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tricky2k

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tricky2k
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  • Starfury Aurora (Babylon 5)

    First of all, I recently found about this forum and loving it already. Now, to the point

    This has been to me like an obsession (not "like", an honest to god obsession) for many years, until one day I finally decided to try and make a 3D model of a Starfury. Actually, no. At first, I only wanted to build the Revell's 1:48 kit but, before I even started building it, I saw a lot of things wrong. Features missing, wrong details and dimensions... As you may know, there's no actual original 3D model, or even a practical model, of this ship (or maybe I'm wrong). All the files, meshes and such are lost, or they say. Even Revell had to do with images extracted directly from the show. So, after some thought (not too much), and seeing that none of the 3D models out there were (imho) accurate enough (there are awesome ones in this site, really, but remember, I'm obsessed), I decided to make one from scratch, grabbing all the reference images I could, taking more than half thousand screencaps from the show and so on (not unlike most of you, i guess). Two perks, though, I had never touched a 3d modelling software before, and I wanted to make it fully printable with the idea of making a big "garage kit", 1:32 or so, in resin. Since I had no idea of 3D modelling, I started with the one software I found easier, which is probably the WORST for such an enterprise. Yep, Sketchup. So here I am, after a few hundreds (or thousands) hours and half way in, but also half way out. The most obvious, the cockpit/canopy, the back greebles, finishing the weapons, the bottom... and then panel lines, rounding edges, correcting mistakes, killing myself for choosing that software...

    So far, around 250 solids optimized for printing. No textures, no fancy rendering stuff (i'm too old to learn all that)

    aarfirb7k034.png

    Lizzy777lennier1
  • Starfury Aurora (Babylon 5)

    Time to work in the cockpit. I'm spending an awful lot of time in details that, after all, won't be seen in the model when printed. The helmet will be, roughly, 15mm in diameter, the head about 10mm tall, the whole body 70mm tall. Unless I get my hands on a good SLA printer, or order to print some pieces to Shapeways or such, this is going to be the death of me

    nhnlyxjaq0ca.png
    9vicq6hk2ngn.png
    bstfb0daprlf.png
    puncuzlfbolq.png
    Lizzy777slimdim
  • Starfury Aurora (Babylon 5)

    ulimann644 wrote: »
    Looks really cool.
    I guess it would look fantastic with textures and all the fancy rendering stuff ;)
    No doubt, ulimann, and maybe some day. If I was just making the model "as is" I'd definitely go for textures, but right now most of my time goes into making "building blocks", since each piece needs to fit to the next. Add to the mix that I'm super-slow and, after 9 days of my first message, I've only added the gun supports and the top wings beams that go right to the bottom

    hr1cge0k92y2.png

    Lizzy777
  • Starfury Aurora (Babylon 5)

    srspicer wrote: »
    Looks great!
    I just started my journey into computer design after lurking here for years. I am a traditional model maker, have been for decades. ( I'll have to start posting both types of models here.)
    Anyway, I started using Fusion 360 last year and I really like it. My first introduction to that program was 123Design, Autodesk's free version before they stopped supporting it. You can use the free version of F360 as long as you do not make over 100K. I had also tried Blender, but too complicated for me.
    I designed & started printing my first model. I think you will be very pleased with the program. I had started to use Sketchup, but found it limiting in basic shapes, though many use it and create awesome models with it.
    Looking forward to more progress....
    Thank you, srspicer

    I have Fusion 360 as well, free license (less than 100k, well, less than $1 for that matter :D ), but since I started this project with Sketchup I'm stuck with it. The things I've learned to do with Sketchup will take me again a long time to learn with F360. Probably, though, I'll end up exporting some or all the components to F360 when the hard work is finished, it looks that F360 deals better with solids (merging, combining and such) than Sketchup, just for the purpose of 3D printing readiness

    BTW, those Cobra engines look great
    My friend. If this is your first time, you obviously have talent.
    Thanks, Brandenberg, I wish. I'd just say I'm stubborn :D

    I've been away from the model for a few days, not much progress, though I think the pilot and seat are finally done, maybe just a few minor details to add. Now, to the cockpit

    1s7zaiqcu4wq.png
    msst8smct905.png


    Lizzy777