Klingon Battlecruiser

[evil_genius_180]

Even though I technically started on this in 2013, we'll call this my first model build of 2014.

I'm building the original Klingon Battlecruiser from TOS, which *should* have been first seen in the episode Elaan of Troyius. Though, of course, it was first seen in the episode The Enterprise Incident, where it wasn't even technically a Klingon ship, because NBC messed up the airing order on the entire series. (the 2nd pilot wasn't even the first episode to air ) So, no, I won't be doing a K't'inga class at this time, nor will I be doing some kind of hybrid ship, like Greg Jein did for the episode Trials and Tribble-ations, and CBS Digital did for the "Remastered" episodes. (though, I've seen renders of CBS Digital's ship and they should be ashamed of how low poly and inaccurate it is) Anyway, this is a ship I've always wanted to do because it's one of my favorites, but I was never confident I could do it in my CGI software, until I switched to Lightwave. So, I finally started on one last month.

The main hull (the rear-central area with the wings) is the most challenging bit, so I started there. It took quite some time to get the shape where I wanted it and enough vertices in place so that the control points would go where I wanted them to when I sub-patched the thing. But, I finally got it. Then, yesterday, I did the next most challenging bit, the front lower section of the "head," that's more or less shaped like a chicken drumstick. That thing was a bit of a pill, but I finally got it. The rest of the ship should be pretty easy, since I got the hard stuff out of the way already. So, though it may not look it to some, it took a lot of work to get to this point.









The only thing I'm not super happy about is the "seam" where the wings meet the hull on the underside, but I'm willing to live with that. There was no such seam on the original model, but they also carved that by hand. You can do anything you want when you carve something by hand, you're more limited in CGI.

Also, I've found very few references for this ship, despite its popularity. I have a few images of the model (I think it's the original) to work from, and I'm also using Darrell's D7 from the downloads section for a sizer and for placement. His model appears to be mostly accurate, though I've noticed a few things that aren't and I'm correcting them as best I can. Besides, I don't want to copy his model exactly. I also have a Polar Lights 1:1000 D7 that I build a while back that I've used for a few things. So, I'm mostly "winging" it. Before anybody mentions them, most of the blueprint sheets appear to be inaccurate in one area or another. But, that can be said for most fan-made blueprints. So, my ship obviously won't be 100% screen accurate, but it will be close enough for my needs.

[evil_genius_180]

I got all obsessive about that seam on the underside where the wings connect, so I got rid of it. It wasn’t easy, but this is much closer to the studio model.

[gmd3d]

looks great Chris.

One I never got to do.. any chance of wireframes ..

[evil_genius_180]

Thanks Ger. Yes, I can create some wires when I get back to work on the ship later.

[evil_genius_180]

I added this thing to the top. I think it’s supposed to be the shuttlebay and impulse engine. The opening at the top is supposed to be the bay and the thing underneath is the engine. I guess Klingons don’t worry about things like space for shuttles or their pilots running into the engine. (the true test of a pilot ) I went off script a bit and added a slight indentation to the middle of the engine, it’s just a solid piece on the studio model. I’ll also add a glow there, like I did with my Enterprise model. I don’t care if the engines glowed in TOS or not, they clearly should have as they do in other Trek. I’m not going to go as far as to add a glow to the grill openings in the front, though. In my opinion, an intake vent doesn’t need a glow. The things on the side were designed slightly differently in the animated series, but I’m sticking with the studio model look.









I’m glad I’m not just using the Polar Lights kit as a reference because, surprise surprise, it’s not completely accurate back there. The things on the side of that part are wrong and even the back of the main hull is wrong. They have it flatten out underneath that part, but it remained round on the studio model.

And, here are the requested wireframes.

[gmd3d]

ahh cool. its always helpful to see the Wire-frames to study the model short of having it yourself.

I am looking forward to seeing both of them face off each other at some time..

[evil_genius_180]

Thanks Ger.

A couple people have pointed out the poly density, which was (of course) caused by sub-patching. Since this ship is a weird mix of curves and straight lines, that was the only way I could think of to get the shapes I wanted without a bunch of mesh errors. (it took quite some time to get the mesh set up to where it didn't go wonky when I hit "Tab") Do you have any ideas how to cut that down any, or should I even bother with it? Truth be told, I'm not overly concerned about it, but I figure I can at least look into it.

[gmd3d]

No I would not worry about it.. its the pain of subpatching imo.

Its how I always thought I have to do it. I also think most modern pc can handle that. the only other one I can think of is one by Prologic9 on Foundation3d but its a long time since I look at it.

[evil_genius_180]

Yeah, that was my thought too. After all, this is my system:



I could spend several hours manually reducing the polygons, or just let it go. I'm going with letting it go.

[gmd3d]

same as my setup 8 gb.. of course if you where going to really pack out a scene with a lot of stuff we might run into slow render times..

I think you are taking the correct route

[evil_genius_180]

Work continues. I should be farther by now, but working on this thing was a bust on Monday and Tuesday. Thanks to the Polar Vortex thing, it was below zero degrees Fahrenheit around here, and about 30 degrees less than that with wind chill. It’s times like that where you find out what your insulation is worth. In my case, not much. So, it was frakking cold in here, despite the furnace running around the clock. So, I didn’t want to sit at the computer, where my tower is always blowing air on me thanks to all of the fans I have, and do stuff. So, I bundled up and played Lego Lord of the Rings.

I started on the nacelles yesterday, but I kept having to leave and do other things, so I didn’t get them done until today. Thanks to Dan “MadKoiFish” Uyeno, I have some really nice reference images that I didn’t have before of the ship. They include a nice closeup of the nacelle, so this should all be fairly accurate (unless any parts have fallen off between filming and the pictures being taken.) The only area that I don’t have a good view of is the back, so that’s pretty much guesswork based on what I can see. Still, the rest is accurate enough and that shouldn’t be far off. So, the nacelles are completely done.









There’s not a lot left to do on this ship. It’s nowhere near as detailed as the Enterprise was. (TV show budget) Hell, it took them a while to even give the Klingons a ship. Originally, they were only supposed to be used in the episode Errand of Mercy, but the writers asked to use them again in Season 2, and they got the ship in Season 3. Not bad for a race that was supposed to be a one shot.

[evil_genius_180]

The back half of the ship is now finished. I just have windows and a few details to add to the head and neck and then it’s off to the paint shop.

[gmd3d]

very nice work.. its has some difficult areas to work on while been a simple ship in the details department.. odd curves and angles to arrange.

well done mate..

[Starship]

Hey Chris, feeling yourself more confortable with lightwave?

Well, it look like a good start, and all is looking fine except the globe. I think the shape isn´t correct and it can be improved, even the wire.

[evil_genius_180]

Thanks. Yes, I love Lightwave. What globe?

[Darrell Lawrence]

It looks... Romulan

[evil_genius_180]

Wait until I texture one with a big bird of prey on the bottom of it.

[Darrell Lawrence]

Wanna see it... and wanna see it NOW! *tantrum*

[evil_genius_180]

Um, get used to disappointment.

[gmd3d]

Originally Posted by evil_genius_180

Um, get used to disappointment.

harsh

[Starship]

Originally Posted by evil_genius_180

Thanks. Yes, I love Lightwave. What globe?

Ouch..... The one that makes the ship´s front.

[evil_genius_180]

Well, if you maen the bulbous thing on the underside, it's not really a globe. It's not sitting well with me either, so I've been thinking of redoing that part when I get back to working on the front.

[evil_genius_180]

Now that I got the Endeavour all finished, it’s time to get back into the Battlecruiser. Not much, but I fiddled with the bulge under the “head” a bit. I tweaked the shape some and fixed a few other issues. The wireframe for that part is a lot more clean now, with no “extra” polygons.





I still have to add back the cut out for the deflector/torpedo launcher thing. Then I’m going to add windows and a few details to the “head” and a few details to the “neck” and this will be done.

[gmd3d]

that looks good

[evil_genius_180]

I have a push to finish this for a project, so I’m going to finish the few things that need done on it. Don’t ask me what the project is because I can’t say, but I’ll also get some personal use out of it, so it’s a win-win. I added the vent/flap looking things and the windows in the “head.” Due to the odd shape and whatnot of this piece, (it was built by hand 47 or so years ago) the windows were a pill. I eyeballed the placement, which should be close enough. They don’t really show up that well on screen in the original episodes anyway because they were only decals. Also, I’m not sure how many were missing in the pics I have, but I think I can tell where there originally had been some.

[ulimann644]

Looks good so far.

[evil_genius_180]

Thanks bro.

[evil_genius_180]

This should about do it for modeling on the Battlecruiser. Textures are next.