Schimpfy

So, yeah, it's been a while since I've visited here and the first thing I see is the thumbnail for the Wasp. Very nice design. Makes me want to dive into Blender since I don't have access to Max anymore and resurrect my Rapier.

I came to the realization a couple of weeks ago that as a sci-fi modeler I've never attempted a Constitution-class mesh. This, in some people's eyes, is a travesty. So, I decided I must build my own.

This is going to be the first model I build from blueprints, texture and animate. Overall, I intend to learn a lot of other skills beyond my very basic modeling ability. I'm hoping for major constructive criticism, too.

I've found the secondary hull is rather complicated...at least more so than I originally thought. I'm kind of worried that the cutouts might not be deep enough, but I'd like everyone's thoughts on it. I'll post more pics later, but right now all I really have left to model are the nacelles and minute details. I'm hoping that what comments I receive won't mean a rebuild or major modification to what I have, but if it's meant to be...

So, without further ado...

UPDATED with current progress for thumbnail image.

Just about done modeling all of the major stuff. I've still got the tube details on the nacelles (don't remember what they're called right now). Next to model is all the nitnoid stuff like windows, lights, etc.

I made an ortho and a couple of other renders so I can get more feedback. Enjoy!

Ah, I think you're talking about what max calls lathing. Come to think of it, if I used a spline and lathed the deflector housing it probably would've been faster the making a cylinder and extruding and insetting and extruding and insetting...

Oh well.

Here are the different objects I made to create the secondary hull.

Sooooooooooo...

Started from scratch on the textures altogether. I wasn't happy with the way the weathering was working out and I'm not a fan of the paint job as it currently sits in the Smithsonian.

Anywho...right now there are only diffuse maps and the slight bump maps for the grid. I'm trying to get all of the important stuff lined up like registries and other miscellaneous details.

I'm torn right now about how to do the windows. Part of me wants to just add them to the textures, another part wants to model them in the existing mesh and yet another part is considering extruding them ever so slightly from the model so I can just apply a self illuminating material. Opinions on this would be greatly appreciated, but right now I'm leaning more toward option three.

I've been playing around with texturing the saucer today. I'm learning about UVW mapping which is something I've struggled with in the past. I figured it would be quicker for me to learn on a simple object such as the saucer. Anyway, this is where I'm at now. I used the Amarillo USAF font, which is supposedly not quite right. If someone can point me to the correct font that would be great.

Please, please let me know how this looks to your eyes. There's a minor bump map applied, too. I've tried to keep it really subtle because, like BolianAdmiral said, the redone Connie in the Smitshsonian looks like garbage and I'm trying to avoid that.

Looks great.

I'm at a point of major frustration right now and I need some help. In the first attachment you can see some sort of lighting/mesh issue circled in green. It plays off all four of the window areas depending on camera angle and placement of the lights. The second pic is a wireframe so y'all can tell me if that looks okay.

- I've checked all the verts, edges and polygons to make sure they're all even. Good to go.

- I flipped the normals for the polygons that are the window frames because originally I extruded out instead of in and I just moved the edges down. Don't ask why I did it that way, it just happened. That was good to go as well.

- I double checked the textures, reapplied the UV Map modifier and the textures. Good to go.

- I've tried keeping my sanity. FAIL. :mad:

I don't have it in me to just let this go and move on. I'm OCD like that. So, any help would be appreciated.

As requested.

I'm going to set up the scene for clay renders tomorrow possibly. I'm kind of irritated that some of the detail on the deflector arms isn't showing up.