So I decided to dig out the Charleston and get her transferred over to Modo (so long, Lightwave). It's a good opportunity to learn/relearn some Modo, update some texturing, try some new things, maybe even post regular updates.
First thing I did was try to find and fix all the little geometry errors, then I messed around with lights for a little bit.
It's great to see one of the best fan-made Trek ships of all time arrive in a new detail era.
Loved it when she got decent screen time in the final Hidden Frontier episodes.
Update! I worked on the Warp Engines first; lots of back and forth between Modo and Photoshop, tweaking colors and values and rebuilding the arrowhead banner in Illustrator (I had originally built all the decals in Lightwave, long long ago). I realized after rendering that I hadn't enabled Sub-D on the Warp Grills, so they look a little crunchy.
Dude, you were one of the inspirations that influenced me into trying 3D modeling using Blender myself! I didn't even know you were on here! I just love your stuff!!!
In my opinion, these newer images show off the Wanderer's many details better than previously existing ones!
I have no idea how much time you hand to spend on this bad girl until she was finished (and I'm not sure I want to know, because I'm sure the Sovvie I'm working on will take at least as long!), but whatever it is, it shows! I don't know how many subdivisions you had to put in to get all of those hull panels and what I assume are structural field integrity generators, but it must've been a lot!
I have been working on this ship, off and on, since at least 1996 (and I know some design elements started several years before that).
There have been 3 or 4 "completed" versions. I think I did the 2nd big remodeling in 2009(?), the big retexturing in 2015 or so. She's the gift that keeps giving.
Okay, next up is the AWACS platform. While texturing this Modo started instacrashing on render, so I had to detour for a while and deal with that. It ended up being the forcefields around the maintenance bays on the back of the AWACS. I turned those materials off for now, and rendering seems to be fine.
I also added in various porch lights and did the windows (but I may eventually circle back around to those and make some actual window boxes).
Love it, I'm just discovering this! Can be very rewarding getting back into an ancient project and updating it. Looking forward to this texturing
You might enjoy that a short-lived spinoff of the old Hidden Frontier fan film series even used it as its hero ship, though obviously an older iteration of the design. Just took a look for a dose of nostalgia and it was weird to see my old sickbay model in it. 😁
Love it, I'm just discovering this! Can be very rewarding getting back into an ancient project and updating it. Looking forward to this texturing
You might enjoy that a short-lived spinoff of the old Hidden Frontier fan film series even used it as its hero ship, though obviously an older iteration of the design. Just took a look for a dose of nostalgia and it was weird to see my old sickbay model in it. 😁
Heh, I remember both Hidden Frontier and that spinoff. Seeing this ship actually made me nostalgic for those old fan films.
Personally, I'd make that dark blue much lighter, so it's just a bit darker than the rest (and maybe desaturate the lighter blue a good bit), but if that's my oly tweak, you're doing a damned good job. 😀
I'm digging the blue, might be a specific livery, maybe it's science/medical but I could also see it being Starfleet Naval, supporting Starfleet missions that focus on primarily oceanic planets.
I might experiment with the blue just to see what it looks like, but I do like it as it is.
@count23 Yes, the nacelles are still variable geometry; I just like them better in the up position. My handwave is that the flat position is just for high warp cruising, or something like that.
Next update: I added the vroom-vrooms! (also the escape pods, the SIFs, the transporter pads, and other miscellaneous details)
Posts
Current Projects:
Ambassador Class
It´s good to see this old, charming and beautifull lady to make a come back. Keep posting!
Loved it when she got decent screen time in the final Hidden Frontier episodes.
Update! I worked on the Warp Engines first; lots of back and forth between Modo and Photoshop, tweaking colors and values and rebuilding the arrowhead banner in Illustrator (I had originally built all the decals in Lightwave, long long ago). I realized after rendering that I hadn't enabled Sub-D on the Warp Grills, so they look a little crunchy.
In my opinion, these newer images show off the Wanderer's many details better than previously existing ones!
I have no idea how much time you hand to spend on this bad girl until she was finished (and I'm not sure I want to know, because I'm sure the Sovvie I'm working on will take at least as long!), but whatever it is, it shows! I don't know how many subdivisions you had to put in to get all of those hull panels and what I assume are structural field integrity generators, but it must've been a lot!
I have been working on this ship, off and on, since at least 1996 (and I know some design elements started several years before that).
There have been 3 or 4 "completed" versions. I think I did the 2nd big remodeling in 2009(?), the big retexturing in 2015 or so. She's the gift that keeps giving.
Okay, next up is the AWACS platform. While texturing this Modo started instacrashing on render, so I had to detour for a while and deal with that. It ended up being the forcefields around the maintenance bays on the back of the AWACS. I turned those materials off for now, and rendering seems to be fine.
I also added in various porch lights and did the windows (but I may eventually circle back around to those and make some actual window boxes).
Also, welcome back sir (salutes)
You might enjoy that a short-lived spinoff of the old Hidden Frontier fan film series even used it as its hero ship, though obviously an older iteration of the design. Just took a look for a dose of nostalgia and it was weird to see my old sickbay model in it. 😁
Heh, I remember both Hidden Frontier and that spinoff. Seeing this ship actually made me nostalgic for those old fan films.
and full orthos
Not everything needs to be a lozenge
I think that is what I mean...I just noticed that the texturing looks much better than my work...maybe it's the lighting...not sure.
Current Projects:
Ambassador Class
@count23 Yes, the nacelles are still variable geometry; I just like them better in the up position. My handwave is that the flat position is just for high warp cruising, or something like that.
Next update: I added the vroom-vrooms! (also the escape pods, the SIFs, the transporter pads, and other miscellaneous details)
Really cutting edge stuff, I'm sure it's going to be widely adopted.