This is a drawing that was made by BlueNeumann (Chris)
I am trying to do it in 3D, especially the one in the middle.
I named it USS Collider because his 2D jpg was named collision, but if the author wants another name this can be change before I do the texturing, of course.
Original drawing:
http://www.scifi-meshes.com/forums/showthread.php?79346-Pen-and-ink-ships-since-I-can-t-model/page14
Posts
I have no idea what to do for the bridge. It should be at the top of the hull front part.
I love how much it looks like a pizza slicer, too... that saucer is just so sleek, it looks like it just cuts through anything in its way. I might have said that before, but in case I didn't...
It fits better with the impulse engines that are mid wing...and I had a hard time trying doing them like the Enterprise E engines.
You can see them here on the previous ship:
http://www.3ddub.net/uss-conviction-version-2-0/
1- I think that exists a way for you to align all the vertices to a plane, but I forgot how... IAâm away from studio max for to many years;
2- Select all the edges and extrude them a bit, them use a retangle so slice the extension and voila. Now do the mirror;
Hope that helps.
That shot from the front is making me realize there might also be an under-bridge or something above the deflector and beneath the saucer, like the Shenzhen. Maybe it's just an observation post, but I can imagine being there looking out big glass windows.
I especially love the art-decon "steps" at the front end of the entral column. Very cool! And maybe it's the silvery lighting of the WIP right now, but I also get a very 1960's sci-fi feel from it. Chrome hull plating wouldn't exactly look out of place on it, ya' know?
One question, where's the deflector? Seems like it could be placed either at the front of the wing-mounted impulse drives, or inside the "shark mouth" (really love those lines) kind of like the Dauntless-type.
I will start doing the textures too, to get the windows, energy strips and such...
If you don't mind some advice, I think the main thing the bridge component is lacking is "lines." I may not have the necessarily vocabulary to articulate my thoughts here, but because the bridge isn't aligned within concentric circles, it feels kind of out-of-place without any "lines" in the design pointing to it, or drawing attention to it.
I'd suggest adding some to the patters on the rear half of the saucer--bring them forward to an intersecting point just in front of the bridge structure. IE to create a triangular shape with the bridge at the "head." Similar to the design of the Saber-class or Sovereign-class.
I also think you may want to add something to the front of the saucer. Because the bridge is raised up so much, it makes the forward saucer look kind of empty. I assume the registry will be painted on there, but maybe also consider some raised greebles or something (like in the kitbashes? I know it's not really an elegant solution....) or sensor palates and/or an Intrepid-style navigational deflector if you're thinking of making it more DS9+ era.
It might also be cool to experiment with a "cut-away" portion of the front of the saucer. It could be easy enough to do two versions ala the two Nova-class variants (IE the U.S.S. Equinox had a cut-away saucer; the U.S.S. Rhode Island did not) and it would help establish the "prow" of the ship a bit more.
Anyway, I gotta stress again how much I love this design. It is simple, clean and elegant--everything I look for in a Federation ship. Every new image gives me something new to appreciate--the top of the secondary hull is now looking SUPER reminiscent of the Miranda and Excelsior designs. Again, I think you've struck something here that could be placed in any era of Trek with little difficulty.
Speaking of the secondary hull--is that dome at the very back supposed to be a "warp jewel" (IE the "top" of the reactor, as is the case on the Excelsior and Constitution-Refit designs)? If so, well... I love how it looks aesthetically, but you might want to reconsider it from an in-universe perspective, as those "jewels" marked the top of a very large vertical reactor that ran down through several decks (from the top of the saucer, through the neck and into the secondary hull).
And I gotta say... I am really looking forward to seeing this model finished. Just imagining what it might look like with little glowing windows is making me kinda excited. Such a cool ship!
I though about a cutaway front end for the saucer but that wasn't in the original drawing. I decided to do an arc cutting instead to give it a knife edge look. The arc on the saucer was cut into the main saucer and manipulate to fit. I know other modellers do it another way by adding an extra object over the top but I wanted one saucer. Yes there is still letters, windows and pods on the saucer. Some panel cutting must be done in the outer cut of the saucer. The Excelsior design element was in one of the drawing. That's why I put a bit of art deco into it.
The round thing in the back would be the botanic garden, at one point I though it could be shield related. Not sure for now.
Thanks, it's getting there. I need to fix that curve on the saucer so it gets smoother.
Anyway, I really like your panel lines. How exactly did you decide how to arrange them? They look very natural.
About the panels (technical explanation), I often follow the vertices of the model and make small alterations. Even the top panels around the bridge follow a precise angle between those vertices. I had to redo those at least 3-4 times to get them to fit with one another and not break when extruded. Maybe one day I will do a tutorial on how I do things, but I am not as good and technical as MadKoifish in that regard.
I saw I forgot to coloured two panels around the bridge...
After I will do windows and pod...
he deserve credits