WIP: Trek-style Ship -- Also seeking LW7 Help...

Looking for some advice / assistance / encouragement

First off: I've been working on this beastie for a while. Using a variety of sources, I've modelled the ship to ~try~ to look like one that might be found post ST:E but pre ST:TMP (somewhere in there.) What I've got so far (And I apolgoize for the miserable lighting -- quick and dirty renders to get the point across:

Front View:

Top view:

Side view:

and, for fun, a perspective:


So, there you go...

What I'm looking for is a bit of help: The dish (primary hull) part of the beastie is QUITE complex, specifically, it's something like 6,000 points, lots of polys, and etc. What I'm trying to do is 'cut' a few slices out, but a straight boolean subtraction doesn't work -- I get lots of errors, and two holes in the mesh where I want to have surfaces

Any ideas? TIA.

-Doug.

[skyhawk223]

This trueSpace user can't help. Sorry. Oddly enough, I often have boolean problems myself.
I like the design, although it's tough to bridge that Enterprise-TOS gap with a design that look credible.

Originally Posted by skyhawk223

This trueSpace user can't help. Sorry. Oddly enough, I often have boolean problems myself.
I like the design, although it's tough to bridge that Enterprise-TOS gap with a design that look credible.

Thanks for the comments, though. Frankly, from this multi-decades fan, there's NO way to reconcile the NX-01 with the 1701. But, I saw this as an interesting opportunity to try modelling something complex, with as little reliance on 'painted' surfaces -- I'm trying to model everything I can.

In any case. Any other comments out there?

[skyhawk223]

How are you going to handle a deflector? Will it be in the saucer ala Enterprise, or in the traditional secondary hull location?

Originally Posted by skyhawk223

How are you going to handle a deflector? Will it be in the saucer ala Enterprise, or in the traditional secondary hull location?

Well, that's something that I'm not quite sure about -- I've been toying with a few ideas, including a 1701-style 'satellite-dish', projected from the front of the secondary hull; I've also looked extensively at the 'saucer-mounted' dish, a la NX-01. I may do something a bit different, and mount a dish on the underside of the primary hull, but forward of the 'nose' of the secondary hull. Something like a compromise between the two ideas.

I'll see what I can do to futz around with this after work today, and I'll try to post a few ideas in the next 24.

Thanks for your comments!

The real problem isn't the Enterprise -> TOS .. There was another generation of starships that fit between there.. Remember the Horizon ? And I for one can easily see the NX working it's way to the Horizon, than the Horizon to the TOS Ent.


Ryoken

Originally Posted by Ryoken3D

...There was another generation of starships that fit between there.. Remember the Horizon ?

In fact, although I'm a trek/kie/er/ite/ist, I'm not recalling the episode where we actually SAW the Horizon -- any chance of pointing me towards artwork, or a reliable resource?

I am going for a certain amount of accuracy when it comes to reference points, both specific (how long is that nacelle, anyway?) and broad (does this design fit into the established but oft contradicted timeline?)

Your comments are welcome -- thanks!

There was a TOS ep where we saw the back end of it.. ( but never directly shown, not enough to do anything with.. ) They have that screen shot in the first Star Teck Encylopedia..
In addition, it is seen on Siskos desk in DS9..

The Model

Views:
http://www.ex-astris-scientia.org/sc...dalus-side.gif
http://www.ex-astris-scientia.org/sc...edalus-top.gif
http://www.ex-astris-scientia.org/sc...dalus-rear.gif


Ryoken

[Sean Kennedy]

cool! more schematics!

"LightWave Assistance" - That I can help with.

Let's start with basics, on what exactly you want. Could you post a simple drawing on this thread of what you are trying to do to the saucer? There are many ways I can think of back to the few episodes of ST-E that I saw, and I am sure I can give you some ideas on ways to reproduce what you are looking for.

Boolean Subtract should only be used if you are absolutely sure you want the effect. something to note... if you use Boolean the you must repair the model after each subtract. If not you can run into some rather unwanted issues.

I prefer to think Bevel is my friend. I honestly mix both. Since I am not a StarTrek person the best I can offer is Technique. Feel free to email me or post here and I would be happy to assist.

If you want to see some of the results of this technique I have examples here...

http://www.racingsnail.net/gallery/m...ls.php?album=7

Sorry can not post at work.