.

But yeah, casemates are what I was talking about, couldn't think of the damn word, five-alarm headache. Phoenix's AA armament did remind me of those casemates, especially in the dreadnought and the Victorian eras of ship construction (they were replaced by small turrets in the post-dreadnought era).

[cam91]

Hello,
I saw your battlestar model and I want to ask you permission to use it in my online RPG, battlestar Constitution. It's set a few months before the cylon attack against the colonies so I need some new spaceship designs for my task force inside the game, battlestar group 69. I'm sorry because if you don't speak italian you can't play: I'm Italian and that's an Italian RPG.
So what do you think about it? Let my know, write soon.

PS: Sorry for my mistakes but I'm Italian and I have got some little problems with grammar (too long to explaing).

[casivona]

I think I may stick with the mini turrets, the idea is growing on me. I almost like the WWI parallel, I actually got the idea playing Battlestations Midway (which is of course WWII) ...I'll start giving them more detail.

Cam91 - I would be honored for you to use the Phoenix in your RPG; I have sent you a message through the private messaging service of SCIFI-MESHES.COM, please check you private message box in your User CP for the information. Thanks!

[cam91]

Ok, thank or your permission (chek the message I have sent you). Speaking about your model, i have to say it's awesome! At the beginning I thought it looked like TOS battlestars but when i read all the èages and alla the updates i said "WOW!". I think your ship looks more like a ligh battlestar/light cruiser hybrid because it has 2 flight pods like all the battlestar but i think the armament is a buit light for a battlestar such as the Galactica or the newer Pegasus.
I'm going to use it in my RPG (and THANK YOU again!!!) and i want it t be a light assaul battlestar... or maybe a command ship!!! Ehm.... i don't know, i'm thinking about it.

[XRaiderV1.7]

she's got a nice sleek new look, perfect for my scifi reference archives.
hope to see more

[casivona]

More greebles on the front... almost done with the front, finally... I'll be starting on tail section sometime soon. I've got vacation from work coming up next week!

[Infinity238]

Very cool, I will look forward to that tail section. ;)

[casivona]

I'm making progress, I swear! :)
This thing seems to be taking me forever... but i've added a little color! Anyway, I fibbed and started on the mid section, instead of the tail end. I pretty much rebuilt the mid part, and gave her new flightpod struts. I think they'll work out pretty decently after they're fully refined. As for the tail end... I still need to work out how the engines are connected to the ship :rolleyes:

[bsg recon]

it's looking great. I love the look of the Phoenix.

[Infinity238]

Lovely work as always.

[cam91]

Great job, man! But you should put some KEW heavy urrets in the alligaatore head" midline because I saw you forgot it. Have you thought about it already?

[casivona]

Thanks!

More progress! Plated the top of the mid section. And started on rebuilding the stern section, added some engines.

[Infinity238]

Very nice, she seems to be getting darker with every render. ;)

[XRaiderV1.7]

looking at her from the nose on, i noticed that the cross-overs are a tad too bulky, this is only noticible from a 3 qtrs to nose on, to an aft perspective view, was this intentional?
have you experimented with slimmer versions?

other than that, sweet warship!

[casivona]

Thanks, Raider!

When you say "cross-overs", are you referring to the struts that connect the flightpods to the main hull?

[XRaiderV1.7]

Thanks, Raider!

When you say "cross-overs", are you referring to the struts that connect the flightpods to the main hull?

yes, when you look at her from a slight off center bow view, her cross overs/ struts look too thick in comparison to how they look when viewed from a topside view

[casivona]

ah yes, well... they are setup that way and should be the same size in my latest renders (the aft strut is thicker than forward strut on purpose) ; I tried slimmer versions but it just didn't look right to me.

[cam91]

Great progresses! That's great every time you improve it. But every flight pod has only one landing bay, isn't it? I mean the section under the mid-line is just part of the pod or is it another landing bay? I have to know it because I'm using it in my RPG (I give me the prmission and so thanks again)

[XRaiderV1.7]

the forward strut in particular is a tad too big, and could i suggest adding some curves or angles to the ventral sides of the struts? what i mean is they should kinda try to blend or merge into the ventral hull for a more streamlined slick appearance. that should remove the impression of it looking like a military base converted into a space based warship.

[vf-1msx]

Very nice, she seems to be getting darker with every render:devil:

[casivona]

It's been quite a long while since I've worked on this. But I've decided to brush the dust off and get her going again. The following render is pretty much a rough draft, I still need to fine tune the hull surfaces and perhaps tweak the landing strip texture... I'm not sure if the landing markings are anywhere near accurate, it just looked kinda functional.

[mirage]

Looks great, but I have a question. Why does it say BSX instead of BSG? Is is a Battlestar Experiment or??? Because BSG stands for Battlestar Group not Battlestar Galactica when it is put on a ship at least that is what I have read/been told. Anyways... again really nice work and I look forward to future updates.

[casivona]

You are correct. My idea is that this is an experimental battlestar... a stealth battlestar. I would like to call it a StealthStar but I believe that might conflict with some canon that has already been established in an earlier BSG episode... oh well... I might think of something else...

...maybe "DarkStar Pheonix"? ...no
...."NightStar Pheonix"? ...naa
..."StealthStar Pheonix"... oh yeah... can't
..."StrikeStar...." oops... taken :)
..."BattleStar Pheonix"? ...sounds good, i guess

[bsg recon]

Add a 3rd bay and call it a Tristar. seriously its looking good and will be glaad to get new updates

[vf-1msx]

You are correct. My idea is that this is an experimental battlestar... a stealth battlestar. I would like to call it a StealthStar but I believe that might conflict with some canon that has already been established in an earlier BSG episode... oh well... I might think of something else...

...maybe "DarkStar Pheonix"? ...no
...."NightStar Pheonix"? ...naa
..."StealthStar Pheonix"... oh yeah... can't
..."StrikeStar...." oops... taken :)
..."BattleStar Pheonix"? ...sounds good, i guess

Its Look Good
youve came a long way with it

StealthBattleStar Pheonix????

[Safe@2nd]

Boy, I really have to pay better attention, I missed this entirely.

Looking through he whole thread, I wasn't sure about where you were going with the rear engine design. The block in the centre was throwing me off. But now I see it's the main engine. I like the design.

Someone else said it was a combination, or a next step in design, and you really pull that off while staying true to what had gone before. Nice job!

Can't wait to see more detail!

[casivona]

Thanks everyone!

bsg recon - believe-it-or-not in my original design, I had imagined having a third flight bay (not really a pod, but a wider flight deck) blended into the underbelly. I decided against it as the ship is relatively too small for such a thing.

vf-msx - I'm leaning toward using "stealthstar" ... I really want to.

Safe@2nd - Thank you for the comments. I'm really attempting to stick with the classic "battlestar template" while adding some new stylings as well as incorporating elements from the current Galactica and Pegasus designs. By the reaction I'm getting from everyone, it seems I'm on the right track.

[Infinity238]

If you really want stealthstar, It could just be a designation for any colonial stealth ship.

[XRaiderV1.7]

i think its one hell of a design, let me know when its finished, id like to add it to the reference archive that ive been building for, i think, a little over 7 months, and it now includes at least 3000 images from various sites.

[casivona]

After a long hiatus with this mesh, I've decided that I'm not entirely happy with it... A few days ago I started a complete rebuild of this ship, and I am much happier with the results. I'm attempting to try a raised hull plating look; hopefully it'll turn out looking good for the rest of the ship...

[JustinDixon]

now -that- is just lovely!

[XRaiderV1.7]

gahh!, snow blindness!
no, seriously, love this new start.
bout frakking time too, can we count on this kick*** ship being finished?

nice progress so far

[Dr-Timelord]

Looking Awesome can't wait to see the more of BSP

[casivona]

Thanks, everyone!

XRaider - I will do my best to finish this mesh... time willing. I never really like the original mesh; which is probably why I never finished it. Hopefully having this thread will motivate me to continue on with this build.

Here's a new screenie with slightly more detail:

[XRaiderV1.7]

wow, nice work

[Free-Lance]

Looking good glad your back at it! :thumb:

[Dr-Timelord]

since its a prototype ship and not really part of a battstar group, should it not say BSX 01 ?

[Infinity238]

B E A utiful. Glad to see your back at it, this ship is extreamly cool.

[casivona]

Dr-Timelord: good point, I had a reason for going with "100" I just can't remember exactly what it was... i think it had something to do with this being a new type of capitalship: a stealth battlestar or stealthstar. Plus, the landing strip texture I used on the old mesh (which I'm going to use for this new one) says BSX-100 :D

[Free-Lance]

Looking forward to more!:)

[casivona]

I'm playing around with the hull plating design and flight pod attachments; I've gone through several iterations and I think this one is my favorite so far... it definitely needs some work though...

[XRaiderV1.7]

um, no offense intended, but them flight pod arms would probably give this ship the dradis signature of a dump truck, a nice big fat 'shoot me now' blip.

yes, thats a fact, a dump truck lights up nice and bright on current radar technology.

may i suggest a set of 2 paired slanted angled pod arms?

this give you ideas? : UED Earth Battlestar Apache by ~XRaiderV1 on deviantART (http://xraiderv1.deviantart.com/art/UED-Earth-Battlestar-Apache-63296248)

before you ask, yes i realize those pod arms are razor thin in battlestar terms, but the idea here is stealth, right? well in this case, sleeker and thinner helps

sorry if i sound hyper critical or overly harsh, just being honest and calling it as i see it.

had a book with the exact text i used in my arguement, but in lieu of said book, this should be an informative read: Radar cross section - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Radar_cross_section)

[Choo1701]

um, no offense intended, but them flight pod arms would probably give this ship the dradis signature of a dump truck, a nice big fat 'shoot me now' blip.

um...its a mile long BATTLESTAR. i don't think you could stealth something that big (be like stealthing* a aircraft carrier, or hiding an elephant in a fridge). Besides stealth only really helps on sneaky, sneaky, covert missions. I can't imagine a battlestar quietly sailing through a cylon fleet without ANYONE noticing. not to be harsh, but a stealth battlestar sounds a bit rubbish...

Anyway, on topic. the Phoneix is looking great casivona, got a nice "original galactica" feeling going there, and the platings nice too. Great job so far :thumb: :cool:

* is "stealthing" a word...does anyone know? did i just make up a new word or something :shiner:

[casivona]

XRaider: no offense taken. Please continue to call it like you see it; I really want to hear other opinions and takes on my designs. As long as the comment(s) and/or critism(s) are constructive, keep them coming!

I was thinking I would do something different with the arms too. I'm not entirely sure yet what, but I do like the swept angle on the Apache. I had something like it in one of my original iterations of the Phoenix but I had nixed it for some reason, I might go back to it... I'll try to whip up a design this evening.

[casivona]

Choo1701: Thank you for the comments! Let me take a step back... The Phoenix is actually meant to be a "Stealthstar". Conceivably, it probably wouldn't be a stretch to camouflage a giant dark colored ship.

Keep in mind that (in the words of Douglas Adams) "Space is big. You just won't believe how vastly, hugely, mind- bogglingly big it is." Ships in space are going to be really far apart... miles upon miles upon miles... unless you know where that ship is, chances are you won't be able to distingush it against the backdrop of the stars. If it can at least avoid a long to medium range detection, it's done it's job.

[XRaiderV1.7]

Thanks everyone!

bsg recon - believe-it-or-not in my original design, I had imagined having a third flight bay (not really a pod, but a wider flight deck) blended into the underbelly. I decided against it as the ship is relatively too small for such a thing.

vf-msx - I'm leaning toward using "stealthstar" ... I really want to.

Safe@2nd - Thank you for the comments. I'm really attempting to stick with the classic "battlestar template" while adding some new stylings as well as incorporating elements from the current Galactica and Pegasus designs. By the reaction I'm getting from everyone, it seems I'm on the right track.

i do believe the intnet on thi one is to function in a covert capacity.

stealth on a battlestar is possible, if you plan your hull out accodringly, and integrate systems meant to enhance that effect, yes, it can be and is a possibility.

[Choo1701]

Choo1701: Thank you for the comments! Let me take a step back... The Phoenix is actually meant to be a "Stealthstar". Conceivably, it probably wouldn't be a stretch to camouflage a giant dark colored ship.

Kind of Brings up that famous Henry T Ford saying:


Any customer can have a car painted any colour that he wants so long as it is black.

:lol: :p keep up the good work :thumb:

42 ;)

[XRaiderV1.7]

stealth doesnt have to look pretty, as long as it gets the job done.

[casivona]

here's an idea I'm throwing around... kinda Pegasus like arms

[XRaiderV1.7]

call me crazy, but how about making those split pod arms, eg 6 per pod, one set of 3 above, one below, with a space between them, big enough to squeese several raptors in?

[Larsen]

I like it... goes with the blokyness of the pods!

[XRaiderV1.7]

i swear, i was reading my own fanfiction, and the idea just popped in there, very strange, and quite possibly one of the better unexpected ideas I've had the last few days.

[casivona]

call me crazy, but how about making those split pod arms, eg 6 per pod, one set of 3 above, one below, with a space between them, big enough to squeese several raptors in?

XRaider: You're crazy. :p j/k
That's a very good idea... but how about this: I'll add a third arm, make the split on the dorsal side a little deeper and have a "quick service pads" for the Raptors to land rearm/refuel.. (...perhaps I can just do that for the center arm on each side(?))

[Dr-Timelord]

Would a third landing bay on the top of the super structure work? it'd be a small one though

[XRaiderV1.7]

lets see some renders.

[Free-Lance]

Keep up the good work!:thumb:

If I might add, if this is going to be truly a STEATHSTAR then may I add their should be a quick deployment scheme that allows for maximum fighter deployment without registering on someones radar!:)

My thoughts only but again great job!

[Free-Lance]

XRaider: You're crazy. :p j/k
That's a very good idea... but how about this: I'll add a third arm, make the split on the dorsal side a little deeper and have a "quick service pads" for the Raptors to land rearm/refuel.. (...perhaps I can just do that for the center arm on each side(?))

When you started this model originally I suggest that a quick deployment system for the top of the pod itself, I think it would be perfect for you amazing battlestar!:thumb:

[casivona]

Sure enough Free-Lance, it does seem like you originally planted the suggestion! Thanks! Here's the latest render:

[XRaiderV1.7]

was hoping to see some spaces between the upper and lower sets of pod arms, but this is perfect as is.

[Free-Lance]

I love what you got their many I offer you a small piece of advise, the united states navy has a fully working stealth ship it has retractable weapon batteries on it, may I suggest a small argumentation on this battlestar if you really want it to be a Stealth star make your turrets retract into the hull itself or make a weapons deck on top and bottom of your beautifully done ship and have them deploy as needed!:thumb:
Just a thought:cool:

[casivona]

An excellent idea Free-Lance! Something I oddly never really gave much thought to... I hope to get some renders up with that modification sometime very soon! I'm already working on ideas!

[casivona]

here's what it is so far:

[XRaiderV1.7]

one word:

INSANE!

I love it, keep it up.

small suggestion, make the bays hug the contours of the guns themselves, and add something to cover them completely when retracted.

[JustinDixon]

sweet :) Looks like my first Sirius concept!

[smallworld]

I love it, great job so far. Those pods look great.

[casivona]

Thanks!

XRaider - I'm already ahead of ya, here are a few more details of the turrets and their sliding shutters:

[XRaiderV1.7]

nice, very

[Free-Lance]

God I think this battlestar looks better then the 1st one you did.:cool:

The lines are logical, and would allow for uninhibited line of fire Keep up the good work!
Looking forward to seeing more!:thumb: however scenes this beautiful ship of yours appears to be at least as big as Galatica I would make the ports bigger by 20% and add another line of guns all coming up from those 4 ports.:)

[Free-Lance]

Dude I'm not sure if you did this on purpose but if your using FIREFOX browser ( with page opener on same browser) and you click the attachment on page 13 and then the one next to it with the top ports closed, it looks like the the ports are active!
It's Hot!:thumb:

[casivona]

Thanks Freelance: the Phoenix is actually slightly smaller than the Galactica; and not as heavily armed. I just noticed the Firefox browser thing... it's pretty cool; I wish I could say I did that on purpose :)

I worked a little on the neck and changed up the lighting a bit on this latest render:

[Free-Lance]

I was reading about stealth camouflaging technology's last night and found something that should be changed on you Battlestar.

In stealth the object is to either reduce the signal exposure under 92% or eliminate it all together, so the impact of signal is redirected not DEFLECTED that would send back a return to the enemy scopes with location.

Your snake head where it meets the main body has a very sharp 90^ angle to it this would defeat the object of STEALTH.

if I may offer you a suggestion either blend it into the main body or reduce the angle by 45^ so as to have a deflecting quality!

Just a humble suggestion either way I love you Battlestar!:thumb:

[casivona]

Thanks about the stealth thing, but I think I'll keep it as is... maybe DRADIS works differently.

If anyone recalls, the original design had "wings" or fins on the sides of the flight pods.. I never could figure out how to fit it in this latest version; but now I have! There aren't as many turrets now (only two now) but they are concealable... they still need some work.

[XRaiderV1.7]

very nice

[Free-Lance]

WOW I like!

[casivona]

More of the same... small details added... new perspective on the turret fin

[XRaiderV1.7]

nice.
very nice.

[kenny]

Very Smooth-surface to the ship - very good - I like, I'll have 40 of em'.

[XRaiderV1.7]

I'll take a nice modest set of 10, please.

[Free-Lance]

Looking great!

[Free-Lance]

Come on Lets see more!

[casivona]

Calm, Calm...

I've had a busy weekend and not much time to work on this :-\ I've done a little bit on the engines.

[kenny]

Hay' now thats good - a very nice view from behind the vessel to see the new engines - 10 thumbs up !

[Free-Lance]

casivona (http://www.scifi-meshes.com/forums/../members/casivona.html) : I have to say I love your ship and really enjoy the updates!
Now I have to offer a bit of criticisms, the wing guns on the
Landing bays!:(

Instead if what you currently got I would replace it with the original one with one modification, instead of having the guns come up from the that limit's the number, why not keep the 4 on top of the wing and 4 under the wing and have the guns "SLIDE" into firing position like on a track back and forth!
This will in no way damage the ability of it being a "STEALTH STAR" because it would still conceal the batteries when not in use!:idea::idea::idea:

I read how the United states stealth ship in the cover of night in 2 different war games went into the the battle group and sunk 4 ships and disabled the carrier on the first volley (you got to love that ship) and then sunk it on second and third one!:flippy::flippy::flippy:

Just a thought I hope it makes scenes to you!
In other words you ship needs TEETH when the time is needed!:thumb:

Try it I think you might like it!:cool:

[Dimitriy]

Can you please do a series of rendes on the landing bays? I really love the plating details and I want to see how you did it.

[casivona]

Freelance - hmmm.... I think I see where you're going but the flight pod is now only so big and I'm now realizing that's almost too many large turrets on a ship that's smaller than Galactica... had your suggestion come eariler I may have considered it more; I am going to be adding a few more elsewhere though. I do appreciate the suggestion!

Dimitriy - did you want external and internal shots? There are a few renders on pages 9 and 10 of this thread. But I'll get closer renders if you'd like.

[casivona]

Here are some close up renders of the flight pods as requested.. The internal still needs a lot of detail work...

[Free-Lance]

Interesting!
I still thing you need to rethink the gun placements on those wings for one reason, and one only this ships got almost nothing in the way of offense!

[XRaiderV1.7]

some designs are meant to be geared purely for offense or defense, right now, while I share freelance's concern on the gun placement, lets see this bird along a few more cycles, before coming to any conclusions, ok?

Keep up the excellent work.

p.s, a key example of a ship meant for defensive action only would be the lightstar Sabre, I did up a mstly original side view, using prefab where possible(my first semi original side), you can see she's customized for a specific type of defensive action.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v106/ace1701e/HermesDClassLightstarSabre1Bworking.png

her weapons systems and placements are geared around a large scale antifighter defense, while not intended to engage anything bigger than herself, she can hold out against a larger opponent for but a brief time.

tech specs are not really needed, the pic pretty much says it all.

sorry for the oh so brief thread-jack, felt an example of a defensive only ship was needed.

[Dimitriy]

Hmm...it looks like I have missed the whole side-wing-turret-placemet discussion...

[casivona]

I got it... :D How's this...

I'm liking the fins the way they are... to add anymore than 2 turrets on each would make them too big and would take away from the asthetic I'm going for (wasn't entirely thrilled to make them as big as they are now)...

However; seeing as the popular view is "more teeth", I'll be adding a third row of mid-ship turrets to both sides, bringing the total turret count to 16 (not to mention the dozens of smaller anti-fighter turrets).

I'm not stopping there though... :devil:

My original mesh design had a large missile battery situated on the top of the ship... not very stealthy.... but, an idea struck me whilst on the "throne" today (somehow, a very popular place for ideas to strike :p ) I can intigrate the missile batteries into the structure of the ship below the DRADIS dish on both sides. I'll play with some ideas over the weekend and toss some renders up here...

Keep the comments and ideas coming! While I may not always agree with them; they tend to lead me places! :thumb:

[XRaiderV1.7]

gotcha.

[Free-Lance]

Come on where's the update?:mad:

[casivona]

It seems that Life laughed at the plans I made for the weekend. I didn't get everything done that I needed to do so it could be a few more days before an update.

[Dimitriy]

Hmm....there is a torture challenge running after all...caution is advised comrade.

[casivona]

Here's the latest on the missile batteries... the panel to the left slides over the protect them

[XRaiderV1.7]

under armed, this ship is decidedly not, lol,

feels a bit overkill with all them missile tubes bunched up together.
I know it may mean more work if you do this, but you really ought to spread those tubes out, group em together into clusters all over the hull, there's lots of strategically beneficial sites on the hull to secret away a few 'surprises' for any opportunistic Cylons.

assuming, of course, those panels forward more, are also covering missile tubes, of course.

that said, outstanding job so far!!!

[alienf0rm]

great detailing...think it seems rather repetitive?? :)

[kenny]

Can I ask, is the nukelear missiels going to be fired from the top of those open-door-panels ?

[casivona]

The 2 rows of larger missile tubes on the top launch missles that are designed to take out subsystems of capital ship (weapons, engines, DRADIS). The nuclear missiles are standardly situated on top near the head of the ship.

XRaider: good suggestion! I'll look into trying that!

[XRaiderV1.7]

well, when I first saw that, the first thought in my brain was one lucky strike with the panels open, and boom, instant powder keg, so, I felt obligated to point that out.

[Free-Lance]

I like the tubes but I need to ask a question that no one seems to want to answer these days?

The Cylons could hack almost any network without trouble so why would they even place ship to sip missiles on board the ship?

[casivona]

FreeLance - not entirely sure what ship-to-ship missiles have to do with networks... unless you're speaking of the chance that a Cylon hack would allow them control of the weapons(?) :confused:

Anyway, here are the repositioned missile pods, I tried to add a little variation to the paneling as well.

[kenny]

Cool, so they can open when needed and close when not.

[XRaiderV1.7]

are there missiles on the flight pods?

they still feel too bunched up, i would position a few of those launchers on areas like the allegator style head(forward most section of ship), in the trench that separates the halves of the head(visible from the side view)

[casivona]

no missiles on the flight pods; I can't fit them in anywhere

I'll probably leave the existing batteries as is... However I'll be looking into adding them to the head... I still have lots of detailing to do on that section

[XRaiderV1.7]

on 2d ships, if i cant find room for a given system, say missles on the flight pods, I'll give up some launch tubes just so I can ensure a ship has adequate defensive capability, perhaps you could do something similar?

all that matters is whats the more mission critical item, when it comes to making such choices, I mean.

[Free-Lance]

Hey Casinova, may I say this, I love the way the main body has turned out it the best and my hates off to you for it, you did a wonderful job on it!:thumb:

Now may I suggest you deep six the pods and return to the original one you had in earlier version.:D

I think they would go fantastic with your updated design!:cool:

[XRaiderV1.7]

how about two versions? why loose the pods and quite possibly the pod arms along with them?

put it to a vote.

[casivona]

Hmm... I not entirely sure if I fully understand...

From what I'm getting from Free-lance; I should nix the missile batteries in their current location for the Large singular missile battery I had on top on the original mesh. It would allow me to have a second variant of ship... :cool:

[Free-Lance]

My friend I'm saying the landing decks!

The ones you had on the original looked better (NO DIG INTENDED) and would give you a better feel!

I would however keep the arm supports their perfect for this model!:thumb:

[XRaiderV1.7]

this give you any ideas with regards to the weapons placements?
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v106/ace1701e/HermesDClassLightstarSabre1Bworking.png

almost perfect defensive coverage from her guns alone, her missles, deliberately spread out to limit collateral damage from possible combat damage. her weapons setup is geared towards anti fighter defense, however, she wont last long against a bigger ship.

yes I did the side view of this frame, had a bit of help.

[DJW]

That's a beauty!

[Free-Lance]

Come on guy UPDATE!:mad:

[casivona]

Haven't had much time lately... here is the latest render... nothing major, just a few little details and hull plating additions. The design right now is pretty much set, I don't think there'll be major changes unless something strikes my fancy.

[Free-Lance]

Okay not bad!

[XRaiderV1.7]

very nice, looking forward to seeing more casivona.

[casivona]

My time it slowing fading away... work's been kicking my butt already this week... not to mention making time for the girlfriend and upkeep around the house... (those take LOTS of time) Anyway... here's the latest; I'm starting to play with textures even though I still have a lot of detailing to on the head and drive sections...

[XRaiderV1.7]

this ship rocks!

casivona, please tell me you plan on releasing individual orthographic views in png image format as soon as this ship is completed?

[casivona]

but of course! I'll definately be doing it for this one, I never did it for the first version seeing as I never completed it.

[Free-Lance]

Looking good!

[XRaiderV1.7]

oh yes, definitely looking good.

[casivona]

it's been a crazy week.... here's another small update

[Dallidas]

thats looks really good bro!

[Tovette]

lovin the details in that slope

[XRaiderV1.7]

way cool work.

[casivona]

I've been working here and there on the flight pod

[casivona]

Been having some computer issues, I think I have them resolved... here's a quick render of the forward sensor pallets

[Lonewriter]

this is a great battlestar, looking forward to seeing more.

[Free-Lance]

cool!

[XRaiderV1.7]

oh, nice work.

[casivona]

A few more details and new textures... The plain blue markings I'll detail with textures later (I'm still not sure about the color (I was also thinking green). I'm still not sure what to do with the top of the head...

[Free-Lance]

Leave the coloring I like it and it works too!

[XRaiderV1.7]

agreed

[casivona]

Time has been limited lately... more details and textures. I figured out what to do with the top of the head; it's simple, it works and I like it!

[1of33]

nice

[XRaiderV1.7]

very cool.

[Dr-Timelord]

I like, :D it fits in nicely with the new bsg, with a hint of old

[Free-Lance]

Now Thats A Sweet Ride!

[Free-Lance]

Is their an update in near future?
Waiting with baited breath.:p

[casivona]

Update? Update you say?
Why yes of course!

A few more texture additions, and some hull plating additions...
I'm starting to work on the stern section

I've decided that the textures I initially made for this thing just won't do. So, I'll eventually be redoing those.

[XRaiderV1.7]

please tell me you have plans to release in individual images orthographic views of this ship in png image format?

I cannot wait until this ship is done, superb work my friend.

[Free-Lance]

I think there another header in the BSG, section for this ship!

[casivona]

I thank you for the confidence, FreeLance. But even I'm not so sure this is a "header worthy" model...

...yet

:lol:

[XRaiderV1.7]

I think there another header in the BSG, section for this ship!

I agree with the above comment.

[casivona]

it's been a little while... I've been preoccupied with family stuff and playing the crap out of Crysis and Mass Effect :D

Anyway, small update: I decided to get rid of the large conduit/pipe thing on the front of the engines. Now I need to figure out what to do with that bare plate.

[XRaiderV1.7]

see the intakes on this image of the valkyrie? try something like that, or, put curved endcaps on.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v106/ace1701e/battlestar-valkyrie11-27-07.png


nice work too, by the way, on the phoenix.

[casivona]

Thanks XRaider!

I do have a question, and forgive me this has already been hashed out somewhere else, but what would the purpose of intakes be on a space ship? I know that outer space is not a complete void (dust, gas, radiation, etc...) but what would the ship/enigines need to intake?

[Elowan]

Perhaps to scoop up some hydrogen?

And can't these fly in an atmosphere as well?

[XRaiderV1.7]

possibly.

they could also be ports for reverse thrusters.
after all, the engines do appear to have what could be thrust reverser's on the exhausts.

[casivona]

That's a good point about the reverse thrusters.... I'll try to incorporate them...

Here are three views of the Phoenix so far... the underside is not completed yet, it's very evident on the head... I'm changing some of textures up too so the starboard flightpod's textures are a little "off"...

[kenny]

^ Cool Looking Ship-:thumb:.

[XRaiderV1.7]

Casivona, can you post a higher res version of that in png image format please?
think I just found a new one for the wall poster collection.........

yeah, I know, I'm weird, but hey, I know good quality art, and I like seeing it on the walls each day.

[casivona]

Thanks Kenny!

XRaider - let me fix up some of the textures, do a little more work on the stern and the underside of the head, and I will get you a high res shot; I wouldn't feel right giving you something so incomplete.

[Choo1701]

Liking the Phoneix so far casivona, seems a lot closer to the Classic Galactica, than the New bucket. Although i think a couple of greebles and windows would help add detail and scale ;)

BTW: about the engines. I say keep them as they are. They look good and work well with the design! :cool:

Oh, and don't forget to put some credits on your work. its class :thumb:

[XRaiderV1.7]

understood casivona, I am the same way with the 2d bitmaps I work on.

[FatKlingon48]

At wolfsshipyard.mystarship.com/BSG thes are2d views of Colonial Vessels of every shape and size, Green on a ship usually signified that a ship was a Colonial Marine Ship, and I rather dought that your stealthstar is a ship used by the marines.

Excellent Schematics By the way.

[gryphon]

Some people were bandying about names for this class, and I though I'd try mine. If this showed up somewhere earlier, my apologies, I was sort of skimming to catch up.
Any ways my stab at a class name: Shadowstar, sort of a specialized intelligence gathering warship, as opposed to a line of battle.

[Shin_kazama]

so this is the BS phoenix i saw earlier in youtube?

swell project. it should be equipped with balckbirds and stealthstars to match...

taking punchface's point, it is good, but i doubt in the BSG univers there would be italians...

nah..

the point of being a sports battlestar is to be very maneuverable, fast, and evokes fear from cylons.....

your phoenix kinda compares to batman's Tumbler, its big, but maneuverable, and fast.

[casivona]

Thanks for the comments Shin_kazama! This is model is still on my laundry list of things to finally finish, but I have been side-tracked for the past many months. Also, be careful about posting comments to old/dead threads - it's called "necro-posting"... you can PM me if you have any further comments or suggestions on the Phoenix. While I haven't posted anything here in a while, I still check this site regularly.