So, I tried a bunch of different configs for engineering. I think this is final. Already did the windows. I was going to add an Arboretum but I couldn't fit it anywhere that would look good. Here are a few tries:
It does look nice on the catamarans, that's a creative place to put it.
That was my knee jerk reaction too. Liked it on top the best. If I had put it on the bottom, I would have first chosen closer to the saucer, but I bet you've done that and decided against it.
Are you putting it on both sides or just one arboretum?
Cameramans avoid the issue of closeness to the ejection port the deflector and any other filling or other connections made to the central area of the ship. It also visually looks better at a distance.
Heh, I was not expecting such a positive reaction to the catamaran idea. I got complaints on Discord that they didn't line up with the panel lines and looked awkward so I removed them. I'll have to think about it. I'm now trying to figure out what to do with the deflector area. Updates soon, hopefully
Not sure where it could be placed, but what about an NX Excelsior style arboretum? Could be placed on saucer cutouts where the Akira had those side torpedo launchers.
For all my finished Trek fan art, please visit my portfolio
I've always liked where they put the arboretum on the Excelsior. Something like that might be an idea on this ship because if you are duplicating the windows for symmetry on the other catamaran, then you potentially have two arboretums. Obviously the other window set could be a lab or gym or mess hall.
I got complaints on Discord that they didn't line up with the panel lines and looked awkward so I removed them. I'll have to think about it.
Well, why should they? I mean, it's not like your panel lines are indicative of deck separations. They follow the curvature of the saucer (quite excellently, I might add) and having the windows follow them would have been more awkward. To be fair, none of your windows follow the lines, because the windows no doubt follow the deck structure. This type of thing always happens when that much curvature meets a straight line. So, yeah, I definitely wouldn't worry about that.
I got complaints on Discord that they didn't line up with the panel lines and looked awkward so I removed them. I'll have to think about it.
Well, why should they? I mean, it's not like your panel lines are indicative of deck separations. They follow the curvature of the saucer (quite excellently, I might add) and having the windows follow them would have been more awkward. To be fair, none of your windows follow the lines, because the windows no doubt follow the deck structure. This type of thing always happens when that much curvature meets a straight line. So, yeah, I definitely wouldn't worry about that.
Another bonus to the cats is you can SEE the junk in the room vs seeing nothing but ceiling lights and beams. Panel lines or shield grids should flow for the shields needs vs window flow. I mean wanna be picky about it the teal panel on the belly will never align either.
Another option is to have them ringing the saucer top and be asymmetric, and be skylights. Or on the inside of the cats so you can look across the hull from one to the other.
I was thinking about it a little bit, could you do some kind of combination from the Excelsior neck and forward secondary hull? I know those ambiguous ports on the neck on the Excelsior are a greebly mess, but it might be worth thinking about.
I was thinking about it a little bit, could you do some kind of combination from the Excelsior neck and forward secondary hull? I know those ambiguous ports on the neck on the Excelsior are a greebly mess, but it might be worth thinking about.
I tried that, but one thing that isn't easy to see here is how small this ship is compared to the Excelsior. So those details would look huge on this ship. I could do them smaller, but then it wouldn't make much sense. I'm thinking of trying solving this in texturing.
Well, I finished all the major pieces I have a few greebles to add, but after that I can move to proper texturing. A lot of it is placeholder at the moment. Here are the final parts and a couple of 1080p renders:
I am tidying up a few last details before texturing. First off was the cargo bay control room. The old shape wasn't what I wanted. I think this new one is better:
The second one is the bridge structure. The plates behind the bridge were supposed to have greebles so I started on them:
I'm not sure if this is good though. I wasn't planning on doing greebles on top of that room at the back, but now it feels empty. Any thoughts? Ideas?
I'm not sure if this is good though. I wasn't planning on doing greebles on top of that room at the back, but now it feels empty. Any thoughts? Ideas?
Two long panels that run the length of that blank space could do well enough as filler. They don't really need anything on top of that, unless you want to add an access hatch as well for a little asymmetry.
I know I mentioned this elsewhere but I like the idea of a set of paneling that makes it look like that whole observation/control area is modular and one big unit that was installed.
Love those Excelsior style fins at the back!
Interesting place for a light there, I assume that will be illuminating the front end of the saucer?
That's a call back to the navigation dome in the bottom of the saucer of the Constitution. I wanted something to break that area, it seemed like a good fit. The light should not be strong enough to hit the front of the saucer.
Posts
In the end I decided to just do this:
Getting very close to finish line now
Frequent updates at our Discord channel!
I'll Second That.
Looking Very Cool!
That was my knee jerk reaction too. Liked it on top the best. If I had put it on the bottom, I would have first chosen closer to the saucer, but I bet you've done that and decided against it.
Are you putting it on both sides or just one arboretum?
Frequent updates at our Discord channel!
Well, why should they? I mean, it's not like your panel lines are indicative of deck separations. They follow the curvature of the saucer (quite excellently, I might add) and having the windows follow them would have been more awkward. To be fair, none of your windows follow the lines, because the windows no doubt follow the deck structure. This type of thing always happens when that much curvature meets a straight line. So, yeah, I definitely wouldn't worry about that.
EXACTLY.
Another option is to have them ringing the saucer top and be asymmetric, and be skylights. Or on the inside of the cats so you can look across the hull from one to the other.
Appreciate any suggestions
Frequent updates at our Discord channel!
Thanks! Well, while I don't figure it out:
Frequent updates at our Discord channel!
Yup, that's coming.
I tried that, but one thing that isn't easy to see here is how small this ship is compared to the Excelsior. So those details would look huge on this ship. I could do them smaller, but then it wouldn't make much sense. I'm thinking of trying solving this in texturing.
Anyway, couple more images:
Frequent updates at our Discord channel!
Frequent updates at our Discord channel!
The second one is the bridge structure. The plates behind the bridge were supposed to have greebles so I started on them:
I'm not sure if this is good though. I wasn't planning on doing greebles on top of that room at the back, but now it feels empty. Any thoughts? Ideas?
Frequent updates at our Discord channel!
Two long panels that run the length of that blank space could do well enough as filler. They don't really need anything on top of that, unless you want to add an access hatch as well for a little asymmetry.
I also added the last bit of greeble here:
Today I'll try to UV map the last few pieces and start texturing
Frequent updates at our Discord channel!
Interesting place for a light there, I assume that will be illuminating the front end of the saucer?
That's a call back to the navigation dome in the bottom of the saucer of the Constitution. I wanted something to break that area, it seemed like a good fit. The light should not be strong enough to hit the front of the saucer.
Frequent updates at our Discord channel!