backstept

No problem! Glad to help!
Biggest thing I've learned in the years I've been doing 3D modeling is that there's no single correct way to model something, but usually there's one best way to do what you need, and it's often different for everyone.

Excalibor wrote: »

backstept wrote: »

The other day I opened the Defiant I had started a while ago . . . learned a bunch since then, and also tried out a new paneling method on the warhead. It involves applying all the modifiers in the stack, deleting half the mesh, and adding a mirror modifier again. Then in this order: Edge Split, Solidify, and Bevel. Cut panels with Knife tool, mark those edges sharp, and boom, non-destructive panels that can be easily re-done or changed.

Not currently very visible since I haven't worked on the materials yet.

Sorry to bring this back from the past, but I have been trying this method and can't see a thing (the hull looks clean and smooth like baby skin). Could you elaborate on this method for paneling, please? It's a really tedious part that always introduces shading problems when don with bevel and extrude.

Thanks a bunch!

Simplest answer would be to check if you have clamp overlap checked under the geometry tab of the bevel modifier.

I would recommend going into your preferences and changing some interface colors, specifically for face orientation. Then in the viewport overlay drop down check the face orientation box. It'll show back faces in red and everything else in blue. I changed my color to 0 alpha so it's invisible, then I can easily see flipped normals in red. It also makes it easier to see overlapping bevel errors.

If you find you're getting a lot of bad overlaps you can go in and slide some verts around.

Completely remade the hull, and started on the deflector.

here's a new one

Working on a new ship.