Challenge #9 – CrimsonLine – Brick

[CrimsonLine]

Oh, well. I don't know if this is something I can finish in time, but the idea intrigues me! My imagination has always been caught by that phrase in Douglas Adams' Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy about the Vogon bulldozer craft, that they hung in the sky in exactly the way that a brick doesn't. I've always imagined that the ships even looked brick-like.

I haven't seen the movie version, and I have no idea if they made the ships brick-ish, but I wanted to design a nasty brick-like ship myself. This design is not meant to be the Vogon bulldozer itself, but it's inspired by it.

Sketch now; 3D work to follow.

[BEMEUP]

That's going to look very cool! Can't wait to see...

[chrono]

VERY cool! :)

[Brickhead]

Well I like the title, hope you have the time to finish.

[Polaris 004]

Very cool idea. Can't wait to see what you do with it.

[biotech]

Always been a fan of brick shaped starships, got to say though, the sketch reminds me a lot of the Keaton batmobile.

[CrimsonLine]

:) I hadn't seen that resemblance, but I can see it now. I don't think that'll be the case in the final model, though.

[CrimsonLine]

Here's my first bit of work - this has been reworked a couple of times. It's the start of the aft portion of the ship.

http://www.fourmadmen.com/mirror/~crimsonline/BrickShip001.jpg

I'm trying to learn Subdivision modeling, and so I'm planning on using it on the outer sections of the ship.

[CrimsonLine]

Here's a wireframe of where I'm at so far.

http://www.fourmadmen.com/mirror/~crimsonline/BrickShip002.jpg

[CrimsonLine]

Did some more work

http://www.fourmadmen.com/mirror/~crimsonline/BrickShip003.jpg

Um, by "work," I mean work on the model, not the work I'm actually getting paid to do at the moment. Curse you, 3D!

[Ozylot]

I wish they had used ships like this in the movie. The ones they used were boring compared to this. Looking good!

[CrimsonLine]

Okay, the shapes were getting hard to figure out, so I decided to do a quick, 3-D "sketch" version, to help me make sure all the parts are in the right place, and to help me understand how the surfaces needed to align. Here's a render of my "sketch" version, in progress (not yet completed):

http://www.fourmadmen.com/mirror/~crimsonline/BrickShip004.jpg

and, with Subsurf applied to it:

http://www.fourmadmen.com/mirror/~crimsonline/BrickShip005.jpg

[Dallidas]

very cool! I cant say I would wanna try and tackle that design!

[CrimsonLine]

It's certainly the most irregular, difficult shape I've ever built. The "innards" for the ship are going to be a piece of cake in comparison. There, it needs to look industrial, angular, regular, and mechanical. The outer sections need to be flowy and organic in order for the contrast to work.

[Ronin]

i noticed the risk of many mesh-artifacts (strange shading and like that), will you increase poly-count to compensate ?

still, great design, can't wait to see if the brick-style will remain when the greeble-stuff is added to it.

[Tinukedaya]

look very well. Only one thing, on the sketch it seems to be a bit longer, then the renders, which I liked better. On the renders it seems "fatter". Might be just the angle of course.

[CrimsonLine]

I'm not sure, Tinukedaya. I think you're right. But there will be a good number of differences between the concept sketch and the final product. Mostly due to my medicore modeling skillz...

Well, I've hammered out the aft end and the forward end, and only the wicked complicated middle piece is still in sketch stage.

http://www.fourmadmen.com/mirror/~crimsonline/BrickShip007.jpg

http://www.fourmadmen.com/mirror/~crimsonline/BrickShip006.jpg

[BEMEUP]

Definitely got your hands full with this design. It's shaping up nicely though!

[CrimsonLine]

Thanks, BEMEUP! If I'm able to pull this off, even close to my sketch design, I'll be happy.

[Tinukedaya]

Well I guess once you get the "covers" sorted, it will go fast. those are some wicked shapes you've thrown at yourself. :D

[CrimsonLine]

Yeah - strange, with a pen, it only took me about 5 minutes to work out those shapes! :) But with a computer, it's taking me umpty-ump hours! Who says computers are more efficient???

[CrimsonLine]

Well, the ship has nothing else yet - no bridge, no head, no engines. But at least it has guns for planetary bombardment...

http://www.fourmadmen.com/mirror/~crimsonline/BrickShip008.jpg

http://www.fourmadmen.com/mirror/~crimsonline/BrickShip009.jpg

[BEMEUP]

Ah, there's those certain details you can't argue with... Looking quite smashing!

[Dallidas]

indeed, looking great! I'd up the sub-d on the blue bit if your computer can handle it

[CrimsonLine]

Thanks! No, the blue bit is just a banged-together sketch version of what is to come. It's not in any way the final product.

[Brickhead]

Looking very cool so far.

[Ozylot]

I really hope you finish this one. It is a really cool design that deserves completing. Great work!

[CrimsonLine]

Thanks, y'all!

I added a few point-defense railguns...

http://www.fourmadmen.com/mirror/~crimsonline/BrickShip010.jpg

[CrimsonLine]

Built the bridge and its interior.

http://www.fourmadmen.com/mirror/~crimsonline/BrickShip012.jpg

http://www.fourmadmen.com/mirror/~crimsonline/BrickShip013.jpg

Actually, I grabbed the chairs from my Massachusett-Class Bridge module, which I never finished. Is that okay?

[fluxfire]

Personally i never saw the point of allowing your bridge to be exposed like that on a ship..... It is however a nice interior.....

[CrimsonLine]

Thanks, flux. It's not a logical decision, it's an artistic decision. I needed a space to pack scale-defining details, and a bridge gave me that opportunity. I try to build ships logically up til the point when I need something illogical for artistic reasons.

Plus, I wanted to try modeling windows with glass in them. :) Never done that before.

[fluxfire]

Heh windows with glass...... to me that seems easy just model out the frame then make a thin solid shape ( same as window) and put in smack in the middle boolean out the window peace in the frame then make the window solid transparent and refelctive....... but ahh thats how i would approch it :D......... but what do i know i am still a newb when it comes to modeling pmpn

And artistic huh seems like it is rather artistic in its over all form as it is :thumb:

[BEMEUP]

Always a plus when you get a ring-side view of the next planetary bombardment...

Shaping up very nicely! Really diggin' the rail guns and the interior.

[CrimsonLine]

Thanks for the compliments, flux and BEMEUP!

Yeah, flux - I knew how to do it (it is easy) but I've never done it. I wanted to do it, and so I did it. :)

[Dallidas]

lookin great! I noticed the big D you modeled into the ship...:lol:

AS for the bridge, it seems like an add on, it doesnt flow with the rest of the design IMO.

[CrimsonLine]

:) I model in Big D's whenever I can! :)

And you're absolutely right - the bridge is not meant to flow with the parts already built, at all. It is supposed to look out of place. I want the outer "shell" portions to look like they were made by a completely different process/technology/culture than that of the "innards" that they are protecting.

[Dallidas]

fair enough!

[fluxfire]

Kinda like humans finding space tech and only bearly knowing how to use it let alone make it :P and i know what you mean i have never done a challange wip before so i did :help: :D

[CrimsonLine]

Exactly like that, fluxfire. That's my mental backstory for this particular style of ship.

[CrimsonLine]

Working on the midsection:

http://www.fourmadmen.com/mirror/~crimsonline/BrickShip014.jpg

[Tinukedaya]

Now I think you can call the midsection done! I love it!

[Dallidas]

that mid-section looks great! What does it have in terms of propulsion?

[CrimsonLine]

Nah, the midsection is only about 1/3-1/2 of the way finished. Still a lot of work to go. :)

For propulsion, she's going to have 3-4 big ol' engines hanging out the back.

[Ozylot]

Looking great! I wanna see some greebles though ;)

[CrimsonLine]

Oh, they're a-comin. They're a-comin'. :)

I did a bunch of work today, but none of it is particularly visible. It's all underpinnings for finishing off the mid-section. So, no pix. :( Tomorrow, my wife is throwing a Christmas party at our church, and I'll be helping with setup and takedown (and partying!). So probably no pix till Saturday-ish.

[fluxfire]

Party!!!! Woooot....... :d

[Sphynx]

Information regarding Challenge #10 (http://www.scifi-meshes.com/forums/challenge-wips/54880-sensei-challenge-10-primitives-motion.html) has now been released.

[CrimsonLine]

Okay, a ton of work on the midsection, and a whole bunch of innards as well. I've also made the switch over from Ambient Occlusion lighting to more direct lighting, to bring out some of the details.

Here's a pic with everything together, one of just the innards, and one of just the shell:

http://www.fourmadmen.com/mirror/~crimsonline/BrickShip015.jpg

http://www.fourmadmen.com/mirror/~crimsonline/BrickShip016.jpg

http://www.fourmadmen.com/mirror/~crimsonline/BrickShip017.jpg

[Dallidas]

ooooO! Very cool mate! You dont think AO brings out more details?

What type of lamp are you using?

[Ozylot]

The new lighting looks much better IMO. Loving the details!

[Lee80]

Very cool! Love all the detail

[BEMEUP]

Woohoo that's looking quite fancy!
Nice work Denes, I knew this was gonna look great!

[star_creations]

Amazing work my man, amazing

[fluxfire]

Wicked.......

[CrimsonLine]

Started mucking around with textures and materials...

http://www.fourmadmen.com/mirror/~crimsonline/BrickShip018.jpg

I'm not sure this was a step in the right direction, but I'm not sure what the right direction is...

[Ozylot]

oops! How'd I miss this!? Looking great! Just a suggestion, how about making the greebles look a bit more grungy? I think that would make a neat contrast. :D

[CrimsonLine]

Good call. I'm working on that. My texturing skill is -- nil. :)

[CrimsonLine]

Alas, ladies and gentlemen, it is becoming quickly apparent that there is no way I'll make the deadline. Too much still to do, and I still have Christmas-related company over, severely limiting any time for modeling/texturing. :(

Sorry, all.

[Ozylot]

*cries*

[Forcemaster2000]

Fantastic looking ship CL! Keep up the great work when you can, whether you can make a deadline or not! This is definitely a ship that deserves to get finished and put in a great looking pic...maybe preparing to smite the Earth?!

[BEMEUP]

^ I agree with Forcemaster2000!^

Either way enjoy your company, real life is much more important! At least that's what I keep telling myself.

[RewiredMonkey]

I wanna see a fleet of these things in action!