Programs can be a bit like that. I found that LW was very intuitive for me. Generally speaking Tools seems to be in the same menu I would have put them. But I found MAX to be completely messed up for me. What works for one doesn't work for all. Having said that I'd be happy to do some photoshoping of textures for your maps if you can export them. I'm hardly an expert or anything.
Speaking of the VTOL thrusters, are you planning on putting them on both the main body and the central pod? One of the few things I never liked about the original design were the thrusters under the detachable center pod. To me they seemed unnecessary, especially if the pod was supposed to be disengaged from the main body and left at a separate location. I suggest putting the VTOL thrusters on the underside of the main body only, between the landing gear. Just my two cents.
I agree with you Buckaroohawk. With the thruster on the Center pod, it implies that pod is doing the lifting. It also imply the passenger version needs more thrust than the nuke waste versions etc.
Having said that. and having looked at the bottom of the unit above. There are slots in the base, which could allow for a retractable unit of some sort which locks the pod in place. These might have a thruster attached.
Good points, guys. I imagined that the transport module also served as a lifeboat, complete with parachute deployment and thrusters for a controlled, softer landing, and the TM engines were never used in the normal operation of the Eagle. Maybe even RCS rockets for maneuverability... the TM's can have different internal configurations... a passenger transport version, mission operations center, habitat/barracks... they can be dropped into a mission theater and even linked together to form a remote operations headquarters. This could be support for an operation Exodus investigation team, for example. And investigation can take place for a television broadcast season, deployed as the moon passes by a planetary candidate, is maneuvered into an elliptical orbit around the systems sun, passes by a year or so later which hopefully is enough time to determine if Exodus is a go or no go.
Wow, JW, you really are putting a lot of thought into the capabilities of this ship. That can only be a good thing since function often dictates form, especially in utilitarian vessels like the Eagle. Just don't over-think it. That leads to brain lock, and that's no fun at all.
I think thats why I model so slowly... I should draw things out before I model, but I have a bad habit of making it up as I model.
I don't draw anything out beforehand either. Tried it and discovered that the finished product often turned out so radically different from the drawn specs that it was a waste of my time.
Nice update. I like the way the pod is shaping up. The windows help retain the look of the original version as well.
The only time I sketch stuff is when I'm on a train etc and away from the computer. Other than that I just go from brain the modeler program.
The only time I sketch stuff is when I'm on a train etc and away from the computer. Other than that I just go from brain the modeler program.
What? You mean you don't have an ever-present laptop at your side? One that's with you so often that it seems like an additional appendage? That's just SO 20th century! ;-)
I've got a lap top, but the time it takes to boot and the amount of wobble from the trains here, means text if fine, but drawing is impossible.
I am lucky enough to have bosses who don't really know much about computers, so I installed LW at work. That way I can keep my current project on a USB stick and work on it during my breaks. :-)
I was really just pulling your chain, Pagrin. Actually, you have one up on me because I don't own a laptop myself. Sneaky, installing LW on your work computer and keeping projects on a USB so you can keep working if/when inspiration strikes. I used to just write a note and had to wait until I got home. Now that I think about it, that's rather 19th century of me, so you've got me beat all the way around! ;-)
My bosses are very understanding. :-) It's one of the reasons I'm still there after 15 years.
Funny thing is I got the laptop so I could work anyway (even on trains), but the actual act of doing LW anywhere on it has all but alluded me.
I love my laptop, I have a very powerful workstation in my music studio, but I do all my work on my laptop, so I'm not sequestered from the fam for hours on end... which was a real problem.
Now I just use my workstation for network drives and recording songs.
The TM is coming along, I'm also designing, in my head, what the moonbase landing pad, boarding gate interface will look like... more to come.
I really love this model. Really i do.
It's so frakking different than the original was but it's looking totaly familiar.
Great job !!
Waiting for the landing pad etc.. !
A little more TM detail... it's tempting to just do this quickly with rectangular chunks, but I dont wanna cheap out on the geometry... which is why it's so time consuming... ugh!
One think I would recommend on the "door" there was this multilayered "I" bar like greeble on the doors from the original. I think it would be a nice original detail to retain.
Thats just what I was thinking, there may be a bit of redesign on the hatch, I think a seal-ring that could attach to a number of different openings in hulls and that will create a seal, even if the dock is put in an opening much larger than itself, by deploying an inflatable ring on its edge that spans the opening to create a seal.
The interfaces on each dock may also be different for interconnection between two TM's, port to starboard...
The insets on the sides of the TM will likely also contain extendable boom arms with clamps to stabilise the ship when docked to a ship or other structure in zero-G.
Excellent as always. It seems Eagles are popping up all over the place at the moment. I might have to break out my old Interceptor model and finish the textures.
I could spend days scrutinizing the detail you've incorprated into this model and I'd love every minute of it! This thing must be one mammoth of a file by now, though. How many MEGS does this thing take up?
Posts
Still a long way off for textures... gotta chunk up the TM, and get those vertical lift thrusters built...
Having said that. and having looked at the bottom of the unit above. There are slots in the base, which could allow for a retractable unit of some sort which locks the pod in place. These might have a thruster attached.
TM update, RCS quads and a recessed docking interface:
I don't draw anything out beforehand either. Tried it and discovered that the finished product often turned out so radically different from the drawn specs that it was a waste of my time.
The only time I sketch stuff is when I'm on a train etc and away from the computer. Other than that I just go from brain the modeler program.
What? You mean you don't have an ever-present laptop at your side? One that's with you so often that it seems like an additional appendage? That's just SO 20th century! ;-)
I am lucky enough to have bosses who don't really know much about computers, so I installed LW at work. That way I can keep my current project on a USB stick and work on it during my breaks. :-)
Funny thing is I got the laptop so I could work anyway (even on trains), but the actual act of doing LW anywhere on it has all but alluded me.
Now I just use my workstation for network drives and recording songs.
The TM is coming along, I'm also designing, in my head, what the moonbase landing pad, boarding gate interface will look like... more to come.
It's so frakking different than the original was but it's looking totaly familiar.
Great job !!
Waiting for the landing pad etc.. !
Cheers, Stephan
Nice update BTW. :-)
The interfaces on each dock may also be different for interconnection between two TM's, port to starboard...
The insets on the sides of the TM will likely also contain extendable boom arms with clamps to stabilise the ship when docked to a ship or other structure in zero-G.
Details, details...