Years ago I did the Klingon Ty'Gokor Station from DS-9. The heavy ribbing seemed to imply major structural plating which seemed very Klingon to me. The last few days I have been working on another Klingon Outpost. Ty'Gokor below.
Klingon Outpost WIP
Now THIS looks really cool! I like the industrial look about it.
How do you guys manage to make the textures and still modify the model as you go along? That's been the most interesting and confusing thing for me. Would definitely like to work on my texturing technique.
Don't feel bad my friend. I'm cheating (for now). Lightwave allows you project a texture onto surfaces using a mode called "cubic" meaning that I can just size/scale the image correctly for the particular mesh and assign it to any or all surfaces. The software takes care of projecting it correctly from the right angle needed for whatever surface in question. There is loss of realism when you give it close scrutiny. A truly well done surface texture technique wouldn't carry over to another structural component without a break like it does with "cubic" projection. It's a placeholder for now and works well enough, but this station is a work in progress.
I should add that like everyone else, if I cut a hole or change something about a UV mapped surface, it screws the whole thing up and it has to be re-mapped. The only thing UV mapped on the immediate above image are the end pieces with the Klingon Symbol on it.
Wow I really appreciate that - There are some really good shots. Also some of those shots I was talking about that were blurry. It is still very helpful.
Below is Engine Progress. Although on one of the images you directed me to, I can see that that structure above the engine on the pylon is quite different around the edges than I did this one.
Those look really good in gray lol. I still wonder why they chose mint green. >_>
Refs:
I had expected to find a bunch from the Christie's auction but not much has cropped up. Sadly it sold to a private individual so likely never be anything outside of what I posted.My favorite images are of of Gregg Jein sticking piles of styrene sheet onto the base hull with superglue.
Those look really good in gray lol. I still wonder why they chose mint green. >_>
It's weird. They started that trend with the Klingon Bird of Prey. At least on camera it isn't so mint, but still. They even went and made most of the Klingon ships on Enterprise green.
Those look really good in gray lol. I still wonder why they chose mint green. >_>
Thanks. Yeah, not only the colors chosen but the paint job on close inspection was rushed. A few years back Tobias Richter did a really nice one of these with a big improvement on the paint. Of course CGI - Way easier to paint than a real model.
I did a little background reading on Memory Alpha. According to Rick Sternbach, the idea behind the design and the color was supposed to show more Starfleet influences in the Klingon ship, since it was designed in a time when the Federation and Klingon Empire were close allies. That's why the green is lighter.
Also, the model was indeed rushed. Though, to be fair, they had tight deadlines with any of the models built during the actual seasons. The Vor'cha was one of several models where Greg Jein had to enlist outside help to meet the deadline. So, I'm sure the paint job was done as neatly as time would allow. Though, once all lit and done in a scene with movement, you can't see the slight imperfections. Though, as much as I love doing and seeing CGI, sometimes I think those slight imperfections you get in handmade models just adds character.
I made the changes to that structure on the pylon to better reflect what I saw on one of MKF's photos. At least I tried to improve accuracy. Much of the greeble work is embellished since you can't really clearly see what is there. And besides, I just wanted to.
So below is progression on the Vor'Cha. When I first started this ship 4 years ago, it rapidly got tedius for some reason and I dropped it. I'm not experiencing it this time, so am moving along faster. I must be better fed.
Thanks guys - honestly.
I have decided to go MKF and detail the crap out of this ship. External pipes added to the front of the bridge module but they turned out to be too small to see.
Here is a closeup of what I mean. And yes... I've noticed the rounding problem on those corners. Those cannot be seen from a distance but if I go for the pipes, that just isn't going to work. Its odd but the accuracy no doubt beats the heck out of the original model but just doesn't work for CGI
Those pipes will show up ok with some different materials applied Base model is green, so I'd go for a dirty-goldish metallic colour, personally. This is looking nice, mate.
Posts
Now THIS looks really cool! I like the industrial look about it.
Don't feel bad my friend. I'm cheating (for now). Lightwave allows you project a texture onto surfaces using a mode called "cubic" meaning that I can just size/scale the image correctly for the particular mesh and assign it to any or all surfaces. The software takes care of projecting it correctly from the right angle needed for whatever surface in question. There is loss of realism when you give it close scrutiny. A truly well done surface texture technique wouldn't carry over to another structural component without a break like it does with "cubic" projection. It's a placeholder for now and works well enough, but this station is a work in progress.
https://imgur.com/a/xIHWa
There are some nice pictures in that album.
Below is Engine Progress. Although on one of the images you directed me to, I can see that that structure above the engine on the pylon is quite different around the edges than I did this one.
That's looking sweet so far.
Refs:
I had expected to find a bunch from the Christie's auction but not much has cropped up. Sadly it sold to a private individual so likely never be anything outside of what I posted.My favorite images are of of Gregg Jein sticking piles of styrene sheet onto the base hull with superglue.
It's weird. They started that trend with the Klingon Bird of Prey. At least on camera it isn't so mint, but still. They even went and made most of the Klingon ships on Enterprise green.
Thanks. Yeah, not only the colors chosen but the paint job on close inspection was rushed. A few years back Tobias Richter did a really nice one of these with a big improvement on the paint. Of course CGI - Way easier to paint than a real model.
Also, the model was indeed rushed. Though, to be fair, they had tight deadlines with any of the models built during the actual seasons. The Vor'cha was one of several models where Greg Jein had to enlist outside help to meet the deadline. So, I'm sure the paint job was done as neatly as time would allow. Though, once all lit and done in a scene with movement, you can't see the slight imperfections. Though, as much as I love doing and seeing CGI, sometimes I think those slight imperfections you get in handmade models just adds character.
I made the changes to that structure on the pylon to better reflect what I saw on one of MKF's photos. At least I tried to improve accuracy. Much of the greeble work is embellished since you can't really clearly see what is there. And besides, I just wanted to.
(edit whisper: these threads have me so confused about who's posting what T_T)
Maybe later. Right now, I'm eating.
I guess that means said genius dies of starvation, making people question the genius.
So below is progression on the Vor'Cha. When I first started this ship 4 years ago, it rapidly got tedius for some reason and I dropped it. I'm not experiencing it this time, so am moving along faster. I must be better fed.
I have decided to go MKF and detail the crap out of this ship. External pipes added to the front of the bridge module but they turned out to be too small to see.