Hi!
I've been pretty busy this last months (or years
) learning 3DS Max and I think that I can now try modeling a starship.
I found fitting to model the Kumari-Class, as it was also the first ship I designed and modeled with SketchUp.
Here's the class history and description (I use the spoiler thingy to avoid adding a wall of text):
The development of the Kumari-class started in 2293 just after the U.S.S. Excelsior returned home. The project was proposed by captain Sulu, his idea was to develop a small ship as reliable as the Excelsior-class for science and survey missions. This new class, named Kumari after the first ice cutter to circumnavigate Andoria, used a new tipe of computers that allowed most of the shipA’s systems to be completely automated, and the shipA’s size to be reduced. The prototype, U.S.S. Kumari NX-2500, was completed in 2295 and, after her succesful maiden mission, the construction of 9 more ships began. The ships were excelent for deep space exploration and the large cargobays allow them to take lots of equipment necesary for some missions. The ship was mass produced during the early 24th century, replacing the Oberth Class as Starfleet's "multipurpose little ship". During the Dominion War some Kumari-class ships were refitted. By 2409, some ships were reasigned to training operations or became museum ships, but some others are still out there, boldly going where no one has gone before...
You can download the original model for SketchUp
here, there you can also watch an in-browser 360Ao preview of the ship. (warning, the low-polyness of the model may cause your eyes to bleed)
I'm thinking about changing the class name, as I doubt the andorians would be too happy to have a little science ship named after what 100 years ago was their proud flagship. I'm open to suggestions.
I'm currently focusing on the nacelles, I'll most likely redo the entire saucer, but I included so that you can see the general direction I'm going.
As always, please tell me what you think, as I'm open to ideas during the design process.
Posts
Nice start. I like your old version, even if it is low poly, (it would make a good game mesh) but your new one looks like it's going to be a big improvement.
Glad to see the designer having a try at it!! looking great!
@evil_genius: I'm not sure about the name change yet, I really like how it sounds, so maybe I'll adopt your idea.
@Paragon and Juvat: Don't worry, I've already redesigned the whole scendary hull, it will stil be reminisent to the Excelsior but also along the lines of the Oberth (like everything else ). Originally it was way too tall and it's odd shape was because I didn't know how to create it, so I just create the top and back part, and then I just bridge them together.
@VALKYRIE013: you don't have to be sorry! It may have been my design but it was your project, it wasn't like you were making it for me or anything.
So here are some updates, as you can see the main nacelle is pretty much finished, I only have to add some details. I wont be doing it a visible bussard collector, my idea is that it is there inside the nacelle, but it's only activated when needed.
.. and no, its just me appologizing.. for maybe getting your hopes up of seeing another one of your ships made.. it was just one of those projects that just couldn't get off the ground for me.. might revisit it later.. still have the project files ( i'm kinda of a pack rat!)
as said.. looking good! can't wait to see what you got for the rest!
@Paragon: I've tried doing that with the grills, but I just didn't like how it looked. Besides, the warp coils are supposed to be in there, and they have to be rectangular in shape when seen from the side, so all that slope would end up unused.
So, I've started modeling the pylons, as originally, they meet the secondary hull at a small deck at it's top. However I won't make a shuttlebay there as in the original model, instead I'll make a big lounge, and the shuttlebay will be at the bottom of the secondary hull.
As you may have noticed, I've also stared experimenting with some lights and materials, mostly following MadKoiFish's tutorials.
Forget that thing I said earlier about the nacelle being finished, I've added some details around it and I'll probably add some more.
I've also did a first pass at the secondary hull, but I didn't like it so I dropped it and I'll start it again soon.
I feel like I did a lot in a pretty small amount of time, however, that'll change now, as the Assassin's Creed novels I've ordered a month ago finally arrived, so I'll spend most of my free time reading this next few days. But, as I have lots of free time (I won't start school till next week), I'll still get some work done on the ship.
oh, note, the top fin on the nacelle, has a gap at the bottom rear.. don't know if its intentional or not!
Good luck with school!!
@VALKYRIE013: Don't worry, it's intentional. I originally wanted the fins to be connected and forming an L shape, but once I modeled them the detailing proved too hard for me, so I chose to do them separately.
Thanks, I know I'll need it. :shiner:
Not much of an update, I've just added more details on the nacelles and pylons, this time I think they are finished for good.
But when I try to start working on the secondary hull, (whether adding details on the part already modeled or modeling the rest), I just find myself looking at the screen for half and hour without doing a thing. I've done the body like 5 times and I never like it and just delete it, it's not that I can't model it, I just can't design it. I know the answer will come, in time.
Anyway, C&C as always welcome.
try steping back and doodling something.. might help the modleing block!!
I've lost track about how many times I've done the secondary hull, but I like this one (not entirely though).
I've also redesigned the saucer, combining elements of the Excelsior and Oberth, I'm pretty happy with the way it turned out.
As always, please let me know what you know.
Overall, great work! This is developing nicely and I agree that the saucer is very nice indeed.
It's true that it looks more like the Excelsior that like a mix of both, but I've tried mixing some elements and it just didn't looked right to me.
@Juvat: I've tried just that, but in my opinion it doesn't work well here. The pod of the Oberth is pretty thin and slim, however the secondary hull of the Kumari is pretty "fat", so, in my opinion, it doesn't look good.
Anyway it'll start resembling the Oberth more when I start adding details.
I've started over with the saucer, retaining the main shape but completely redoing the impulse assembly to be actually part of the neck.
I'll redo the details around the bridge once I'm sure of the shape of the assembly, of course there's a lot left to do here.