It's an aesthetic choice, of course (this being scifi), but the command tower is uneccessary, given that the CIC (deep inside the structure, underneath the armor) is where the ship is operated from. That's true in most naval vessels today (the bridge is still used, but primarily for navigation in confined waters, but many new-build ships and all subs are doing most of their driving from the CIC now), and will be doubly so for spacecraft, where sensors and telemetry vastly (orders of magnitude) outweight the importance of the eyeball (especially when the difference in velocity between the object of concern and the spacecraft is measured in km/sec).
Yeah, command tower has always been debated whether they are necessary or not. For my ship, the CIC does indeed located in the command tower along with the rest of comm facility, the command tower is protected by a double layer of energy shield to deflect incoming attack, the CIWS batteries near the command tower will make sure that any strike craft or missiles that comes too close with it will be vaporized.
Thanks, I did mixed up many elements found in sci-fi ship added with something original.
Now to update, I've started to give more details panel to the ship armor and its very time consuming. I also noticed that the gap between panel is a bit large (I used inset function with the distance Dx around 1, which I think is a little to large for a gap).
I'm still struggling with the paneling now with a help from madkoifish mad hull paneling tutorial (thx :flippy:).
Advice for Paneling. hmmm bumpmap?
All I can say when asked a question like that is are you paneling so it looks cool or so it looks believable?
Either is fine so long as you know in advance.
For realistic paneling don't model anything, just ad it to the texture maps. After all try looking at the hull of a large aircraft carrier, can you see panels? No, what you can see sometimes is minor changes if the surface color.
For cool Sci-fi paneling there is always the basic greeble idea. Select an area. Break it onto 1/4s in either a regular or irregular pattern. Add a basic flat box to each area. If need be break it into more than 4 areas to start with. Repeat, repeat, repeat.
I just want to fill the empty areas :rolleyes: As for texturing, I'm not that good with it (I've learned it and doing it for the past 3 years), all I can do is applying procedural texture with a hull panel map, and even mention about UV-mapping.
So far I've redone the paneling and I'm proceeding rather slowly to cover the side of the ship.
I've applied procedural texture on the ship and it appears better than my paneling attempt, so I guess I'll finalized her, in the future I might updated her with more details. Also the ship name now is Bishop class battleship.:cool:
I'm working on the C-type cruiser now and I don't want to start a new thread so I just post it here.
My references for the cruiser is the Vanagard cruiser from the game "R-type Command" and the Beowulf/Tristram flagship from the anime "Legend of Galactic Heroes" and added with some original design. I also made a 2D sprite for the cruiser using "Battleship Forever:Ship Maker" to help me visualize the cruiser armament and the relative strenght compared to the battleship.
The cruiser are supposed to be an escort ship and to serve for multipurpose task like deep space patrol and reconnaisance, also like the battleship design its also equipped with a forward beam cannons.
This is just a size comparison between the C-type and the Bishop.
I'm currently adding lights and effect to the bishop, and I need some opinion on the engine exhaust, which one is better. I'm using Blender halo and particle setting to make the effect.
An update on the cruiser, I've added several weapon emplacement, mostly are forward particle cannon, main beam turrets and pulse guns. And also minor paneling for the arrmored section.
I've modified the main gun turret for the cruiser. Its a dual barrel beam turret for anti-ship engagement while the forward particle cannon are mainly use for long range bombardment/artillery attack.
Currently I've placed the turrets on the top section of the ship.
Finished with the hull paneling, I'll work on the weapon pods and the bridge.
I also thinking about adding a medium size cannon to the bottm of the ship.
But I think, both ships are a bit vulnerable to any attack coming from their bottom side.
Even that nice and powerful battleship is a big and juicy target to any small crafts coming from below (especially when they attacking the frontal bottom half of the ship). 6 pulse guns are Ok but they packed too tightly to defend the battleship. 3-3 in both sides (under those cool looking weapon pods) but nothing in the front half of the ship (the hangar and those powerful guns need some protection too). If you add some additional pulse guns to the bottom side of the ship (2 to each side of the hangar), that gives the battleship better defensive abilities.
I know the cruiser is not finished but in this stage, it need maybe 2 extra guns to the bottom side of the ship. Those 2 extra pulse guns along with the other pulse guns gives better chances against any small attack crafts.
@SaGaJr
I agreed with you, the Bishop does have a batteries of CIWS in the lower section near the hangar and adding additional pulse guns there is a good idea. I'll be working on that soon.
I also found a nice place to put additional cannon on the lower section of the cruiser. The weapon pod have been modified to accommodate more guns.
Additional guns:
Maybe adding two pulse guns to the bottom of the engine section (same way you put two guns on the top side) and put back those two guns you removed from the lower mid section (these are the guns on the second picture of your #51 post) gives a heavier and advanced defense capability to your new cruiser.
Thx SaGaJr, I've added additional pulse gun on the engine lower section also restoring the weapon pod bottom pulse gun.
The basic form of the command tower is finished including addition paneling on the side hangar section. Now I'm gonna make several comms/sensors array and additional hull detail.
No update this time since I got my hand full at the moment. The Centurion cruiser (yup, that's the cruiser name ) will be finished soon, I also planning to make several modification on the Bishop, after that I'll decide which fleet colors are best for them, I was thinking a combination of light gray and blue..
I made a change on the stern of the cruiser to match the style of the Bishop battleship. Probably the common style will be the stern engine section with 2 engines on each side including the sensor arrays.
The style will be carried out on each ship of this faction (unnamed yet )
After the B-type and C-type ships now I proceed with the next alphabet ship, the D-type Dreadnought (probably will be renamed Deacon class Dreadnought in the future).
I used ork kruzzer bow (BFG FTW lol) for reference, the rest of the part is modeled to follow the trend of the other ships (engine sections, side weapons pod and long range bombardment cannon in front).
The ramming prow gives this ship an agressive looking (BFG ork ships are liked by me too, but I think this ship have more Chaos feeling than orkish). Maybe placing a hangar in the front section (between the gunnery upper half and the ramming prow lower half) gives the ship a more frightening look. A grinning monster that spew fighters at its enemy (or place there a heavy missile battery).
What type will be your next ship project (after you finish this monstrosity)? I mean it will be an E-type ship (Escort ship like a frigate or destroyer) right? After that the F-type ship become the Fleet carrier? G-Type gunboat? H-type hauler? I-type interdictor/interceptor?
Posts
I was thinking to rename the ship as Bishop class and incorporated her into my original universe "Legacy".
Awesome model.
Now to update, I've started to give more details panel to the ship armor and its very time consuming. I also noticed that the gap between panel is a bit large (I used inset function with the distance Dx around 1, which I think is a little to large for a gap).
I'm still struggling with the paneling now with a help from madkoifish mad hull paneling tutorial (thx :flippy:).
Any advice for the hull paneling?
All I can say when asked a question like that is are you paneling so it looks cool or so it looks believable?
Either is fine so long as you know in advance.
For realistic paneling don't model anything, just ad it to the texture maps. After all try looking at the hull of a large aircraft carrier, can you see panels? No, what you can see sometimes is minor changes if the surface color.
For cool Sci-fi paneling there is always the basic greeble idea. Select an area. Break it onto 1/4s in either a regular or irregular pattern. Add a basic flat box to each area. If need be break it into more than 4 areas to start with. Repeat, repeat, repeat.
So far I've redone the paneling and I'm proceeding rather slowly to cover the side of the ship.
Now I proceed to the next ship, C-type cruiser
Your ship is looking more and more better witch each post !
I'm working on the C-type cruiser now and I don't want to start a new thread so I just post it here.
My references for the cruiser is the Vanagard cruiser from the game "R-type Command" and the Beowulf/Tristram flagship from the anime "Legend of Galactic Heroes" and added with some original design. I also made a 2D sprite for the cruiser using "Battleship Forever:Ship Maker" to help me visualize the cruiser armament and the relative strenght compared to the battleship.
The cruiser are supposed to be an escort ship and to serve for multipurpose task like deep space patrol and reconnaisance, also like the battleship design its also equipped with a forward beam cannons.
This is just a size comparison between the C-type and the Bishop.
C&C are welcomed.
With halo materials
With halo and particles
Currently I've placed the turrets on the top section of the ship.
I also thinking about adding a medium size cannon to the bottm of the ship.
Cheers. S.
But I think, both ships are a bit vulnerable to any attack coming from their bottom side.
Even that nice and powerful battleship is a big and juicy target to any small crafts coming from below (especially when they attacking the frontal bottom half of the ship). 6 pulse guns are Ok but they packed too tightly to defend the battleship. 3-3 in both sides (under those cool looking weapon pods) but nothing in the front half of the ship (the hangar and those powerful guns need some protection too). If you add some additional pulse guns to the bottom side of the ship (2 to each side of the hangar), that gives the battleship better defensive abilities.
I know the cruiser is not finished but in this stage, it need maybe 2 extra guns to the bottom side of the ship. Those 2 extra pulse guns along with the other pulse guns gives better chances against any small attack crafts.
I agreed with you, the Bishop does have a batteries of CIWS in the lower section near the hangar and adding additional pulse guns there is a good idea. I'll be working on that soon.
I also found a nice place to put additional cannon on the lower section of the cruiser. The weapon pod have been modified to accommodate more guns.
I think the engine section need better hull plating or details to separate it with the main hull but I'm out of idea now.
Additional guns:
Maybe adding two pulse guns to the bottom of the engine section (same way you put two guns on the top side) and put back those two guns you removed from the lower mid section (these are the guns on the second picture of your #51 post) gives a heavier and advanced defense capability to your new cruiser.
The basic form of the command tower is finished including addition paneling on the side hangar section. Now I'm gonna make several comms/sensors array and additional hull detail.
This ship will be finished soon.
Good work dude. :thumb:
No update this time since I got my hand full at the moment. The Centurion cruiser (yup, that's the cruiser name
The style will be carried out on each ship of this faction (unnamed yet
After the B-type and C-type ships now I proceed with the next alphabet ship, the D-type Dreadnought (probably will be renamed Deacon class Dreadnought in the future).
I used ork kruzzer bow (BFG FTW lol) for reference, the rest of the part is modeled to follow the trend of the other ships (engine sections, side weapons pod and long range bombardment cannon in front).
C&C are welcomed.
The ramming prow gives this ship an agressive looking (BFG ork ships are liked by me too, but I think this ship have more Chaos feeling than orkish). Maybe placing a hangar in the front section (between the gunnery upper half and the ramming prow lower half) gives the ship a more frightening look. A grinning monster that spew fighters at its enemy (or place there a heavy missile battery).
What type will be your next ship project (after you finish this monstrosity)? I mean it will be an E-type ship (Escort ship like a frigate or destroyer) right? After that the F-type ship become the Fleet carrier? G-Type gunboat? H-type hauler? I-type interdictor/interceptor?
Keep up the good work!